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| "The pudding can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings..." |
This 28mm scale pewter model of a Black Pudding is produced by "Otherworld Miniatures", and can be bought as Code DM7b from their range of Dungeon Monsters. Hand-sculpted by Paul Muller, the creature made its first appearance in the 1974 "Dungeons & Dragons" set and "resembles a bubbling, heaped pile of thick, black, pudding-like goo, roughly fifteen feet across and two feet thick."
As with the Hertfordshire-based manufacturer's Green Slime, I found the "nasty, oozing creature that haunts caverns and dungeons, seeking unwary denizens to prey upon" to actually overlap the edges of its accompanying "50mm round plastic slotta-base", so ended up super-gluing it to a 60mm circular base instead. I then applied a double basecoat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black over the "mindless, underground-dwelling scavenger" and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal.
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| "That's what we're up against... An alien beast that calls itself a Dire Wraith!" |
Finally, I drowned the Black Pudding in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I actually found this particular 'figure' rather underwhelming, as although it has some nice detail, it is incredibly flat for an underground creature which "secretes a digestive acid that dissolves organic material and metal quickly." "Wizkids" produced a far more dynamic-looking, almost swirling version as part of their Monster Menagerie Set 2, but I have been unable to source a reasonably priced one yet...
Speaking of "Wizkids" and their pre-painted plastics, I have also pigmented eight of their 31mm tall plastic Dire Wraiths. Still potentially available as number 010a from the "Marvel" Guardians Of The Galaxy "Heroclix" range, these shape-shifting aliens "are an evolutionary offshoot of the Skrulls from the Andromeda Galaxy" and were created by Bill Mantlo and Al Milgrom for the December 1979 issue of "Rom".
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| "Not only Earth, but the entire Cosmos will be cleansed of you -- " |
Each Wraith's pair of eyes were 'picked out' first with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and then a tiny spot of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre. As I wanted the "Skrullian Deviants" pupils to particularly stand out, I didn't bother shading them, and instead simply tidied their edges up with some additional "Citadel" Abaddon Black and "Vallejo" Heavy Red.
everytime,..i wanna do superheroes now. argh. need to grab some HeroClix's next time im at a convention.
ReplyDeletesuper job as always
LOL!! Thanks very much indeed, Mr. Martin. I love the Dire Wraiths, I just wish "Wizkids" would do some different poses, variants, and obviously a classic Rom space-knight mini. Glad to see its making you want to do superheroes - more "Heroclix" to come ;-)
DeleteBlack pudding? Not the sort I have with my full English breakfast by the look of it! Not heard of this creature but it looks great and I didn't think you could stay away from your Heroclix for long! Lol.
ReplyDeleteCheers Undercoat. The Black Pudding is almost as famous as the Green Slime and Trapper imho, and is one of my all-time fave "D&D" foes. But this isn't the most dynamic of sculpts for it I've seen.
DeleteI've always got my eye on at least one or two "Heroclix" minis tbf, and as I've recently been asked to preview the new "Rom: Dire Wraiths" mini-series by "IDW Publishing", I was well in the mood for expanding my Dire Wraith forces even more :-)
A few more poses wouldn't go amiss.
DeleteI did consider re-positioning some heads and arms etc, but the minis aren't really great for that imho. Hopefully, at some point, "Wizkids" will do some of the other different Dire Wraith variants.
DeleteYeah, the BP is a little underwhelming but OW tend to depict them as they were portrayed so I guess it's to be expected. I like the glistening effect you achieved which makes it more interesting. Dire Wraiths are cooler :D . I'll probably never say that again when comparing Clix and Otherworld :D .
DeleteCheers Horridperson. I think "Otherworld Miniatures" attention to detail like that is what I like about their range so much. But I too really like the "Wizkids" Dire Wraiths sculpts :-)
DeleteHave to say the black pudding model is very underwhelming Simon, nice painting though.
ReplyDeleteGreat work on your Dire Wraiths as well, you must have quite a few painted now
Thanks Dave. I too don't think much of the Black Pudding's sculpt. Anyone with a modicum of skill with green stuff could make a more dynamic-looking ooze imho. I think I've got a good twenty Dire Wraiths now. Certainly as many as I believe I'll ever need; albeit if "Wizkids" decided to produce some of the other variant wraiths then I'd be more than happy to add them to my force :-)
DeleteBeen a long time since Hest the Paladin was dusted off and did D+D battles. I don't remember puddings of any sort but lots of gelatinous cubes and oozes. Mind you it was 40 years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe oozes have always been my fave "D&D" creatures, Phil, so things like the Green Slime and Black Pudding have always provided memorable encounters for me :-)
DeleteAnother monster I recognise from the depths of time ! Not one I used or encountered a lot, but definetly ne to be feared iirc. There's not much you can use any painting expertise upon but a good good nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteLoving the dire wraiths now, after my initial retiscence and they're a good monster despite thir name, which imho doesn't match their appearance -not being my image of anything wraith-like.
Thanks Joe. The Black Pudding is definitely up there with the Green Slime in my books :-) I think some of the other variants of Dire Wraiths might be closer to your idea of a wraith then, especially their sorcerous shadow form. These red ones are just the race's foot soldiers tbh.
DeleteI'm rather partial to a bit of "Black pudding" being from up't north an all, though I don't think I could manage a bit 15 feet by 2 feet!! your glossy finish really suits these "oozes" though.
ReplyDeleteThe dire wraiths have come out really well as well (though I'm sure I've told you this before, and yes a Rom space knight figure would be very cool, as far as I know Jez is the only person who has one though. )-:
cheers Roger.
LOL, Roger!!! I really need to hurry up and paint some adventurers so I can put all these oozes to the test. I also need to go back and have a look at Jez's Rom conversion, and perhaps give it a go... I have got Firefall painted, but he's fiery red like the Dire Wraiths, hasn't seen the tabletop yet.
DeleteThat Black Pudding isn't the most inspiring of sculpts. I think both of us could craft a better version ourselves. Still, it must have been an easy paintjob to finish up so there's that at least.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dai. The Black Pudding is an impressive size at least, especially on its 60mm, and I certainly wish all my paint-jobs were quite as straightforward as that one was :-)
DeleteThe Black Pudding monster is new to me.nIs there a Haggis Monster, possibly playing bagpipes?
ReplyDeleteLOL, John. There is though a White Pudding too, a.k.a. a snowbound beast, which frequents cold environments ;-)
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