Ben's Bits n Bobs

[Ben_S]

I'm no good at finishing things, so part of the point of starting a painting log is to give me some motivation. I have several figures that I have at some point started converting, usually for Necromunda, but I usually run out of steam before I've even converted a whole gang, much less before I've painted them. (I may post some older work in this blog at some point, since otherwise updates will probably be slow.)

Anyway, here's my latest creation: a Ratskin with shotgun. I'm planning to make a whole gang, but this test model can work as a scout in the meantime.

And here, again, with undercoat and wash to bring out the details:

I'm actually feeling quite inspired (so far) about this one. I only based and undercoated him yesterday morning and, in the evening, I got him mostly painted already - updated photos to follow...

 

[Ben Neeson]

Very last of the mohicans, great work. You doing a whole ratskin gang or whats next?

 

[Ben Neeson]

Whats the head from?

 

[Ben_S]

Very last of the mohicans, great work. You doing a whole ratskin gang or whats next?

Thanks. As I said, a whole gang is the plan, though I can't guarantee that I'll actually get that far before getting distracted by something else. I've got a few other things I should finish before I start making more, but since I am quite liking this guy I should probably do more while I'm feeling the enthusiasm.

Whats the head from?

Wood elf glade guard. They have two types of head, hooded and unhooded. Suits quite well, although they do have some strange mask-type thing (not so prominent on this one as some of the others, but on his left temple).

I was originally thinking of making Ratskins entirely out of the glade guard, but I decided they would be too skinny and limited in poses. So it's empire free company/militia with the wood elf head and skin cloak from the goblin sprue.

 

[Ben Neeson]

Keep us posted on the progress, the bits work really well and the shotgun turned out great. If you dont have all the bits you need already this might be worth a look,

http://www.wargamesfactory.com/webstore/horse-and-musket/woodland-indians

 

[Ben_S]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was aware of them, though I haven't seen the figures in person. WGF also do some kind of African/Zulu tribal figures, which I had thought of using long before they released the native American Indians.

WGF do seem to have improved in quality over time but having tried figures from them, Mantic, and others I've more or less decided that I prefer GW miniatures. It's not like I'm intending to use them in a GW store or tournament, of course, but it is a GW game so I'll probably stick to their models for the foreseeable future. And I have a reasonable stock of militia and wood elf parts for now at least - though I'm hoping that they're not going out of production just yet!

 

[djmothra]

I have some of those Indians on the way to me - I'll be putting together a Ratskin gang using them - pics'll go over on my necro thread!

Love this one though Can't wait to see more.

 

[trollmeat]

I have found the yaktribe competitions good incentive/motivation to actually complete projects. competition 9, which has inly just started, is to make 3 versions of the same model as it ages / gains XP.

Brave - Ratskin - Chief? ;-)

 

[Ben_S]

Thanks for the various comments. As I said, without really intending it I started painting and went pretty quickly. Not the best photo here, but:

The plan is a couple more details, then a wash (Agrax) all over. I'm not sure whether I should do more to pick out some of the straps first - my initial plan was not to, but if I'm going to it should probably be before the wash.

I'm also unsure about the base, which is a departure from my usual PVA, sand, paint brown approach. I tend to find the brown dirt/rubble looks fine for most things and have used it for all my models except Blood Bowl. This uniformity is handy should I want to use models in more than one force/game (e.g. Necromunda figures doubling at 40k cultists), but here I was tempted to try something more appropriate. Should I still stick to brown edges? If not brown, black or silver?

 

[trollmeat]

Black edges, with a random bit of debris (such as tiny mushrooms and scrap metal/skulls) :-D

 

[cardyfreak]

I paint all my base edges with metallics. For my Ratskin scouts I painted the edge silver and washed it with Agrax to make it look worn and rusty, fitting for a ratskin!
The paint job looks pretty crisp, the wash will really make that guy pop! Good work!

 

[Fold]

Great use of bits here, hoping you make more.

 

[Ben_S]

I've not finished the painting, but I did make a couple more yesterday. Here's the first:

He's armed with a handbow (it doesn't show very well in the photo because it was already primed black). Note I tried making my own rat skull out of putty, because although I have some from the Skaven Plague Monks I didn't think I'd have enough. I think it's probably good enough, although it is a little flat at present, so I may try adding a bit more to it.

Then I got an idea for the Shaman, specifically this head/hat from the Empire Battle Wizards:

I'm not entirely sure about the staff, but overall happy enough. I've sculpted a pistol holster on his left hip, but I'll probably be looking to bend WYSIWYG rules with this guy: he's clearly my Shaman, whatever weapons he has.

 

[Ben_S]

I did say that progress may be slow, which it has been, so I thought I'd showcase a few of my older miniatures.

First, here are some Squats (counts as Van Saar) which I made for a proposed campaign that, sadly, never actually got started. Unfortunately I rushed some of the job to get them ready and also the photo was only done after gloss varnish:

Second, a few Delaques made from Wargames Factory Shock Troops - this is all I ever made:

Finally, for now, some Scavvies. I like them stunted, so wanted to make most of my gang out of Skaven, Goblins, Ghouls, etc. I still haven't got round to finishing this. But, in case I want to bulk things out with a lot of quick and cheap autogunners, these guys are perfect for the job:

Hopefully there will be some progress with the Ratskins soon...

 

[Fold]

2nd edition gretchin FTW!

Unmistakeable

Love the squats

 

[Ben_S]

Thanks - did you recognise the base models?

 

[trollmeat]

I'm really fond of all your stuff, but particularly your stunties. Just by changing the head and giving it a bit of a tilt you've given monopose minis character.

I have ~9 skaven that have been made into scavvies, but would love to get together a whole stuntie scav gang. I may have to see about acquiring a bag of heads to convert up my hero quest/space crusade gobs and gretchins - it wouldn't work to just shave their noses and ears down would it?

Maybe I should just steal yours, seeing as they are already beautifully painted :-D

 

[KRUG_666]

great conversions !

 

[Nono2015]

The base models are gobelins for heroquest? Do Im right?

 

[Ben_S]

The base models are gobelins for heroquest? Do Im right?

No, none of them are based on goblins. The Scavvies are based on 2nd ed. 40k Gretchin and the Squats on 2nd ed. 40k Goff Orks. I actually managed to pick up a close to complete 40k box set, minus most of the Space Marines, for £14 on eBay - bargain!