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| "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.
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| "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.
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| 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.
