This past week I wanted an easy to paint figure because of the pressing last minute painting I'm doing in preparation for Cold Wars this coming weekend. So, I picked the Basilisk out of my remaining Bones 2 pile.
I had no idea what a Basilisk was supposed to look like, so I turned to my old 1978 Monster Manual for Guidance. It's description describes them as being dull brown with yellowish underbellies and glowing pale green eyes; so thats the coloration I decided to go for.
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 it. I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.
I began by painting the whole figure including the base with Americana "Raw Umber", and then did the underbelly with Apple Barrel "Yellow".
Then after those colors had time to dry, I gave the entire figure a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash. When the wash was dry, I drybrushed the main body with Ceramcoat "territorial Beige", followed by a lighter drybrush with Americana "Khaki Tan".
I continued with the drybrushing of the main body, moving next to Crafter's Acrylic "Taupe", and then just a touch of Americana "Bleached Sand". After that, I used the "Bleached Sand" to paint the teeth, then highlighted the underbelly with Crafter's Acrylic "Daffodil Yellow". Next, I painted the eyes with Crafter's Acrylic "Citrus Green", and then painted the center of the eye with the lighter Americana "Margarita". I then lightly drybrushed around the eye with the "Margarita" to provide a little of the eyes' Object Source Lighting "glow". I finished the figure by painting in Americana "Snow White" pupils in the eyes.
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".
Well, it was a rush job, and I think it shows a little; but in general I'm happy with it as a gaming figure.
It might be rushed, but I do like the glowing eye! Dangerous to look into.
ReplyDeleteThanks, XE! Yes, the glowing pale green eyes were part of the MM description, and I realize now I didn't mention that. I need to go edit that into my write-up.
DeleteAlways pleasing to see coloration that harkens back to the original design, although this guy is quite a bit spikier than the one I recall from the MM. Maybe this is a lesser spiky Basilisk?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lasgunpacker! Yes, he's not exactly like the book... perhaps changed so as not to tread on D&D's copyright.
DeleteThat looks great. I must get one for my 18mm Barsoom project, given teh number of legs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, misterc! Oh, you're right; he would be perfect for Barsoom. Would be a good proxy for John Carter's "dog" thing, Woola.
DeleteNice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jay!
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