Empire - Sigmar Eleven

Warhammer Empire - 11th Post

The Bowmen of the Drakwald

This week’s update: the Middenland Archers. As I continue my quest to include a representative unit from every province, the rugged woodsmen of the North were next on the list. While Middenland is famous for its stoic infantry and the White Wolves, I felt a unit of skirmishing archers perfectly captured the grit of the Ulric-worshipping wilds.

Frontal picture 

Preparation and Priming

These are classic metal sculpts, and as with the Hochlanders, they required a bit of prep work. I spent an evening carefully removing mold lines with a fresh hobby blade before the standard warm, soapy bath. My painting process remained consistent to ensure the army looks cohesive on the tabletop. I start by applying a solid coat of black primer. 

After this I contiune to underpainting a light drybrush of Vallejo Lemon Yellow. This "zenithal-style" shortcut is a lifesaver for identifying the fine details on these older sculpts and provides built-in contrast for the transparent layers to follow.

Rear Shot

Painting the Blue and White

Middenland’s livery is iconic, but white can be a notoriously difficult color to pull off. To keep the "grimdark" feel of the Drakwald, I opted for a cooler palette. I blocked in the blues using Vallejo Model Color Prussian Blue. For the whites, I actually started with a very light grey to leave room for pure white highlights later. Using my trusted glaze medium, I thinned the paints down significantly. By applying thin, transparent layers over the yellow underpainting, the shadows in the tunics and hoods took care of themselves.
 

I gradually layered up the color, focusing on the top 20% of the folds. The final highlight on the blue was a mix of Prussian Blue and Ice Blue, while the white was finished with a crisp, pure white on the sharpest edges.

Banner

The Banner of Middleand

The freehand banner was particularly fun this week. Following my usual method, I used Japanese calligraphy paper for its incredible flexibility. I sketched a simplified Castle, Shield and Wolf’s Head, the symbol of Middenheim, and painted it to match the unit's cold aesthetic. After a generous application of PVA glue, I twisted the paper into a fluttering shape. It’s amazing how a bit of paper can dry as hard as plastic in just half an hour!


The Marksmen of the North

While the southern provinces rely heavily on black powder and steam, Middenland still holds a deep respect for the traditional bow. In the dense, foggy forests surrounding the City of the White Wolf, the thunder of a handgun can often be a liability, giving away a scout's position to beastmen or worse.

These archers are often recruited from the woodsmen and trappers who prowl the Drakwald. They are masters of the "hit and run," peppering the enemy with arrows before vanishing back into the treeline. They may lack the armor of the Reikland or the technology of Nuln, but their survival instincts and loyalty to the Cult of Ulric make them indispensable to any Grand Imperial Army.

I think it might be time to head south to the sun-drenched fields of Averland soon. Stay tuned!