Tuesday 29 August 2017

"Feral Spirits Of Winter And Hunger..."

"...The Wendigo are twisted souls of mortal men and women who committed cannibalism in life."
This 28mm metal Wendigo is made by "North Star Military Figures" and can be bought as code Drac111 from the company's "Dracula's America" range. Possessing "a craving for fresh meat that can never be sated" the disconcertingly bizarre-looking model is one of skirmish game's "unique Entities" which can be summoned during a battle.

Initially undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, the "wilful creature" was heavily washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and subsequently dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. The figure's antlers were then painted using a combination of Heavy Brown and Strong Tone Quickshade, whilst its hands and mouth were treated to some "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.
"Recently, another earthquake uncovered an upper air lock..."
Alongside the first of my "Dracula's America" miniatures, I have also managed to finish painting one of the two airlocks uncovered by an earthquake in the "Dungeons & Dragons" module "Expedition To Barrier Peaks". Created by drilling away a portion of an old resin rock formation manufactured by either “Terrain Warehouse UK” or “Total System Scenic”, and super-gluing one of "Second City Games" airlocks to it, the ensemble was first primed using some "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and later washed with plenty of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

The large rock was then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown, before I 'picked out' the actual airlock itself using Gunmetal Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. As I wanted the distressed doorway to appear suitably rusty, I liberally applied some "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash over all the sculpt's detail and then dry-brushed the majority of it away with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey.
Sergeant Slaughter WIPs - The drill instructor just needs his hat, moustache and hair painted
I've still got quite a way to go before I manage to clear my painting table, but the completion of the 42mm tall Wendigo miniature, and a significantly sized piece of scenery, has helped me obtain enough 'elbow room' with which to get some pigment upon my penultimate "G.I. Joe" model for this month, Sergeant Slaughter. I've decided to try and duplicate the drill instructor's colour scheme from his 1985 carded action figure, and resultantly have found myself working in olive, charcoal, red and flesh...

24 comments:

  1. I have to say that I am not a fan of the Weird Wild West genre, but that figure does look nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Simon. It was so odd-looking that I simply had to paint him up straight away :-)

      Delete
  2. I find all the Weird Wild west and steam punk very ubfocused as a genre. No two figure manufacturers/companies seem to be working together to make a definitive setting.

    I do like that figure though.
    But my absolute favourite is the "Twiglet" man at the top. (I know not really a twiglet man but it does just remind me of those biscuits!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not thought of the Wendigo as a Twiglet Man before, Clint, but I reckon that's a name which will undoubtedly stick :-)

      Delete
    2. Twiglet Man! Brilliant that's what it reminded me of.

      Delete
    3. To be honest Clint I know exactly what you mean. When I was into Empire of the Dead I picked up a bunch of Steampunk books and they vary massively from sci fi to Victorian themes.

      Delete
  3. What a wonderfully bizarre collection Simon. The Wendigo is perfectly realised and I really do love your terrain piece too. Sergeant Slaughter is looking awesome, but every time I look at him I can't help but hear the Village People singing. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Michael. Sgt Slaughter takes me back to the days of the World Wrestling Federation, and his terrific fights with hulk Hogan and the ultimate Warrior - superb memories!

      Delete
  4. Great work all round Simon, the Joe's seem to have really clicked for you as you've almost reached your target in the allotted month

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Dave. With Major Bludd finished and ready for posting, I'm just Shipwreck away from this month's aim. Good job too as September's mini-project starts on Friday ;-)

      Delete
  5. My favourite has to be the Wendigo, but I can't help feeling he'd look a lot better painted in matt with just his bloody hands being gloss.

    I wish Michael hadn't mentioned the Village People because that's exactly what I'm thinking now when I see your Sergeant Slaughter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tbh I'm a bit bemused by the "Village People" vibe, as I didn't think any of them were dressed as a drill instructor. I guess its the shades and the pose; albeit he's been sculpted in the animated series' class Sgt Slaughter pose.

      Delete
  6. YMCA comments aside, Sgt S looks great in the typical 'gung ho' drill instructor pose - my fave out of the three is the airlock though.
    Great modelling and painting as ever Simon and nice to hear you're on track with your monthly target!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Wargame Addict. Simple painting targets these days, as otherwise I get swamped (with distractions) and fall badly behind :-)

      Delete
  7. I like the sarge, he looks awesome so far. Not convinced by the Wendigo sculpt myself but not knowing a great deal about N American mystical beasties its hard to judge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Andy. I've a handful more "G.I. Joe" posts to come over the next couple of weeks!!

      Delete
  8. Excellent job on the Wendingo my favourite sculpt of this creatures is by Blackball games in their Weird War range.

    Almost there with the Sgt I wasn't keen on him in the adverts as a kid but thought the Sgt and his roughnecks were pretty cool in the movie and comics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Simon. I'm slowly making my way through my "G.I. Joe" collection, continually inspired by your own excellent output :-)

      Delete
  9. sorry so quiet, just a busy as heck week here, and still behind on everything, just can`t seem to catch myself.

    love that Wendigo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problems at all Steve, no need to comment upon every post if life is in the way :-)

      Delete
  10. All good stuff as usual, but I keep thinking 'UMCA' when viewing the Serjeant Slaughter figure

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Joe, there seems to be a lot of that about with this particular Sgt Slaughter sculpt :-)

      Delete
  11. Wendigo does look like a weirdo. I like it. Creepy and very unnatural.

    The airlock to no-where.... Mysterious and definitely cool looking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Dai. The Wendigo is definitely a weird-looking model, and hopefully the airlock will see plenty of tabletop action soon :-)

      Delete