German Bust

This is guy completes the German MG34 team that I purchased last year. I tried some new techniques on this guy, like using oils for the coat and face. I'm not sure I like the effect, but at least it is complete.

Ogre Goblin Bust WIP 2

This is my first time using transparent paints, and despite some initial success, I managed to un-green the goblin. The original green was a couple of layers of badger ghost tint green. After putting those layers down, I used badger thinner to clean my airbrush. I then added a blue tint using GW air. The badger thinner melted the green layer down, which then ran into the crevices. So lesson learned. I guess I should figure out what to do next. Do I start the goblin over? Do I discreetly push the model into some less visible part of my desk and ignore it? The more I look at the sculpt the less I like how chunky the giant is. Maybe I should just gore and mud platter this and call it done.

Ogre Goblin Bust WIP 1

Next time I need a quick model to paint after a long slog, I won't pick a bust! Next time, I'll pick a space marine, or IG, or something simple. Nonetheless, I like how the colors are starting to show. I'm trying to mix blues and purples into the model in order to play off the orange ogre, and green goblin. I think I have a few more hours to go on the goblin flesh before I know if I am on to something.

Ogre Bust WIP

This Ogre bust was a gift from Roman Lappat, whom you might know as Jarhead from Massive Voodoo. My wife and I were traveling through Germany and stopped by to hang out and get some lunch with Roman and Eric. To my surprise, he provided a resin cast of one of his sculpts. With my hobby mojo low, this model sat on my desk for a few months. After cleaning my desk (ok..mostly) I needed some zen time, and set to work on it. I had forgotten how peaceful painting is. I really enjoyed playing with the flesh tones, but my focus was on the ogres eyes. I want this guy to look human. As you can tell the brown areas are not painted yet, and there is additional l work to do on the ogres scars, on his runny nose. I'm tempted to paint him as if he were crying, using gloss paint to make the tear marks. I think those could work well with the inevitable blood splashes. Maybe this ogre regrets killing but can't stop. There is definitely a sadness to the sculpt that I enjoy.

Weathered

The German bust I am painting for NOVA is almost completed. The first round of weathering is on the model, which is great fun once started, but enormously stressful prior to committing to it. I am really happy with how the oil paints turned out on the wooden stock on the MG42. I will do a little more work weathering, and then clean up work, but this guy is mostly done.

The base was not planned. It was just a base I added for painting, but after dropping the figure trying to detach him, I think the base hast to stay. At least the position is reasonable!

Face

I started working on the bust's face this morning for a little bit of pre-gym fun. I had intended to just play around with some color using acrylics before re-painting the face using oils. However now I am undecided on whether or not to repaint the face at all. I think this is looking pretty good. I think my new plan might be to use oils as a transparent layer on top of this base coat. I may take a break from this and do some distressing of the black leather straps. I've been wanting to use a pink/coal/black mixture of paint for a while and this gives me the perfect opportunity to do it.

I am dreading two steps on this model now that it is starting to look finished. The whitewash on the helmet, and the snow and mud accumulation. The whitewash will be fun, but it is less controlled than I normally like. I think the helmet has a very realistic look right now, and whitewash will obscure it. The snow and mud are just going to be difficult. I plan to use Secret Weapon Miniatures crushed glass for the snow, and have yet to figure out how to apply it to the model. I'm not going for a wet look, but the look of fallen snow. That rules out using water effects as a binder. Since glass is hazardous, I want to fix it really well to the miniature, but I also want the glue/binder to not be visible. I have no real solution to this yet. Maybe I'll have to reach out to SWM to figure out what they use.

1/10 Scale German Soldier

I've never painted a bust before, but I figured it was time to give it a shot and see how I liked it. What you see here are work in progress shots of a german soldier serving in winter gear. This guy is going to get a white-washed helmet with mud and snow environmental effects on his clothing. To complement that, I am going to give him a warm completion. Another thing I am going to play with is finish. Black leather parts will have a satin finish with matte worn areas, while his clothing will be ultra matte. I am looking forward to playing with the finishes.


(Yes, I see the giant mold line!)