Slithak, Clal-Chk Scavenger

 

This is one of my favorite sculpts that I have ever made! It was done for the game Shadowsea, on commission, many years ago. It took me much longer to make than it should have, but it is one of the pieces I am most happy with after all these years. Slithak is still available today and is now sold by Dark Sword Miniatures. 

I went with a very vibrant paint job here, in my favorite color palate. While I love lush green and bright colorful environments, they aren't something I often paint. It took, YEARS to finish it, but to be fair it sat 95% complete for most of that time on the shelf o' shame. I find that I have a really hard time finishing models that I sculpted - I have some self imposed pressure to make the models as "good" as possible, which ironically makes them underrepresented in my collection. This year I am actively trying to complete my sculpted WIPs. Slithak was finished in a single session after I picked it up again - after seeing things with fresh eyes it wasn't such a challenge. 

The only remaining images I have of the original sculpture are below - I apologize for their poor quality, but they are what they are!

The sculpt was based on this excellent concept art (below), though I adjusted the pose significantly so that casting would be less complex (at least, in my opinion!). I wish I knew who to credit  for the art - I think it was an Olley? I'll have to find out, because I really enjoy the style. Obviously my own paint job is very different from this one, but I really appreciate the mood it sets. These Shadowsea bug folk are very different from virtually every other representation I have seen - they're wearing clothes and using unusual, but clearly advanced equipment. It gives them a definite personality that other insect folk don't usually have.

 

 Just for fun, here is an additional photo set with a slightly different angle. I couldn't decide which I preferred, so why not both!

Princess Leia With Blaster

None other than the iconic princess Leia, hero of the rebellion! Leia is definitely at the top of my list of my favorite Star Wars characters. I had planned on painting her some time ago, but I stalled out because I was really worried about doing her justice. These "25mm"  minis are so small that painting her face was an intimidating challenge, and painting white is always difficult. A recent SW marathon with my son of the original trilogy inspired me to complete Leia, no matter the odds. Her character is definitely fearless and implacable, doing whatever she can for her people. In the end, I am very happy with how she turned out. 

 This version of Leia is from the West End Games A New Hope box set, "Leia W/ Blaster" - SW31. She is better represented in the line than the other heroes, with four total versions. There is even another of her in the classic white dress without a weapon, but this version seemed like a better staring point for use in gaming. She is mounted on a 25mm base.

In memoriam, Carrie Fisher.

Jawa

Another little guy from my WEG Star Wars collection. This tiny jawa is from the "A New Hope" boxed set (model # SW35) and was added to my collection many years ago. As with my other WEG models, I kept the paint-job simple, partially out of necessity due to its small size (pictured here on a 20mm base), but also because it fits with the style and feel of these old minis. I think the end result is really effective, and instantly transports me back in time to my childhood. I always found the jawas to be a mysterious and interesting part of the SW universe. In many ways, they were our first introduction to how alien things could really be. I love that they have remained that way, with no official disclosure of what they look like under those robes, even now. 

Yoda

 

Yoda himself! This time of year I like to post some of my West End Games Star Wars collection, and this tiny model is one of the biggest characters I have posted to date (excluding Lord Vader, of course). When I say tiny, I mean tiny - Yoda is a shorty in 25mm "scale" and is small even on a 20mm base. The details are really great for a model made in 1989, which tracks given that the The Empire Strikes Back box insert credits either Bob Charrette or Julie Guthrie for the sculpting work (model SW45). I really enjoy this whole line; the sculpts really capture the character of the original trilogy in a way that more contemporary versions don't. They take paint really well, push my skills with the fine details, and take me to a simpler time, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

Kobold Archers (2)

In the interests of keeping things moving along, here are two more diminutive representatives of my kobold warband (see the "kobold" label for more). Despite being some of my oldest pieces, they still hold up pretty well. In fact,  I am considering adding to them in the near future to round out the force and make sure I have enough to run "The Sinless Citadel" module.  

 

These archers tend to be just behind the magic-users in terms of the threat they pose within the warband. Small, crafty, and fast, with the ability to pump out damage at impressive range, they are far more dangerous than they might seem at first. The kobolds are a unique and fun gaming option  because of how differently they play from other warbands; they are individually weak, but coordinated attacks and sacrificial plays can draw the opponent into an overwhelming kill-box. More often than not, it is these archers who end up playing a key role in those tactics.

 

 

 

Huge Snow Golem and Friends

The biggest of the bunch! This huge snow golem is truly a massive threat, and represents the apex of my current snow golem project from Schlossbauer. I really enjoy that it appears to be an amalgamation of the other forms - distinguishable heads of small golems cover its body, which mirrors the shape of the medium golems, and it has a crown of ice from the large golem. There was some fun discussion surrounding whether the other forms coalesced into the huge boss, or were shed from it, or both - no matter what it seems like a fun series of encounters to run. As with the other snow golems, I wasn't totally happy with my execution, but I'll look to improve in future cold themed monsters (e.g. the ones missing from this current series). The combined effect is pretty satisfying, though, for such a speedy project.

 

St. Patrick's Day Bae

 

Happy St. Patrick's day! This is a little something different for my blog, a holiday mini with a very different vibe. Normally I  avoid "cheesecake" type minis, but after years of painting monsters and undead I thought it would be fresh to shake things up and try something a little .....softer. I wont make NSFW content a regular habit, but it was more fun than I expected - I really had to focus on skin tones and painting makeup on a tiny little face. Making a mini clean, bright, and cute is definitely a different sort of challenge for me. despite being pretty rusty with humans, I think she turned out pretty nice. 

Ill definitely be adding in more themed minis from time to time, to break things up, but the wont (always) be so risqué.  

This piece is from Vae Victis minis - their "Bae" minis are a regular part of their monthly releases, and often keep things a bit lighthearted, with both male and female thirst traps available on the regular. 

How about that beer, though?! It's making me thirsty myself.....

Wishing you some Irish luck. 

 

Large Snow Golem

This big fellow is clearly a threat. The cute grins of the small snow golems and the oafish maws of the medium snow golems have shifted to a grimace of cold malevolence. The spines, crown and tusks of ice and slush, along with sheer size clearly mark him as as leadership. Given how scary the normal sort are, this thing looks to be a TPK in the shape of a snowdrift. A perfect post for a winter day.

 

The progression of this series from Schlossbauer is fantastic; the pieces are simple but gradually ratchet up the interest level.

 

This model was painted similar to the others, but has some semi-transparent effects. The method needs work, but that's the hobby! 

 

Snow Golems (2)

These brutes are the big brothers of the Small Snow Golems I posted last week. While they are "medium" sized they represent a significant increase in mass relative to the small versions. Their considerable bulk overhangs even a 32mm base - much bigger than your average snowman. The stat blocks on these monsters are pretty threatening, with heat sources being their only real vulnerability, and their frosty fists capable of pulverizing even experienced snowboarders. 

They were painted as before, only bulkier - very quick to the table with a solid end result for something with such a simple composition. I was pleased with the depth I managed - shades of white are surprisingly difficult. In retrospect I should've made at least one additional medium snow golem, if not more, as they are typically encountered in groups (drifts)? Fortunately it should be relatively straightforward to add some additional poses in the future. 

 Despite being much bigger and more dangerous than the smaller snow creatures, they are dim witted and slow to mobilize;  something else must be directing their coordinated attacks on travelers in mountainous areas......

Small Snow Golem Avalanche (12)

 

Whew, the end of one year and the star of another - it is always such a hectic time. In addition to more traditional activities, I'm always racing to complete my annual painting goals. I failed miserably as I usually do, but at least the effort propels me into the new year. 

For January I wanted to work on a complete series of winter themed models that  were very different from my standard meticulously highlighted stuff - these super cute snow golems!

 

The models are part of a series of winter critters released by Schlossbauer. They are very simple as individual creatures, but the the progression of related models really captured my imagination. Snow flock is a basing material I often use for wintery subjects, and I wanted to carry that effect through on these guys for consistencies sake. It was a delicate balance, though, because I wanted them to reflect the original artistry of the sculpts. To achieve this I spent a good deal of time painting and shading the model in an icy white palate, most of that work was then covered with a thin layer of army painter snow flock. It seemed like a waste of time at first, but a test piece reveled the added depth and tone from the process carried through to the final effect. The bluish mouth isn't very realistic, but breaking up the snow by adding a simple focal point the helps emphasize how cold they are. A lesson I learned from animators & film is that a feeling conveyed by a visual queue is often more important than realism in art. 

 

These charming powder-balls are small, and based on 20mm bases I 3D printed (without a doubt, I print more bases than anything else!). They seem harmless enough, and make me think of the hapless snow constructs from Adventure Time. In numbers, though, they might pose a noticeable threat to hardened adventurers. Well, at least they might perk their curiosity - where did they come from, and just how many are there? A foray into the deeper snow drifts might reveal additional clues....

Green Slimes (2)

Ooze monsters are always fun, and they come in many colorful hues. These were originally grey oozes made by Threat Factory, but I already have a set of gray oozes as WIPs in a different style, and I thought the ooze-on-a-wall design to fit well with the green slime aesthetic. 

I was also partially inspired to paint these by the mysterious holiday green jello that is a traditional food at my family gatherings. I'm not a fan, but I'd be bummed if it weren't there.   

These were effectively a speed paint, and the whole thing came together pretty smoothly up until the end. I use a craft high-gloss sealer on the ooze parts for a really wet look, but I applied it too thickly and I got a little cracking that needed to be patched. In the future I'll be sure to use a thinner layer of gloss. 

Specters (4)

 These models were painted over my brief  November vacation, and were completed while visiting family. Traveling with a miniatures paint project can be challenging, and I often find that I don't have every paint color or hobby supply I might need to complete the project. This year I planned ahead and brought a very simple project that would only require a few colors and their blended derivatives. It ended up being my most successful paint-cation to date.

 These specters are a continuation of my attempts to paint ghostly monsters (see: Wraith, Wraith, Banshee, Demilich) and I elected for a bright glow like effect. My previous attempt with the demilich wasn't what I was hoping for, and I wanted to further develop that technique. Ultimately, I am pretty happy with the end effect, and I plan on trying it with some different color shading on ghosts next. As an added cool feature, these models were over-painted with an invisible aqua glow-in-the-dark paint, so their ghostly silhouettes are still visible in my display cabinet at night. OOoooOOOooo!

The project wasn't without its hiccups, though! I accidentally based the set on two similar but different sized bases (2x 25mm and 2x 28mm) - Doh! I'm calling it an artistic feature.  

The models are from  "The Lion's Tower", and were the best small collection of models I could find. I particularly appreciate the mix of male and female models, which makes the set particularly useful for running "Death House." The bases are from Zabavka Workshop, and have some great detail and variety. Many of the bases feature skeletal remains, and I thought it was fitting to have the specters floating above the location of their demise (see below).

 

 

Giant Mushrooms (3) #2

 

A bonus Thanksgiving post! What else could it be, but more giant mushrooms. It is just so fitting for the season. 

The models belong to the Shadowsea Fungal Pack set, along with my other giant mushrooms. These ones got a little more attention than the first two I posted, and even feature some quick highlighting on the cap to make them "pop."  I have included a group shot of the whole completed set below. I think they make a great, and colorful, core to my growing mushroom forest.  

It occurred to me that LMoP has a small "fungi cavern" so this set is perfect for that project, too. Check out the "Lost Mine of Phandelver" label tag to see other models in that module. At some point I'll get around to making a dedicated page for that collection. 

Feast well and with good company. 

The complete set:

 

Orc Skeletons (5)

These orc skeletons are half of the "old guardroom" skeleton encounter in LMoP's Wave Echo Cave. The brief encounter description mentions the bones of both dwarves and orcs, and I thought a good mix would make for a more memorable encounter than if I had just subbed them with vanilla skeletons. Making species appropriate undead adds a good deal of work to my various adventure module goals, but I enjoy the depth it adds to my collection.


The models are 3D prints, sculpted by Avatars of War. Bases were hand sculpted and are ~32mm. I'm still having issues with bloggers image display - it always scales images up and makes them look fuzzy relative to how they look in an image viewer app. Ah well, Ill replace these images if I ever figure it out. 

 

Ordinary Bat

A tiny "ordinary bat" miniature on a 15mm base. This unassuming creature marks a return to one of my favorite subjects - non-fictional animals! Despite their bad reputation, I love bats. While most people associate them with the fall, I look forward to our small friends first arriving at the end of long summer nights. Watching them flutter over the fire pit in the back yard is a favorite pastime with the fam. 

 

The "ordinary bat" title is a joking homage to how they are named in the AD&D MMII. Evidently the fantastical creatures are so abundant in some fantasy worlds that natural ones need to be specifically called out as "ordinary." This convention applies to other ordinary critters which are sure to wander onto my painting table in the coming year. 

 

This itty bitty miniature is from the reaper Bones familiar pack. Thankfully, it is a light enough material that I was able to attach it by the wingtip to a branch with a small pin, and it has proven sturdy enough to survive several falls and even a rampaging house cat over years of play. I think the added height is needed to capture the character of this little flying fellow. 

Giant Mushrooms (2)

 

Mushrooms are one of my favorite Fall features. They are also a staple of fantasy exploration tropes, even appearing on the cover of the first B series module "In Search of the Unknown." the concept has been revisited in many iconic scenes since, and I am always a fan. In Antimatter games' Shadowsea, vast fungal forests are a staple feature of the underdark ecosystem. These giant mushrooms, the size of small trees, were made for that game system, and are now sold by Darksword Minitaures. They are formally titled " Thin Stalk Mushroom," and "Death’s Crown Mushroom," and are part of a larger Fungal Pack set, all of which I painted many years ago. Despite being such a specific and fantastical environmental feature they are one of the best represented types of terrain in my entire collection.  The idea of swords and sorcery amongst the stalks of huge fungal trees tickles the right part of my brain. 

Giant Four-Armed Gargoyle

 

Gargoyles are a fantasy staple; if you don't have gargoyles, you're doing it wrong! While standard gargoyles are a recognizable classic, this mountain of living, flying, rock with four arms and loads of animosity isn't what most people picture. It is a classic for the lich Acererak, though, and his opinion holds some weight around here. This model will make a nice leader / centerpiece for a clan of gargoyles I have been working on at the same time, but are just a little behind this fellow in terms of progress.

This very nice model is made by Threat Factory, who have earned an increasing share of my time at the paint table.  Their sculpts really appeal to me because of sheer paintability. This model was completed just in time for TF's paint contest. I don't expect to place, but I love to participate for the brief moments of community the events foster. I am a fussy painter, and models tend to slow down the closer they are to being done. I always want to touch up this-bit or that-bit, and I take twice as long to finish the last 10% as the preceding 90%. A paint contest and its deadline give me a good reason to just say "it's done" and just move it to the display cabinet. Heck, I should do more contests for that reason alone - a similar outcome for a fraction of the effort by forcefully bypassing my own indecision and procrastination. 

 While I personally love painting heaps of rock, I imagine it isn't super thrilling for others. The pop of orange eye-glow gives it that little bit of visual interest / focal point the model needs.  Normally I avoid the glowing eye trope, but it really fits for a gargoyle mauler. 

 

Dretch Demon Horde! (20)

 Demons! The perfect seasonal post.

Even dretch can be a threat in numbers, and any demon invasion needs its front-line minions. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find enough unique models to really fill out a big horde of weaker creatures. To compensate for that, I have gotten in the habit of rigging models and reposing them. This set of models was my test case for that approach. I started with Schlossbauer's excellent dretch model (center above, top left below), which had a nice neutral pose and rigged it up in Blender to practice all sorts of poses. I ended up having to do some sculpting opening the mouth so I could get a better variety of facial positions; It was a hack job, but at scale it works. I gave several of the dretch dog like poses, as I thought that would fit their personality well. Once I had made that many, well, it'd be a shame not to print and paint them all!

With so many models, I broke these paint jobs up over ...years, lol. They went through many iterations, and the current paint is nothing like the quick dip I had been planning on originally. I am not much of an army painter, so this was a big batch for me to take on all at once. They were fairly simple, so that helped, but painting the spots on the back ended up being a a much harder exercise in persistence than I had expected.  Still, I really like the end result.

These are an awesome addition to my AD&D MMII collection. Lots more demons to come. Maybe even more dretch, of a different sort. 

Ghouls (3)

 

 

These are the first of my sizeable ghoul pack. They are sculpted by the ghoul master himself, Paul Muller. This pack was originally produced by Otherworld miniatures, but now appears to be sold by Crooked Dice games. The nice sinewy texture Paul puts on these makes them a snap to paint with a few light washes and highlights. The primary painting goal with these guys was to keep them simple. I have a large number of them, which is often called for with ghoul encounters, and I wanted to be able to reproduce the paint scheme easily as I added more members. I kept them gritty, somewhat mirroring a painter I knew from many years ago that did everything in this palate.

Because ghouls are so common in published adventures, these guys are an important addition to my collection. Ill follow with more of the pack in coming months.

Pixie Tricksters (3)

 I love these little guys - they were made with so much whimsy! I have had these minis in my collection since...well.....since Confrontation was a thing. I cant say I remember much about my original process way back then, but they have always been a high quality addition to my collection. The bases are a little worse for the wear, but the models have held up remarkably well. 

Actually, now that I think of it, I believe I have actually even changed the bases on these minis at some point, to ditch the old thick square ones that came in the clam-shell pack. The current basing is a little big, but it helps prevent grabbing onto the small soft models directly.  

I have been so pleased with the pumpkin pixies that I have gone on to paint several more pieces that share a theme, color palate, and style. I now have a small collection of devious but still charming harvest fey. In fact, these models may be what won me over to the fey in general. I used to think they were cheesy as monsters, but I have come to appreciate the flourish of color and brightness they bring the fantasy genre. I should gather them up and do a one shot this year....

This post definitely scratches the Halloween itch and gets me motivated to paint. Nothing like Pumpkin Orange on the brush, a cup of coffee, and a backdrop of fall leaves to make me feel comfortable.