An enormous cadaver the size of a Skaven underwarren, the sea-monster's insides have become a maze of crude scaffold and pitted brass spheres, each of which buzzes with tainted warp lightning. It is this fell energy that sustains the crew and powers the crackling warpstone weaponry bound to the monster's exposed ribs.

Miniature Review

So does starting with Skabrus count as painting a ship? Maybe it's more of a monster than a ship..., but it does have a sail and some crew!

Skabrus is the Zombie of the Dreadfleet. The Skaven have built around its remains, using warp generators and the gases of the decaying corpse as a propellant and to power their deadly arsenal of warp cannons. In place of its former glowing lure is a warpstone-forged Screaming Bell, likely used to draw lost ships towards it in hope of salvation, instead promising doom.

All of this detail is beautifully sculpted and adds enough to make it look lik enough of a ship to fit in with the rest of the fleet.

Painting Techniques

Skin

The Magos Purple was heavily thinned with Contrast Medium for the first layer, then applied in a few patches to create a bruised look. Carroburg Crimson was then applied in several thin layers around the skin creases. Blood For The Blood God was applied to the deepest creases and around cuts.

Tongue & Entrails

Teeth & Bone

Wood

Rope

Sails

Sail Symbols

Bronze

Steel

Warpstone

Stone

Basing

Ocean

Acid

Roundup

I really like how the skin came out, not as pale as in the book but the bruising and bloody effect looks really realistic. I may have gone a bit over the top with the green when painting the warp cannons, but I wanted them to not just look like regular old cannons.

I painted the cog with matching colours, and a large chunk of warpstone to guide it. I added a matching symbol to the said, using a black and grey background to make it stand out.