First up is a set of vikings that I decided to paint up as a start for SAGA after seeing all the cool stuff being done for it on this challenge. I picked these up probably 2 years ago to use as some figures for Frostgrave and then never got around to them.
They are from the Wargames Factory line and are really poor quality. The detail is all extremely soft, the cut lines are in bad places and don't line up very well. I got them cheap and split a box with a friend, I think they were $30 for 32 figures which was awesome, but you get what you pay for. While passable once painted, I found it pretty hard to spend much time on them since the quality was so poor.
I think I put about 20 minutes, maybe 30 per figure. So they are done to a super basic and super rough tabletop quality, and even though I painted them, they may be replaced with other figures later. I have some Gripping Beast Vikings and Anglo-Saxons on the way that I have seen previously and are much higher quality. The one good thing about these figures is they gave me a chance to try out some Little Big Men shield transfers, which worked amazingly well and I therefore have already gotten some more!
Secondly this week is a set of Ten Thunder archers from Malifaux that was one of my options for last weeks East theme. I had planned on using these up until about a week before the deadline, and then changed to my gladiator. These figures are amazing sculpts with great detail. They are super finicky to assemble as they are a lot of parts, but go together super clean and you can't even see where they join when done.
These started off as going to get a higher level paint job as they were for a theme round, where I aim to paint to at least high level tabletop and preferably show type levels. However since they got dropped from the theme round, I took a bunch of shortcuts on them, and while still nice (I really like the bright yellow with brown shading that I got done) they are only my normal tabletop level jobs.
Despite that, I do really like how they came out. The effect of the super bright yellow against the darker straps and arm guard really work. I also really love how the figures are sculpted with the faces barely visible behind screens that hang from the helm.
I did the bases to match the rest of my Ten Thunders Malifaux force, using resin bases that look like an oriental garden. I then added in some small leaves in fall colours to help tie in the bright costume to such a neutral base.
Well, that is 11 28mm figures complete for 55 points. As I said though, done at different painting levels, I just couldn't justify more time on those Vikings. I did the bare minimum to get them table worthy, but could make myself spend more time on them. The Malifaux guys, I would have spent more time to make them better but decided to put it into my Arena Rex gladiator instead. As they are they fit well with my existing Malifaux force so are painted well enough to be happy with.
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Great entry Byron. You and your 'tabletop quality'...
I feel your pain with the WF models. I've always found that their models come up wanting. Their detail and undercuts are rather soft and ill defined, and for multipart models their poses still end up being rather similar. But as you say you get what you pay for.
The WF models above are sharply contrasted against the Malifaux examples you treat us with. Wow. Those are tremendously nice and you paintjob really is top shelf. I love the yellow that you've used for them and the wood of the longbows is fabulous. The added leaves are a very nice touch as well. They look like they should be on the set for 'Big Trouble in Little China'. :)
Love those archers - that yellow really pops! I totally agree about the WF figures - OK as cheap filler for a big army, but horrible sculpts/splits :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent work Byron.
ReplyDeleteNow I'll get back to my tabletop quality Starbucks...
Very nicely done Byron!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
That yellow is really excellent, great work on them and the Vikings well some of us call that a good level so it's perspective ;-)
ReplyDeleteIan
Thanks, yeah I hate yellow. The secret here was airbrushing on a smooth coat just a bit duller than the coat showing, then shading down the folds, then up on the highlights. I would tell you the coliurs, as I am happy with how it came out, but i don't even know... I grabbed about 10 yellows out and can't remember which I used, so I am SCREWED when I go to add more.....
DeleteYou see, Byron, what you call 'tabletop quality' is what most of us would call 'podium quality at a show'...
ReplyDelete; )
Really excellent work, even on those problematic Vikings. And as for the archers, well, yellow is hard to carry off successfully, but you did it!
Yes, it is all subjective, both by person and by area. Here in Winnipeg though the painting level is very high. When I go to tournaments locally, my painting score is always in the upper range of the pack, then there are the top painters above it. I do realize other areas do not have the same level of painters, but here I am middle of the road (high middle, but still middle). I also compare things against what I can do, so while the arena guy i painted is the best i can do, i do not try to paint to that level often, it just takes too long. So i purposely paint to a lower level (what I call my tabletop level) for most painting projects for gaming, or I would get maybe 10 figures done all year. Most people do the same, or at least I thought so....here they do.
DeleteLovely samurai and certainly good enough vikings .
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Nice work Byron, love how the yellow came out.
ReplyDeletewow, those Vikings are poor figures.... but those malifaux ones are amazing. That yellow is s vibrant. I've been tempted to pick some of the figures up for other games and now I'm even more tempted...
ReplyDeleteMalifaux has some amazing figs, and is a really great game. Well worth giving it a shot.
DeleteExcellent work Byron. Love the yellow.
ReplyDeleteThe Vikings look better than you say they do, but those yellow archers are superb. I have never gotten yellow to look that good. Brilliant work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, yellow is something I always struggle with, an airbrush solves a lot though, as described above this is the first time I got it so I like it, it pops, i will be doing it via airbrush from now on for any big areas.
DeleteHard to paint a good yellow.
ReplyDeleteWhile not a huge fan of these plastics with soft lines you have done a great job with them.
The Vikings turned out very well for wargames factory. They are hardly recognizable as such!
ReplyDeleteThe archers are the stars though, that is a very rich yellow! The basework is aces too!
I almost went 10 thunders, but the death Marshalls were too cool to pass up! My oldest daughter got the game and RPG for Christmas, so they may show up.... ;)
Never been a big fan of those WF miniatures but you've probably brought out the best in them. The archers are real bummers though! The yellow certainly was a right pain in the back to get to such a smooth finish.
ReplyDeletePaintng bad sculpts is even more of a test of skill than painting good ones. You did a great job on those WF guys.
ReplyDeleteAs others have said, fantastic job on the yellows there. Also, seeing your Ten Thunders basing, I think it must've been one of your earlier efforts a few Challenges back that inspired me to get into Malifaux in the first place. So thank you for that! I hope to have some Malifaux-vians of my own to share in the coming weeks.
Thank you David, yes I did some Ten Thunders two years ago with the same basing style. The yellow then was a lot more muted. I almost did the same again, but wanted to try something different, and while they will jot look the same as the others, I like these better. I will watch for your Malifaux stuff with interest.
DeleteSpectacular yellows!
ReplyDeleteWow those Ten Thunders are fabulous. Are they metal or plastic?
ReplyDeleteThey are plastic kits. Many people complain about soft detail on Malifaux plastics, but I don't see it. They are a different style than GW plastics, but detail is there, it's just not hard edged.
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