So I've adored this set since it first came out and I finally bought it for my birthday (saw it for £30 off in a sale the next day, ugh). I've been keeping track of my progress month by month, with the goal of having it all done by September. Progress had been good up until I got the flu for the second time this year, and now I'm starting to feel the fatigue. I thought if I post what I do then I might get motivated. January was mostly spent building the models, with the rest of the time making storage for them with all (well some) of the scrap foam I've hoarded all these years. I knew it would come in handy. First to be finished were the Grot Scuttlings. I started with these because I thought they are the weakest models of the set aesthetically, also there's a lot of them and I wanted to get them out of the way. I painted them as they are, only changing the colours of the spiders for variety. Also no metallics because metallics don't like me. I'm still going at the Acolytes, I have the two with shields left. Most of the adversaries are on a single sprue and there are two of these in the box, which means each model has a duplicate which isn't good enough for me. So I've been replacing them with unique counterparts, buying the box and eBaying the rest. I couldn't come up with a better idea of how to paint them and I like the studio paint scheme so I just did that. Some little details are different and I have been doing a variety of skin tones for fun. Skin tones were another weakness of mine, and the way I adapted was to mix my own. It's really easy, you just mix brown with a whole lot of white, choose another brown to wash with and there you go. I'm using that pink/orange for all the feathers in the set. It's a combination I've loved for a while now, I've used it before on other models but I feel this method is the first time I got it right. The gems were painted like black opal, just with a different colour palette. It works great on the larger ones, the smaller ones not so much. The brimstone horrors were my palette cleansers. Something quick and easy to do in between with only five or six colours to them. Just like the feathers pink fire is going to feature throughout the set. The first of the familiars. I painted it just as it is in the book, only with a few more scales.
Good job! I also enjoyed painting that set last year. Some great miniatures in there. Can't wait to see the rest of the models.
The bases are just the plastic Age Of Sigmar ones painted as best I could to match the board tiles. The greenish scaly mosaic parts are the GW crackle paint, I just go over it with turquoise colours when it's set. I did greenstuff the bases for the Gaunt Summoner and the Ogroid Thaumaturge though, as I didn't have bases that size. I have a few more pictures to post later, I'm on the wrong computer right now. Another familiar, a Skaven Deathrunner and an acid trip of a Gaunt Summoner. It might be a while after that as I've just begun work on a commission project, so Silver Tower stuff will be on hold for a bit.
I love this set as well! The miniatures are great and a lot of fun to paint with plenty of room for variety between the different models. My minis pales in comparison to yours of course, but seeing yours always inspires me to improve my own skills On the subject of improving I've been struggling a bit with my few attempts at NMM and yet yours looks fantastic. I'm thinking of trying to replicate your painting and I'm wondering if you got some tips and tricks on how you do your NMM? To be more specific I'm mostly struggling with making my NMM realistic. My blending and fading of colors is decent enough but it just doesn't look right if you know what I mean...
I'm not new to painting Skaven. They were my first army back in the day, and it was a certain assassin model that attracted me to the hobby. I feel that some of the linework is a tad sloppy on this one, my brush is on it's way out. This is the second time I've tried my new, more refined fur texture, the first being this recent competition entry here; Here's the next familiar. I like painting these guys, they tickle the weirdness part of my brain. I decided to paint him semi-naked because it was a freaky thing to do.
I certainly have, though it's a lot to cover in a single post. I was going to send you a long and detailed PM, but why keep it a secret? Is anyone else interested in me making a NMM tutorial?
Amazing! That moon familiar's face is beautifully painted, so much maniacal malevolence. I am loving that flaming rat, did he come with the kit or is that your own invention?
Do it, your Skink one was well received. I love the comic element of the familiar and that comp entry is stunning.
So let's talk about the Gaunt Summoner. As the final boss of the game so to speak, I wanted to do something special with this one. I planned on leaving it to last or until inspiration came to me. Now, I have actually painted this model before (because I like it) for a skirmish warband, to fit in the style of my Silent Hill inspired Daemon army, like this guy; And here it is; So I had a decent painted proxy to use but that wouldn't fit so much with the Silver Tower stuff. Thankfully inspiration did indeed hit me when someone showed me something weird on the internet. Ever heard of Google Deep Dream? If not, look it up. I don't really understand it, something to do with an A.I altering images, but it has a very Tzeench-like quality. I found a site that let you do it with submitted images and started generating some reference material. I wanted all the madness on the robes in particular so I played around with pictures of white cloth. I also submitted a picture of the painted model from Games Workshop's website to see what would happen. And here's what I ended up with;
Look at this little guy. What's his deal? Blue Horrors. Painted blue. I went for a sort of piebald look to them, about the best idea I could come up with. I wish I had thought of something better. They took about a day each, really quick for my usual pace. Ah the Pink Horror. This one I'm proud of, probably the best one I've done in this set so far. I've got more to show but I'll save it for later. I'm trying to figure out how Instagram works.
OMG HOLY **** WHAT THE F***???!!!?? That is both awesome and nightmare fuel. The familiars and Horrors also look very nice. You do stuff with a brush, I can't imagine how I could achieve that, I don't even fully grasp how it may work. I guess that's what the word "mind-blowing" was invented for.
@neveroddoreven Well well time well spent it seems, that is mind blowing, I have a request will you do a tutorial on eyes as I think it will greatly motivate the community to try them. Couple of us are on Instagram so if your stuck just give us a shout. #crowfoot01 #ritualminiatures #xlanax_lot