Sunday 6 November 2016

"Nothing Is Permanent In This Wicked World - Not Even Our Troubles."

"Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot."
This 28mm metal model of Zombie Charlie is one of many figures made by “Studio Miniatures” that I received as part of my “Z-CLIPZ” pledge during the company’s “Hollywood Havoc” Kickstarter, and is the first of my four weekly submissions for this year’s Mo’Vember Challenge with Dick Garrison (of “Rantings Under The Wargames Table” fame). Based upon the Undead version of an unlucky member of staff who happened to be devoured during the zombie apocalypse whilst working at a theme park, the brain-eating cadaver is dressed as the instantly recognisable Charlie Chaplin character, "The Tramp"; including his famous bowler hat and moustache.

Primed with a double-coat of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, the dead “Hollywoodland” employee was dry-brushed with “Vallejo” German Grey and then washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. I then picked out all the corpse’s ‘bangs and bumps’ with either a combination of “Vallejo” Iraqi Sand and “Citadel” Thrakka Green, or "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.
Enchanter WIPs - The Wizard is slowly being 'dressed' from his padded footwear upwards
 Having finished such a straightforward paint-job I am currently making some good progress on my next Mo’Vember model; a “Frostgrave” Enchanter by “North Star Military Figures”. This particular “hands-on” wizard is absolutely packed full of intricate details, not least of which is his red-trimmed bearskin fur overcoat and the numerous tools dotted around his belt.

Fortunately my technique of simply slowly ‘picking out’ out each item one at a time as I move up the model is keeping both my paint-brush steady and my sanity intact. Albeit I ultimately decided to paint the mage’s leg bindings and leather straps black in order to reduce the overall amount of brown I was applying to the figure, and because some of the details appeared incredibly fine and fiddly…
Herald Of Nurgle WIPs - The Nurgle Hero's severed head, Nurgling and brass bells have all been finished
All this brown and grey would ordinarily have proven somewhat dispiriting, but fortunately I have continued to paint my Herald of Nurgle for “Age Of Sigmar”, and as a result been able to add plenty of colour to my palette in the shape of red and green washes. This multi-part plastic miniature is now practically finished, having had its rotting corpse-like bloated body shaded and highlighted.

In addition I have completed the numerous brass bells which adorn its stag-like antlers, as well as the cheeky-faced Nurgling that is clearly enjoying its ride into battle atop the Plaguebearer Hero’s shoulder. The daemon just needs his Balesword to be dry-brushed and his numerous zits washed before he’ll be ready to accompany my Host of Nurgle on the tabletop.

20 comments:

  1. Much to admire on each figure. I like the Chaplin and while I have no use for the fine fellow I feel he is a triumph.

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    1. Thanks Clint, much appreciated. At some point I certainly hope to do more zeds by "Studio Miniatures".

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  2. For me, your Charlie Chaplin zombie is the pick of the bunch. I must get mine painted so I can put alongside my Laurel and Hardy zombies.

    Your Frostgrave Enchanter looks very detailed and very impressive. Good luck on painting him.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. I'm sure at some point I'll be doing more "Studio Miniatures" as I really am warming to them. The "Frostgrave" Enchanter is a time-consuming mini, but one which should soon be finished.

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  3. Good start Simon Charlie might only have a little one but the all count (ooer misses). That Enchanter is a great model looking forward to seeing him finished immensely.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. Zombie Charlie was a nice little starter and has given me some extra time to crack on with my Enchanter. Then it'll be on to the Apprentice... who appears just as detailed!!

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  4. Ooh...the Zombie Charlie is brilliant!

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  5. Yup agree with everything said so far! Zomb Chaplin is a triumph :-)

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  6. Great job on Zombie Chaplin Simon.

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    1. Cheers Michael. Good luck with Dino'Vember!!

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  7. The zombie Chaplin is suitably 'rotten' - a very nice paint job. And I have a feeling that when I get around to painting my Enchanted, he won'the be as good as yours - although I am considering going doing him as Kringle the Enchanted Mark I I, so he will be a bit more 'festive'.

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    1. I'm sure you'll do your Enchanter justice, Jez. I've found not rushing these "Frostgrave" minis is the key to success. Just take your time one annoying detail at a time :-) and I'm looking forward to seeing your white-bearded festive "Frostgrave" wizard!!!

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  8. "Chaplin" and the Nurgle look excellent, you must be well pleased withthe way they've turned out.

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    1. Cheers Joe. Zombie Charlie has indeed come out very nicely imho, and the Herald of Nurgle should look suitably gross on the tabletop too!! Staying patient with these detailed "Games Workshop" plastics is definitely paying off.

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  9. Poor charlie still tramping about........good work!

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  10. Chaplin needs a Buster Keaton partner. :) He's very cool - I'd almost be hesitant to put a bullet in his head.

    Enchanter has more life as each new detail is picked out. The red cuffs stand out really nicely.

    What more is planned for your Nurgle horde (Nasty Khornate gribblies aside)? Do I recall correctly you had mentioned some Blight Kings?

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    1. Cheers Dai. I'm more a Harold Lloyd fan myself but Zombie Charlie has certainly made me consider painting more "Studio Miniatures" over the next few months.

      The Enchanter is now finished and just having his base flocked with snow for my next Mo'Vember posting. I'm now on to his Apprentice which isn't sadly proving as much fun to paint as the wizard.

      Besides a unit of ten Bloodletters (nearly half done already), I've got a Great Unclean One in the wings, ten Blight Kings, six more Plaguebearers (some to be used for "Kill Team" too) and a Plague Drone or six (which need assembling). So plenty coming with one unit a month for all of 2017!!

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