Weregorilla: Bones 3 Figure

  This past week I painted the Weregorilla from the Bones 3 Lycanthropes II set.  We had been needing a good Gorilla figure for our Ghost Archipelago games, and this one seemed like it would fill the bill nicely, as there didn't seem to be anything about him that screamed "Were"-creature.  He just looked like a slightly higher evolved Gorilla, which was fine in my opinion for a Fantasy setting.
    I prepped this 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 it.   I then  glued the figure to a white-primed 1.5" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue. I then placed the figure in my painting grip.

     I began by painting the whole animal, and the base for that matter, with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate".  When it was dry, I gave it a heavy wash of Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash.

     I then drybrushed the gorilla with Americana "Neutral Grey", followed by Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey", and lastly, mainly on the back and highpoints, Americana "Grey Sky".

    Next, I added a little drybrushed ares of crafter's Edition "Spice Brown" followed by Americana "Terra Cotta" to the top of his head and lightly to his hips.  I then painted the inside of his mouth with Americana "Shading Flesh", and then did his teeth and the teeth on his necklace with Americana "Antique White".  After that, I painted the string the necklace teeth are strung onto with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige", and the cord his loin furs are on with Americana "Mississippi Mud". I followed that with painting the loin furs with Apple Barrel "Apple Maple Syrup".

     I then painted the spear with the "Territorial Beige",  and the cord holding the spear point with Reaper MSP "Olive Skin Shadow".  Then when everything was dry, I gave his mouth, the necklace, the loin cloth, and the spear shaft and cord, all a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade"wash.  When the wash was dry, I went back and gave the skulls a wash with some of the "Nuln Oil" wash.  I then painted the spear point with Americana "Zinc", and then did his eyes with Accent "Real Umber", with some White pinpoint highlights.

     Next, I highlighted the tongue and inside of the mouth with a bit of Crafter's acrylic "Cherry Blossom Pink" mixed with some of the "Shading Flesh".  I then highlighted the gorilla's teeth, and the the ones on the necklace, with Crafter's Acrylic "Light Antique White"; and I finished up the necklace by highlighting the string with some Folk Art "Butter Pecan".   After that I highlighted the fur on the loincloth with some of the base "Apple Maple syrup", mixed with a little Americana "Buttermilk", and I highlighted the skulls with  some Folk Art "Porcelain White", and a little of the "light Antique White".  I then completed the Loincloth by highlighting the cord with some Americana  "Sable Brown".  I moved on to the spear,  giving the point a hit with the "Nuln Oil", and then highlighting the shaft with Americana "Khaki", and the cord with Reaper MSP "Olive Skin Highlight". I then did some highlights on the spearpoint with Apple Barrel "Rock Grey".
      Lastly, I painted the figure's integral base with the "Bittersweet Chocolate".
     I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the base.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".

     A fun and easy figure to paint.  I'm particularly happy with how his mouth and eyes came out.  Hopefully I'll never have to face him in the Ghost Archipelago! :)

Ursula, Dwarven Bear Rider: Bones 2 Figure

    This past week I worked on Ursula, Dwarven Bear Rider, which was released as part of the Bones 2 Expansion 2 set.   I didn't get that set originally, and picked up this figure from a friend who had.   I selected her to paint this past week, as I wanted her to be the Dwarven Commander in a game I'm running at next month's Historicon gaming convention.
      I prepped this 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 it.   I then trimmed the figure's integral base a little and then glued the figure to a black-primed 1.5" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue. I then placed the figure in my painting grip.

     I began by painting the armor Ceramcoat "Black"; and when it was dry, I drybrushed the armor with  Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey".  After that, I painted the bear with Crafter's Edition "Cinnamon Brown".

     I then painted her face with Americana "Shading Flesh", and her hair with Ceramcoat "Maple Sugar Tan".  Next, I painted the saddle and girth with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate", and her pants with Americana "Khaki Tan".   After that, I did her boots and the fur at the top of her cape with Accent "Real Umber", and the  painted the tops of her boots with Americana "Terra Cotta".

     I went back to the "Bittersweet Chocolate" and painted the strap around the bears neck,   and then painted his mouth with Apple Barrel "Apple Lt. Pink", and his teeth with Americana "Antique White".  I then painted his claws with Americana "Charcoal Grey", and then did the Dwarf's cape with Anita's "Burnt Sienna".     

        After everything had time to dry, I gave her face a wash of Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.   When that wash was dry, I then gave a wash to her hair, cape, pants, and boots, as well as the whole bear, with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.    When that was dry, I painted her eye, then highlighted her face with a mix of the base "Shading Flesh", and some Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh".   After that, I highlighted her hair with some  of the "Antique White", and then with some Apple Barrel "Lemon Chiffon".   Next, I painted her eyepatch, dagger sheath, and the two grips on the sword with Reaper MSP "Coal Black".  When dry, I highlighted them all with Citadel "The Fang". 

      Next, I highlighted her pants with the "Antique White", and then highlighted her cape with Americana "Burnt Orange".  I then highlighted her boots, and the fur at top of her cape, with Americana "Mississippi Mud", and then highlighted the tops of the boots with Accent "Golden Oxide". 

     I now worked on the bear; highlighting him first with a drybrush of Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown", followed with a drybrush of Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige" on the higher points.  I finished by drybrushing his muzzle, shoulder, hips, and rump with a little Folk Art "Barn Wood".   Next, I highlighted his teeth with Americana "Bleached Sand", and his claws with Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey".  I painted his nose and eyes with the "Black", and highlighted the nose with a little Americana "Dove Grey", and his eyes with dots of White.  After that, I got out the "Mississippi Mud again, and used it to highlight the saddle girth and neck strap.  

     At this point I painted the shield with Americana "True Blue".  I then painted the sword, metal claws on her boots, and the shield border with Americana "Zinc",  and when they were dry, I painted over them, as well as painting the studs on the neck strap, with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey".  I then highlighted them, and all the other armor with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".   I next painted the decorations on her shield, and the eyepatch on the helmet, with Ceramcoat "Bronze", and when dry, went over them with Americana "Wedding Gold".

     Lastly, I painted the figure's integral base with the "Bittersweet Chocolate".

     I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the base.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote". 

     I'm really amazed at how this came out.  This may be my new favorite figure; not only is it a super-cool sculpt, but I think I did a pretty good job with it as well.  I only wish she had a whole unit of Bones bear-mounted Dwarven women to command!

Goblins: Bones 3 Figures

   This past week I painted up the half dozen Goblins from the Bones 3 Goblins set, as I needed a few more for a game I'm running at Historicon in July.   Nothing fancy for these guys, just a get-'em-on-the-table paint job.
     I used the same color scheme that I started using on the Bones Goblins back in in 2014 with the Goblins from the Bones 1 Kickstarter; based on my old D&D Monster Manual, which said Goblins ranged in color from yellow to dull orange to brick red.
   So, I prepped the figures in the usual way; soaking them in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added and then rinsing and drying.   I then glued them to 1" black-primed fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue.  I then glued the figures to a pair of tongue depressors, 3 each, with a couple drops of the Elmer's glue each.
 

       I began by giving all six figures a wash with Reaper MSP "Brown Liner", and when that was dry, I painted the skin on all six with accent "Golden Oxide".  Then on the first three I painted the first and third ones' shields, and the second one's pants with Reaper MSP Bones "Cinnamon Red".  Next, I painted the loin cloths on all three with Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown".  I also used this color for the back of the shields.  After that, I painted the second one's chest armor, and the cross pieces on the third one's shield with Black.

      I then painted all their shoes, belts, straps, and wrist braces with Crafter's Acrylic "Cinnamon Brown".  After that, I painted their weapons, and the second one's helmet, all with Americana "Zinc".

       Next, when everything had had a chance to dry, I gave the figures a complete wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade wash.  When that was dry, I realized I hadn't painted their teeth, so I painted them with Americana "Antique White".  I let that dry, I then went over their mouths again with some of the "Agrax Earthshade'.  When it was dry, I painted their eyes, and then highlighted their teeth with Americana "Bleached Sand".  After that, I highlighted their skin with a mix of the base "Golden Oxide" mixed with some Ceramcoat "Maple Sugar Tan", and painted their weapons, the hemet, the chest armor, and any studs, with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey" 

     I then highlighted the red on the shields and the second one's pants with some Ceramcoat "opaque Red".  After that I highlighted all the shoes, belts, and straps with Americana "Sable Brown", and the loin cloths and shield wood backs with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige".  I highlighted the Black cross bars on the third one's shield with Americana "Neutral Grey", and then highlighted all the metal bits with some Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".   Lastly, I painted the figures bases with Americana "Raw Umber".

     I then turned to the second group of three. I had already painted their skin with the "Golden Oxide" when I did the first three, so I then painted their clothing with Vallejo "Brown Violet", and all their shoes, straps, belts, and the quiver, with the "Cinnamon Brown". 

       Next, I painted the bow, and the shafts on the halberd and spear, with the"Teddy Bear Brown".  I also used this color for the back of the shields.  After that, I painted the edged weapons, the second one's helmet, shoulder armor and wrist guards, all with the "Zinc".  On the third one, I painted his shield half Apple Barrel "Yellow", and half "Black".

        Next, when everything had had a chance to dry, I gave the figures a complete wash with the "Agrax Earthshade wash.  When that was dry, I realized I hadn't painted their teeth again(!), so I painted them with the "Antique White".  I let that dry, I then went over their mouths again with some of the "Agrax Earthshade'.  When it was dry, I painted their eyes, and then highlighted their teeth with the "Bleached Sand".  After that, I highlighted their skin with a mix of the base "Golden Oxide" mixed with some "Maple Sugar Tan", and painted their weapons, the hemet, the chest armor, and any studs, with "Gunmetal Grey"

     I then highlighted their clothing with a mix of the base "Brown Violet" and some Americana "Jade Green".  After that I highlighted all the shoes, belts, and straps with Americana "Sable Brown", and the wood weapon parts and shield back with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige".  I highlighted the Black half on the third one's shield with Americana "Neutral Grey", and the Yellow part with Crafter's Acrylic "Daffodil Yellow".  After that, I highlighted all the metal bits with some Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".   Lastly, I painted the figures bases with Americana "Raw Umber".

     I let the figures dry overnight and the next day I gave all 6 of them a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the bases.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed them all with Testor's Dullcote". 

     I'm real happy with these guys for simple paint jobs, and they should fit into the horde quite nicely!

Dwarven Butcher: Bones 3 Fgure

     This past week, I returned to the Bones 3 Townsfolk set, and worked on the Dwarven Butcher.  As I looked at the figure, I realized I didn't like how he was holding his cleaver up in the air as if poised to swing it down and  slice the throat of his little buddy next to him.  I decided to reposition it into a more benign position.

Photo from Reapermini.com

     So, after soaking the figure 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 it; I carefully cut the contact point where the cleaver meets the hat, and then cut the arm at the elbow.  Next, I glued it on in the reverse position, so it looked more like he was resting the cleaver on his hip.   There was slight gap left in the top of the elbow, which I filled with a little gel superglue.

     I began by painting his face with Americana "Shading Flesh". I then added a little Ceramcoat Black Cherry" to the "Shading Flesh" and used it on his nose.  I thought I would challenge myself to paint him in mostly whites, as stereotypical butchers wear; so I painted his tunic with Americana "Bleached Sand", and his apron and hat with Americana "Dove Grey".  I then painted his west with Americana "Terra Cotta", just to give some contrast.

     Next, I painted his beard and eyebrows with Anita's "Burnt Sienna", and his gloves with Americana "Khaki Tan".  I then painted the pig with Apple Barrel "Apple Lt Pink", and his boots with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate."  I also painted the handle of the cleaver with Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown".

     After everything had time to dry, I gave his face , and the pig, a wash of Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.   When that wash was dry, I then gave a wash to all his clothing, and beard, with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.    When that was dry, I painted his eyes, then highlighted his face with a mix of the base "Shading Flesh", and some Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh".   I tried to add some of the "Black Cherry" in when I highlighted his nose, but in the end realized there's not enough of the rest of his face showing to really see the difference (His face is all nose, eyes, and hair!)
     Next, I worked on highlighting his beard and eyebrows, using first Crafter's Acrylic "Orange Spice", and then a bit of Americana "Tangerine".

        Next, I highlighted his tunic with Crafter's Acrylic "Light Antique White", and I highlighted his apron and hat with Americana" Snow White".  I then went over the pig with a half stippling, half drybrushing coat of Accent "Soft White" in an effort to represent the course white hairs I saw on most photos of pigs I Googled.   After that, I highlighted his gloves with Americana "Antique White", and highlighted his vest with a mix of the base Terra Cotta" and some Apple Barrel "Apple Maple Syrup".   I highlighted his boots next, with some Crafter's Edition "Spice Brown", and the handle of the cleaver with the base "Teddy Bear Brown".  I then painted the cleaver with Americana "Zinc; and when it was dry, painted over it with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey", and then highlighted it with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".
      When I was done painting the figure, I used some white glue to glue some fine brown sand to the base.  When the sand was dry, I painted it with a coat of Americana "Raw Umber". When this was dry, I drybrushed the sand with the "Territorial Beige", and then with some Folk Art "Butter Pecan"; lastly I drybrushed it with a little of the "Light Antique White".
      I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.  When dry, I glued on some bits of grass tufts.   Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".

    I'm real happy with how this guy turned out; particularly the white on white clothing.   I'm not so happy that as I was painting I realized just how cartoonish the sculpt was (and the brewer I did a couple weeks ago).  The face, particularly the giant nose, and the eyebrows sculpted onto the hat, do not make for a very realistic dwarf.   I thinks these are trying to be too GW like.  Having painted some of the new Oathmark plastic dwarves recently, it's much nicer when they're sculpted realistically.