ElectricPaladin's Lustrian Adventure

[ElectricPaladin]

This thread will be covering my adventures in painting lizardmen. Because, after all, who doesn't love a good lizard?

I'll come back later with some of the models I've actually finished, but for now, have a WIP:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/9ceed7daa37626faae4abfd69f6c2c3d/tumblr_mv6gaqn7UP1rgb5qno3_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/23a22642cb3784626b191f1f5f4860f7/tumblr_mv6gaqn7UP1rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

http://31.media.tumblr.com/ae484bf39af44d722fb4be9eb0330e4d/tumblr_mv6gaqn7UP1rgb5qno4_1280.jpg

This is the base I'm building up for one of my mage-priests. It's going to look an awful lot like that Lore of Life spell that nobody ever lets you cast! A lot more fun - and less flimsy - than that stupid flying base!

[ACE01]

As it's Lizardmen, you need to find some blue stuff :P

Nice idea on the base, looking forward to seeing some paint! (not that I can talk, my LM haven't yet made it that far!)

[Chronowraith]

Looking good so far. I'm interested in seeing the finished product.

As a note, try using some water based lubricant to smooth out the fingerprints on the surface. I wouldn't bother for this as it almost gives it the illusion of bark, but it's something to consider when doing smoother surfaces in the future.

[ElectricPaladin]

Looking good so far. I'm interested in seeing the finished product.

As a note, try using some water based lubricant to smooth out the fingerprints on the surface. I wouldn't bother for this as it almost gives it the illusion of bark, but it's something to consider when doing smoother surfaces in the future.

Thanks!

I use petroleum jelly.

In this project, I actually pressed a piece of cork all over to get a rugged, "woody" sort of texture, but I ended up leaving some fingerprints here and there. I agree, though, that in this case it'll be ok.

[ACE01]

Thanks!

I use petroleum jelly.

In this project, I actually pressed a piece of cork all over to get a rugged, "woody" sort of texture, but I ended up leaving some fingerprints here and there. I agree, though, that in this case it'll be ok.

Vaseline or plain old saliva in a pinch for me, texture definitely welcome on this one I'd say!

[ElectricPaladin]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/c6bcb24975ba39dedd2ff78413c0a6c4/tumblr_mv7q5biUOs1rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

Further progress on the necrovital Slann relic priest.

My original plan had been for the tree to curve up behind the throne and then branch out behind it, but I don’t think that would look good. My current plan is to stop here with the branches/tendrils below the throne and to build nothing more that arcs up from beneath it. Instead, I will pin some twisty paperclips coming up from behind the throne.

Instead of looking like the throne is merely sitting in the upper branches, it will look like the tree is penetrating the throne’s structure entirely.

In addition to being a more balanced composition, that’s just a way cooler concept.

[ACE01]

Looking good so far, think it looks quite even now. Not sure how the throne = tree vs "treehouse" approach works in my head, but then if you run an ethereal slann, totally makes sense and would look cook painted as such!

[ElectricPaladin]

Looking good so far, think it looks quite even now. Not sure how the throne = tree vs "treehouse" approach works in my head, but then if you run an ethereal slann, totally makes sense and would look cook painted as such!

It's not super intuitive, but I get the sense that it will look good once it's actually made.

[ElectricPaladin]

So, here is what I mean:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/d06fbb430bd54465c3d6738d13794868/tumblr_mvax0v2vJ11rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

Imagine all those branches bulked out with greenstuff, with a few smaller (ie. no wire core necessary) branches projecting off them. You will begin to see what I mean.

[ACE01]

This looks neatly balanced, much clearer now! Looking good :)

[jberrysf]

This is sweet EP! I'm thinking about what it means for him to move and I am wondering what you were envisioning. Are you thinking that the tree is walking around with him on the "Throne of Vines" as it were, or more of a "where ever he goes, his magical presence is so powerful that the earth sprouts tree after tree that carry him along like a conveyor belt?"

I'm hoping it's the latter, it's a cool image.

[pgarfunkle]

This is very cool, I've been wanting to do something similar but I was probably going to be a bit lazy and use a tree from the terrain kit. It looks like you have got some extra height on the model which is good as I am always nudging Temple Guard over using the Slann on the flying stand.

Looking forward to seeing a completed model.

[ElectricPaladin]

Ha! Take that mother****er!

As you may know - probably you don't - the skull-vortex-thing from the Balewind Vortex/Magewrath Throne kit cannot be had for love or money anywhere in the Internet. I don't believe I had mentioned this yet, but I was planning on using one of those in a similar way - to replace the flight stem - for my living Slann. I like the idea of my dead Slann on a living tree and my living Slann on a pillar of faces. I don't know - it appeals to the perverse in me to make my zombie Slann into some kind of Lore of Life/Lore of High Magic vivomancer while my living Slann delves into Lore of Death/Lore of Shadows and other nasty stuff. The trouble is that the kit is nigh-impossible to find, and although the tree has come out well, I'm not confident in my ability to sculpt a vortex with skulls in out of greenstuff.

Anyway, I finally found one on eBay. I've been searching for months, ever since the last time I saw one and it vanished before I could make up my mind to jump on it.

I can't really afford it, but it's the best $20 I ever spent.

Watch this space for updates on both my first Slann (delayed by my finishing up a squad of Skinks) and my second.

[ElectricPaladin]

5549

This is the bit I was talking about. Could not find it anywhere. But now it's MINE.

[Mr Mystery]

and my living Slann on a pillar of faeces.

You're weird.

[ACE01]

You're weird.

Sic.

[ElectricPaladin]

Here, have some more lizard stuff.

First, a "finished" Skink unit. I say finished because my current 1.5k list has squads of 10, but my 2k list has one squad of 15. Damn Fantasy and its unlimited unit sizes, making it impossible for me to wrap up a unit and call it "done."

Anyway, I'm happy with how they turned out:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/ef70ace9e4e6d3001abbafd03b98e0a9/tumblr_mvsufmCW5x1rgb5qno3_1280.jpg

And here are some WIP shots of stuff that's flat-painted and ready for the dip.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/c03dfd9d0991ba302b4b78513e88272d/tumblr_mvsufmCW5x1rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/c3b73810a40c401a80e6f11f7c852acf/tumblr_mvsufmCW5x1rgb5qno2_1280.jpg

And some stuff that's only primed, to give you an idea of what's coming up next:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/8c8b5c4ec3510e8972ea26eee6836276/tumblr_mvsufmCW5x1rgb5qno4_1280.jpg

[Bigred]

I like em!

I would suggest doing an experiment on a single model with a very light wash of either an earth tone, or perhaps a slightly bluish brown. I find that for naturalistic minis like orks, lizardmen, tyranids a wash can help unify the various colors and give a more "realistic" feel to the finished piece.

All that deep relief and stone and tarnished gold are practically screaming for washes of some type.

Have fun with them - they are looking great!

[ElectricPaladin]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try rewashing the gold bits.

The models are dipped, so in person the contrasts are quite striking. I think it's a combination of my ****ty camera and the general effects of being inexpertly photographs that makes them look so flat. I'm not saying that they can't be improved, but they do look a lot better in person than they do in this photo!

[Chronowraith]

Looking good! You are somewhat motivating me to get back to work painting my Lizards. Now I just have to get over all this crap I have (ear and sinus infection).

[ElectricPaladin]

http://31.media.tumblr.com/a4f82d15144b21b66bde86395da2769b/tumblr_mvtj3q4chw1rgb5qno1_1280.jpg

What do you think? Branchy enough? Or needs more branches?

[ACE01]

It's nicely balanced. I like.

IF you wanted to add more, one coming toward the camera (on the left?) would be my choice, though this would partially obscure the slann, and make handling much more difficult.

I'd leave as is.

[angrybear]

Nice work, the tree is nicely balanced compared to the palanquin. Is the tree strong enough to hold the palanquin straight?