A Short Intermission

[Tolvcat 4,495]

Going to squeeze this one in as the first figure in my Steampunk Dwarf carry on. 

GW title him an Aetheric Navigator, a kind of techno-mage for the Kharadron Overlords, one of the two Dwarf factions in the new & improved Warhammer Fantasy universe (the others are very much based on the traditional GW Dwarfs who are basically stumpy Vikings with Wagnerian Ring Cycle add ons).

This is how GW paint theirs. Front:

Back:

I'm going as far off piste as I can manage to try and create the impression that there's a bloke in a suit there and not just some random robo-blob. Glued him all together and primed which revealed that I'm a slow learner and he would definitely have benefitted from being done in a couple of sub assemblies so I could actually get paint onto everything I can see. 

Going to be a lot of metallics in there either way, but I'll be experimenting with contrast paints too, especially for glass and anything I can make into cloth - his beard is going all natural for a start.

Andy

[Gorby 20,040]

And here's me thinking the GW stuff you've done before is weird. 

[Mad Steve 23,561]

Wow that looks fantastic Andy 

[skwonk 9,255]

5 hours ago, Tolvcat said:

 I'll be experimenting with contrast paints too,

Careful how you go with these. I recently tried a few and there's a knack to them. It's easy to be too heavy or too light. Just practice on an old figure with plenty of sticky up or knobbly bits to see how they go until you're happy with the effect.

[Tolvcat 4,495]

This intermission may be longer than expected. Got a start, and there are twelve different paints/inks/varnishes over the primer in this view with another three or four on a bit at the back. Fun though, and that's what it's all about.

Andy

[Gorby 20,040]

I like the glass effect, what paint did you use? 

[Tolvcat 4,495]

I used contrast paints, Akhelian Green for the turquoise and Volupus Pink for the red, then gloss varnished them. The glass lenses in the lantern on his belt used Aethermatic Blue as it's more sky blue and I wanted to ring the changes from all the lenses.

Andy

[Col. 7,903]

Nice start Andy.

[Tolvcat 4,495]

Got him to this point but then noticed I was starting to play with little details instead of doing the big bits first and that way madness (and another unfinished project) lies. So I've ordered some more paint so I can do the big chunks of armour the way I want them done, then I can faff wth the little bits to my heart's content.

Wanted that stack at the bottom left to look like it was crackling with arcane energy in a Frankenstein's lab style so it's done in blue and green over steel for the plates rather than the solid brass GW did theirs in. 1-0 to me there I think  Points off for fissling with details on the dials instead of all those vast expanses of armour &c. Bad Andy.

See you in a couple of days when the paint (and the next batch of figures - had to be done because postage) arrive.

Andy

 

[skwonk 9,255]

I like that anemometer.

[Col. 7,903]

20 hours ago, Tolvcat said:

See you in a couple of days when the paint (and the next batch of figures - had to be done because postage) arrive.

It's always worth spending another £20 to save the £4.50 on postage  

Nice work again Andy.

[Tolvcat 4,495]

Played with gold last night. Rose(?) for the main armour and yellow for the arms and peripherals. Repainted the glass for the fourth time as the turquoise I'd used for the lenses was too dark, so used the same blue as for the lantern. 

As with the Skaven, I got up and did some more but didn't take pictures yet, so the next installment is already half done.  Just spotted that massive touch up needed on the pipe. I'm sure half my painting time is touching up its where I've been more enthusiastic than accurate with the brush.

Andy

 

[Mad Steve 23,561]

Wow that looks cool Andy. 

[Gorby 20,040]

The armour is looking particularly good.

[Tolvcat 4,495]

I think this is about finished. Lots and lots and lots and a few more touch ups, detail painting, opening the same paint pots a million times, but he's done and I had a cracking time getting there. Pictures from my phone via Facebook, had to use the flash so I could see anything at all. I'll try again tomorrow in daylight, see if I can get anythin better, but for now, here's Steampunk Dwarf 1.0

And finally the penny shot for scale. He's not a huge bloke, but then he is a Dwarf under all that brass. For those who don't know how big a UK penny is, yer man here stands about 48mm tall from base to the top of his staff which is a tiny bit under 2 inches tall.

 

[Mad Steve 23,561]

Fantastic Andy 

That brass came out so well 

[Gorby 20,040]

It really is fantastic Andy. I think it's your best to date - so much detail in something so small.

[Tolvcat 4,495]

I'm starting to sound like a GW fanboy but these modern kits really are a joy to paint and bar the odd bit of soft detail they make it as easy as they can to get a decent finish.

Their paints are much improved too, but they were rubbish so not quite the praise it might seem 😄

Of course their prices are still eye wateringly crazy but you can't have everything

Andy

[Gorby 20,040]

31 minutes ago, Tolvcat said:

Of course their prices are still eye wateringly crazy but you can't have everything

I've heard that with 3D printing there are an increasing number of independents who are producing figures which are better detailed and cheaper than GW. Just had a look on Etsy and this is the search result: https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=3D printed gaming figures&ref=search_bar

No doubt you could refine the search better. Although with Etsy I'd warn you to look out for postage costs as they can be excessive for some.

I'l really tempted with things like: 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1237713965/spinosaurus-dinosaur-premium-plant-based?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=3D+printed+gaming+figures&ref=sr_gallery-1-38&pro=1&organic_search_click=1 

[Tolvcat 4,495]

Some exceptional figures in that link, ta. Got this in the post, something a bit different and not at all GW like. Cheap as chips too, even for the larger scales.

Andy

Edited April 8 by Tolvcat

[Mad Steve 23,561]

4 hours ago, Tolvcat said:

Some exceptional figures in that link, ta. Got this in the post, something a bit different and not at all GW like. Cheap as chips too, even for the larger scales.

Andy

WOW! 

[Gorby 20,040]

5 hours ago, Tolvcat said:

Lovely plumage.

Norwegian Blue?  

[Col. 7,903]

On 08/04/2023 at 10:26, Tolvcat said:

Some exceptional figures in that link, ta. Got this in the post, something a bit different and not at all GW like. Cheap as chips too, even for the larger scales.

Andy

Wow! Do you have a link to where you got it from Andy?

[Tolvcat 4,495]

3 hours ago, Col. said:

Wow! Do you have a link to where you got it from Andy?

Fortunately, yes - they gave me a link to their shop page with my order. I can see this getting expensive. Best bit, they can do all their figures in a range of scales so you can order the best size/price combo to suit you.

Nebulous Models Etsy Shop

Andy

[skwonk 9,255]

2 hours ago, Tolvcat said:

I can see this getting expensive.

Err, yep. I can vouch safe for that but at the same time, the choice of stuff out there almost seems limitless.