Split Ends

This figure was deceptively complex.  Dealing with the giant hair thing was part of that, but getting just the right base was also important.  It wasn't just appearance, but a matter of counterbalance.

I had to make sure that I had enough weight to keep it from tipping over too easily.  Also, the footprint of this figure was a bit different from a typical pose, and that meant a wider base.  That heavier, more dense tree bark did just the trick!

She's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/321905875892?

The two sides of Asharah

You recently saw this fantasy version of Asharah, a Raging Heroes character.  You have also heard me mention how this kit is very interchangeable, with several arm and head options.

There's also a very different genre of the same sculpt... a sci-fi version!

This Sci-fi Asharah also has a lot of options.. different weapons, heads, etc.

And now for some side by side images.  The Sci-fi Asharah was the general of my Dark Eldar 40k army.

Some of her leftover pieces went into the conversion of these Incubi:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2013/04/asharahs-full-retinue.html

Here are some of the Blood Vestals that went along with her, also from Raging Heroes:

http://wappellious.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-coven-complete-first-batch-of.html

And then there's the basing!  It's always interesting to see what a difference that makes.

Party Crasher

This is another favorite Reaper figure of mine... one tough gal!

I was able to use some fun color combinations here.  The armor surfaces were originally painted yellowish brown, as if they were going to be gold.  Over this was painted a few layers of semi-opaque lighter colors which featured pink and bright green.  Yes indeed!

Those two colors, when mixed together, create a very interesting gray.

This was done to create color harmony with the skin colors and the base.  However, when you look at it close up, you see a whole host of various colors, none of which are gray.  It's the illusion of gray created by balancing those two crazy colors over that original ochre/brown layer.

Also, the yellow leaves are the color match to those original ochre shades.

She's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/321904958701?

Not the Butt of a joke...

All right, time for a rifle butt to the chops!  The second of the Warrior Nation Scalpers ready for action.

Once I get a few more of these guys ready, it's time for the first action with the Free Peoples.

The first game that I play with them will be pretty character heavy, as it was with the Outlaws.  I want to get a sense of what each of them can do, and then try to create individual posses with their own combos, etc.

Talon and Claw

Here's a figure that I painted as part of the Painting Pyramid video series.  It was one of several "large creature" videos that were created as stretch goals as things moved along.

I was able to add a few extra touches recently, such as the rider!

Also, I added foliage from Hangar 18 and Gamer's Grass.  The tufts came from Kings Hobbies and Games.

Those were elements that I wished were available to me years ago when this was first done.  It was worth the wait!!!

The yellow leaves meant that I could emphasize the yellows in the front talons more, since that color would be repeated (and hence balanced) by the leaves of a similar color.

The rider's very fragile standard was replaced by a very nice and sturdy Raging Heroes sword... one of those extra bits that you get in the metal kits which come in so handy!

I was also able to reflect many of the feather and fur shades in the armor.  I wanted that to be gold, but I also thought it would harmonize nicely with the reddish browns, umbers and ochres of the fur.

He's also here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/321904133516?

Hey, Catch!!

The snowball fight continues with more Legion of Everblight!

It's another one of the plastic figures, which, as I have mentioned before, are not exactly the easiest things to deal with.

While the metal is much heavier, it has taken me far less time to prepare and paint those.

Hopefully future generations of plastics won't have these same issues, as they are very interesting minis!

Blades and Bows

Time for a little collection of Reaper gals for you.  It was very nice to get back to some shiny stuff again, as many of the figures I have been doing lately are far more muted, and don't really have much in the way of chrome-like NMM.

I was also able to inject a few new colors into the mix, as well as some old favorites that had been 'set aside'.  That is, when I reorganized the painting area yet again, I 'organized' a few colors out of existence!

These also gave me a chance to play around with a bit of freehand, a little practice and warm up for some heavy duty projects that are going on right now.

I also realize that I did three different colors of hair on them!

I believe that each one was done by a different sculptor as well, which is a property that I love so much about Reaper figures.  You can't get bored with them, as each sculptor has their own individual approaches to faces, hair, armor, cloaks, etc. 

These really are fantastic poses, with plenty of action without appearing as if their hair was on fire:-)

Three very distinct types of base can also turn a single 28mm figure into its own tiny diorama!

Many of the techniques I that were used here... NMM, SE-NMM, Gold and Bronze NMM are all available in tutorial video form on Kings Hobbies and Games.  Those were some of my favorite videos to create!

http://www.kingshobbiesandgames.com/James-Wappel-s-Sky-Earth-Non-Metal-Metalics-p/jwppskyearth.htm

Here's a 30 minute preview of one of the Non-Metallic Metals videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_8Yo1Jt9Xc