Thanks everyone.
@Arch: I certainly recommend doing a swap with Schwarz - the book is absolutely beautiful.
@Schwarz: thank you again - I've started sketching in the new book (pics soon) and the paper is perfect I love the cover paper too, the details just disappear and reappear when it catches the light, like magic. I'm a paper and sketchbook hoarder too (in fact the last time I was in Germany was to attend a print and paper conference), and this goes to the top of my favourites list.
@Tero: yep, two light sources on this one - hopefully it looks more evident on today's pic (below).
@Darrh, Flu: thank you both - it's nowhere near the quality of Roman's beautiful paintjob on Abalam, but I'll take that as a sign it's going in the right direction!
@khavor: ha, 'jack of all trades, master of none' is the phrase I think!
Righto then: here's a bit more work on War, beefing up the contrast on him.
Also SaintToad and Darthmarsh's epic basing has led me to thinking about basing the elf. So here's a first rough on it, even though the paint's not finished.
EDIT: weird pic in place of proper pic