Deep Gnome Rogue, and Deep Gnome Captain: Bones 4 Darkreach Figures

     This past week I painted the "Deep Gnome Rogue", and "Deep Gnome Captain", from the Bones 4 Darkreach Expansion.
    I prepped the figures in the usual way, soaking the parts in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving them a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying them. I then glued them to 7/8" black-primed fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue.  I then glued the washers onto a tongue depressor with a couple drops of Elmer's white glue.

     I began by painting the skin on both of them with Americana "Sable Brown".  I then painted the tunic on the Rogue, and shirt on the Captain with Americana "Charcoal Grey".  After that, I painted the cape on the Rogue and the leggings on the Captain with Americana "Asphaltum".

     Next, I painted the hood on the Rogue with Americana "Neutral Grey", and then painted the tunic on the Captain with Crafter'a Acrylic "Orange Spice".  I also used the "Orange Spice" to paint the leggings on the Rogue, and then painted the belt and scabbards on the Rogue with Ceramcoat "Charcoal", and the belt and pouches on the Captain with Nicole's "Brown".  After that, I painted all their shoes with Accent "Real Umber".

     I decided at that point that I didn't like the Rogue's leggings being orange, so I repainted them with Accent "Mustard Seed".  I also used the "Mustard Seed" to paint the cuffs of the Captain's tunic.  I then painted the Rogue's gloves, and the Captain's scabbard and dagger grip, with Reaper MSP HD "Umber Brown".  After that, I painted all the metal bits, weapons and armor, with Americana "Zinc".

     Next, I painted the handle of the Captain's axe with  Americana "Light Cinnamon", and then I painted their hair with Americana "Grey Sky".  I then painted their armor, weapons and assorted metal parts with Folk Art  Metallics "Gunmetal Grey". I let the figures dry for a while. and then gave their faces, and the Captain's ears and hands, a coat of Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.  When that wash was dry, I gave their clothes a coat of Citadel "Agrax Earthshade".  Another drying break and then I finished the washes by giving a coat of Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash to their hair, armor, and weapons.

    When all the washes were dry, I painted their eyes, and then highlighted their skin with a mix of the base "Sable Brown", and Americana "Fawn".  I then highlighted theRogue's tunic and the Captain's shirt with Folk Art "Dark Brown", and then mixed a little Americana "Mississippi Mud" in for lighter highlights.  After that, I highlighted the Rogue's cape with Nicole's Brown".

     I then highlighted the Rogue's hood with Apple Barrel "Rock Grey", and afterwards highlighted the the Captain's tunic with the base "Orange Spice" mixed with some Reaper MSP "Pumpkin Orange", and then mixed with some Apple Barrel "Apple Maple Sugar" for lighter highlights. After that, I highlighted the Rogue's leggings, and the  Cpatan's cuffs with the base Accent "Mustard Seed" mixed with some Ceramcoat "Maple Sugar Tan", and then highlighted their shoes with Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown".

     Next, I highlighted their hair with Americana "Snow White", and then highlighted the Rogue's scabbards and belt with Americana "Zinc".  I then highlighted the Captain's belt, pouches, and scabbard with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige, followed by lighter highlights using Americana "Khaki Tan".   After that, I highlighted their weapons armor and other metal bits with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".Lastly, I painted both their  bases with Americana "Mississippi Mud".
      I let the figures dry overnight and the next day I gave them a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish. I then used some white glue to glue some fine sand to their bases.  When the sand was dry, I painted it with a coat of Americana "Charcoal Grey". When this was dry, I drybrushed the sand with the "Mississippi Mud", and then with some Apple Barrel "Rock Grey"; lastly I drybrushed it with a little Americana "Dove Grey".
      Another overnight dry, and I sprayed the figures with Testor's Dullcote".

     I'm really happy with this pair.  To be fair, the facial sculpts come with a ton of character, so making these two look good was an easier task.

Serena, Dreadmere Rogue: Bones 4 Dreadmere Figure

   This past week I painted Serena, Dreadmere Rogue, from the Bones 4 Dreadmere Expansion.   I prepped the figure in the usual way, soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.  I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.

     I began by painting her face with Reaper MSP "Olive Skin", and then painted her arms and legs with Reaper MSP "Coal Black".  After that I painted her cape and hood with Accent "Midnight Blue".

     Next, I painted her tabard, gloves, and the blades of her weapons with Americana "Zinc".  I then painted her boots, belt, pouch, and the grips of her weapons with Ceramcoat "Black".  After that, I painted the little bags on her belt with Americana "Charcoal Grey", and then did some borders on her tabard with Reaper MSP "Fresh Blood".   I then did the rock she has her left foot on with Americana "Neutral Grey", and splotched it with a little Folk Art "Dapple Gray".

      I finished the base coating by painting the weapon blades with Folk Art  Metallics "Gunmetal Grey.  Then, after everything had a while to dry, I gave her face a coat of Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.  When that was dry, I gave the rest of the figure a coat of Citadel "Nuln Oil" Wash".  When the washes were dry, I painted her eyes, and then highlighted her face with Reaper MSP "Olive Highlight".

     Next, I highlighted her sleeves and legs with Citadel "The Fang", and highlighted her tabard and gloves with a mix of the base "Zinc" and some Americana "Grey Sky".  I then highlighted her cape with Americana "Wedgewood Blue", and highlighted the borders on her tabard with Reaper MSP "Holly Berry".

I finished up the highlights by doing her boots, belt, pouch, and grips with Folk Art "Medium Grey", and then the little bags on her belt with Americana "Mississippi Mud". I then highlighted her blades with Citadel "Mithril Silver".  Lastly, I painted the entire base with the "Mississippi Mud".
         I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the base.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's "Dullcote".

     I'm really happy with this one.  The face and eyes, being mostly covered, were a challenge; but in the end I think they turned out ok.

Rogan, Half-Orc Rogue: Bones 2 Figure

     This past week, continuing to try and do simpler figures for limited time reasons, I painted Rogan, Half-Orc Rogue, from the Bones 2 Heroes I set.
  I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.   I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.

  I began by giving the figure a wash with Reaper MSP "Grey Liner"; and when that was dry, I painted his face and arms with a mix of Americana "Shading Flesh" and Americana "Avocado". (I believe half-orcs should retain some of the pinkish coloration from their human parent, and not be all green.)  I then painted his pants with Americana "Neutral Grey", and his tunic with Americana "Mississippi Mud". When the tunic was dry, I gave it a border with Reaper MSP Bones "Cinnamon Red".

      Next, I painted his boot tops with Americana "Light Cinnamon", and the bag tucked in his belt with Americana "Khaki Tan".  I then painted his belt, sheaths, and dagger grips, with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate", and his fangs with Americana "Antique White".   After that,  I gave his skin a wash with Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade".  When it was dry, I gave his clothing and accoutrements all a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.

     When the washes were dry, I painted his eyes, and highlighted his teeth with CraFter's Acrylic "Light Antique White".  I then highlighted his skin with a mix of Americana "Reindeer Moss" and Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh".     Next, I painted his cape, gauntlets, and boots all with Ceramcoat "Black".    While the cape was drying, I highlighted his pants with Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey".  Next, I highlighted his tunic with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige", and his boot tops with the "Mississippi Mud".  I then highlighted his belt and scabbards with Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown", and the bag stuck in his belt with the "Antique White".  After that, I highlighted the cape with Americana "Zinc, and while I had it open, I also used the "Zinc" to base paint the weapons and all the but that were going to be painted as metal.  I then went back to the cape and did lighter highlights with some of the "Zinc mixed a bit of the "Storm Cloud Grey".    

    Next, I went back and went over the weapons and metal bits, including all the little stud in his tunic, with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey", and then highlighted it all with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".   

     Lastly, I painted the figure's integral base with the "Bittersweet Chocolate".

     I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave it a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to flock the base.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".

     I'm happy with how this fellow turned out.  I wish his skin had been a little more towards the pinker side of the skin spectrum, but it was hard balance to get just perfect. 

Durok, Dwarf Ranger: Bones 3 Figure, Converted to Frostgrave Thief

    This past week I returned to working on my Frostgrave Dwarf conversions, and painted Durok, Dwarf Ranger; who I had earlier converted to a Thief for my warband, by using a dagger and torch from the Frostgrave plastic Soldiers Set.

This week, I am working on the figure on the left.

Here he can be seen with his original weapon removed and a dagger and torch added.

      I forgot to take a starting photo, but you can see what he looked like in the bare Bones, so to speak, on the left in the photo above.  I had of course prepped this figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, and giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it, back before I did the conversion work.   After the conversion work, I glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washers with Aleene's Tacky glue.  When dry, I put it in  my painting grip.
     I began by giving the figure a thinned wash of Reaper MSP "Grey Liner".  When the wash was dry, I painted his face with Americana "Shading Flesh". This figure is pretty much decked out in  a lot of armor, but I thought I'd try to paint it so it either looked like cloth or leather armor; to help sell the idea he was a thief.  So, I painted his "tunic" with Americana "Zinc", and then painted his cape, hood, and gloves with Ceramcoat "Black".

     Next, I painted his belt, pouch, shoulder armor, and boots with Reaper MSP  "Coal Black", and his beard and with Reaper MSP "Turkey Brown".  After that, I painted the torch hanlde with Nicole's "BrowN', and his knife blade with the "Zinc"

     I let everything dry a bit, and then I gave his face a wash with some Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.  When that was dry, I gave his beard a wash with Citadel Agrax Earthshade"wash; and when that dried, I gave his tunic a wash with Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash.  After that, I did highlights on his boots, belt, pouch and shoulder armor with Citadel 'The Fang", and I painted the knife blade with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey".

     I then painted his eyes and highlighted his face.  I only applied the highlights to the right side, to help with the OSL (Object Source Lighting) effect.  I then did the highlights on his beard, using the warmer Americana 'Sable Brown on the right of the beard, and the cooler Americana "Mississippi Mud" on the left of the beard; again, to help with the OSL effect.  At this point I realized I better actually get to painting the source of the light, so I began work on the flame.  I started by painting the indented areas of the sculpted flame with Reaper MSP "Golden Glow", then working up to the higher ridges of the sculpted flame, I progressed through Crafter' Acrylic "Pure Pumpkin", Reaper MSP"Holly Berry", and Reaper MSP Bones "Cinnamon Red".

     Next, I finished highlighting the beard, giving some areas closest to the flame highlights with Folk Art "Butter Pecan", and then some of the 'Butter Pecan" with a little of the 'Golden Glow" mixed in.  I then worked on highlighting his tunic with some Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey", and like the beard, I mixed a little of the "Golden Glow" in to do those areas where it looked like the flame would be most directly shining.  After that, I worked on highlighting his cape, hood, and gloves with Americana "Neutral Grey", and then, once again, I mixed a little of the "Golden Glow" in with the "Neutral Grey", and highlighted the areas closes to the torch.     At this point I highlighted his dagger with some Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver", and then hit the very edge of the blade near the tip with some of the "Golden Glow" to (hopefully) make it look like the light was glinting off the edge.
     Lastly, I painted the figure's base with Black.
    When the Black was dry, I used some white glue to glue a little black course sand onto the base.  When this was dry I drybrushed the bases with some of the Americana "Neutral Grey", and then some Duncan "Slate Grey", and lastly some Folk Art "Platinum Grey".
      I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave him a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".

     I'm really pleased with how this guy turned out.  I think the conversion worked really well, and it's interesting to see how the brave Ranger changed into the sneaky Thief.  I'm not happy with the OSL, but that takes work to perfect.  I think it works on the beard and his left knee, but the hood and his left shoulder aren't quite right.

Klaus Copperthumb, Dwarf Thief

   This past week I painted the Klaus Copperthumb, Dwarf Thief, figure from theBones 3 Dwarves set.   I have a Frostgrave warband of Dwarves that I never quite finished, that began with a couple Dwarf figures from Bones 2 as the Thaumaturge Wizard and Apprentice.  I had been waiting for all the Dwarves in Bones 3 to help fill out the missing soldiers in the group, and selected this figure to start with, to be one of the warband's Thieves.
     I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.    I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then glued the washer-mounted figure to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of the Elmer's glue.

          I began by giving the figure a wash with heavily thinned Reaper "Grey Liner" using a wet brush.  When that was dry, I painted his face with Games Workshop "Dwarf Flesh".  I then painted his cape with Americana "Zinc", and his pants with Americana "Charcoal Grey".

     Next, I painted his undershirt with Americana "Mississippi Mud", and his tunic with Crafter's Acrylic "Navy Blue". I then did all his leather equipment and boots with Black and after that, painted the boot tops with Apple Barrel "Burnt Sienna".

    After that I painted the hair and mustache with Americana "Bittersweet Chocolate", and the handles of his axes with Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown".  Then, there were also some small bags/pouches on his belt that I painted with Americana "Khaki Tan".   I let everything dry for a while, then I gave the figure's face and hair a wash with some Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" using a wet brush.  I let that dry, and then I gave the rest of the figure a wash with some Citadel "Nuln Oil" using a wet brush as well.

     When the wash was dry, I painted his eyes, and then highlighted his skin with a mix of Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh", and the base "Dwarf Flesh".  I then highlighted his hair and mustache with the "Teddy Bear Brown".  Next, I did highlights on his cape with Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey", and his tunic with Ceramcoat "Denim Blue".  I then highlighted all his black leather parts and boots with Citadel "The Fang", followed by his undershirt with Americana "Khaki", and his boot tops with Americana "Terra Cotta".  After that, I highlighted his axe handles with Americana "Sable Brown, and the little bags/pouches with Americana "Antique White"
     I then did the metallics, painting his axe heads with with  Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey"and then applying highlights with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".
   Lastly, I painted the figure's integral base with Black.  When the Black was dry, I drybrushed the bases with some Apple Barrel "Rock Grey", and then some Folk Art "Platinum Grey".
    I let the figure dry overnight and the next day I gave him a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed it with Testor's Dullcote".

    I am happy with how this fellow came out.  He'll be a great addition to my Dwarf warband.

Merisiel, Iconic Rogue: Figure 217 of 266

     I continue to work on the Iconics and Officially Licensed Pathfinder Miniatures Set, and finished up Merisiel, Iconic Rogue, over the weekend.   Looking at this figure, I kind of pictured her in all black; and then for some reason I got the idea that it might be a neat contrast to give her white hair.
      I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.  I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then glued the washer-mounted figure to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of the Elmer's glue.

     I began by painting the body entirely Black.  I then drybrushed it with a mix of Americana "Zinc" and Ceramcoat "Denim Blue".

     I then did a lighter drybrush using a mix of "Crafter's Acrylic "Storm Cloud Grey", and the "Denim Blue".   Next, I painted her face and ears with Crafter's Acrylic "Flesh", and her hair and and weapon blades wth the "Zinc".

     I gave the face a wash with GW "Agrax Earthshade" wash using a wet brush.  Then, when that was dry, I worked on highlighting the hair; first with Folk Art "Platinum Grey", and then pure White.  Next, I painted the eyes and lips, and then highlighted the face and ears with the base "Flesh", and then the "Flesh" with a little White added to it.

     I then added some highlights to the dagger handles with Americana Neutral Grey",  and did some spot highlights to her outfit with the "Denim Blue".   I finished up with the metallics; painting her two blades with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey", and then highlighting with Folk Art Metallics "Silver Sterling".
    After the figure had overnight to dry, I gave it a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish".   Later that morning I flocked the base, and that evening I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.

     I took a big shortcut with this figure by just doing it all black with some drybrushing, but for a gaming figure I think that's okay and I think the all-black look suits this figure.  In the end, I'm happy with how it came out.


Figure 217 of 266: Complete

Ingrid, Female Gnome: Figure 211 of 266

   Over the weekend I finished up Ingrid, Female Gnome from the Half-Sized Heroes set.  I'm not officially working on this set now; I just wanted to get another Thief figure painted up for Frostgrave, so I pulled this figure out and bumped it to the front of the line.  I didn't realize she was a Gnome when I painted her, so I did her up as a Halfling.
      I thought the object in her hand looked like it was supposed to be some sort of magic light source, like the Phial of Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings; so I had to have a nice debate with myself as to whether I was going to attempt serious Object Source Lighting (OSL) for the first time, or skip the pressure and just paint her as if she was simply holding a snowball, or a rock.   
     I prepped the figure in the usual way; soaking it in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish- soap added, then giving it a light scrub with a soft toothbrush, and then rinsing and drying it.  I then glued the figure to a white-primed 1" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then glued the washer-mounted figure to a tongue depressor with a couple drops of the Elmer's glue.

    I began by painting her chainmail black, and then drybrushing it with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey", followed with a lighter drybrushing with Folk Art Metallics "Silver Sterling".   I then painted her face with Americana "Shading Flesh".

     Next, I painted her studded leather jerkin with Ceramcoat "Raw Sienna", followed by painting her leggings with Folk Art "Cloudy Day", and her sleeves with Folk Art "Dapple Grey".  I painted her cape with Crafter's Acrylic "Navy Blue"; followed by doing her hair with Crafter's Edition "Spice Brown", and her shoes with Nicole's "Brown".

     I then painted her belts and the sword grip with Crafter's Acrylic "Cinnamon Brown", and her gloves with Ceramcoat "Territorial Beige".  Next, it was her sword, belt buckle, and all the studs on her jerkin,  with Americana "Neutral Grey".  I let the paint all dry for a while, then gave all the brown toned parts a wash GW "Agrax Earthshade" wash using a wet brush.  When this wash was dry, I have all the blue and green parts a wash with GW "Badab Black" wash using a wet brush.

     When the wash was dry, I highlighted her hair with Americana "Sable Brown". I then painted her eyes and lips, and then highlighted her face with the base "Shading Flesh".   Next, I highlighted her cape with Ceramcoat "Denim Blue", followed by painting her magic rock with Crafter's Acrylic "Cool Blue".

     I then highlighted her jerkin with Americana "Khaki Tan", and then highlighted her leggings and sleeves with their base colors; "Cloudy Day", and "Dapple Grey" respectively.  Next, I used the "Sable Brown" to highlight her shoes and gloves. I noticed the barrettes in her hair and painted them with the "Neutral Grey".   I then used Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey" to paint her sword, belt buckle, jerkin studs, and barrettes; then added highlights to these areas with Folk Art Metallics "Silver Sterling".
    The figure was done now, for all intents and purposes, so it was time for me to make the decision about the OSL.  I realized I needed to just do it, or I'd always be afraid of it; so I spent a minute studying how light from the rock she holds would hit her body.  I then took a small brush I use for drybrushing tight areas, and applied a heavy drybrush of the "Cool Blue" down the areas of her body the light would hit.   I then went back and added White highlights to the rock itself, and all the areas of her body I had just hit with the "Cool Blue".  I also added White reflective dots to her eyes, and some of the metallic parts.   Lastly, I used the White to paint her base.
     I then used some Aleene's Tacky glue to add some cut Bones sprue to the base to look like some ruins.  When dry, I painted it Black, and then drybrushed it with Americana "Zinc", followed with Crafter's Acrylic Storm Cloud Grey", and lastly Folk Art "Platinum Grey". When everything had overnight to dry, I gave the figure a coat of Ceramcoat "Matte Varnish" early the next morning.  That afternoon I flocked the white areas with Woodland Scenics "Snow" flock the next day I sprayed the figure with Testor's Dullcote.

      In the end I'm pleased.  It's a little heavy handed; but I wanted it to look like a very stark unnatural lighting, and I think it does.   I can also say there's lots of room for me to improve, but luckily its a skill I don't think I will have to call upon very often.

Here I tried some lighting effects; using just my phone's flashlight, shining from tabletop level.  I think it helps accentuate the painted OSL effect.

Figure 211 of 266: Complete