Thursday, 6 June 2024

"When Not Tending To The Needs Of The Laputian Family..."

"...The robots are in charge of maintaining Laputa."

This 28mm scale Laputian Robot Trooper was sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a five-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the giant mechanical bodyguards depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"Constructed out of an extremely strong, dark armour", the 107mm tall figure was primed in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being coated in Decayed Metal by "Scale 75". It was then drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. Furthermore, its face plate was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Foot just needs some washes and a final dry-brush

Lastly, the Heavenly Trooper's crest of the Laputian royal family was patiently picked out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and shaded with a dollop of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. This is actually one of two "Big Mr Tong" 3D prints I started working on for Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" event, so I'm planning on getting the other super-tall automaton finished over the next few days.

Alongside my latest Laputian Robot Trooper I have also 'broken the back' of the giant plastic Foot found inside Monty Python’s Flying Circus for Zombicide 2nd Edition. This rather impressive sculpt by "CoolMiniOrNot" has proved quite a nice, straightforward painting project, and definitely helped me rekindle the flagging flame I've had for the hobby in recent weeks - even if I'd have preferred the top of the miniature to have been slightly hollowed out as opposed to having a piece of the leg-bone sticking out.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - These Silly Walkers have been undercoated and dry-brushed

I've also made a little progress on the expansion box's quartet of suited Silly Walkers. I was initially contemplating working on these wonderfully humorous figures as a single batch. But have since changed my mind, and will instead simply tackle them one at a time - using the first model as a test piece for the predominantly black palette I've chosen.

This option will also provide me with an opportunity to throw something else 'into the mix' should the urge take me, and resultantly keep my enthusiasm for the project fresh. Indeed, I've already gritted the bases on several more of the models from the Monty Python’s Flying Circus expansion, including a certain dead pet bird with a curved beak and clawed feet...

10 comments:

  1. Nice figures Simon. Looking forward to see the silly walks figures all painted up.

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    1. Thanks Ray. I'm hoping these Monty Python Zombicide figures will help get my mojo back. Definitely been struggling to paint anything in recent weeks.

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  2. Great job on the robot Simon, I like the colour you've got, On the foot the toe nails are a bit jarring being all white, they would look better a lighter flesh tone, with just a white edge. hope the painting goes well on the silly walks, and helps rekindle your enthusiasm.

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    1. Cheers Dave. The Decayed Metal by "Scale 75" is almost spot on for the animated cartoon colour - albeit, it looks somewhat darker in the photos than in real life. Um... Whilst I've since finished the Foot, the pics in this posting are just WIPs, so the white is purely a base colour.

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    1. Thanks Michal. I've also finished another one - in a slightly different pose, which should be posted up next week.

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  4. Wow! some outstanding figures there mate, we really do live in time where you cam get a figure of just about everything!

    Lovely work on the Laputian Robot again sir, great colour choices on them again.

    Glad to see you climbing back out of your "funk".

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. The whole Monty Python set is just bizarre, LOL. And completely captures all the comedy team's greatest hits, imho. Definitely got the 3D printing bug back for sure, as I'm producing stuff all the time - hopefully I can keep up with it as far as painting goes. LOL!!

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  5. Awesome job on the robot! That metallic colour is fantastic!!! I might have to rummage and see if I own it. The foot is coming along nicely and those silly walkers are mad! Are they zombies in the game of something different? Looking good!!

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. I do like the Laputian Robot Troopers, and am pleased to have got a couple under my belt now. I believe the Silly Walkers are 'zombies' - albeit they're a bit less predictable than the normal Walkers.

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