Restoring the Skeleton Army (Part the Third): Phil Lewis and Colin Dixon shield tributes

Good evening all...

The radiators have been ripped out and we stand ready to skip the bathroom. Tomorrow is the last time I'll have a shower and toilet for a while (eek!). The plumber reckons two weeks to finish the new bathroom and while he is working, we are having the wiring in the front room sorted while we await the new French doors. With thick, oak flooring due and new plasterwork also enroute it is going to be an expensive couple of months!

It is also going to be a busy couple of months. We have the school inspectors in AGAIN next week. The religious type this time rather than OFSTED, who we dealt with back in October. I work in a CoE school and every five years or so our religious implementation is examined. Additionally, the school reports are due in a couple of weeks to boot. Basically, not much time available for Orlygg to Old School. 

Still, I used the time I had this afternoon wisely. A few days ago I was moving boxes around ready for next week when I found the small stack of donated White Dwarfs. Plucking up issue 101 reminded me that this is the issue where John Blanche waxes lyrical about '80s shield painting techniques. Way back when at the start of my blogging career this issue was highly influential in me developing my 'Citadelesque' painting style... in fact the famous tutorial on the first page that let's you into the secret of painting an 'Ogre Face' was what finally made the penny drop for my freehand painting.

Flicking through, I noticed a couple of nice shots of two plastic skellies from the original Skeleton Horde set by the looks of it. One painted by Phil Lewis and the other by Colin Dixon. Such a clear presentation of two classic paintjobs inspired me to have a crack at some tribute shield decoration while strengthening my freehand skills. 

Dazza36 suggested I experiment with Acrylic Resin with my press mould a few weeks back. Well, my order arrived and I've been testing this new material out. Though not as tough and hardwearing as original greenstuff, it does pick up the detail like nothing else I've tried. So far, I've cast up a couple of shields as you can see in the second picture. I'll be moving to this stuff once I've worked through all of the greenstuff shields I've made as its faster drying. If there are any experts in this stuff out there reading - can you mix more powder than water and get a stronger material? Does this stuff even work like that?

MisterC - he who donated the incredible Skeleton Army - also sent a fair few paints with the boneyard boys. Truth be told, I've been rather too excited with my new forces of undeath to investigate too closely at the paints. Having now done so, I've been pleasantly surprised to find the other three paints from the Metallic Paint Set. They are all still quite useable, save for what I assume to be Burnished Gold which has separated and clumped together like many a shiny pot from the past. 

So, once again... MisterC... I salute you for these wonderful additions. I could be wrong, but I am fairly sure I now have all of the original early Citadel paints sets completed. Just need a modern Goblin Green from Coat d'Arms to replace my dried up one. 

Anyway, on to my skellies and their shields. In the images below you can see the original inspiration and my attempt at the design. I didn't want to straight copy but get a feel of the design. I lack the skill of these two classic painters of yore sadly. 

This one is by Colin Dixon and I've dubbed it 'Hair Skull'. I'm not sure if the background is actually a nice barnet for a grinning boneface but I'm going for it all the same. I painted the skull first using my usual method and then added the strange swirls. Looking back, I see I need a darker brown background to this design (I plan to have another crack and this at some point) and I need the 'hair' to taper at the bottom of the shield rather than circle round. But I'm pleased with the result. 

Phil Lewis, the former lensmith of WD, is responsible for this cracking design. I've called it 'Blue Hair Skull'. Again, I wouldn't mind another attempt at this one soon but I'm fairly pleased with the result. Sure, my example is more Jim Robinson from 1980s Neighbours than Phil's big toothed troublemaker. And my pupils are much too large as well. Though the keen eyed of you will notice that I've added the bronze studs too. 

And here they are, alongside the other motley lot from my Restored Skeleton Army. So far its just four fairly mixed figures. With twenty-six more models to go I'm going to have plenty of opportunities to try out those classic shield designs as well as source a few more. Of course, if you've got a shot of a decent design from an old WD please do send me word of where to find it. I'd love to try out some more vintage ideas from the masters.

Orlygg