These, plus some more intact minis, are now painted and ready.
Ranlac
I must say, though, that I'm not trying to paint or convert anything specifically for Ranlac (or worse, buy him - there's one on eBay at the moment for an eye watering £48*, and that's less than a third of the asking price for Kemmler). Instead, I'll simply use the lich, it's by the Perry's, and from the same range as Ranlac, and I painted his cloak black, so it'll do for now.
Repair Work
I didn't get chance to repair all the damaged minis, I started simply, pinning and gluing the arm back on the Citadel 'Shaman'. He was part of a job lot of damaged undead off evilbay, perhaps the previous owner was going to repose him?
Various weapon replacements needed pinning; I used a very fine drill bit and brass wire (can't remember the size, sorry). This was thin enough to pin plastic swords, and should hopefully be strong enough to hold everything in place.
I took the parts from my sprue pile, specifically the Mantic skeleton sprue for swords (suitably chipped and aged) and the flail, and the Oathmark Goblins for the spears/spear heads.
Painting
This was pretty straightforward. Priming with Vallejo German Green Brown Surface Primer, then all metals in Vallejo Game Color Gunmetal.
Bone in VGC Bonewhite, leaving deep shadows in the primer, cloth as required and all wood and leather in VGC Charred Brown.
Then a black wash on the metals and in the eye sockets, followed by extreme highlights everywhere else; White on the bones, leather brown on belts etc. Normally I edge weapons and armour, but this is supposed to be old and decaying gear; besides, it'll get some rust effect later. I do use VGC Tinny Tin and Brazen Bronze to give some interest on some hilts, pommels, buckles etc. Finally, those lighter 'wood grain' stripes on weapon shafts that I still struggle with.
Then everything is given a wash of Sonic Tonic (Marine Juice). I wasn't sure if this would be dark enough, but I think it looks fine.
Some of the boney lads are given a few extra details (shield designs, for example, and it makes a nice change not to deface them with orc symbols) or extra highlights. Minis with bare heads get a white drybrush on the skull. All the metals are aged, either with VSX Dry Rust/Rust or Verdigris.
Basing the Horde
The skeletons were all superglued on 25mm round bases (GW slotta bases). The chap with greatsword without a base got pinned to a bit of plastic foamboard first, so he's now standing on a rock.
Any obvious slots showing were covered by masking tape, and the step between the slotta base and the mini's flat base was smoothed out somewhat with acrylic modelling paste.
The texture is Geek Gaming Scenics Arid Plains to which I added some dry grass tufts, I was going for a less lush look than my dwarves, elves etc, and I think it works well. Definitely a look to keep throughout the Undead.
The Miniature Manufacturers
This is an eclectic bunch, most are minis I already owned, though I did buy a couple of small job lots of skeletons of evilbay.
Citadel; most of these are pre slotta minis, but the Shaman (looks more like a clichéd 'caveman' to me) is a later C17 skeleton.
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| Citadel Skeletons L to R; Fantasy tribes skeleton, C 17 skeletons (including Finrum the Lich) and later (1984) C17 skeleton Shaman |
Ral Partha; just two of these. If I don't find anything better for Mikael Jacson in the next game, the chap on the left will do.
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| Ral Partha skeletons |
Grenadier; very nice minis these, most were from the job lots, though I had a few already. They are very nicely detailed, the ones wearing armour have obvious damage, dints and gashes, presumably where they took their fatal wound. Three are from various Fantasy Lords packs, the four on the right from the Undead Lords of Khomar-Lolth set.
Harlequin Miniatures, sculpted by Roy Eastland (now available from Northstar), I had to ask the Old School Miniatures Facebook group brains trust for ID.
I do remember buying these at Something Wicked, Huddersfield's premier games shop from the 1980s through to the 2010s, probably for use in RPGs.
Mythic World, now available from Broadsword Miniatures, another random purchase from some time in the past. I recognise the other minis in the pack, so presumably I once owned them as well, I wonder where they got to?
Plus a Citadel Fantasy Tribes skeleton that was in hiding for the earlier picture.
Prince August; I cast these myself from Prince August moulds. I must have had loads of them at one time, many of them not very good casts. Still, these are OK, and have painted up well.
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| Three home cast skeletons |
Just a quick mention on design. Skeleton miniatures have a potential weakness at the ankles, far more so than most minis. While painting these I was fascinated how different designers have approached this issue.
Some, such as the Harlequin skeletons, have an extra point of contact with a spear or similar. Some rely on armour and equipment, such as a long scabbard to add strength (I've a Grenadier skeleton that I'll try and add greaves to).
Perhaps my favourite are the two early Citadel C 17 skeletons. They both have a weapon shaft in the right hand and the left arm has its sleeve ripped so that ribbons of cloth hang down, providing that extra strength. Clever!
I really enjoyed painting this wonderfully eclectic collection. More than enough for the first game in The Terror of the Lichemaster. It gives me a couple of units for other games of WoE, with weapon options. It's tempting to look out for a few more, just to make up full units with two handed weapons, spears, armour etc, but that sounds like a dangerously slippery slope.
I don't have any missiles yet though, which is something I'd like to add for games beyond the campaign.
What's Next?
That's a nice collection of skeletons. More than enough for the Attack on the Mine, but I thought I might as well do all my skeleton infantry at once, at least the ones I managed to repair. I've a few more minis needing to mend, and a load of more recent Harlequin skeletons, but they can wait until it looks like we're playing the final scenario.
So next up undead-wise will be the ten zombies for the Attack on Bogel's Farm.
*A certain seller notorious to Oldhammer collectors, I shan't name them has Ranlac for ove twice this price!
Great stuff. Funnily enough I was wondering about the weak ankle issue as I was looking through the photos. A great collection of figures and nicely painted, well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I do like the look of the various different manufacturers as a group animated as and when the necromancer finds a skeleton.
DeleteI've a group from Harlequin that more obviously go together, clearly the necromancer now has access to the fallen remains of military units.
I'll get some reinforcing work done on one of the minis still waiting for repair.