Sunday, 28 February 2016

"Constructs... Have Been Animated With A Magic Semblance Of Life."

"Known as golems when built in vaguely humanoid forms..."
This 28mm metal model of a Medium Construct is made by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought together with a Small Construct as code FGV303 from their “Frostgrave” range. As I originally planned on painting the artificially created object all the same colour I initially undercoated my 'wood golem' with “Vallejo” Heavy Brown. However I then changed my mind and applied some Heavy Sienna to some of the animated creature's limbs, and washed all of these areas with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.

I actually tried to let the ink pool in certain places on the model in order to try and give the impression of the wood being somewhat rotten on account of Felstad's chilly damp climate and frequent snowy weather causing the construct to become wet and somewhat slimy. As a result, believing this would make the miniature look a little too dry, I decided against lightly brushing the figure with more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and Heavy Sienna; a technique which I would ordinarily employ in order to bring out the sculpt's detail.
Evil Hooded Minions WIPs - These staples of the Pulp Era fiction have been primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Violet
In addition to painting another "Frostgrave" construct I am also steadily basing and priming the rest of Bob Murch's wonderful Evil Hooded Minions for the Sixth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. I plan to submit ten of these "Pulp Figures" next week as part of my entry in the event's Pulp Side-Challenge and get 'Murch March' off to a flying start...

 One of the things I have been struggling to find inspiration for has been the weird god these "nefarious members of a criminal cult" could be worshipping beneath the streets of New York City. Fortunately Jez of "Carrion Crow's Buffet" fame came to my rescue by very kindly sending me an impressivelt detailed (and large) "Heroscape" Dund. Initially I had intended this "four-eyed mutant dog-thing" to be an encounter for my slowly progressing "Gamma World" project. But as I imagine the "Weird Menace" threatening the Free World to have it's headquarters deep underground within the metropolis' sewers, I couldn't think of anything more appropriate than them praying to a mutated rat-creature.
"Heroscape" Dund WIP - This hunting hound of Nullondia is destined to be the Dark God 'Carrion'
Having re-based the 'Dark God' upon a "Citadel" 70 x 25mm Oval base, I've so far managed to undercoat 'Carrion' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey and subsequently wash him with some watered-down "Citadel" Druchi Violet.
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22 comments:

  1. Da Gobbo28 February 2016 at 13:47

    I really am loving those minions. But that mutant dog thing wow! Deffo cool model!

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    1. Blaxkleric28 February 2016 at 14:26

      Thanks Andy. Hopefully the minions will be finished by the end of the week, and their 'Dark God' not far behind them. Obviously I owe a big shout out to Jez for gifting me such a weird model :-)

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  2. Vampifan28 February 2016 at 14:49

    I have to agree with Andy, that Dund is one cool looking beast. It could fit in to numerous settings and genres.

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    1. Blaxkleric28 February 2016 at 15:09

      It'll certainly be seeing some considerable tabletop action once its painted and based, Bryan. I'm hoping for plenty of Pulp-based games over the next few weeks once I've started getting through my Bob Murch sculpts...

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  3. MartinC28 February 2016 at 15:06

    Ditto the above, that is a very cool dog / god

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    1. Blaxkleric28 February 2016 at 15:10

      Cheers Martin. I'm very grateful to Jez for gifting it to me :-)

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  4. Carrion Crow28 February 2016 at 20:59

    Dund as an unnatural rat-thing, worshipped as a god? Now that is so much cooler than anything I would have come up with for that model. And could therefore also be used in Conan-esque games too! Very nice work, Simon, and you are very welcome.

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    1. Blaxkleric28 February 2016 at 22:10

      Many thanks indeed Jez. A very much appreciated gift and hopefully my painting of him will do it justice.

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  5. The Angry Lurker29 February 2016 at 00:51

    Especially love the dog!

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 08:07

      Cheers Fran. I hope it'll make as good a Dark God as I'd like.

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  6. Anonymous29 February 2016 at 02:34

    Interesting thoughts on how to paint the woods used for the construct. I don't have one of those models yet, but it certainly is something to consider.
    I may be playing Frostgrave on Tuesday 8th March, so I need to get back to working on by kit for this game.
    I love the colour of the 'dog'.

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 08:11

      Thanks Roy. I was sorely tempted to go with the usual dry-brush etc but then saw how the ink was pooling and actually realised just how little detailing the sculpt had if I had decided to dry-brush it. It is a great model and thoroughly recommended. Good luck with your "Frostgrave" game and let us know how you got on - I still haven't played it [blush].

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  7. Dick Garrison29 February 2016 at 04:14

    The construct has come out superbly Simon, and the "Rat-Dog" is a great looking and very useful sculpt indeed.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 08:13

      Cheers Roger. I'm happy enough with the Construct, though it has come out a little darker in places that I'd have liked. Fingers crossed for the Dark God 'Carrion' :-)

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  8. Michael Awdry29 February 2016 at 05:38

    A four eyed mutant dog eh? Doesn't get much more Pulpy than that.

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 08:15

      Thanks Michael. one of the few non-Bob Murch sculpts I have plans to paint over the coming month.

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  9. Unknown29 February 2016 at 15:09

    Cool construct once again Simon! The Murch cultists are smashing sculpts and you've chosen a superb colour for the robes. Looking forward to Murch March. The Dund makes for an impressive deity too.

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 23:24

      Cheers Bob. Still a few more minis to paint from "Frostgrave February" but they'll be slotted in as and when now "Murch March" has kicked in. I've already got one Cultist almost finished and a few more aren't far off either. The Dund is a cracking mini imho.

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  10. Dai29 February 2016 at 15:21

    That rat reminds me of the Sumatran Rat Monkey from the film Brain Dead - super cool mate.

    Wood Golem looks great as well.

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    1. Blaxkleric29 February 2016 at 23:25

      Thanks Dai. Sadly "Brain Dead" must have fallen off of my 'To Watch' list at some point but the Sumatran Rat monkey sounds very cool. Hopefully it'll paint up as well as I want it to...

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    2. Dai1 March 2016 at 10:28

      It's a pretty silly "Zombie" flick and rather yucky at that from the early 90's I think. Even features a kung-fu evangelical minister shouting "I kick arse for the Lord!". Very silly.... but kinda cool. :P

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    3. Blaxkleric1 March 2016 at 12:29

      Ah... I see that it doesn't feature any cast who immediately leap to the mind when thinking about quality actors. But it does seem to have been directed by Peter Jackson - I suppose we all have to have started somewhere ;-)

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