Hell Hounds: Bones 4 Fan Favorites Figure

     This past week I painted the Hell Hounds from the Bones 4 Fan Favorites Expansion.   When I first saw these, I had the idea that I'd like to get two of the sitting version of the Hound to paint as innocuous statues, perhaps for guarding a gate or doorway, and then use the two standing versions to  paint as their demonic counterparts; that the statues would change into when anyone got too close to what they were guarding.
     I then lucked out and found a second copy of the sitting one in the flea market at our club's gaming convention a couple weeks ago.
       I prepped the figures in the usual way, soaking them 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 the two sitting figures to  black-primed 1" fender washer, and the two standing figures to black-primed 1.25" fender washers, all with Aleene's Tacky glue.  I then glued the figures in pairs onto tongue depressors.

     I began by painting the two seated hounds entirely with Americana "Charcoal".  When that was dry, I gave them both a coat of Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash.

     When the wash was dry, I drybrushed them with some Americana "Neutral Grey" mixed with a little of the "Charcoal", and then just the plain "Neutral Grey".  After that, I painted their neck rings with Americana "Asphaltum", and then dabbed them with a little Accent "Golden Oxide".   Lastly, I painted their bases with "Americana "Mississippi Mud".
      I let them dry overnight and the next day I gave them a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to apply a sand mixture onto their bases.

   I then started work on the standing versions.  I wanted to try a bit of a lava/interior heat effect, and I didn't feature having to hand paint all the teeny tiny cracks sculpted into the hounds, so I thought I'd try it in a bit of short cut way.
     I began by panting them entirely with Reaper MSP Bones "Cinnamon Red".

          I then drybrushed the hounds with the "Charcoal".

          Next, I drybrushed them with some Ceramcoat "Black".  I then tried an experiment on the left one, and gave it a coat of thinned Iron Wind Metals "Yellow" ink.  That looked really bad, so I then tired hand painting the cracks with Reaper MSP "Golden Glow".  I just wasn't happy. with the results.

     So, I did what I had tried to avoid, and painted all the cracks individually; this time with Americana "Tangerine".  I then painted the crack centers with Crafter's Acrylic "Bright Yellow".    I painted the eyes and teeth with the Bright Yellow" as well, and then gave the eyes and teeth all highlights with Apple Barrel "Lemon Chiffon".  After that, I painted their neck rings with Americana "Asphaltum", and then dabbed them with a little Accent "Golden Oxide".   Lastly, I painted their bases with "Americana "Mississippi Mud".,
      I let them dry overnight and the next day I gave them a coat of Americana "DuraClear Matte" varnish.    Then, when  the varnish was dry, I used some white glue to apply a sand mixture onto their bases. 
  Another overnight dry, and I sprayed all four hounds with Testor's "Dullcote".

          Well, they won't win any painting awards, but for gaming use I think they turned out okay.  Those cracks in the dogs were just so small to paint properly...

Female Efreeti: Bones 4 Fan Favorites Figure

     This past week I painted the Female Efreeti figure from the Bones 4 Fan Favorites Expansion set.  Since I did the Djinni, last week, I thought I should do her counterpart this week to complete the pair.
      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 rinsed and dried it.  I then glued on the head on with Gorillas superglue.  Then, after cutting down the base a little, I glued the figure to a black-primed 1.25" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.

     I began by painting the figure's armor with Ceramcoat "Black".  When dry, I drybrushed it with Ceramcoat "Bronze".

     Next, I painted the skin with Folk Art "Barnyard Red", and the loincloths with Crafter's Acrylic "Pure Pumpkin".  I then painted the sword grips with Reaper MSP HD "Umber Brown", the metal parts of the hilt with Accent "Mustard Seed", and the blades with Americana "Zinc"

     I then painted the metal on the sword hilts with the "Bronze", and the sword blades with Folk Art Metallics "Gunmetal Grey".  I decided I didn't like the blades, and wanted to do something more unique with them, so when dry I repainted them with Folk Art Color Shift "Black Flash".    After that, I painted her fangs and the teeth on her necklace with Americanas "Fawn".   I also took this opportunity to carefully paint the areas of her hair that bordered her skin and armor with the "Black".  If I had it to do again, I should have painted the head/hair piece separately, as the hair is sculpted to really intermingle closely with her body.   

     Then , when everything had a chance to dry, I gave her skin and loincloths a wash with Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.  When that was dry, I gave her armor and swords a wash with Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash. 

     When the washes were dry, I painted her eyes using Folk Art "Lemon Chiffon" for the "whites", and then painted "Black" pupils.  I then went back and painted the pupil centers with Folk Art Color Shift "Red Flash".   Next, I painted the lips, and afterwards highlighted the face and rest of the skin with a mix of the base "Barnyard Red" and varying degrees of Americana "Shading Flesh".  After that, I highlighted her teeth with Americana "Snow White", and the teeth on the necklace with Americana "Bleached Sand".  

     I then highlighted the loincloths with the base "Pure Pumpkin" with varying degrees of Americana "Tangerine" mixed in, and then mixed in a little of the "Lemon Chiffon" and did lighter highlights.  I wasn't happy with the splotchy way the "Reikland Fleshshade" had pooled in the loincloth creases, so I reapplied shadows using Crafter's Acrylic "Orange Spice".   After that, I painted the rest of her hair with the "Black".

     Next, I painted her claws with the "Orange Spice", and then added highlights with Ceramcoat "Raw Sienna".  I then drybrushed her hair with Apple Barrel "Apple Maroon", and then did lighter highlights with Reaper MSP "Holly Berry".  After that, I painted her horns with Americana "Charcoal Grey", and when they had dried for a while, I gave them a wash with the "Nuln Oil".  When the wash was dry, I drybrushed them with Americana "Mississippi Mud".  I then drybrushed the sword blades with Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver"; and afterwards highlighted the armor and sword hilts with Ceramcoat "14K Gold", followed with Ceramcoat "Wedding Gold".   Lastly, I painted the entire base with "Americana "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 thought the eyes ended up looking too flat, so I went back and reapplied some of the "Red Flash",  and added highlight dots with the "Lemon Chiffon".

     I'm really happy with how she came out.  It was fun playing with a different kind of skin tone, and I think the red highlights in the hair was an experiment that ended up looking good.

Tune in Thursday for another bonus post!

Female Djinni: Bones 4 "Fan Favorites" Figure

  This past week I painted the Female Djinni figure from the Bones 4 Fan Favorites Expansion Set.  I'm thinking of doing the Frostgrave rulebook's "Genie in a Bottle" scenario for this year's Ghost Archipelago campaign, and this figure just seemed like it would be perfect to include.

    When I got the figure, I was a little disappointed in a couple things.  First, it's a very cartoony looking figure; sculpted more in big broad strokes than in the fine detail I expect from Reaper.  Secondly, for some reason, they made the sword so it attached to the figure in a reversed and inverted position from the initial concept art (Compare the illustration above with the production example figure photo below.) Now I have no problem with the Djinni being a lefty but the the sword now hung incorrectly with the bird's head beak pointing up (A good way to impale your palm when reaching quickly for the sword), and the end curve pointed down.   One third and last quibble, the sword is just attached to her butt, without any sculpted straps to show where it would attach to her belt.

(Photo from Reaper Kickstarter Update)

        I prepped the figure 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.      The next thing I did was cut off the lamp from the trail of smoke (It is cast as one piece as you can see in the above photo.)  I wanted to mount them separately, so I could use the lamp and or Djinni as unique pieces.    I then sliced the tab off the sword, so I could glue it to the figure in the correct position as shown in the concept illustration.  Lastly, I cut the base that comes with the figure into two pieces, and glued the figure to its part of the base, minus the part I trimmed off where the lamp mounts.  

       I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1.5" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue after trimming the base so it would fit.  I also glued the lamp to its piece of base, and then glued it to a black primed 1" fender washer. I then placed the Djinni figure in my painting grip.

     When I first saw this figure in the Kickstarter, being a child of the 60's and 70's, the first image that flashed in my mind was Jeannie from the classic  I Dream of Jeannie TV show.   I knew that this was the color scheme I wanted to use on my Djinni figure.

     So, to begin painting; I painted her skin with Reaper MSP "Rosy Skin".  I then painted her smoke plume/pants, and top, with Crafter's Acrylic "Cherry Blossom Pink".  (I don't think she is sculpted as necessarily wearing pants, but they way they blended into the billowing smoke cloud, I thought I could get away with it.)  After that, I painted any decorative trim that obviously wasn't metal, with Folk Art "True Burgundy".

     Next, I painted her teeth with Crafter's Acrylic "Light Antique White",  her hair with Accent "Golden Harvest", and any metal decorations/jewelry/fittings/ etc., with Americana "Grey Sky".   After that, I gave her skin a wash with Citadel "Reikland Fleshshade" wash.

     When the "Reikland Fleshshade" wash was dry, I gave her hair a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.  I followed that by giving her clothing and smoke plume a wash with heavily thinned Iron Wind Metals "Purple" ink.   When wall the washes were dry, I painted all the metal with  Ceramcoat "Metallic Silver".

   After the "Metallic Silver" had a while to dry, I went over the metal parts with Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash.  Then when the wash was dry, I painted her eyes and lips, and highlighted her teeth with Americana "Snow White".  I then highlighted her skin and corrected any errors with  various mixes of the base "Rosy Skin" along with Reaper MSP "Rosy Highlight" and "Rosy Shadow".

     Next, I highlighted hair; first with the base "Golden Harvest", then with the "Golden Harvest" mixed with some Americana "Moon Yellow", then the just plain "Moon Yellow", then the "Moon Yellow" mixed with some Apple Barrel "Lemon Chiffon", then the plain "Lemon Chiffon",  then some of the "Lemon Chiffon" mixed with some "Snow White", and lastly just a little plain "Snow White".   I then painted the flowers in her hair with the "True Burgundy", and the flower centers and leaves with the "Grey Sky".

     I then worked on the pants/smoke cloud, highlighting them with the base "Cherry Blossom Pink", and then with the "Cherry Blossom Pink" mixed with some "Snow White", and lastly, a few hits with just the pure "Snow White".  I then highlighted the dark pink "True Burgundy" areas with a mix of Americana "Burgundy Wine", and Crafter's Acrylic "Tutti Frutti.  After that, I painted the leaves and flower centers in the hair with the "Metallic Silver", and wen dry, I went over them with a little of the "Nuln Oil" wash.   My next step was to highlight all the metal, using the base "Metallic Silver", and then Metallic Silver mixed with some of the "Snow White", and then just a little of the pure "Snow White".   Lastly, I painted the entire base with "Americana "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".  

     It was now time to work on the lamp, so I placed it in my painting grip next. 

     I began by painting it with Accent "Mustard Seed".  

      When the "Mustard Seed" was dry, I repainted it with Folk Art Burnished Metal "Burnished Bronze".   When that was dry, I gave it a coat of Citadel "Nuln Oil" wash.  When the wash was dry, I drybrushed it with Ceramcoat "Wedding Gold".   Lastly, I painted the entire base with "Americana "Mississippi Mud".
       I let the lamp 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".

And here's the final outcome:

     I'm really proud of how this one came out.  I know it's a large figure, but I think the face turned out pretty good.  Now if I could only do that good with standard 28mm tall figures! :)  In retrospect, I don't think I used the correct shade of dark red/pink to perfectly match the original Jeannie outfit, but I think it gets the idea across well enough.   My one real regret is that I didn't pay more attention when basing the two parts so that the tip of the smoke plume actually could touch the lamp.

And, once again, please check in Thursday for another bonus post!

"Tormentor" Female Devil to Forest Guardian Faun-Queen Conversion and Paint: Bones 4 Core Figure

    This past week I painted the Female Devil figure from the Bones 4 Bedeviled group from the Core Set.   During the run of the Kickstarter, I had read on the Reaper Forum about folks who where considering the possibilities of  converting the larger Rulers of Hell figure set into some sort of Forest King and Queen creatures by removing their wings and skull iconography.   With the cloven hooves and horns I could see how easily this could be done.  And, while I didn't get that set, I did get the smaller sized Bedeviled group that came in the Core Set.  Looking at the female figure in that set, it seemed to me that she too would be an easy conversion to make into some sort of Faun-like Forest Creature.

   So, with figure in hand, I began.  I prepped the figure 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.
    The first conversion step I wanted to do was remove the trident-like weapon from her right hand.  Once removed, I replaced it with one of the spear/staff type weapons weapons from the Bones 3 Clear Armory of Virtue sprues.    I then glued the right arm into place using Gorilla Superglue Gel.

      The figure had three holes in her back; the top two for wings, and the bottom for her tail.  Next step was to fill these.

      So, using some 2-part epoxy putty greenstuff, I filled in the top two holes by sculpting in the missing hair; and I filled the bottom hole by sculpting her a more Faun-like tail.

     I then glued the figure to a black-primed 1.5" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, after trimming the base so it would fit. I then placed the figure in my painting grip.

      I began by painting all her skin above the waist with Reaper MSP "Tanned Shadow", and her legs with Americana "Light Cinnamon".  I then painted her loin cloth with Crafter's Acrylic "Forest Green", and the underside of her tail with Americana "Fawn".

     Next, I painted her hair with Accent "Real Umber", and her hooves with Vallejo "USA Olive Drab".  After that, I painted her belts and wrist wraps and guards with Accent "Mustard Seed", her staff with Ceramcoat "Walnut", and her horns with Folk Art "Barn Wood".

     I decided I wanted to add a little color to her loincloth, so I gave it a border with Apple Barrel "Yellow".  I then painted her belt buckle and fittings, as well as her wrist guard and the fittings on her staff, all with Folk Art Brushed Metal "Brushed Bronze".   I let everything dry for a while, and then I gave the entire figure (except the clear end of the staff) a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.  When the wash was dry, I painted her eyes, and gave her some Folk Art "Metallic Emerald Green" eye shadow.  I then highlighted her skin with the base "Tanned Shadow" mixed with some Reaper MSP "Tanned Skin", and Reaper MSP "Tanned Highlight".

     I then highlighted her hair with some of the "Light Cinnamon", and then some Folk Art "Teddy Bear Brown"; and, next, I used these same two colors to highlight her legs.   After that, I highlighted her loin cloth with Folk Art "Hauser Green Medium", and the border with Crafter's Acrylic "Bright Yellow".  I then highlighted her tail and her horns with some Crafter's Acrylic "Light Antique White", and her hooves with a mix of some Americana "Mississippi Mud and the base "USA Olive Drab".   Next, I highlighted her belts and arm bands with some Accent Golden Oxide, and then a little of the "Golden Oxide mixed with some Ceramcoat "Maple Sugar Tan".  I wrapped up the highlighting by doing her staff with Folk Art "Dark Brown", and the metal fittings on her belt, staff, and her wrist guard with Ceramcoat "14K Gold".  Lastly, I painted the head of the staff with Tamiya Color "Clear Green", and the whole figure 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".  After the Dullcote dried, I went back over the head of the staff with Americana "DuraClear Gloss Varnish".

     I really am pleased with how the conversion from demon to forest queen worked out on this, as well as the paint job.  And it was quite a nice sculpt to begin with as well.

     Be sure to tune in Thursday for another bonus post this week!

Vulture Demon: Bones 2 Figure

     This past week I painted the Vulture Demon from the Bones 2 Lesser Demons set.  We're doing a scenario for Ghost Archipelago this month that requires a birdman kind of creature, and this seemed to fit the bill well enough.
       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 1.5" fender washer with Aleene's Tacky glue, and then placed the figure in my painting grip.

      I googled some pictures of real vultures before I bean to give myself an idea of what an actual vulture looked like.   I then began by painting the body and base with Ceramcoat "Black.  When dry, I drybrushed it with Americana "Charcoal Grey", and then with Folk Art "Barn Wood".  I did the Barn Wood" drybrush a little  heavier on the bottom 2/3's of the wings to give those feathers a lighter appearance.  I then painted the head with Reaper MSP "Rosy Shadow", and then feathery collar with Crafter's Acrylic "Light Antique White".

     Next, I painted the front 3/4's of the head with the "Light Antique White", and then painted the tips of the beak and the neck crest feathers with the "Black".  After that, I painted the inside of the mouth with Americana"Shading Flesh", and the talons and claws, as well as the skulls on the base, with Americana "Antique White".

     After everything had a while to dry, I gave the head and feather collar; as well as the talons, claws, and skulls, a wash with Citadel "Agrax Earthshade" wash.   When the wash was dry, I highlighted the skin with Reaper MSP "Rosy Skin", and the inside of the mouth with Apple Barrel "Apple Flesh".    I then drybrushed the neck crest feathers and the tips of the beak with Americana "Zinc".  Next, I drybrushed the collar feathers and highlighted the front of the face with Americana "Snow White", and then painted the eyes "Black" with "Snow White" dots.   I highlighted the talons, claws, and skulls with Americana 'Bleached Sand"; and also used this color to paint the teeth.  Lastly, I painted the entire base with "Americana "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 Winsor & Newton Professional "Matt Varnish".

     A rather simple figure, but I'm pleased with how it came out.   It looks suitably evil and should fill the roll of a birdman just fine.

     In other news, Reapers Bones 4 shipping to the US should start today (fingers crossed!).  I'm Wave 1, so hopefully will have my box shipped in the next day or two; so I should have some unboxing photos ready for next Monday!