Bone Fiend: Bones II Figure

     This week I painted the Bone Fiend figure from the Bones II Savage Worlds Set.  When I picked out this figure to paint, I decided that I wanted to do something different than the same old skeleton paint job.  I went back and forth between ideas like glowing green perhaps, or a black obsidian look, or something else.  Than as I was looking at this figure something about it suggested leaping tongues of flame, and I got the idea in my head to paint it like fire.  That would be cool, right?
       I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.   I then glued the figure to a 1.5" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.

     I began by painting the figure all black.  When the black was dry I drybrushed he figure with, first, Folk Art "Dark Brown", and then Apple Barrel "Burnt Sienna".

    I then drybrushed Folk Art "Deep Tomato Red", followed with GW "Blood Red".

Next, I used GW   "Blazing Orange" and Americana "Tangerine"

I finished up with drybrushing Apple Barrel "Yellow" and Apple Barrel "Lemon Chiffon".  I really wasn't happy with the results. It looked a muddy mess, so I went back to the lighter colors and dabbed some more on.  Then I thought maybe I had gotten off on the wrong foot by starting with brown shades, so I went back and dabbed in some Americana "Cranberry Wine" to try and cover the browns...then some more of the lighter colors.  Oh, well.
   I let the figure sit all day, and that evening I gave it a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I flocked the figure and that afternoon gave it a coat of Testor's "Dullcote" spray varnish.

  Well, I consider this a failed experiment.   I'm not sure if the fact it's not shaped like fire is part of the problem, or my starting off with browns was the wrong way to go...  Anyhow, there's many more figures for me to get to, so we can't linger too long on ones I'm unhappy with.

Lysette, Female Elf: Figure 154 of 265

     This week I painted Lysette, Female Elf, from the Klocke Classics Set.  I didn't really have a plan going into this figure...and kind of just started applying paint knowing I had to get it completed in time to post today.  This caused a couple errors that I had to deal with along the way.  This figure's completion puts me halfway though the Klocke set.
      I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  The staff was actually sculpted to the bottom of the dress, which caused it to bow badly. So I had to trim it off the dress, and used steam from a kettle to help straighten it.   I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.
    I forgot to take an unpainted starting shot, so we'll get straight to the step-by-step. As, I mentioned I didn't really have a plan, but I had recently bought a bottle of Folk Art "Thicket" in the discount rack at the local Craft store, so I was eager to use it.  So, I began by painting the dress with it.  I then painted the cuffs, bodice front, shoulder pads, and skirt straps with Apple Barrel "Rock Grey".  I then started to paint the skin with GW "Elf Flesh", and did everything but the leg when I realized I probably wanted to do a black wash on the dress and gray parts, but not get any on the flesh, so I stopped painting the flesh at that point until I could do the wash.

I did the black wash with GW "Badab Black" wash using a wet brush. After the figure had time to dry, I did highlights on the dress with first the base "Thicket", and then I mixed about 50/50 "Thicket" and Folk Art "Hauser Green Medium" to make a lighter shade. I did highlights on the gray parts with the base "Rock Grey".  I went back and painted the leg with the "Elf Flesh" and cleaned up any areas where the black wash had got on the skin.   I then painted her scabbard belt, pouches, and shoe with  Americana "Zinc".

     Next, I gave all the skin parts a wash with Winsor-Newton "Peat Brown" ink using a wet brush.  Then, when the ink wash was dry,  I painted her hair Black. I then painted the wood parts of her staff with Americana "Mississippi Mud", and the wrappings in the middle with Folk Art "Barn Wood". I also used the "Barn Wood" to paint the scroll rolled up and strapped to her rear pouch.  I painted the scabbard with Apple Barrel "Apple Blue Spruce".

   I then drybrushed her hair with Apple Barrel "Apple Scotch Blue". I painted her eyes, with Black sockets, White whites and Black pupils.  I also added fine Black lines for eyebrows, then went back and added in eyeshadow with some Americana "Leaf Green".  I then took the "Elf Flesh" and did highlights on all her skin.  I then added a little White to the "Elf Flesh" and did some finer highlights. I realized at this point that I had painted the top of staff wrong (I hadn't realized the very top was wood, I had thought it was metal), and went back and painted the top portion with the "Mississippi Mud".  I then painted the crystal in the staff with the "Leaf Green".  The blade of the sword I did with Folk Art "Metallic Emerald Green".   All the buckles, buttons, hair jewelry, sword hilt and the scabbard and staff fittings I painted with Ceramcoat "Metallic Copper".

     I gave the staff, scabbard, and the sword hilt a wash with some GW "Agrax Earthshade" using a wet brush.  I also took a little bit of this and did a light wash on the runes running down the sword blade.  I highlighted the scabbard belt, pouches, and shoe with the "Rock Grey".  When the washes I did earlier were dry, I highlighted the staff wraps with the base "Barn Wood", then mixed a little of the "Barn Wood" into the "Mississippi Mud", and did highlights on the wood parts of the staff.  I painted shadows on the crystal with Americana "Forest Green" and Accent "Forest Green", and then did highlights with some White and some of the "Leaf Green" with a little White mixed in.  I then drybrushed the sword blade with Folk Art "Silver Sterling", and added highlights to the copper parts with the base "Metallic Copper".  Lastly, I painted the base of the figure with Ceramcoat "Walnut".
    I let the figure sit all day, and that evening I gave it a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I flocked the base, and late that afternoon I sprayed the figure with Testor's "Dullcote" spray varnish.  After the Dullcote had overnight to dry, I went back and painted the crystal part with Americana "DuraClear Gloss Varnish".

     For an off the cuff paint scheme, I think it turned out pretty good.  She turned out a little darker looking in tone than I usually like for Elves, but I suppose she could be an Elf gone bad...or maybe wearing  a more autumnal or winter outfit.

Figure 154 of 265: Complete

Ankheg: Bones II Figure

    This week I also completed the Ankheg figure from the Bones II Dungeon Monsters Set.  While I didn't see myself having much use for it as a 28mm monster, I thought it would look pretty cool as a Giant Anhkheg (D & D Monster Manual spelling) to go with my 10mm "Bear Yourselves Valiantly" fantasy armies.   So, I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  Then, I glued to a black-primed standard 3" x 1.5" BYV  sized metal base with Aleene's Tacky glue.

     I began by painting the outer body of the creature with Folk Art "Dark Brown". I then painted the underbelly and the inside of the legs with GW "Tanned Flesh". I followed that with painting the upturned ground around the beastie with Ceramcoat "Walnut".

   Next, I painted some of the lumps on the base as boulders using Folk Art "Medium Gray". Then, when everything had a chance to dry, I gave the entire creature a wash with GW Agrax Earthshade" wash using a wet brush.

   When the wash was good and dry,  I painted the mandibles and the claws on the tips of the legs, with Accent "Real Umber".  I then drybrushed the outer parts of the figure with Americana "Sable Brown", and the under-parts with Americana "Shading Flesh.   I painted the eyes with Black, and added a tiny White dot to each of them to make them look shiny.   Lastly, I gave the earth around the base a drybrushing with Americana "Mississippi Mud", and followed that with some Americana "Khaki Tan".

         I let the figure sit overnight, and the next morning I gave it a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  Later that afternoon I flocked the base, leaving parts of the upturned earth and boulders around the creature bare. The next morning I sprayed the figure with Testor's "Dullcote" spray varnish.

     I'm very happy with how this figure turned out, and I think it looks suitably terrifying in 10mm.

A 10mm unit of High Elves collectively craps their pants as the earth erupts before them.

Mummy Warrior: Figure 153 of 265

  This week, again being short of free time to paint, I skipped doing another of the Klocke Classics figures, and instead I pulled out another figure from the Who's Your Mummy Set to work on.     I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.
     I began by painting the body of the figure with  Folk Art "Barn Wood".

     I then painted any exposed skin with Folk Art "Poppy Seed".  Next, I painted the loin cloth, and head cloth with Folk Art "Deep Tomato Red".  I painted the back of the shield with Americana "Mississippi Mud".

     I then painted the collar piece, the top of the headdress, the scabbard, and the hangings at the waist with Americana "True Blue".  Next, I painted his belt with Folk Art "Dark Brown". The handgrips on his weapons I painted Americana "Asphaltum".   I followed with panting his shield, scythe, and assorted decorative adornments with Cermacoat "Bronze.

     I then used the "Deep Tomato Red" and "True Blue" to paint the decorations on the shield.  I tried to do this in a stippling way, not completely covering the sculpted design, to  give the impression of chipped and worn paint.  I then took some Reaper "Surf Aqua" and dabbed some areas of corrosion on to the shield and weapon.

  When all the paint had had time to dry, I gave the entire figure a wash with  GW "Agrax Earthshade" wash, using a wet brush.

     When the wash had had time to dry, I started work on the highlights.   First, I added simple dot eyes with Americana "Olive Green" (Which is actually a light, almost neon, green).   I then highlighted the skin with the base "Poppy Seed", and I highlighted the wrappings with the base "Barn Wood".   I highlighted the blue areas with the base "True Blue", and the red parts with the base "Deep Tomato Red".   The gold decorations that I had painted with the "Bronze" , I highlighted with Ceramcoat "14K Gold". I didn't do the scythe or the shield as I was trying to distinguish between  functional items that were actually bronze, and ornamental items that were made of gold.   Lastly, I painted the figure's white integral base with Ceramcoat Walnut. 

     

 After everything had a day to dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I gave the base a coat of Elmer's white glue, and dunked it in a sand mixture.   When the sand had dried, I gave it a coat of the "Walnut" paint that I had heavily thinned.  When this was dry, I drybrurshed the sand with first, Americana "Khaki Tan", an then Americana "Buttermilk".  I then added a little light green static grass to the base. That evening I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.

   I'm pleased with how this mummy turned out, particularly the weathering and corrosion on the shield and scythe. 

Figure 153 of 265: Complete  

Prairie Tick Queen: Bones II Figure

  I also completed the Bones II Prairie Tick Queen figure this week, from the Savage Worlds Set.   I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.

   I began by painting the base of the figure with Americana "Asphaltum", I then drybrushed the base with Americana "Mississippi Mud" , and then with Americana "Khaki Tan".

     Next, I painted the body of the tick with Folk Art "Dark Brown", and then added red trim with Folk Art "Deep Tomato Red".

    When those colors had dried, I gave the creature a wash with GW "Agrax Earthshade" wash, using a wet brush; and being very careful to try not to get any on the already painted base.

     When the wash had dried, I added highlights to the body with Crafters Edition "Spice Brown", and I highlighted the red trim with the base "Deep Tomato Red".  I then painted the eyes of the tick with Black.  Lastly, I painted the bones sculpted onto the base with Americana Buttermilk", and then added some White highlights to them.
      When everything had overnight to dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I flocked the edges of the base, carefully adding a bit here and there between some of the legs.   Later that afternoon I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.

I'm very pleased with how this simple little figure turned out.  And he probably can be used in multiple genres from Fantasy to Pulp to Sci-Fi

Isabeau Laroche, Female Paladin: Figure 152 of 265

        This week I began the Klocke Classics Set by painting Isabeau Laroche, Female Paladin.  I must say that I have been dreading starting this set, with its finally detailed, thin little, fussy, delicate sculpts.  But the only way through to my completion of the first Reaper Bones Kickstarter, led directly through this set, so it had to be done.  I find the best way to do figures I really dread doing, is by just plunging in, and doing one color at a time...eventually you reach a completed figure.
     I picked the female paladin figure to do first because I thought, with her long hooded cloak, that she would be ideal as a subject for my winter themed figure collection.  Though this was another one of those figures I don't like painting with all the fiddly little details. So many straps and layers, that half the time I couldn't really tell what was supposed to be clothing, and what was supposed to be armor...
      I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.

   I began by painting those parts I thought were armor with Black paint.. When it was dry, I drybrushed it with  Ceramcoat "Metallic Pewter". I then went over this with a lighter drybrushing of Folk Art "Silver Sterling". Next, I painted her tunic with Americana "True Blue" and all the drapes at her waist and shoulders, as well as the exterior of her cloak, with Americana "Salem Blue".

         I moved now to paint the interior of her cloak, and the trim on her tunic, with White.  I realized what I had thought was a fold in her clock's lining was actually another hanging coming off her right side, so I painted that with the "Salem Blue", and then did the White.   Next, I did her gauntlets with Apple Barrel "Burnt Sienna", and then I did her belts and straps with Folk Art "Dark Brown".

    After all the "Salem Blue parts" had had time to dry, I gave them all a coat of Iron Wind Metals "Medium Blue" ink using a very wet brush.  I then painted the grip on her sword, and the back of her shield with Americana "Asphaltum".  I then painted her face with Apple Barrel "Apple Flesh", and her hair with Accent "Mustard Seed".

      When all the brown toned colors had had time to dry, I went back and gave them a wash with Winsor Newton "Peat Brown" ink using a wet brush.  I then painted highlights, on the "Salem Blue" parts that I had given the "Medium Blue" ink wash to, with the base "Salem Blue".  I highlighted her tunic by mixing a little of the "Salem Blue" with the original "True Blue".  I then did highlights on her gauntlets with the base "Burnt Sienna".  I then carefully drybrushed the bulk of her hair with Americana "Moon Yellow", and then Americana 'Buttermilk", then I used a fine brush to do the highlights anywhere the hair was next to another color.   I then painted her eyes using my usual eye technique and then did highlights on her face with the base "Apple Flesh, and then added a little White to it, to do lighter highlights.  I then added eyebrows by painting small lines over each eye with the "Mustard Seed", and then adding smaller "Moon Yellow" highlight lines. I did highlights on her straps with the base "Dark Brown".  I moved to her shield next, and painted that with Folk Art "Metallic Blue Sapphire".

     I finished up by doing the rest of the metallics.  I painted her sword hilt and the decorations and border  on the shield with Ceramcoat "Bronze".  I then painted her sword blade with the "Metallic Pewter".  I then went back and added highlights to the parts I had painted with the "Bronze" using Ceramcoat "14k Gold".  I then did highlights on the sword blade with Folk Art "Silver Sterling", and used this color to add some further detailed highlights to her armor, and to do the buckles on her assorted straps.  I finished up by painting the jewels on her sword and shield using the "True Blue", with "Salem Blue" and White highlights"
      I painted her base white, and when everything had overnight to dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I flocked the base with Woodland Scenics "Snow" flock, and added a little bit of brown scrubbing pad to be a winter bush.  Late that afternoon I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.  I then went back and used Americana "DuraClear Gloss Varnish" to give the jewels an added shine.

   As much as I dreaded doing this first Klocke figure, I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  Now to grit my teeth and turn towards the next one...

Figure 152 of 265: Complete

The Nun: Bones II Figure

    This week I painted the Nun from the Bones II Pulp Action Set.  Once again, I was very pressed for time earlier this week, so I selected a figure that would be quick and easy to complete.
      I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.

    I began by painting her habit entirely black.  I then drybrushed it with Folk Art "Settlers Blue". I then painted her face and hands with Apple Barrel "Apple Flesh"

     Next, I painted the white parts of her habit.  I then gave her face and hands a wash with Winsor-Newton "Peat Brown" Ink using a wet brush.

     When the wash was dry, I painted her eyes, (See a detailed tutorial I did on painting her eyes here.) I then highlighted her face and hands using the base "Apple Flesh". Next, I painted her gun Black, and while I had the black out I added two quick eyebrows.  I then painted the cross necklace around her neck with Crafters Edition "Spice Brown".  When it was dry, I gave it a careful light wash with the "Peat Brown" ink. I then went back and added highlights to the gun with Accent "Princely Pewter".  Lastly, I painted the white base of the figure with Ceramcoat "Walnut".
       I let the figure sit overnight, and the next morning I gave it a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  Later that afternoon I flocked the base. The next morning I sprayed the figure with Testor's "Dullcote" spray varnish.
     (As a side note, I didn't realize until I was editing these pictures, that I had totally forgot to paint the rosary hanging at her waist.  I'm going to have to go back and add that in now that the figure is finished.)

   I'm pleased with how she turned out.  I think the sculpt has a good bit of character to it.

Painting Eyes Tutorial

This week I worked on the Nun from Bones II Pulp Action Set, (I'll be posting the full article tomorrow, Thursday May 7th) and I thought I would take the opportunity to give a quick tutorial on how I paint eyes.

        We pick up in the painting process at the point where I have painted the skin, and given it a wash with something to darken the recesses and crevices.  To do the eyes, first I paint the sockets black.  It's ok if you go outside of the actual sculpted eye.

      Next, I very carefully paint an area of white inside the black sockets that I just painted, being careful to leave a thin black rim around the area of white.

     I then go back and paint the pupils by doing vertical lines with black across the center of the eyes.

      I then take my flesh color and clean up anywhere that I have gone outside of the eye area.

     And that is how I do eyes. I hope this helps some of you who have been looking for an easy method.

The Mummy: Figure 151 of 265

   This week I didn't have much time to paint, so I selected a quick and easy figure to complete: the basic mummy from the Who's Your Mummy Set.   I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying.  I then glued the figure to a 1" black-primed fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and glued the washer to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's White Glue.

      I began by painting the entire figure with Folk Art "Barn Wood".  I then painted any exposed skin with Folk Art "Dapple Grey".

      After the paint had time to dry, I gave the figure a wash with GW "Agrax Earthshade" wash.

      When the wash was dry, I added simple dot eyes with American "Olive Green" (Which is actually a light, almost neon, green).   I then highlighted the skin with the base "Dapple Grey", and I highlighted the wrappings with the base "Barn Wood".  I painted the figure's white integral base with Ceramcoat Walnut.
     After everything had a day to dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".  The next morning I gave the base a coat of Elmer's white glue, and dunked it in a sand mixture.   When the sand had dried, I gave it a coat of the "Walnut" paint that I had heavily thinned.  When this was dry, I drybrurshed the sand with first, Americana "Khaki Tan", an then Americana "Buttermilk".  I then added a little light green static grass to the base. That evening I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.

     For a quick and simple paint job, I think he turned out quite well.

Figure 151 of 265: Complete

     A couple additional notes.  I got to use my NOVA Corp. figures in a game this past weekend, and you can see a brief report on that on my main blog here.

    Also, I received news that Bones III will be coming this June, and some preview photos of possible Bones III figures were posted at this link.  Now the big decision... My current thinking is that I may go into this one ala carte, assuming they offer that option; unless this Bones outing is a lot more impressive than last time.