The Experiment - Ebony Dip!

I'm going with samurai-bot as opposed to guy in powered armor.
The sword isn't quite right, though. 

The experiment was concerning "the Dip". Yes, I dip. Deal with it. At least they're getting painted. Anywho, I like using ebony dip for mechanicals. Sometimes the only way to get a contrast is to use black instead of brown. I'm lookin' at you, monks. Yes, there are "dips" available for painting figures already mixed, and they also are far too expensive when compared to Minwax Polyshades at the local DIY shop. The old jar dried out a few months ago, so it was high time to mix another batch. The problem was, the usual ebony was out of stock, so just the "regular" ebony stain was available. Remember that black oil that was inside Krycek on the X-Files? Darker and nastier than that. After trying various ratios and sacrificing some disposable clickies for the cause, a 1 ebony to 12 clear concoction seemed to do the trick.

<< Figure >> 

The base was inscribed with "TALON GAMES © 1999". Talon Games produced some rather cool miniatures, then - as far as I know - went out of business. Shame. Some of their dragon robots are in the collection. It's probably a human in armor, but a robot seems more appealing to me. 

<< Painting >> 

Wash the figure, file off the flash, and mount on 1" diameter, 1/8" thick MDF disk. Putty, then apply sand/ballast/water/PVA glue slurry. Prime white.

Figure: red with neutral gray for the armor. Neutral gray for the sword blade, then black ink for the spine, red for the rest. Yellow ocher, then gold for the medallion on the helmet. 

Base: medium gray. Red, then trim with black ink for the facing lozenge.  

Finally dip with mixture described above, flock with clumps of dead grass, then spray with clear matte sealer. 

<< End 104 >> 

Got a Few Things Done!

It’s amazing what can get accomplished when the humidity finally gets below 50%!  

Yes, there will be posts with more details in the near future, but here’s what was completed today: two 28mm robots and ten space stations. Most of this stuff has been collecting dust for several years – the red samurai robot is out of production! Or is it a guy in powered armor? It was by Talon Games for their Cry H.A.V.I.C. game.

The space stations are for SUNDER THE STARS! Yes, the space station rules will finally go into playtesting. Woot! Woot, I say! 

Also managed to prep and prime 8 flight bases for TACSHIP, along with a few more Post Apocalyptic 28mm figures.

<< END 102 >>

Lord Thunderous!

"LORDS OF DARKNESS!"
*Vfvfvfvfvfvfvfvfvfv*

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An in-production and readily available figure from Reaper Miniatures #02233 - Dantrag of Heimdall, sculpted by Sandra Garrity http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/02233/sku-down/02233.

This was one of the unwanted figures of an lot won on an online auction. You'll notice that it was painted before the whole reason the lot was bid upon to begin with. It's not a bad figure - actually, it's quite good. Sandra Garrity always delivers, and the whole Arnohld as Conan vibe works. But the sword blade was broken off. A day or three in purple stuff can get rid of a bad paint job, but bits broken off means more planning. Another sword? An Axe? A mace? Couldn't decide. And it would have sat in a little drawer for thirty years but for Doctor Merkury running a playtest for his science-fantasy skirmish project: "Age of Saints"!

How about a barbarian of darkness with a plasma sword; a sort of anti-Thundarr? Heaven knows I've been looking for a 25/28mm figure of Thundarr the Barbarian since AD1980. (Yes, I know it's available in 15mm.) But what to use for the blade? Chopping up a Star Wars figure wouldn't work because of the rubbery material and the transparent blade might fog over or melt once it gets hit by the dip. Transparent plastic rod could work, but the same problems might occur and may not hold up to stresses of gaming. I paint playing pieces, not inmates for dioramas. Having spent the past few months building flight stands for ships used in SUNDER THE STARS, an idea struck: piano wire! It's small, light, on hand, and drawn from steel. The blade of that plasma sword will outlive all of us. Just had to remember to file down the "pointy end" so it's dull and harmless, cut off the old crossguard and glue a small bit of plastic tube above the grip.

Figure mounted on a 25mm diameter wooden disk.

Painting: Primed white, then hit the exposed flesh with beige red. Inside the mouth was black and the teeth were white. Fur and hair were black, then drybrushed with German grey. Bindings for the leggings were German grey. Eyes were white with black dots. Belt, circlet and bracer were yellow ocher, then bronze. Jewel in circlet was white, then metallic red.

The blade was the tricky part. Neon paint? Not that I haven't gamed under black lights before, but that was the '70's. Just paint it red? Then it would look like a red boken, not a plasma blade. Decided to paint it with red ink, then wash away the middle half of the blade with a paintbrush dipped in water. Most of the ink came away, but the color in the tiny depressions stayed. Cool! As close to Jack Kirby as I was going to get! A bit more red ink towards the tip and grip, and finished! The rest of the sword was yellow ocher, then bronze.

The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was white, then red ink, yellow ocher, then bronze, and outlined with black.

The entire figure was then dipped with a concoction of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Tudor, except for the blade. That was covered with plain polyurethane clear gloss varnish. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue, static grass and flock. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Weird War 2: German Powered Armor

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And another in-production and readily available figure! This time from Northstar Military Figures - Projekt X: PX1007 - Power Armour Soldat http://www.northstarfigures.com/prod.php?prod=3597.

Figure is 1/48th scale, but, as it's powered armor, being ever so slightly bigger doesn't matter. Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Decided to go with formal black instead of pea-dot camo. Primed black, then painted black. Some of the exposed mechanisms were gunmetal. Hellhound red for trim and silver for the sigils. Lime green for the lenses in the helmet and any exposed gauges. The machine gun was German grey, then gunmetal, and the stock was dark brown, then mahogany. The black parts were then lightly drybrushed with German grey. The base was puttied flat before priming, then painted flat earth. The facing lozenge was red outlined with black.

The entire figure was then dipped in polyurethane clear gloss varnish. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue and flock and static grass. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Weird War 2, Pulp Super Science, Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game. Paint it Afrika Korps yellow for PA, and white to repel the 1947 expedition of Admiral Byrd and 4,000 well-armed friends into Neuschwabenland.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/


Post Script ~

Finally saw the CAPTAIN AMERICA movie. Good time was had and the DVD is definitely going into the collection! (Take that endorsement as you will, considering that a copy of Soul Cinema's BLACULA and SCREAM, BLACULA, SCREAM double feature DVD was purchased, today. Only 5 bucks at le Mart du Kay!) But, was I the only one who felt the urge to watch SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW afterward?

99 kEn of the Wastelands!

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This Barb-B needed her kEn.

Yet another in-production and readily available figure? My reputation is ruined! This time from Reaper Miniatures, Chronoscope 50138: ALF 24, Robot Assistant http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/robot/sku-down/50138.

Ditched the lippy base and mounted the figure on a proper 25mm round plastic base.

Had to do something with all the leftover silver paint/purple ink mix, so...

Painting: Primed white, then hit the main surfaces with silver paint/purple ink mix and the exposed, inner workings with gunmetal. The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was silver paint/purple ink mix outlined with gunmetal. The entire figure was then dipped with a concoction of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Ebony. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue and pink flock used for detailing the upholstery of model cars. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Anthropomorphic Commandos!

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These are way out of production (late AD1980's?) and may have been produced by Lance & Laser. Have to go by memory as the original packaging has long since disappeared. They are 25mm and were sold as a set.

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic bases.

Painting: There were all primed white.

Duck: Feathers were black and the bill was deep yellow. Eyes were white with a black dot. Boots were red leather and gloves were black. Pants were US field drab. Belt was belt leather with an ocher yellow then bronze buckle. Shirt and hat were green grey. Pistol was German grey then gunmetal. The rifle was also German grey then gunmetal, with burnt umber for the stock and lime green for the lenses of the scope.

Rhino: Neutral grey for the skin. Eyes were white with a black dot. Boots were red leather and gloves were black. Pants were US field drab. Ammo belts were yellow ocher then bronze, German grey then gunmetal and silver. The rifle was German grey then gunmetal, with burnt umber for the stock.

Chimp: Black was used for the fur, gloves and "boots". Flesh was used for the face. Eyes were white with a black dot. Jumpsuit was US field drab. The belt was belt leather and the buckle was yellow ocher then bronze. The fragmentation grenade was brown violet. The submachine gun was German grey then gunmetal.

All: The base was flat earth. The facing lozenge was green grey and outlined with black. The entire figure was then dipped with a mix of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Ebony. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue, then blended turf and static grass. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Review: A little less cartoony than the Team Frog offerings with a nice mix of roles: chimp commando, rhino assistant machine gunner and duck sniper. Sculpts are clearly detailed on the bodies but a less so on the weapons. The rhino's ammo belts could have just as easily done in belt leather for bandoleers. Quite good, but, again, out of print. Shame.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

A bit behind schedule as we lost power on Monday. I leave you with a sneak peak of another playtest of SUNDER THE STARS which should be up later this week.



See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Barb-B of the Wastelands!

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Would you believe yet another in-production and available figure? This time from Black Orc Games - Mini-Sculpt, 100-MS-0079 "Cherry 101 Cyborg Girl" http://cart.blackorc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80&products_id=459.

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Primed white, green blue for the skin. The visible eye was white with a dot of black. Cyborg bits and gun were German Grey, then Gunmetal, with lime green for the cyber-eye. The garb was vermilion, with yellow ocher then bronze for the trim. The hair was a mix of silver paint and purple ink. The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was green blue outlined with silver paint/purple ink mix. The entire figure was then dipped with a brew of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Ebony. The base was flocked with patches of PVA glue and pink flock used for detailing the upholstery of model cars. Finally, the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Review: Another selection from the Black Orc Games' Mini Sculpt line and, to be honest, I can't remember why it ended up in the collection. Impulse buy? Who knows. The gun arm was way too long and the physique, though saftig, was more "orc" than "human". The lack of any discernible neck did not help. Painting the wee beastie was easy enough, as all the details were defined, and it took the dip nicely. The only modification was the drilling out of holes on the ventilated barrel shroud, as they were a bit shallow. The figure does fill the role of a 'borged humanoid mutant with an awkwardly large gun - should such a thing be needed on your tabletop.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Fear the Bunny!

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Would you believe another in-production and available figure? This time from Team Frog Studios - TFSCCRB01 "Rabbits Squad (4 figures)" http://www.teamfrog.com/fig-cc.htm. Above is figure "A" from the set.

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Primed white, light gray and white for fur, with flesh for nose and inside the ears. Eyes were white then a dot of black. The t-shirt and cap were green grey, and the shorts were US field drab. The knee and elbow pads were green grey and brown violet, and the shoulder pads were brown violet. The shoes were red leather and the gloves were white. The gun had a base of German grey, then gunmetal. The base was flat earth. The facing lozenge was green grey outlined with black. The entire figure was then dipped with 1:1 mix of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Minwax Polyshades Tudor. The base was flocked with patches of PVA and blended turf, then the rest with static grass. The entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Review: A bit more cartoony than I'd like, but there aren't any options as the only other rabbit-folk with guns have been out of production for about 30 years.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

The vikings are still underway. Yes, they need to be done, but I've grown to like the comparative speed and ease of painting starships.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Rural Mutant with Axe!

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Yet another in-production and readily available figure: Black Ork Games - 100-MS-0024 "Hill Mutant" http://cart.blackorc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80&products_id=397

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Primed white, light flesh for hands and head. Eyes were white then outlined with chestnut ink, then a dot of black. The shirt was green gray, the t-shirt was sky gray, and the pants were US field drab. The shoes were leather belt. The axe haft was burnt umber, with the axe head a base of German gray, then gunmetal. The base was covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The facing lozenge was white with a burnt umber stripe. The entire figure was then dipped with 1:1 mix of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Minwax Polyshades Tudor. The base was flocked with patches of PVA and then static grass. The entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Review: The details aren't that great, but it's an inexpensive axe-wielding mutant, and does so within reason. I'm not going to field a unit of these, but for a character figure, it'll do the job.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction or Survival Horror game.

The vikings are underway. There is no greater test to you collection of brown paint than painting dark age armies.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Orangutans with Gauss Rifles

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For your perusal: SCI-FI 41 "Two Orangutans with Guns" from Sargent Major Miniatures. For a change of pace, not only are these less than a year old, but they're still available: http://www.sgmm.biz/SCI-FI41-2-Orangutans-with-Guns_p_228.html - and then scroll nearly all the way to the bottom of the page.

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic bases.

Painting: Primed white, amaranth red for the body, suntan flesh for hands, feet and face. Eyes were black. Rifles were German gray, with lime green for the lenses of the optics. The bases were covered with a slurry of ballast, sand, PVA glue and water before priming and painted with medium gray. The entire figure was then dipped with 1:1 mix of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Minwax Polyshades Tudor. It really worked with the fur. The base was flocked with patches of PVA and then static grass. The entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

Still finishing off figures that have been abandoned on the painting bench for the latest shiny thing. There are quite a few. This may take longer than I thought. Usually does. But, those who enjoy Sci-Fi character figures will have something to look forward to for the next few posts.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Finishing a Forgotten Figure - Ataribot

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I made the decision to go Viking for a bit, but needed to finish a few things that have languished on the painting table for far too long.

Another OOP ARCHIVE miniature that got the moniker "ATARIBOT" as it had that company's logo sculpted on its forehead.

Mounted on a 25mm round plastic base.

Painting: Primed white, base color brown for the body and yellow ocher for thew arms and some of the details. The brown parts were then covered with tin bits and the yellow ocher with bronze. The base was done with earth brown. The view slit and facing lozenge were white and then neon orange. The entire figure was then dipped with 1:1 mix of polyurethane clear gloss varnish and Minwax Polyshades Tudor. The base was flocked with static grass, then the entire figure was sprayed with clear matte.

Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Guardian Cultist Color Test

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Starting a new faction for my Post Apocalyptic troops: esper cultists who guard holy, high-tech sites, waiting patiently for the return of The Ancient Ones who will make everything right and usher in a new golden age. Had some Pawns of Dis - ZB15 figures from SuperFigs, so they might as well get painted. But in what colors?

Painting:
The exposed flesh was Light Flesh. The sandals, sash and hood were German Camo Black Brown. The robes were Black Red. The entire base was Medium Gray. The eyes were completely Black and the devotional markings were Gore Red. The entire figure was dipped with Ebony Minwax polyurethane varnish cut with clear polyurethane varnish. The flocking was a few spots of static grass and a few spots of blended turf. A coat of clear matte varnish was sprayed to seal the figure.

The test run on the color scheme did what was asked of it: dark, brooding, malevolent and not quite human.

The sculpt isn't bad, and, to be honest, it's a guy in a hooded robe. Not a whole lot to work with, though the estimable Mr. Murch at Pulp Figures does a bang up job with his line. My only complaints with this offering from SuperFigs were that their legs are painfully far apart, as if surfing, and the bases of the figures had to be cut away to fit on the 1" disks. If a 25mm ~ 32mm human infantry figure cannot fit comfortably within a 25mm/1" round base, then there's something seriously wrong with the design. By no means a deal-killer, but keep in mind that there may be a bit of work ahead. Suitable for damn near any game where you need blokes in hooded robes, including Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

Startled Cyborg? Um, Yeah!

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I have no idea where, when or who produced this particular miniature. I want to say it was a member of a small and short-lived range of 28mm figures produced for the HELL ON EARTH rpg by Pinnacle Entertainment Group, Inc. If anyone knows, please post below!

UPDATE: it has been identified as a figure from the Rifts: Cyborg Pack #2 by Palladium Books. Unfortunately, it's out of production. Shame, as the rest of the pack looks quite cool. A big thanks to all the helpful folks at The Miniatures Page.

The sculpt isn't that impressive, but it's still a serviceable figure. Whatever it is, it's done and off the painting table! Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/

☢

Giant Levitating One-Eyed Brain!

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This is a woefully Out Of Production Archive (or maybe R*Kiiv?) giant, levitating, one-eyed brain... thing. No idea what it was actually called. But, I had a few in the collection and decided to finally paint one up. Suitable for Gamma World, Mutant Future, Metamorphosis Alpha, or any other Post Apocalyptic/Science Fiction game.

How to:
>>>Yes, there are other ways to do this (like not paint them at all, which seems to be all the rage at some store-run tournaments) but this works for me.

1. Washed the figure with dish soap and cold water, then blotted it dry.
>>>I usually let figures dry overnight.

2. Mercilessly hacked off the integral flight stand, then removed any flash and mold lines.
>>>The flight stand contained more metal than the rest of the figure.

3. Drilled a small hole into the underside of the brain and the center of the new base, then glued the ends of a short length of piano wire into both.
>>>This gives the "illusion" of levitation. Sort of. Sewing pins or bits of paperclips would also have done the job. Whatever is handy!

4. A slurry of sand, water, PVA glue and 2 different sizes of model railroading ballast was spread about the top of the base to give a gravel effect.
>>>Normally, a thin layer of DAS PRONTO putty or dry spackling compound would be used to hide any slots or other undesired surface textures before step 4, but the base was a wondrously featureless disk.

5. Primed entire figure with Krylon white spray primer in well ventilated area.
>>>That's right: white. Do whatever you want, but I've been priming white for over 30 years. Get off my lawn, ya dern kids!

6. Applied base colors:
Brain = Neutral Gray
Base, gravel & post = Medium Gray
Conjunctiva = White
Iris = Green
Pupil = Black
>>>Or "Grey", if you prefer.

7. Applied full strength inks.
Brain = Green Ink
Conjunctiva = Red Ink
>>>The Red Ink worked for this particular model as the "veins" were actually little groves in the surface, not ridges.

8. Dry-brushing!
Brain = Neutral Gray
Conjunctiva = White

9. Painted the Iris a mix of 1 Gold Paint to 1 Green Ink.

10. Applied a full strength black ink to the Iris.

11. Dry-brushed the Iris a mix of 1 Gold Paint to 1 Green Ink.

12. Painted a thin line with Burnt Rose around the edge of the eye.

13. Painted upper-most surfaces of brain with Sky Gray.
>>>Yes, one could have dry-brushed it, but I had the time.

14. Painted "facing lozenge" on the "front" edge of the base.
>>>Some rules require a front facing for the figures, so 30 seconds of effort eradicates any future ambiguity.

15. Dipped figure. This is a misnomer, as the polyurethane varnish was applied with a number 3 brush - for better control and less waste. Clear varnish was applied to the figure itself (as not to bury the inking and dry-brushing) and a 1:1 mix of clear and Tudor were brushed on the post and base.
>>>Yes, a second act of heresy: dipping. It speeds things along AND protects all that painting effort. Every little bit helps when you run convention games.

16. Flocked the base in 2 steps:
First, brushed a few patches of PVA glue and applied blended turf. Then picked a few other spots on the base, smeared a little PVA glue and applied static grass. The base had moss, grass and exposed earth.
>>>If you'd like to save some money, get your flocking from model railroading stores.

17. Sealed the figure with one coat of Krylon clear matte finish. Done!

See more of my painting here: http://ravenfeast.deviantart.com/gallery/