Thursday 28 June 2018

"I'm The Dandy Highwayman..."

"...Who you're too scared to mention."
This 40mm tall metal model of a Dandy Highway-Fox is sold by “Oathsworn Miniatures", and can be bought as Code BB69 from their "Burrows And Badgers" range. Originally part of the County Durham-based company's "Fur And Feathers" kickstarter, Dead-Eye Jack comes equipped with a formidable-looking pistol.

The hefty omnivorous mammal was super-glued onto a 40mm plastic circular lipped base, and primed using a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Black Green. I then washed the cunning creature's long scoundrel coat with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and 'picked out' his long boots, holster, leather straps and Tricorn hat using some "Vallejo" Black.
"Stand and deliver!"
The dashing rogue's breeches were pigmented with "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, his coat's underside with Heavy Sienna and his leather waistcoat with Charred Brown. All of these areas were subsequently treated to a wash of Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter". In addition I 'highlighted' a couple of buttons with "Vallejo" Brass.

As I wanted this miniature to particularly stand-out on the table-top as a result of being my warband's leader, I used the rather vivid "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion for his fur, dampened it down with a splash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and then brought back some of its reddish colour with a hearty dry-brush of more "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion.
"Heroclix" Solomon Grundy WIPs - The undead criminal is slowly being transformed into three ice zombies
Once this was finished, I slowly started drawing "Vallejo" Dead White over the fox's tail and nose in order to increasingly build up the animal's distinctive pelage. Lastly, I used the combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil to paint the majority of the bold bandit's firing piece, belt buckle and cocked hat pins.

With my "Burrows And Badgers" warband now complete, I have had more time to progress the 'converted' "Heroclix" pieces I am submitting for this year's "Forgotten Heroes" challenge. Having initially intended to work on five Solomon Grundy "Wizkids" miniatures, I've actually since decided to scale down my plans and simply produce three ice zombies for Mister Freeze to use as mindless minions. Not only does this total make the mini-project far more manageable, but it also means Victor Fries' ordinary goons won't be out-numbered by the more specialist, heavy-hitters; a far more realistic ratio in my mind.

26 comments:

  1. The fox looks great dude. As does the shot of the whole warband

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    1. Thanks very much Simon. Hopefully the group shot gives an idea as to how large the Fox mini is compared to some of his warband.

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  2. Qua qua da diddley qua qua da diddley

    Cracking job Simon and great to see the band altogether. :)

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    1. LOL Michael. I'm looking forward to giving these guys a battle, and explaining some of the rules in a BatRep or two :-)

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    2. Crap. Sir Michael beat me to it with the do diddley qua qau! :-)

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    3. I’m sure I’ll post another musically-based article soon, Michael, so you’ve a chance to get the harmony in the comments before Sir Awdry :-)

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  3. Great work on the fox Simon, the fur tone looks really good, and great looking warband all together.
    Nice progress on the ice zombies, should be able to get the revised number finished by Saturday

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    1. Thanks Dave. I'll certainly have two of the Ice Zombies posted at the weekend, as they're actually done. Just got the purple-dressed one to finish and base etc.

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  4. Very nice. I like the fox, good job. Wasn't he called something different when you showed the work in progress? The group shot looks splendid too! Good progress on the ice zombies, looking forward to seeing them with their boss. Have you seen the Ventriloquist from Knight Models? I think he looks right up your alley!

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. Indeed, my name for my Dandy Highway-Fox is Watership Dick. But "Oathsworn Miniatures" called theirs Dead-Eye Jack for their Kickstarter.

      I'm desperately trying to steer clear of "Knight Models" currently, as I need to give them a couple of months focused painting to do the minis I own from their range justice... It may actually be "Harry Potter" which starts me pigmenting their stuff...

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  5. That is a great looking warband, and some fantastic figures and painting, as for your Ice Zombies, looking good but the clock is ticking now...

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. It may be that the third bumbles in a little late, but I'd certainly have two on show, plus hopefully a group shot of the entire Mister Freeze crew.

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  6. Nice work on the Dandy Highwayfox Simon - he really does look the part in the group shot :-)
    Good 'tactical' call with the FH challenge entries too. Your reasoning with the group numbers makes sense, and of course the deadline for finishing is fast approaching - also, I dunno about you, but this mini heatwave has slowed my painting down considerably!

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    1. Cheers Greg. I'm pleased the Fox stands out so well from the others on the tabletop. Two of the ice zeds are finished, and I've a few other minis needing just a bit of TLC before being posted, so I don't think the heat is affecting my output.

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  7. That is a beautiful figure of the highwayfox. I appreciate the group shot of your B&B figures. That's an eclectic mix of figures you've gone for.

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    1. Thanks Bryan, hopefully the shot shows just how much bigger the Fox is compared to the other minis I own - he’s huge. Tbh, I didn’t give my warband any thought whatsoever until after I left “Salute 2018” and went through the rule-book. At the time I simply grabbed whatever minis caught my eye and I thought would be fun painting. It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised I’d have to put together a party from my purchases :-)

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  8. A pantomime figure if ever there was one (is it you I can hear saying "Oh no it's not"?), but nome the worse for it.
    I do have a minor crtisicm of your otherwise excellent paintjob on Mr Fox, in that I beleive the top of a red fox's snout should be red too, rather than white, but who knows (or cares ) it's your fantasy after all!
    Congratulations getting a sizeable band together in what seems to be such a short space of time.

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    1. Cheers Joe. I’m really pleased to get the band together, and have actually had it finished for a while - just a bit behind with posting the finished minis up. The pic I used for the Fox had a very pale pink snout as opposed to a red one, which is why my white slightly goes over the nose, but as he’s wearing clothes and a carrying a gun I’m happy to suspend disbelief momentarily with him :-)

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  9. I like what you have done. Nice paint job.

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  10. Dandy if i do.

    Love him mate. And what a lovely warband too. Looking forward to reading some B&B batreps.

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    1. Cheers Dai. Nice to be getting these little projects done and dusted tbh.

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  11. Hmmm...that highway fox would make a good werebeast for Ravenloft. I might have to take a look at this range.

    And i'm looking forward to seeing the oce zombies completed and the whole frosty crew.

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    1. Thanks Jez. Nice thinking regarding the were-beast idea - love it!! Fingers crossed my ice zombies live up to expectations :-)

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  12. Very nice Simon, the icing on the B&B cake!

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    1. Cheers Andy. This has been a great little project :-)

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