More Kobolds!: Figures 79-81 of 265

    This week, I completed my second three of the Kobolds group from the Dungeon Attack set.  I began in the usual way, with soaking them in some water with a little dish soap added, and then giving them a light scrub with a soft toothbrush and then rinsing them.  When dry, I sprayed them with Krylon Flat Black Camouflage with Fusion spray paint, and when dry, glued them to black-primed 7/8" fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue. I then glued the washers to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's white glue.

Before I began painting the last group of Kobolds, I had consulted my old trusty D & D Monster Manual, to see how they had described them.  The manual had said that they were, "...a very dark rusty brown, to a rusty black."    So,I had decided I wanted to go for the "rusty black" look.  To start I applied a coat of Folk Art "Barnyard Red" to the figures to get the "rusty" look.  Next,  I worked on their clothing, painting their loin cloths Accent "Real Umber", and the rest of the clothing GW "Blazing Orange".

Next, I painted the armored shoulder pieces on the two with swords using GW "Snakebite Leather".  Their assorted straps i painted with Americana "Mississippi Mud". The back of the shield I painted DecoArt Cinnamon Brown"; and the shield handle and any pouches they were wearing I painted Americana "Asphaltum".  For the front of the shield, I used Americana "Cadmium Red".   I then moved to painting the spear shafts Folk Art "Barn Wood", and the rope binding on the spears with Americana "Sable Brown".  I wrapped up the non-metallics on he figures by painting their horns with Americana "Khaki Tan", and  the skull belt buckles and their teeth and claws, with Americana "Buttermilk". (Note: on the last group I painted, I hadn't realized that the thrusting-spear Kobold also had a skull belt buckle like the sword-only Kobold had, and so didn't paint it on that figure in the last group)

Now I painted the stonework bases with Folk Art "Medium Gray".  Also, this time I noticed there were some vegetation(?) patches on the base of the spear-thrusting Kobold, (which I hadn't noticed last time) and I painted them DecoArt "Forest Green".  Then, I did all the metal bits; sword, spear points, studs and buckle, with Ceramcoat "Metallic Pewter". 

After all the paint had a while to dry, I gave the figures a wash with thinned Vallejo "Black" ink.  I tried to make it thinner this time, since last time the figures came out a little darker than I had wanted.

I then went back and gave the figures' skin and clothing highlights with the base colors I had used. I then painted black noses on the Kobolds, and "Cadmium Red" dots for eyes.  I also used the "Buttermilk" to highlight their teeth.   The weapon edges I gave highlights with Folk Art "Silver Sterling".    After everything had time to dry thoroughly, I gave the figures a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  When this was dry, I flocked the bases.  After the bases had overnight to dry, I sprayed the figures with Testor's "Dullcote".

I think these turned out a little better.  I don't know if it's noticeable in the photo, but they did turn out a little lighter than last time.


Figures 79-81: Complete

Behold the Beholder: Figure 78 of 265

Over the weekend, I was able to complete the Beholder figure from the 30 New Bones set.  I've had this figure sitting on my painting table for a while now, as I was never able to really decide on a color scheme for it.  I finally figured the only way to get it done was to just plunge in.
       To begin with, the figure had not been pre-assembled well in the factory. (I've noticed this with a number of the pre-assembled figures.) There was a noticeable gap where the upper face/mouth part joined the rest of the body. So, very carefully, I took a hobby knife and pried the upper mouth part away from the rest of the figure, slowly working around the joint and loosening the glue that held it in place.  Eventually I got it free, and after several test fittings, and trimming of the tab on the face section that fit in the slot on the body, I was able to make it fit relatively tight.  I then glued it in place with super-glue.
     I then went about preparing it in the usual way; soaking in some water with a little dish soap added, then giving a light scrub with a soft toothbrush to remove any left over mold-release agent, and then rinsing and drying.  After it was good and dry, I sprayed it with Krylon Camouflage Flat Black with Fusion, and glued the figure to a black-primed 1.25" fender washer using Aleene's Tacky glue. I then glued the washer with a couple drops of Elmer's white glue to a tongue depressor.

  As I thought about the colors I wanted the figure to be, I decided I didn't want it to be too psychedelic in coloring, but I didn't want it to be too drab either, so I tried to split the difference.  I began by grabbing my bottle of Folk Art "Medium Gray" and painting the body/head of the monster . I then painted the tentacles Apple Barrel "Apple Lavender", and, before they were completely dry, I got the idea to go back and add a short section of darker purple, with Anita's "Violet" paint, at the very end; attempting to blend it in with the still wet lighter purple.  I now moved to the mouth painting the interior of the mouth and the gums with Americana "Shading Flesh".  I then painted the teeth with Folk Art "Porcelain White".

After the paint had time to dry, I gave the whole figure a coat of thinned Winsor-Newton "Peat Brown" ink.

I then went back and drybrushed the body/head with the original "Medium Gray", and the tentacles with the "Apple Lavender".  I added some highlights to the tongue and gums with the original "Shading Flesh", and the teeth with the "Porcelain White".  I then went back and added a little pure white to a bit of the "Porcelain White" to lighten it a little, and added some further highlighting to the teeth.

I now painted all the eyes, on the head/body, and the ends of the tentacles.  I began by painting them all white.  I then went back and added irises to them all with Americana "True Blue".  Lastly, I added black pupils to each of them.

Next I worked on the scenic base.  I began by drybrushing the whole thing with Folk Art "Poppy Seed". I then went back and gave it a lighter drybrushing with Folk Art "Gray Green".

 I then  painted the dirt between the rocks with Crafters Edition "Spice Brown", and then gave it a light drybrushing with Americana "Sable Brown".  Lastly, I painted the skull with American "Buttermilk", and the sword with Ceramcoat "Metallic Pewter." I painted the sword's grip black, and hilt with Ceramcoat "Bronze".  I then added a couple splotches of rust on the blade with Duncan "Aged Metal: Iron"
    After the paint had overnight to dry, I painted it with  coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  When this was dry I flocked the base; and after the flock had a bit to dry, I sprayed the whole thing with Testor's "Dullcote spray paint.  After the "Dullcote" had dried overnight, I went back and I painted all the eyes with Americana "Gloss Varnish" to make them more realistic looking.

I'm generally pleased with how the Beholder turned out.  My one complaint is that I wish I had painted the main eyeball looking downward instead of gazing straight ahead; so he would appear more like he was looking directly at any human sized attacker, and not peering over their head.  I got the iris so nice and centered and circular though, I don't dare go back and redo it, as I would only mess it up.

Figure 78: Complete

First of the Kobolds: Figures 75 - 77 of 265

With the one year anniversary for my Bones painting efforts looming just over the horizon in June, I am making a big attempt to reach the 100 figure mark before that one year comes to pass.  So, I am trying to work on the multiple figure sets like the Goblins I just completed, and now the Kobolds, in order to help boost my numbers.  I am also going to try and do two entries a week, like I did last week, one on Monday and one on Thursday.
   So this week, I completed my first three of the Kobolds.  I began in the usual way, with soaking them in some water with a little dish soap added, and then giving them a light scrub with a soft toothbrush and then rinsing them.  When dry, I sprayed them with Krylon Flat Black Camouflage with Fusion spray paint, and when dry, glued them to black-primed 7/8" fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue. I then glued the washers to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's white glue.

I began by consulting my old trusty D & D Monster Manual, to see how they described Kobolds.  The manual said that they were, "...a very dark rusty brown, to a rusty black."    So, to start I applied a coat of Folk Art "Barnyard Red" to the figures to get the "rusty" look.  Next,  I worked on their clothing, painting their loin cloths Accent "Real Umber", and the rest of the clothing Accent "Mustard Seed".

Next, I painted all their assorted straps Americana "Mississippi Mud". The back of the shield I painted DecoArt Cinnamon Brown"; and the shield handle and any pouches they were wearing I painted Americana "Asphaltum".  For the front of the shield, I used Americana "Cadmium Red".   I then moved to painting the spear shafts Folk Art "Barn Wood", and the rope binding on the spears with Americana "Sable Brown".  I wrapped up the non-metallics on he figures by painting their horns with Americana "Khaki Tan", and  the skull belt buckle, with Americana "Buttermilk".

Now I painted the stonework bases with Folk Art "Medium Gray".  Then I did all the metal bits; sword, spear points, armor, studs and buckle, with Cearmcoat "Metallic Pewter".

After all the paint had a while to dry, I gave the figures a wash with thinned Vallejo "Black" ink.

I then went back and gave the figures' skin and clothing highlights with the base colors I had used. I then painted black noses on the Kobolds, and "Cadmium Red" dots for eyes.  I also used the "Buttermilk" for their teeth.   The weapon edges I gave highlights with Folk Art "Silver Sterling".    After everything had time to dry thoroughly, I gave the figures a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  When this was dry, I flocked the bases.  After the bases had overnight to dry, I sprayed the figures with Testor's "Dullcote".

I'm pleased with how these turned out.  They are nice simple little figures to work on.

Figures 75-77: Complete

Lizardman Warrior: Figure 74 of 265

This week I also had time to paint the Lizardman figure from the 30 New Bones set.  I began by soaking him overnight in some water with a little dish soap added, and then I gave the figure a light scrub with a soft toothbrush and rinsed it.  When dry, I sprayed it with Krylon Flat Black Camouflage with Fusion. I then glued it to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's tacky glue, and then glued this to a half a tongue depressor using two drops of Elmer's white glue.

  To begin, I painted the front of the figure with Americana "Reindeer Moss Green"; and the scaly back of the figure, and top of the head, I painted with Americana "Avocado"

When these two colors had time to dry, I gave the figure a coat of thinned GW "Dark Green" ink.

When the ink was dry, I went back and added highlights to the front and back using the original colors.   Next, I painted the inside of the mouth with Americana "Shading Flesh", and then I painted the teeth, claws, and the spikes on his head and running down his back with Americana "Buttermilk". Then I pained his eyes with Apple Barrel "Yellow", and then added black slit pupils.

Next, I painted his turtle-shell shield with Accent "Mustard Seed", and his spear shaft with Folk Art "Barn Wood".  The rope bindings on the spear shaft I painted Americana "Mississippi Mud", and the strap on the shield I painted, Ceramcoat "Walnut". At this time I also painted the decorative rings on the shield all white in preparation for applying some bright colors to them..

When this white prep coat dried, I painted the decorative rings on the spear their final colors. I did the outer ones with Ceramcoat "Bronze", and the inner ones with White, GW "Blood Red", and GW "Hawk Turquoise". I also painted his wrist band with the "Bronze".  When everything had time to dry, I went back and applied some thinned Winsor-Newton "Peat Brown" ink, to the inside of the Lizardman's mouth, his back spikes, and claws, as well as the entire shield and spear and his wrist band.  When this dried, I went back and painted the spear tip black, and then gave it a light drybrushing with Duncan "Slate Blue", to give it the look of obsidian.  I also went back and added some highlights to the decorative rings on the spear shaft, and to the shield, in the original colors, and then I added some detail markings to the exterior of the turtle shell with the "walnut" paint.

  After everything had time to dry, I gave the entire figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish", and when this had dried I flocked the base.  After letting everything sit overnight, I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote spray paint the next day.

   I am pleased with how this guy turned out.  And it proved to be a quick and simple figure to get done.

Figure 74 of 265: Complete

Goblins Completed! Figures 71-73 of 265

     This week I finished the last three of the Goblins from the Dungeon Attack set.  As I mentioned in my previous Goblin posts,  I didn't want to paint them the same old green that has become so common for Goblins, so I consulted the D & D Monster Manual, and read up on Goblins.  It said that their skin color ranged from yellow, to dull orange, to brick red...nothing about green.  So, I decided to go with the middle of the range and paint them a dull orange-ish.
      To begin with though, I prepped them in the usual way; soaking in water with a bit of dish soap added, giving a gentle scrub with an old soft toothbrush, then rinsing and drying.  Afterwards, I primed them with Krylon Camouflage Flat Black with Fusion.  I then glued them to 1" fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then glued the washers to a tongue depressor with a coupe small dabs of Elmer's white glue, for ease of handling during painting.

     Like each time before, I began by painting all their exposed skin areas with Accent "Golden Oxide".   I then painted their Tunics with GW "Graveyard Earth", and the padded jerkin on the archer with GW "Scorched Brown".  I also painted  the fur areas on the neck of the mace Goblin, and the boots of the spear Goblin, with the "Scorched Brown."  I then dry brushed these areas with Folk Art "Barn Wood".  I then painted their hats with Americana "Avocado".

    Then I did the backs of the shields with Ceramcoat "Walnut", and then all the straps and belts with Americana "Asphaltum".  The Quiver I painted with Accent "Real Umber" and the arrow shafts with Crafter's "Spice Brown". I then painted the handle of the mace, bow, and spear shaft with the "Spice Brown". Next, I painted the fletchings by dry brushing them with the Folk Art "Medium Gray." The facings of the shields I left plain black this time. I painted the boots of the spear-wielding Goblin with GW "Snakebite Leather".

     My next step was to work on the stonework bases they were standing on.  I painted these with Duncan "Slate Grey", and then painted the blobs of vegetation sitting on the stones with DecoArt "Forest Green".  Next, I painted their teeth and the claws on their feet with Americana"Buttermilk".  Lastly I painted the metal armor, weapon and shield parts, and buckles with Accent "Princely Pewter".

    When all the paint was dry,  I washed the figures completely with some watered down Winsor-Newton Peat Brown Ink

     When the ink wash dried, I added highlights to their skin and clothing by repainting some of the raised areas with the base color.  I also added some highlights to the metal parts with Ceramcoat "Metallic Pewter", and highlighted their teeth and claws with the "Buttermilk". I also painted their eyes with the "Buttermilk", and added black pupils.  Then, after everything had time to dry, I painted on a coat of Ceamcoat "Matt Varnish".  When this had dried I flocked the bases.  Even though they were sculpted to look like dungeon floors, I wanted to use my Goblins in outdoor settings, so I flocked them to look like perhaps the Goblins were standing on parts of old ruins or an overgrown path.  After the flock had dried, I sprayed the figures with Testor's Dullcote.

     I'm pleased with how these last three turned out, and am happy to see the Goblin chapter  finally closed.  Below is a picture of the whole gang of them, and I think they make a nice mob of malicious Goblininess. :)

Figures 71-73: Complete

Grave Wraith: Figure 70 of 265

This week, as I revealed in last Monday's post, I painted the green translucent Grave Wraith from the Haunts set.  Unfortunately,  one of the worst head colds I have ever had set in last week, and kept me from going to Cold Wars; as I was just too sick.  I was, however, able to finish painting the Grave Wraith.
     As usual, I began by washing the figure in a bowl of water with a little dish soap added.  I then rinse it and let it dry.  Afterwards, I glued it to a black-primed 1.5 inch fender washer using white tacky glue, and then I glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of plain white glue.

  I began by giving the whole figure a wash with very thinned Iron Wind Metals "Dark Green Ink".  I then painted the "face" as well as the sword and hand, and gravestone and base, with black paint.

Next I drybrushed the gravestone with Folk Art "Medium Gray", and painted the blade of the sword with Folk At "Metallic Emerald Green".  I ended up giving the blade three coats of the green to make it really brilliant. You can see the difference in the blade in the photo below with one coat, and the photo that follows it with the three coats.

 My next step was to do a lighter drybrush on the gravestone with Americana "Dove Grey" , and then I painted the hilt of the sword with Ceramcoat "Bronze". This was followed with doing light highlights on the fingers of the sword hand with GW "Shadow Grey"

I finished up by going over the hilt of the sword and adding heavy highlights with Ceramcoat "14K Gold". I then painted the rune details on the sword with GW "Golden Yellow", then I went over them again and added a bit of "Apple Barrel "Yellow" in the center of each rune. Lastly, I painted the skull by the gravestone with Americana "Buttermilk", followed by heavy highlighting with plain white.
     When everything was dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matt Varnish".   When this was dry, I flocked the base.  Lastly, I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcoat.

As usual, photographing these translucents is a bugger. However, I am pleased with how this one came out, and in general I think the photo gives you the idea of what I was going for.  Also, as you can see, the blade on this figure was miscast, missing a section at the top.  That didn't bother me too much, as being the weapon of a dead warrior, I can easily imagine that it was broken in battle.

Figure 70 of 265: Complete

Sorry, No Figure This Week

My apologies to my readers, but once again with Cold Wars right around the corner and still having painting for the con left to do, I was not able to finish a figure in time for my regular Monday posting.  I tried to squeeze in one of the green translucent figures last week, and made progress on it (teaser shot shown below), but wasn't able to get him completed.  Hopefully, I will have his article up on next Monday.