Wednesday 9 September 2020

"They're All Tame Until They Take A Chunk Out Of You."

"Well, you know what they say. Human see, human do."
This 28mm scale white metal model of a 'savage Simian Minion straight from the lab' is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately or as part of their Simian Minions four-figure collection. The figure is designed to be used with the company's "7TV" United Radionics Programme Guide, but I intend to field it as one of several gorilla guards for my ongoing project based upon Franklin J. Schaffner's 1968 science fiction film "Planet Of The Apes".

The miniature was initially primed with two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being enthusiastically dry-brushed in Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. It was then drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before having its trousers and sleeves pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Violet and "Citadel" Druchii Violet.
"Mounted Simian" WIPs - The two cavalry models have been assembled, primed and dry-brushed
The Ape with Baton's face, ammunition belt, rifle and strap were treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna", whilst the soldier's wooden stick was painted using some Charred Brown. All of these areas were later shaded using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. Finally, I 'picked out' the metallic parts of the gorilla's firearm with a little "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

With my 'test piece' for my Simian Minion horde completed, I've spent a little time assembling, basing and priming four Mounted Simians. I'm not really sure whether I'll manage to get these cavalry models completed within the time-frame of my twenty-four hour 'Paint An Entire Project" Challenge. But they certainly have proved a welcome diversion after painting so many infantry figures over the past few weeks.
"Alternative Armies" WIPs - A giant Earth Elemental, a giant Fire Elemental and a Human Wizard
In addition, I have spent some time slowly progressing the largest (base-size wise at least) of the units for my "Hordes Of The Things" Elemental Army. The giant Earth Elemental by "Alternative Armies" has actually taken quite a toll upon my enthusiasm for the HOTT'ember Challenge, as its wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade has repeatedly stripped away its double undercoat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna back down to the bare metal underneath. Indeed, this particular amalgamation has resulted in a distressingly similar result on my ten lesser Earth Elementals as well...

Fortunately, I've had far more success 'testing out' my use of "Vallejo" Sun Yellow for the first time on my giant Fire Elemental. This particular Game Color gives a much brighter finish than my ever-trusty "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, and should therefore hopefully prove a very visible contrast to the murky brown 'mud-men' on the tabletop.

8 comments:

  1. Great work on your apes and elemental's Simon, hopefully you can regain your motivation for the project

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    1. Thanks Dave. Pleased to have got the test ape finished, and now I'm cracking on with the rest. Most of my HOTT Army is actually already finished and just need to be based. But the issue with the Earth Elementals is certainly rather disconcerting.

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  2. The ape looks rather nasty with that club - good stuff Simon.

    Unfortunate occurance with the elementals though. What do you prime them with?

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    1. Cheers Dai. The Elementals were primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna - my go to colour for anything predominantly brown. Not had a problem before with the "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

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  3. Nice stuff Simon, hearing that most of your Hott stuff is now nearly completed has just depressed me even more! as I have hardly started the first couple of bases of mine, I just can't seem to get any motivation since I went back to work, and have accepted that IU am not going to get anywhere near completing my army by the end of the month (at the moment even the end of the year look ambitious!). This will be the first challenge I've failed at and I'm peeved to admit that! Sorry to let you down, hopefully I'll have something to post up in the next couple of weeks , but don't hold your breath as the say.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. No worries about the HOTT Challenge, as and when you're able to paint/post my friend. I was thinking about an Undead Army for "Zomtober", so I'm planning on keeping the HOTT enthusiasm going on the blog for a while yet - hopefully that'll keep you enthused too..?

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  4. The "dirty ape" looks great and very iconic to the original PotA, as does the horseape!
    Mud-man looks a lot better and looking forward to the finished item. The Wiard will no doubt look typical of a what we think a fantasy Wizard should look like.
    The fire elemental is looking good, but sounds to me that the problems you've had doesn't warrant the contrast paint usage -( I thought they were a con to begin with).

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    1. Cheers Joe. I've had a few problems with the Fire Elemental since posting him up, as the flame detail is a little soft, imho, so isn't taking to my dry-brushing as well as I would've liked. I've not actually used any "Citadel" Contrast paints on this project. The paint stripping problem seems to stem from an incompatibility between "Vallejo" and "The Army Painter".

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