First batch of Empire Knights painted

I was quite apprehensive about starting these guys, because I loved the conversions I'd done, and wasn't sure I'd have enough time or ideas to do them justice.

I'd originally thought of them as freelance knights, with seperate paint schemes and heraldry, but didn't have the time to do these, and was pretty sure they wouldn't look very good without some kind of comprehensive colour scheme.

I wanted to get the nordland colour schemes in there somewhere, and so originally went for a dark metal colour, that ended up, after a number of washes, looking black. Duh! Why didn't i think of that in the first place. Then came the chequer schemes, and the coloured bits were added last.

Not sure if i'd made these guys too 'busy' with crosses and writing etc, but wanted to get a mildly gothic feel about them. I like the more gothic feel of the terminator shcileds, and have my eye on the forge world black templar sheilds, which i might see if I can get over the xmas period.

Going to start the next lot now, which should go a little easier now I know what colours I'm painting, though might see if I can add a few more skulls etc.

Lances were painted with air brush and masking tape.