Tuesday 20 February 2018

From PhilH: The Most Beastly of the X-men (9 Points)

After a week's hiatus (I blame smashing through Altered Carbon on Netflix: tldr; pretty watchable but the book is better), I'm back with another little post of another lonesome single X-Man. Two weeks to paint one mini, not good at all.
This time, it's Hank McCoy, known as Beast.

A mutant possessing superhuman strength, an ape-like physique and rather dapper blue fur, Beast also has genius-level intellect specialising in biochemistry and genetics. More at home in a science lab than a zoo, then. He's been part of the team since X-Men #1 waaaay back in 1963, with one of his better known story lines being torn between science delivering a cure for his mutation, and loyalty to his fellow mutants.


He's a nice dynamic sculpt, bounding over a gatepost for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, though the post does mean much of the detail on the underside of the mini, and looking at him from tabletop-level is less interesting. I added a shrub, to make the post look less lonely. 

I had a bit of fun doing a verdigris effect on the sign. Having not tried it before, I may well look for opportunities to play about with it to add a bit of colour. 

I did take the time to paint his eyes, serving as my annual reminder of why I don't usually bother: too much hassle.


Well, we're getting towards a team now:


Next week, time to mix things up a little and up the tempo for the run-in...*cue foreboding music*

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Great work, Phil!!  Beast looks fantastic, and the pose you have him in is dynamic and really impressive - not least for the way you've managed to bring everything together in a wonderfully constructed base.

I love the blue tones you've used, combined with the yellow insignia belt.  The combined effect is really striking.

And the ground work, including the plinth which Beast is vaulting over, is exceptionally good. I really like the small shrub (...I'd love to know how that was made...) and the verdigris sign. Both really set off the whole model.

And yes, that's a wonderful team, coming together!  Excellent work.  As for points, there's 7 for Beast, and I've added a couple for the brilliant groundwork, Sir!!  And you're closing in very impressively on your target - best of luck in the last month!

23 comments:

  1. THis could be my favourite fig in the challenge so far, certainly top 5. Absolutely love it

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    1. Thanks Martin, I’ll know there aren’t so many superhero dorks about but he’s a really unusual and fine sculpt

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  2. Very nice work, love the movement in the figure and very well posed on the scenery.

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    1. Cheers Peter, though that’s all talent of the sculptor

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  3. Lovely painting and fab scenery!
    Best Iain

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  4. Well, at least he's not wearing a silly super hero getup. ;) Seriously, lovely brushwork Phil, especially the groundwork.

    PS: I completely agree about Altered Carbon.

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    1. Pretty sure he dons some nknsent spandex suits at times, but this is the classic version

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  5. What a great figure Phil. Top brushwork!

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  6. Awesome figure, I didn't know they made these figures.

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  7. Very nice. Top job on the Bronze sign. Cheers

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    1. Cheers, it was fun to do, I’ll probably repeat on some terrain prices at some point.

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  8. Sid - the shrub is just a Woodland scenics small deciduous tree armature - same type I used to make vineyards the other year. They come in a bag of about 100 so I’ve got plenty spare.

    The greenery is clump foliage, medium green underneath and light green on top. Then I drybrushed yellow-green to give the impression of young growth.


    Otherwise the p Lost looked a bit lost on the base and I didn’t fancy building a wall to match.


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