Another pleasant afternoon was spent in my workshop and I managed to get four new skellies finished for my long running Skeleton Horde/Army project. I've long neglected the restoration of these fabulous plastic classics so it was nice to get back working on them. I've forgotten how much I enjoy the simplicity of painting these fine fellows.
They were all in various conditions when I began working on them. Nearly all the models here were damaged or snapped in one way of another. A little glue, greenstuff and a lot of time saw them properly re-built. Then it was a case of applying my usual method of painting up the bone.
All the shields are copies made out of greenstuff or liquid resin.
Most of my time was spent on the designs for the shields. You can see them presented here in order of painting. As you will know, I've long been a fan of the freehand skull and I have been working on recalling my skills of yore this last year. I have long employed the colourful backdrop for each skull but now much prefer the simple, black look illustrated on the shield to the far right.
It is far more sinister.
I've also been experimenting with adding eyes to the skulls. With again, the last example being my favourite. I really need to start building up some actual reference material when I am doing these. Observing actual skulls should, I hope, refine what I've achieved so far a little further.
I couldn't resist a snap of all of my re-animated skeletons. I have completed fifteen standard plastic models now, half of the full compliment of Skeleton Army. The remaining figures are the most damaged and fragmentary so should be fun to work with in the new year. I've added the metal figure I finished a few months back too to even the unit out.
I hope all you digital grognards approve.
Orlygg
Absolutely love seeing these bony lads brought back to (un)life! The restorations are fantastic, you’d never guess they were once broken and battered. Those freehand shields are a real treat too, the eyes are sinister! Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Suber, there is quite a bit of scope to Citadelesque style shields even with something as simple as a skull. With another 15 infantry models to go there is plenty of time to refine things further. A couple of these fell apart as I was attaching the shields and needed a quick field repair or two. (:
DeleteFine brush work. Your bone & shield designs are the stand outs for me.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a target number of days or will you keep going until you run out of steam?
Thank you kind sir. I'll keep going as long as the holidays last. I'm back next Monday though ):
DeleteHello, just posting to let you know of the approval of one more digital grognard. It's always reassuring to know that you have an audience, so I'm in the circle, at the back somewhere, leafing through the programme.
ReplyDeleteThat's where you can often find me too. The view is fantastic and no-one seems to bother you that far out (: Thanks Zzzzzz
DeleteThey are proper classics, did they need stripping of previous paint?
ReplyDeleteIf so, what did you use?
I just painted over the top Mike. They had all previously been painted a grey shade. I used inks to add depth and then highlighted up using Orc Brown and then Bleached Bone. I've avoided using any white on these figures to give them a more 'boney' hue.
DeleteDefinitely starting to look a skeleton horde 😀
ReplyDelete