eldar dire avengers

I have two full squads of 10 standard Dire Avengers. Most of the squad members have been assembled without modification. I have included some female Dire Avengers, made using parts from the Guardian kit and some other minor conversions to add some variety to the poses. The Dire Avengers were the first miniatures that I started to paint in earnest.

date: 2007 - present (work-in-progress)
components: Dire Avengers, Green Stuff, female Guardian torsos, Dire Avenger Exarch shuriken pistol arm
colour scheme: Dire Avengers colour scheme (PDF), Basing colour scheme (PDF)

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1. I created this female Dire Avenger using one of the torsos from the Guardian kit.

The clip was cut away from the shuriken catapult.

This clip was taken from one of the sets of Dire Avenger accessories.

A spent clip was added to the base.

Female Eldar Dire Avenger reloading her shuriken catapult

2. This second female Dire Avenger was converted to look as though she is reloading her weapon.

3. This Dire Avenger was converted using the shuriken pistol arm from the Exarch.

4. A close-up of the sculpting work on the arm, which was necessary after removing the forearm-mounted shuriken pistol.

5. Although this Dire Avenger is still a standard squad member, I added a tabard to represent that he is further along the path to becoming an Exarch than his comrades.

6. Using a paint scheme template that I created, I experimented with several different colour schemes in Photoshop before settling on this one for my Dire Avengers. There will be a slight variation in the colours used for the helmet crests to differentiate between the two squads.

7. This Dire Avenger was the first miniature to be painted. The colours used at this stage were Astronomican Grey, Chaos Black, Liche Purple and Regal Blue.

8. At this point the Dire Avenger has been roughly basecoated, with shading, detailing and highlights still to follow.

9. Most of the painting has been completed at this stage. The armour has had a wash of Blue Ink, followed by a further layer of Regal Blue, then highlights of Ultramarines Blue and a 1:1 mix of Ultramarines Blue and Space Wolves Grey. The black areas have been highlighted with Shadow Grey only. The white areas were built up with thin washes of Skull White. The purple details have been highlighted with progressive mixes of Space Wolves Grey and Liche Purple.

10. A view of the Dire Avenger test mini from the rear.

11. Another angle of the Dire Avenger test miniature, showing the detail on the targeter.

12. The completed test miniature. It has been painted, a transfer applied to the right kneepad, varnished and based. I have also applied gloss varnish to the gems and lenses.