Sunday 11 December 2016

"Skeletons Are The Animated Bones Of Some Long-dead Creature..."

"At the height of the ancient empire, necromancers used lesser undead as servants and guards..."
These two multi-part 28mm hard plastic skeletons have been built using pieces taken from the sprues found within the Frostgrave Cultists boxed set by "North Star Military Figures", and are the first of ten such undead warriors needed in order for me to game The Mausoleum scenario from the "Frostgrave" rule-book. "Held together and animated by the power of magic" these 'swordsmen' were originally humans and randomly emerge "through one of the doors in the central building" as a result of the event's special rules...

Assembled predominantly using cultist henchmen parts, and then converted into "undead monstrosities" using skeleton heads and arms, both miniatures were undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Violet as I initially envisaged them wearing the colourfully rich attire of hooded fanatics. However, I soon changed my mind when it occurred to me that their clothing should probably be dank and faded on account of the time spent decaying beneath the soil.
"There were probably many thousands active in the city at any time."
I therefore changed my palette to one which used pigments such as Dark Grey, USA Olive Drab, Heavy Sienna, Charred Brown and Heavy Charcoal, and washed the various garments with either "Citadel" Nuln Oil or "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The bones of the servants of a long-dead Necromancer's were painted using a four-stage process which consisted of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, Strong Tone Quickshade, a dry-brush of more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and finally a light highlight of White just around the skull's eye sockets and teeth.

In order to give the more oriental-headed skeleton an added touch of antiquity, I painted his ancient armour with "Vallejo" Brass and tried to make his raiment appear somewhat richer than that worn by his undead brethren by using both Heavy Red and Heavy Violet. All these areas were then 'atrophied' courtesy of a wash of either "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Nuln Oil.
Abslom Daak and Doctor Who WIPs - Basic basing and priming for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge
Whilst painting these wonderfully animated monsters, I was somewhat disconcerted to read a posting by Jez over on his blog "Carrion Crow's Buffet" which brought a range of 28mm metal models to my notice which I hadn't seen before. "Miniature Figurines & Matchlock Miniatures" sell an incredibly varied selection of figures, most notably a Retro Sci-Fi range entitled "Wayne's World Of Wonder".

To be fair the catalogue currently only consists of nine different sculpts, but these two figures have already been based and primed ready for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge on account of their "Doctor Who" connection; Abslom Daak - Dalek Killer and the cinematic (First) Doctor. Admittedly, I painted a version of Peter Cushing's silver screen persona last year during "Mo'Vember 2016". But the chance to paint a second incarnation, and base him upon the plastic lipped circular stand I use for my 'Weird War Two' collection was too good an opportunity to miss.

30 comments:

  1. The undead have turned out well, and I like the colour palette you have used. Well done mate. :)

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    1. Thanks Leon. For some reason the muted palette has really made these skeletons great fun to paint, despite all the soft detail on the sculpts. I certainly hope to have the rest finished within the next few weeks.

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  2. Great job on the undead, the muted pallet worked well on them, the next two models should be fun to paint with your interest in Dr Who

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    1. Cheers Dave. I like the Cultists bodies so very much more than the "Frostgrave" Soldier ones. Daak and the Doctor should be done just as soon as the AHPC starts :-)

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    1. Thanks Tamsin. These are currently my fave "Frostgrave" minis, so are proving very easy to paint.

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  4. I really like your skeletons, Simon. You definitely made the right choice going for muted colours.
    I, too, was impressed with Jez's recent post on the figures from "Wayne's World of Wonder." I definitely want an Absalom Daak.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. I think a 'horde' of ten of these skeletons are going to be great for "Frostgrave". Whilst the sculpt of Daak certainly won't disappoint imho.

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  5. Oooh....love the 'cinematic' first Doctor! Off to visit the shop now!

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  6. Liking the undead Simon, very suitable colour scheme indeed! Nice start on the other minis as well. The 'Wayne' figures are really cool!

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    1. Cheers Simon. I'm certainly looking forward to painting Daak and the Doctor once the AHPC starts.

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  7. Those skeletons have turned out really well, I particularly like the first one for some reason.

    The Absolom Daak figure, is a must get at some point as is the Doctor, I can already see a sliced dalek based as if emerging from the Thames.....Thinking now.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. I'm really enjoying these "Frostgrave" skeletons, and hope to get some more painted up before the AHPC starts, and I begin focusing on models which will score me points.

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    1. Cheers Joe5mc. Very much appreciated. I think you need 'good-looking' models to get the best out of such a great rule-set ;-)

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  9. I love the mobility of the first skellie! Nice job dude and I agree Jez is dastardly when it comes to those obscure bit delicious sculpts....

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    1. Thanks Andy, and Jez is undoubtedly a fiend when it comes to adding to my lead/plastic pile!!!

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  10. Excellent Cold Biting skellies.

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    1. Thanks Clint. The "Frostgrave" Cultist sprues are my fave.

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  11. There's something quite creepy about those heavily-clothed figures with skeletal heads & hands. Nicely done!

    Hmm, must go and have a look at Miniature Figurines...

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    1. Cheers Hugh. I certainly like them. "Miniature Figurines" have some corking ranges I must say :-)

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    1. Thanks Fran. I think the plastic skeleton parts being included on the "Frostgrave" Cultist sprues was a great idea.

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  13. Great take on the undead, very different fromthe usual!

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    1. Cheers Joe. Glad you like the look of my undead.

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  14. I have to admit that the recent Frostgrave plastics and the 'extras' kits you can get for them, are a welcome addition to the ranges available. I assume you've seen the 'future' kit that allows you to convert both cultists and gnolls into gun-toting furistic scum?
    And what can i say? I seem to have a talent for finding hidden gems on the Internet. Daak and the Doctor look even better than i'd hoped, now they've got a bit of paint on them.

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    1. I have indeed seen to 'future kits' Jez, and may well look at some gun-totting cultists and gnolls in the future. You very much have a skill for locating hidden gens, and hopefully Daak and the Doctor will look even better in the flesh ;-)

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