You've really been on fire with both the quality and speed of your sculpts theCrowe
But man, that skeletal snake looks like a real challenge.

Vejut wrote:Bundalf looks good, though I admit I get more Cottontail Mather from him--I think its the angle, making the robe lowers look kind of like poofy wrap pants though, plus the collar. Still a fun, characterful sculpt. Also loving the snakes! Do snake vampire fangs work both ways, I wonder?

.

Thanks Vejut. Never heard of Cottontail Mather, I assume you’re not referring to Beatrix Potter’s Cottontail family?
I would imagine snakes have the very worst kind of vampire fangs!

Syro_ wrote:You've really been on fire with both the quality and speed of your sculpts theCrowe
But man, that skeletal snake looks like a real challenge.

Thanks Syro_ I’ve been shirking my household DIY duties since I started back into hobbying. Really need to get some skirting boards done but when these guys are just sitting begging for paint it’s hard to get excited about mitre saws and gloss.

My very own Cottontail family.



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Been painting today so I’m getting this project back to its roots with a straight up side by side comparison shot.



An Oathsworn original on the left, the classic weasel with a blunderbuss, what a corker! And my own effort on the right, a decidedly more hamster-like weasel in chainmail with a sword and shield.

Fun to see all your buns together! and I was punning off 17th century witchunter Cotton Mather (whose last name I may have misspelled)

Wow! That Skelly Snake is one heck of an undertaking! Straight back in at the complex sculpting .

The glass beads should look good, they make good paint agitators too if you have to buy 100! Using them in a slingshot is a bit nuts, some people just have no respect for others

Good plan for glass bead agitators gobert. Will def do that.

One large size skelly snake is done.

Done in the sense of “I’m done with this!” more than, “this is finished, it needs no more work.”
It’s super rough, really badly rough. But it’s the roughness of the reanimated dead so I’m content to just let the paint do some heavy lifting and call it done. Perfection is the enemy of progress as they say.


And progress on what? Remember I said I had a plan for this guy?

I tried to preserve as much of the original Lizardman Saurus character (for some reason) and I’m going to green-stuff the cracks and give him new hands. Maybe new trousers too as his legs are so messed up.

Nice work on painting those two theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Thanks Cap. I love that blunderbuss weasel sculpt and really wanted to do a nice job of it. Nice bright yellow jacket.


Also...

At it again. Another “Massive” one this time.

Not the best pic but you can see I’ve been filling in the cracks and have given this guy new hands.

He could do with some trousers though.

I've just spent the last while looking through this blog and all I can say is your sculpting (and painting) skills are amazing, you get so much character into the different creatures!
I think the lizard looks pretty good without trousers, but if you're keen to cover up the joints you could always go with a kilt for something a bit different?

Thanks MST, glad you enjoyed the blog. The only problem with doing a kilt is that I’d have to paint the tartan. I tried that once and it just didn’t come out right. Then I want to preserve his armoured back and the upper part of the kilt would cover a lot of that detail. I don’t know if there are lizards in the highlands, maybe there are. Maybe they have access to black powder weapons... who knows? It was a good idea and well worth some consideration but truth be told I’d gotten him suited for some trews before I read your comment so sadly no kilt. I’ll take a pic when the belt and bag are done.

In the meantime work is progressing on the second shrew Knight.

Or on his mount at least.
One armoured shrew coming up.

Nice, angery bug coming...

Yes, The idea is that he’s doing that dramatic angry rearing horse thing, but he’s a beetle.

Some painted progress from tonight.

Three snakes jumping the painting queue because I needed two of them for this month’s Halloween themed painting challenge. The skelly is just a whole whack of dry brushing and washes. Not really competition-worthy though I don’t expect I’ll be winning or anything. Just enjoying a bit more community participation than usual.

They all look good, sculpt wise my favorite is the scarecrow, but honestly I feel the layering and placement on the skelesnake (snakeleton?) works pretty well, its probably my favorite, though the scales on the vampire came out fairly well too.

Thanks Vejut. I’m pretty happy with them all. Hadn’t expected to be doing more snakes but then The boy came up with a whole vampire snake story and before you know it...


Anyway, updates for tonight begins with a wire frame shrew Knight.


We’ve also got one finished green lizard sculpt.

His left hand is supposed to be signalling to some others to keep down as he stalks ahead. But it’s a bit naff, not exactly the emphatic gesture I was going for. Empty hands are hard to sculpt!

And lastly for tonight we have some progress on Sir Beaver.

Good bit of bulk on him. Going for an armoured tank of a beaver so made sure he was good and hefty.

You’re certainly back with a vengeance theCrowe! Excellent work as usual too. The skelly snake painted up really nicely. I hadn’t spotted how the scare-snake was passing through the eye hole of the pumpkin! Neat touch as ever!

Thanks for noticing the detail gobert. I suppose the best thingy about making my own minis is I can indulge most of my “wouldn’t it be cool if” notions.

Quick update of progress on the shrew Knight.

Skipped a few progress shots along the way here but he’s almost done now.

Nice, definite "have at you!" Energy. Going to put a banner on his lance?

Yes I think so. Though I don’t want it to clutter the overall shape too much. It’ll have to be something simple and elegant.

Just stating my intentions for a Shrew Knight Cavalry warband!

The Oathsworn original takes centre stage as it only right. And my latest Knight is completed with fluttering pennant.

Also, happy birthday to me...

Well almost happy, as Papa Nurgle saw fit to give me the gift of Shingles for my birthday! Itchy nasty business that. Not to worry, I’ve got these lovelies to admire.

And then I had a rummage for weapons and found a very handy pair of black orc arms that will do Mr Badger nicely.

He’s doing his impression of a 90s heroquest wardancer. I’ll set the position of those arms in a different pose I think, but you can see that time in sick-bed is affording me plenty of time to sculpt.

Looks like things are coming along nicely!

Happy birthday theCrowe! Sorry to hear about the shingles. I'm loving your shrew knight, just like the first one you made. I hope you do make a full war band of them.

Thanks guys. Getting on with this rightly.

The big fella is finished too.


Think maybe it’s time to take stock and see where this project is at. Lots of unpainted minis building up.

Happy Birthday...and sorry about the shingles. Really hope it is not on the face...it made me look like something out of the Walking Dead.

CB

Thanks Cap. No not the face thankfully but let’s just say they’re somewhere else very unpleasant. I’m on the mend though so not to worry.

Had a good look at the collection last night and I figure i’ve got plenty to be going on with on the painting front so for the foreseeable future it’ll be all paint all the time.

Unless I get some sculpting inspiration that I can’t resist.

Well Papa wasn’t very kind with his gifts this birthday! Hopefully it passes soon enough. Shrew and Badger look aces as do the metal gifts. Can’t wait to see them with paint on

Thanks gobert. It’s a bit of a big lot and I’m not super-into big painting projects but hopefully I’ll get into a flow with it and knock some out before it gets tedious. Maybe it won’t at all.

Anyway, kicking things off on the painting front tonight, I have for your pleasure and delight, one painted hypno-toad.

Hypno-toad says you love it!

All glory to the Hypno-toad!

I was a bit surprised when I started painting this guy as I’d forgotten how much detail was on the mini I used, especially in the robes.

I’ll have to use him for some big magic character in a campaign some day. He’s got a bit more table-top charisma than most.

Good start on the painting slog, hypno-toad looks great. You’ve brought out the details nicely

I like the finished badger. Hypotoad is looking good, but I will miss seeing your sculpts.

Thanks guys.

The painting vibe is strong right now so I’ve been cracking in while the cracking is good.
So here we go with the usual side by side. This time it’s the two oldest minis in the collection that were still awaiting a paint job.

My own “Massive” Badger sculpt alongside the Oathsworn original “Large” sized witch-hunter Hound.

And here’s the other side just to show their bushy tails.

Nice paint jobs theCrowe, You are on a roll. I wouldn't want to bump into that badger in a dark alley

Wow, so many amazing new stuff, but first happy belated birthday and may Papa Nurgle's "blessings" be gone soon!
I hope the motivation to paint stays with you, those sculpts look great with color on them.

Syro_ wrote:Nice paint jobs theCrowe, You are on a roll. I wouldn't want to bump into that badger in a dark alley

Thanks Syro_ He’s a big fella though I’m not sure if his glitzy gold striped shorts are a bit too show-biz for dark alleys.

Viterbi wrote:Wow, so many amazing new stuff, but first happy belated birthday and may Papa Nurgle's "blessings" be gone soon!
I hope the motivation to paint stays with you, those sculpts look great with color on them.

Thanks Viterbi. Feeling much better. And the paint motivation isn’t slipping yet.

In fact...

They just keep on coming.

That Saurus gunner came out amazing!

Great stuff, I especially like the badger with the mace and the toad. Happy Birthday, too!

Lizard came out nicely. I like the shorts.

Vejut wrote:Lizard came out nicely. I like the shorts.

Thanks, I tyhoughyt since I’d dodged the tartan kilt I may as well make an effort on some stripy trews.

Gulgog TufToof wrote:Great stuff, I especially like the badger with the mace and the toad. Happy Birthday, too!

I feel like I ought to mention that it’s actually a beaver. Sorry, it’s my faulty for calling it a badger in the post where I celebrated it’s completion. It’s a beaver, it’s has a (somewhat lazily textured) flat beaver tail. Anyway, no Margret what’s he is I’m glad you like him.

KidCthulhu wrote:That Saurus gunner came out amazing!

It’s like an old familiar mini doing something new. Really glad it came out so well.

Those two look great! The hound PE fur is particularly, the bandages on the badger look like they should be blood stained though!

Thanks gobert. I’m not a big fan of bloody weapons but I suppose it would make sense on the Badgers wrappings especially as they’re dirtied up and not clean white.

Anyway, speaking of clean white things...

I give you my all Shrew Knight Warband, The Order of the White Lance

And one more pic for good measure.

Obviously the Oathsworn original miniature is the central Shrew Knight, the leader of the warband. My own two sculpts are watching the flanks.

I’ve enjoyed this lot so much I’ve gone and drawn up a roster sheet for them and all. Sir Veshrewvius, Sir Shrewpert and Sir Bartholemshrew. (Not totally set on those names, any more Shrew puns welcome)

Heh, they painted up well, and excellent naming.

Your shrew knights look absolutely amazing! I didn't think I could like them more than when they were still green, but they look even better fully painted.

Now that is a knightly court if ever I saw one! Great groupshot.

Lizard and the Shrew Knight Cavalry are all very well done (both sculpt and painting) there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

I feel you on the bloody weapons, but that badger looks dirty

Vejut wrote:Heh, they painted up well, and excellent naming.

Thanks, Vejut. Lots of nice clean and bright areas on them really make them stand out. Still feel like there’s a good Shrew pun knight name out there that’s eluding me though.

Syro_ wrote:Your shrew knights look absolutely amazing! I didn't think I could like them more than when they were still green, but they look even better fully painted.

Thanks Syro_, I agree they’ve turned out spiffy with the paint on.

Viterbi wrote:Now that is a knightly court if ever I saw one! Great groupshot.

Thanks Viterbi. I’ll have to run some shrew Knight jousting games and declare a proper knightly champion.

Captain Brown wrote:Lizard and the Shrew Knight Cavalry are all very well done (both sculpt and painting) there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Cheers CB.

gobert wrote:I feel you on the bloody weapons, but that badger looks dirty

Yeah, he’d hit a snake below the belt.

Well there I was with a perfect set of matched minis, one Oathsworn and one own sculpt side by side ready to paint in pairs, it was all laid out and ready to go and then I went and joined the monthly painting competition and blew they plan to bits by painting these three at once.



Still, I’m pretty happy with the results as I put a bit more effort in than I would’ve done had it’s not been part of a competition. I suppose it means I’ve got more unpainted Oathsworn originals than my own ones now so in theory I should sculpt more.

Here’s my completed entry. Three rabbits I’ve made for a B&B warband. Catch them if you can.

I'm okay with this sacrifice of not seeing a pair of minis,getting this instead

Gotta second Syro_ on that one That's a great group and it'll be indeed hard to catch them.

Thanks guys. Only my own rules I’m breaking I suppose and even then it’s not like it matters.

Well anyway, for all my intended dedication to painting time it would seem I’m at it again.

Must be a mole in a hole of course. But in this case think Mildred Hubble from The Worst Witch, as a mole in a hole.

And I’ve also got this horribly muscular headless, nipple-pierced thing which I’m reliably informed is a savage orc boar rider.

It’s soon to be a hare... or maybe something more muscular like a bulldog would work better.
I don’t have any hares though and I’d like to make one. I do see there’s an all new limited ed hare mini just been released this weekend though... I’d be tempted if I was already broke this month.

And then I’ve also got plans to turn one of my oldhammer eagles into a B&B Massive Raptor character.

He’s getting a new base here. Soon he’ll get new trousers or something suitably anthro-eagle.

Progress


Mole witch got a slight repose


And the savage orc got some dog legs.

 theCrowe wrote:
Well there I was with a perfect set of matched minis, one Oathsworn and one own sculpt side by side ready to paint in pairs, it was all laid out and ready to go and then I went and joined the monthly painting competition and blew they plan to bits by painting these three at once.

Yes, but you have three painted vice two.

CB

This is a good point Captain. Can’t argue with the cold hard numbers.

More progress. All green progress and none of it paint.


And then there’s this...

It’s kinda... embarrassing...

I mean, at this stage it’s just... I don’t know, words fail me. Let’s just say, I don’t imagine any savage orc ever though it would look like this. And I have a plan but honestly it’s a long way away from this... headless boob dog.

Sculpting on Miss Moley is complete.

I think I’ll maybe put some grit on the base before he primer goes on.

Mole looks good, and even as headless boob dog, the ork has a certain charm, interested to see where it goes.

Thanks Vej, just to provide some quick much needed dignity I’m dropping in this immediate progress update.

I’m calling her Abbess Hild the Husky.

Hunh. Not what I expected, but a very nice looking set of robes.

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

I most definitely didn’t expect a husky to be in the inquisition! She looks great. Moley is inspired too, great work as usual

Thanks for the voices of encouragement guys.

Progress continued in the form of what the Witch Hunters equipment list might call an Inspiring Object.

In this case the Abbess has brought one of the drapes from the Abbey to wave around. A sacred banner of the Order of Our Martyred Lady.

Everyone loves a big drape to wave around! Nice Fleur de lys you’ve sculpted, fine work

Thanks gobert, I’m looking forward to seeing it with paint on some day.

In other news.



Thought it’d be nice to have a knife throwing weasel.

Witch is looking great and I would copyright "headless boob dog". There's an Adult Swim show in there somewhere

I think I’ll let that title go to anyone willing to be associated with such a show. Not really my bag, but you’re welcome to it. Go nuts.

And while we’re on the subject, she’s all done!


It’ll be a bit tidier with paint on but for now she’s kinda a messy one.

Also I’m getting on with the weasel already.

Had to chip her in half as she was was really long and too tall for scale but I think I’m back to something more like what I was going for now.

Wow, that is quite the sculpt theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

 Viterbi wrote:
"headless boob dog". There's an Adult Swim show in there somewhere

Good Point

She looks great, theCrowe. It amazes me how quickly you crank out these beautiful sculpts.

Thanks Cap, thanks Syro_
It’s nice to have both quality and pace though I probably should be doing more home improvements.

Quick progress pic but unfortunately I’ve been forgetting to take pics of this one as I go so here’s the latest finished mini.



Go ahead and name that Ninja Weasel Girl if you have a good one.

I was going to start painting again but I’ve just had another idea for another rabbit sculpt! Doh!

Quick progress update on this surprise last minute magic rabbit.

The wire and then the milliput.

Still not a hundred percent on the pose. Thinking something close to Jean Gray goes full phoenix but maybe a little more in control. More Storm but with less lightning bolts.

Work on the Bunny phoenix continues. From a brown stuff base to get the right body shape and exposed fur where necessary.


And then with a mix of green in the milliput for clothing.


Still got the arms to go but all in all she’s coming together nicely. Sometimes at the wire stage it’s hard to tell what shape the arms need to be but now that I have a better idea of her proportions I’ll be able to see they’re not too long or weirdly positioned.

Ninja Weasel Girl came out really well. As for names I vote for Ginger, fits the weasel colour and her occupation! Bunny Phoenix is progressing nicely too

Ninja Weasel is probably a first, she came out great. But I have no idea for a name, so gobert‘s Ginger the Ninja seems apt enough

Surprise bunny is elegantly dressed.

gobert wrote:Ninja Weasel Girl came out really well. As for names I vote for Ginger, fits the weasel colour and her occupation! Bunny Phoenix is progressing nicely too

Thanks gobert. Is that because with the right accent Ginger rhymes with ninja? Doesn’t quite work for a Norn Ir’nder but I like the name. She’ll definitely be painted a nice orangey ginger tone. Beats Liesel the Weasel anyway.

Viterbi wrote:Ninja Weasel is probably a first, she came out great. But I have no idea for a name, so gobert‘s Ginger the Ninja seems apt enough

Surprise bunny is elegantly dressed.

Thanks Viterbi, yes I was surprised at the levels of rabbit elegance reached on this one too. She’s a bit special I think.

So I got the arms done and took a look at my latest magic bunny now completed and thought...

She’s a bit plain. Elegant sure, pure even but still, something was missing.

But then I remembered Fifty’s great Sculpting Greenstuff Roses Tutorial and that was it, the missing element that made all the difference.


So there she is. Thanks to Fifty for some sculpting inspiration.

Rosie the rabbit seems a bit too dull of a name but perhaps unavoidable.

Ha! Yeah, I’m my accent Ginger rhymes with Ninja, but I don’t pronounce er quite as strongly as those from Norn Ir’n!

Bunny came out great, and Fifty’s rose tutorial certainly worked well. I reckon something like Briar Rose the Thorn of the Burrow or maybe Rosa has a more mystical side?

Briar is a great starting point whatever I go with for her. S’pose whoever uses her in a warband can call her whatever they like. I’m the imaginary future where I gather my gaming mates for a B&B campaign.

Further to that possibly unlikely goal I have continued work on one of my very oldest minis. An old metal eagle from my wood elves of yesteryear.

He’s going to be called Asterix I think.

Magic bunny looks nifty. I can't wait to see her all painted up.

If you're still looking to name the ninja weasel, how about Iizuna, which is "weasel" in Japanese.

Bunny is looking good, very mystical. Also liking that helmet on the bird--feels like they should be carrying a horn to play Ride of the Valkyries on

Thanks Josh, Lizuna is nice but I think maybe She can call herself Lizuna as much as she wants, the rest of Northymbra will probably just call her Ginja.

Vejut, I am absolutely going to give him a horn strapped around his back just for that purpose. Though how he would propose to play anything on it with no lips is another question. If I’m willing to accept a world where helmeted eagle warriors are a thing then maybe that’s not a question I need to ask.

If you want to put far too much effort in, sculpt him a shrew buddy on his back whose entire job is to play said horn? Just as long as the shrew isn't named Charlie...

Canine abbess is great, lovely banner work.

Ninja mustelid also very nice.

I like how the rabbit is easily identifiable even as a wire-form, a scaled up version of that would probably get you an arts grant.

Nice helmet on the eagle - and if he can put on his armour he can play a horn, those claws and beaks are more prehensile than they let on....

Vejut wrote:
If you want to put far too much effort in, sculpt him a shrew buddy on his back whose entire job is to play said horn? Just as long as the shrew isn't named Charlie...

Far too much effort? That sounds right up my street. And I absolutely love that idea so that’s a big thumbs up from me. Not sure why he shouldn’t be named Charlie but as his job is primarily a Hornblower I’d be more tempted to name him Horatio.




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 monkeytroll wrote:
Canine abbess is great, lovely banner work.

Ninja mustelid also very nice.

I like how the rabbit is easily identifiable even as a wire-form, a scaled up version of that would probably get you an arts grant.

Nice helmet on the eagle - and if he can put on his armour he can play a horn, those claws and beaks are more prehensile than they let on....

Thanks MT. you’ve got me seriously considering packing in the insurance job for the life of a gigging sculptor. Paying the mortgage off one arts grant at a time.

Obviously, if he's standing riding someone's back like a wave board, he can't be a Charlie, because Charlie don't surf.

(Sorry, Apocalypse now reference)

Aaaaaaah. Got it. No he’s not surfing though, valkyries are all about the riding.

Had to get to work on this right away.

One wire shrew rider. And then with a little putty for stability,


If anyone ever suggests mixing brown stuff into milliput like folks do with green stuff tell them it’s not the same, it’s mushy and sticky and doesn’t hold together very well before it sets. Not recommended for smaller scale figures. Should’ve just used normal greenstuff but sometimes I take a notion to try these things.

Wow, that helmet on Asterix is amazing! And good to know that the little gaul is also known across the channel

Lovely work as ever theCrowe, though I have to demand an Obelix next! . Complete with roasted boar and giant stone . Asterix and Charlie/Horatio are looking splendid already.

More nice sculpts theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Thanks everyone. Been doing some research on valkyries and Horatio Hornblower just had a radical shift in theme. Suffice it to say she won’t be called Horatio. Might be more like a less warrior-esque Brünnhilde, but as a shrew, on an eagle’s back, with a horn.

Always fun seeing a project evolve as it catches enthusiasm! Interested to see what comes out!

Well, Asterix and Brunhild his horn blowing Valkyrie Shrew are complete.



Never thought I’d be one to sculpt a boob armour breast plate but there it is.

I even tried to give her little Icarus boots but I was using some leftover gs/milliput mix and it wasn’t really the right stuff. I’ll maybe go back for a bit of detail work on her but this is basically it.

Very nice. Especially envious of how thin you got the streamers.

Mighty impressive theCrowe, as usual!

Now that's a shrew one would follow at least to Mordor and perhaps even to the end of the world Love the little wings on the boots, I think they came out fine!

Such good work. I still haven’t figured how to sculpt like you do. Regular clay is one thing, but any-color-stuff I’ve messed with sticks too much to me and not enough to the mini.
Anyway, the Ginga’ Ninja looks awesome. (Though I’m a fan of Liesel the Weasel, and the rose tutorial is solid).

Thanks everyone. Quick update cause I just wanted to show this having gotten the painting more or less done.



One quick pass and she’ll be competition ready.

Very nice! How long did it take to paint all those details on her banner?

awesome work theCrowe, possibly your best yet? The sculpt is fantastic and the face brings out her smiley face really well, it it weren’t for the sword I’d want to pet her! Then I noticed the filigree on her banner… outstanding! Have an exalt!

Vejut wrote:Very nice. Especially envious of how thin you got the streamers.

I mixed some GS and milliput and rolled a couple of sausages and squashed them out on some plastic (the plastic that GS comes in) I used a sharp tool to cut the edges sharp and left it to cure a bit. Before it was fully set I lifted them off the plastic and added them to the mini shaping them with a little ripple of wind. They’ll prob break off some day as they’re not super strongly attached and they’re pretty thin. I think GS/milliput works best for this as it cures quicker and holds itself more solidly than GS alone. I use it for clothing and banners too for this same reason.

gobert wrote:Mighty impressive theCrowe, as usual!

Thanks gobert. Its nice to be consistent.

Viterbi wrote:Now that's a shrew one would follow at least to Mordor and perhaps even to the end of the world Love the little wings on the boots, I think they came out fine!

Thanks Viterbi. If she see’s you on the battlefield she’ll definitely take you to the mead hall of the hobby-father where mighty hobbyists go to drink ale and create hobby goodness for all eternity.

DJJazzyJeff wrote:Such good work. I still haven’t figured how to sculpt like you do. Regular clay is one thing, but any-color-stuff I’ve messed with sticks too much to me and not enough to the mini.
Anyway, the Ginga’ Ninja looks awesome. (Though I’m a fan of Liesel the Weasel, and the rose tutorial is solid).

Thanks D to the triple J. Use a bit of Vaseline or water on your tool to help it not stick to the stuff.
Ginja seems to be the way to go for this one but if I ever make a Jungmädelbund weasel she’ll get Liesel for sure. Doubt that’d be a good idea though.

Syro_ wrote:Very nice! How long did it take to paint all those details on her banner?

There were layers and layers and changes and tidyingsup and even when it was done i thought it needed something more so I started adding the filigreed bits. Took a while but I’m happy with the result and I’d have to say if I wasn’t doing this for the monthly painting challenge I’d never have taken the time on it that I did.

gobert wrote: awesome work theCrowe, possibly your best yet? The sculpt is fantastic and the face brings out her smiley face really well, it it weren’t for the sword I’d want to pet her! Then I noticed the filigree on her banner… outstanding! Have an exalt!

Cheers gobert. I don’t think she’s my favourite but she certainly stands out in the crowd. Best is yet to come I hope.

Very nice sculpts Crowe.

The eagle rider was very impressive.

Cheers,

CB

Cheers Cap, she’ll get paint some day.

I’ve also been working on some objective markers for this game too.

Couple of magic weapons up for grabs and some probably magical stonework. All DAS Clay apart from the weapons of course.

My three completed competition entries, A Witch Hunter and Two Witches to hunt.





Abbess Hild the Husky baring the standard for the Witch Hunter cause.


Mildred the Mole, if she could remember her spells she’d not have to rely on her eyesight to read them.


A rabbit witch known only as Wild Rose.

Oh, what a happy company You've got, theCrowe! Can't pick a favorite between them, they all are brilliantly done. Congratulations!

Wow. i can't decide if I like your sculpting work or your paintjobs better. The mole-witch peering at the spellbook expresses so much character, and the bunny witch fills me with delight. Superb work!

Wow! Awesome work theCrowe. The roses and fur on the rabbit turned out fantastic. A short-sighted mole is perfect for a witch, great idea and execution!

Holy WOW these are good!
I thought the Husky looked familiar, so glad to see that was only part of a much bigger effort
Keep up the marvelous sculpts!

Two more amazing miniatures theCrowe, wow! The paint jobs are beautiful and somehow make the great sculpts look even better. Once again, they look professional.

Love the group, although they look like they would all get along in the end and that witch hunting was just a big misunderstanding Objective markers are cool.

Wirecat wrote:Oh, what a happy company You've got, theCrowe! Can't pick a favorite between them, they all are brilliantly done. Congratulations!

Thanks Wirecat. Your own excellent work was a big inspiration starting out, really nice to see you back.

JoshInJapan wrote:Wow. i can't decide if I like your sculpting work or your paintjobs better. The mole-witch peering at the spellbook expresses so much character, and the bunny witch fills me with delight. Superb work!

Thanks Josh. I think if I was just painting them I’d be complaining about how terrible the sculpts are! I feel like a lot of my painting effort goes into hiding the flaws in my sculpting. Glad that the end result seems to have the right effect. All my painting techniques are a bit Oldschool. Haven’t learned anything new in at least 20 years.

gobert wrote:Wow! Awesome work theCrowe. The roses and fur on the rabbit turned out fantastic. A short-sighted mole is perfect for a witch, great idea and execution!

Thanks gobert. I’m quite fond of them both myself. The big flag waving doggie was more a product of what the bits would allow. In the end she’s a bit too flashy if I’m honest. Flag waving zealots reminds me a bit too much of the stupid town I live in too.

Squidsy22 wrote:Holy WOW these are good!
I thought the Husky looked familiar, so glad to see that was only part of a much bigger effort
Keep up the marvelous sculpts!

Cheers Squidsy22. Glad you found my GS iceberg.

Syro_ wrote:Two more amazing miniatures theCrowe, wow! The paint jobs are beautiful and somehow make the great sculpts look even better. Once again, they look professional.

Thanks Syro_, very kind. I’ve been checking out your end of year round up. Very impressive body of work yourself. I’ll have to have a crack at one of those and see how 2021 went despite moving house.

Viterbi wrote:Love the group, although they look like they would all get along in the end and that witch hunting was just a big misunderstanding Objective markers are cool.

Thanks Viterbi, yes you’re right, she doesn’t really look like she wants to burn them at the stake, and if Mildred can read her “Conjuring a rubber ball toy” spell in time I think we’ll all be playing if happily in the rose garden.
Not the grim and violent vibe the World If B&B is sometimes going for I’m afraid. I do tend to lean into the cutesy at times.

Lots of “Wow!” Comments for this lot. Thanks everyone, always happy to be putting in a show to make it worth checking in on the blog. Lots to come soon. Thanks again.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
The relentless WIP continues.


Forgot to take a pic of this wire frame before it got millibuffed. Shame, it was a beauty.

Then I found a wood elf torso and thought, “I could use another ranged creature, of some sort.”

So it got wired and then puttied. But I still don’t really know what it’s going to be. Another weasel maybe... or a small dog?

The boy was using blue glitter (to make the moon shine in his solar system model) and some of it got in the putty. Not altogether objectionable, I kinda like it.

Then I just kept making more wire frames

It’s almost as if I’m up to something...

Here’s the obligatory annual roundup shot

All the minis either painted, sculpted or both in 2021.

It maybe doesn’t look that much for a year but I did have a couple of months break while moving house and considering a good proportion of this was just putty and wire this time last year I think thats pretty good going.

Great seeing them all together! I’d say it’s a pretty good haul, especially as you sculpted a good deal of them! I barely managed that with bought minis!

Thanks gobert. Sadly absent is my first rabbit sculpt being sculpted last Christmas and still not painted over a year later! Definitely need to prioritise those remaining bunnies and finally have me my all rabbit warband in a tabletop ready condition.

Still too many distractions though as this lot will attest.

Good mouse like distractions though, so it’s all good!

It's nice seeing all those minis you sculpted again, theCrowe. Thanks for the year end roundup. Honestly I expected more, because I'm used to you progressing faster on you complicated sculptures than me, but that's pretty similar to the number f sculpted minis I get done each year. Also the moving house helps explain. Either way, great seeing a year of beautifully sculpted and painted one of a kind miniatures.

Quite the little horde completed in 2021 theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

That's a lovely group shot and amazing work, knowing all the effort that went into sculpting those animals!

Cheers guys. Still kicking 2022 off with a bang on this 6 mice at once project.



It sometimes feel like slow progress but that’s to be expected when there’s so many of them. Got all the cloaks done last night and this morning. I’m expecting there’s maybe enough evidence now for a fan to spot what I’m making here. Mice in cloaks... anyone?

They’re shaping up really nicely now. They look really tiny, how do they size up to some of your other minis? My Google-fu suggests they’re Mouse Guard characters?

CORRECTAMONDO!



Excellent google-fu gobert.


They stack up pretty comparable with my original spearmouse from the very start of this project but a bit smaller than an Oathsworn mouse. But then they are supposed to be among the “Small” creatures of the game and mouse guard doesn’t scale animals in the same way as B&B so they’ve been small in my mind from the outset.

Did I say six mice?
Make that seven!


This is an action shot of the magic in progress. I’ve actually gotten all 7 of them to the point of just having their faces left to do.

Wow, that was quick! Interesting stuff as usual.

Oooh...mouseguard!

Lovely stuff as always

Cheers guys.

One last WIP before the big finale.


Nearly done on all these!

Can't wait, I do like your sculpts and I like mouse guard, so it'll be rather nice to see the two together.

Wait no longer Vejut, because the Mouse Guard collection is complete. Seven of the finest the Guard has to offer for my ever growing box of critters for Burrows and Badgers.



I have some better close up shots I just want to draw up a bit of a walkthrough post.

Looks good!

It’s a bit easier to see in close up cause they’re quite small.
So first up is the boss, Gwendolyn the Matriarch.

This was the first of the faces I did and I’m not super happy with her.

Looking at the blown up picture I can see so much more messy putty work around too. This one will take some judicious painting. At least it’s not so obvious when they’re this small.

Second in command is Celanawe, AKA the Black Axe.

It was lots of fun to do this guy and I’m really happy with how he turned out and looking forward to painting him up.

Then we have Rand, the defensive expert.

He’s got his signature massive shield and I’d keep him next to Gwendolyn to be her bodyguard. Maybe came out a bit smaller than intended but I really like the end result regardless.

Now we’re getting into the normal guards, the rank and file mice. This is Kenzie.

He’s a mouse with a stick who often leads away missions. I think I did this face maybe second and you can see he has a longer nose and is a bit rougher but I like him.

And anyone who knows the story will of course know Saxon is his right hand mouse.

Saxon has a tendency to rush in with his two handed sword. This was the hardest one to pose with his his arms down like that. I was trying to recreate some of the original art but in the end it never comes out quite like the drawing. More my own interpretation of Saxon from Mouse Guard.

Then we have their young buddy, newest recruit to the guards, it’s Lieam.

He got some last minute remodelling for a much more dynamic pose based on the inside cover art where he’s taking on a snake. I did his face last of all and I’m happy with the shape and expression going on.

And last but by no means least we have Sadie.

She’s armed to the teeth and more than capable of handling her own missions. The only ranged member of the warband but maybe I could add a few throwing knives around the warband roster.

I like these pointy noses! And You have got the dynamic well too. Congratulations!

Very swashbuckling band of mice! Excellent posing and sculpting of the details

theCrowe,

Some more nice sculpts.

Cheers,

CB

Amazing work on those small critters. Unbelievable what detail you manage on such tiny miniatures. Can't wait to see some paint on them!

Thanks everyone. No painted mice yet. I had a notion I might be able to do them for the February painting challenge if it had’ve gone “we are legion” but it’s gone “age before beauty” which I voted for so I can’t complain. Unfortunately for fans of this blog it means I’ll be painting old terminators and not more critters. So I tried to crack out a quick pair before February arrives.


Getting back to the B&B roots of this project with a pair of magic critters side by side. My own Bunny Mage and the Oathsworn original Squirrel Witch.

Lovely pair and very interested to see you tackle something other than woodland creatures. Consider me intrigued

Nice work, the paint on the squirrel is lovely! I might have to check out the painting comp to see the Terminators

Viterbi wrote:Lovely pair and very interested to see you tackle something other than woodland creatures. Consider me intrigued

I’m going to have to start another blog at this rate. “ theCrowe paints something other than woodland animals”
I don’t even know what else I’d blog there but painting comp stuff and there’s a thread for that already. Plenty of examples of my GW heritage collection in the gallery. I haven’t learned anything new with paint in well over a decade. But still, it’s nice to be intriguing.

gobert wrote:Nice work, the paint on the squirrel is lovely! I might have to check out the painting comp to see the Terminators

I’ve been banging on about those termites for years, they’ll not be a sniff on your Crimson Fists but I’ll certainly be checking back on your blog for your thoughts at the time because I’ve never seen better.

I’d like to try inventing my own chapter but it’s been ages since I gave a thought to anything Space Marines and to develop a whole thing, to plan and execute a paint scheme with half descent schtick by the end of Feb... I’m half tempted to just paint some classic harlequins. At least I have a scheme planned for those.

Anyway, do check out the painting comp. Go ahead and join it if you’ve got anything old lying around in primer.

Eek! At it again.


Made a cat Witch (Kitty-Mama, Kitty-Mitty’s mother) riding on a broom but the boy didn’t like it so I had to make another! Version one may end up a weasel witch.

It's witches fight night, mice vs. weasels here on ESPN 8, the ocho

Excited to see them develop! What would be fun (but probably very timeconsuming) is taking a pic with a set camera after every turn of the metal and than having a nice video of the sculpts folding themselves. It would probably only take a few hours more

Yeah, pull your finger out and get on with the animation will you

Actually, you might be on to something Viterbi - if he has to stop for photos after every incremental change it might bring his speed down to mere mortal levels

Good to see the artistic director is still keeping an eye on your work.

Loving the thread crossover! Hedgees gang have high standards it seems

Viterbi wrote:It's witches fight night, mice vs. weasels here on ESPN 8, the ocho

Excited to see them develop! What would be fun (but probably very timeconsuming) is taking a pic with a set camera after every turn of the metal and than having a nice video of the sculpts folding themselves. It would probably only take a few hours more

It will surprise no one that I’m not going to do that. Cause then you’d see how often I break the wires by over bending them! And yes also because progress would be glacial.

monkeytroll wrote:Yeah, pull your finger out and get on with the animation will you

Actually, you might be on to something Viterbi - if he has to stop for photos after every incremental change it might bring his speed down to mere mortal levels

Good to see the artistic director is still keeping an eye on your work.

Oh yes, he keeps me in check. He makes sure the important figures (the characters he came up with) are done to a certain standard of playability.

And as for speed, the thing slowing me down more these days is that I’ve been joining the painting challenge and the LoER and this month neither are fitting my cute and cuddle brief. So when I’m doing these I have guilt because I’m not painting my old termies or making my dimensional portal any better. Though given that I’m about to post an update it’s obviously not slowing me down that much.

gobert wrote:Loving the thread crossover! Hedgees gang have high standards it seems

Yes I suppose it is a bit of a crossover moment. But certainly not the first, as we’ve had Hooter the Owl, Ortis the Tortoise, Bufo the Toad, Count Venom the Vampire snake, Barron Von Klinkels the fox and the Boxer Badger all original Hedgee-verse characters all sculpted to Burrows & Badgers spec. It’s a big part of how the collection grows.

And speaking of the growing collection.
Cracking on with these two


And starting another of course.

This of course is going to be Kitty-Mama’s inter dimensional Bat-imp named Zum.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
And just to keep the apparently blistering pace up.

Green progress on Kitty-Mama including some miliput-mix. It’s the best stuff for cloaks and clothing. Just looking like a person so far. Looking forward to the cat fur going on.


And version one is getting some meat on the bones too. The hat is huge but I’m just going for it.


And then Zum is still just getting the base down to detail on. Tricky enough these bat wings.

It definitely is a blistering pace. Looking good as usual too.

They're growing up fast and looking great. The hat is exactly the right size for any self-respecting witch, probably the Skyscraper model from ZakZak's Magical Emporium

Nothing wrong with a big hat… you can pull more things out of it . Looking good on the latest batch.

I hadn’t noted the other crossovers to/from the Hedgee-verse, I should pay more attention

Syro_ wrote:It definitely is a blistering pace. Looking good as usual too.

Cheers Syro. I’m looking forward to seeing your old painted granny too. Hang on, that didn’t come out right…

Viterbi wrote:They're growing up fast and looking great. The hat is exactly the right size for any self-respecting witch, probably the Skyscraper model from ZakZak's Magical Emporium

I really should read up on some of the more recent Pratchet stuff. I used to read him in my teens a lot, the DEATH series and the Guards series and old Rincewind and all. Great stuff. Though I started reading Truckers with the boy once and he wasn’t too bothered.

gobert wrote:Nothing wrong with a big hat… you can pull more things out of it . Looking good on the latest batch.

I hadn’t noted the other crossovers to/from the Hedgee-verse, I should pay more attention

No worries I’ve shifted Sculpting for the Kids largely toward bat reps and many of the connections between my B&B sculpts and the Hedgeeverse are largely theoretical.

So on with the update. Trying to keep on painting and reduce the backlog of grey primed minis in my collection before I sculpt (or buy!) any more. So without further ado, another side by side painted pair.

The Coney the Bunbarian faces off against the oathsworn Hedgehog witch hunter!

But check this out.

They’re a couple of mean hombres when they’re looking right at you!
YIKES!

Indeed, that last shot is mean as.

theCrowe,

Very nice.

Cheers,

CB

So here’s what I’ve been up to in between painting and sculpting etc because I decided to join this month’s LOER Terrain Challenge

So the theme is Crossings and I had this thing.


Which I figure is the threshold for crossing into another realm, right?
So I decided to throw it into the mix but with a bit of a base made of this stuff.



Which I took a knife to and carved up into a big stone paved circle.



Flocked the verges and added some torches with hot glue flames.



But of course I had this lot.



Which after some light conversion I was able to set into the stone circle for some more playable options.







I even made some more.


This one flips for a blanking plate on the other side. So I can throw a sarcophagus on top like so.


I also made a B&B suitable of slightly sinister burrow entrance.


Then all that was left was some paint and it was done.




This is the other side of the portal door (which I think I like better than the front!)

I’m pretty happy with how it turned out but what I like best of all is the playability.

Our heroes come upon a strange arcane circle in the darkness.


What could it mean? What mysteries await to be unraveled in this strange portentous place?
Stumbling upon a stone pillar with an oil lamp set on top , naturally they decide to light the lamps.


They process around the circle lighting each lamp in turn. Squirrel is feeling a tingle in his tail. Is something terrible going to happen?


No sooner is the fourth and final lamp lit when a weird portal appears in the centre of the stone circle. An unnatural wind whips up roiling magical energies at the threshold to another realm.


But before they have gathered their wits there issues forth a band of unspeakably hideous fiends! Beasts from another dimension! Not at all cute or adorable but foul and brutish and accursed!

That’s what you get for lighting the lamps in mysterious magic stone circles.

And just because I’ve got lots more options to play with…




Whatever we get up to on the tabletop in the future I expect the stone circle will feature heavily.

Very nice terrain, and.the modular parts are nifty!

Amazing work on the stone circle, now that is what you call multi-purpose

And holy are the bunbarian and witch hunter scary when they fix their looks on you!

Nice stone texture and colors, they really work in a very... ambient way, lending atmosphere to whatever centerpiece theme You use. Congratulations on yet another great addition to the universe!

See, with all of this crossover, I’m thinking the Oathsworn Hedgehog is actually a live action version of Hedgee! . Seriously though, he and Coney came out great. The last shot is quite intimidating for a pair of cute critters.

Excellent work on the stone circle, the variety you’ll get from it is great. I love how you can light the flames to get the portal to appear, genius!

Thanks everyone. Glad you all enjoyed the brief terrain diversion. Back to pushing putty around for me here. (Though I do have some new painted minis in the works too. )

So here we are, my two new witches. Classic styled with hats and brooms and all.



Kitty-Mama (yes, it’s Kitty-Mitty’s mother) unleashing a death ball from her magic Kitty paw!
And then the other one, a weasel witch… or a dog maybe. Perhaps unspecified small animal, still I’m enjoying her big hat with hat pins.

I really like how those two witches turned out, they look great
I like the handy hatpins,Granny Weatherwax would aprove

Witches looking good, I like the fireball and both the poses!

Some good terrain work there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Syro_ wrote:I really like how those two witches turned out, they look great
I like the handy hatpins,Granny Weatherwax would aprove

Well that’s all the approval a witch could ever ask for. Cheers Syro_

Vejut wrote:Witches looking good, I like the fireball and both the poses!

Thanks Vejut. I used the same ball of milliput I replaced with a glass ball on the rabbit mage. Just with some added GS flames. Fun fact.

Captain Brown wrote:Some good terrain work there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Cheers Cap. Was a surprise but welcome diversion.


And speaking of such, here’s another, I forgot to snap a pic of the wire frame before the putty went on.


It’s a going to be a ghost. A Mist Ghast for burrows & badgers that is. The unquiet ghost of some dead furry warrior creature. Going for a large sized one.

Zum the bat is coming on a bit too

So here’s the large Mist Ghast.



I think I’m more or less done here. He looks like a giant snot but I’m hoping with some spooky paint he’ll come together to resemble something close to the ghost of a fox.

Interesting. Very wavy.

Spooky! A nice supernatural paint job will be cool on him

Interesting work with the ghost, excited to see it with paint on.

Well if it wasn’t for the old dakka painting challenge I might have left this fella at the back of the queue. But here he is, the ghost of fantastic mr fox. (Because apparently I didn’t sculpt him with a tail)
It’s a bit… idiosyncratic? if not actually a good paint job but ho hey it’s done and I like it well enough though I can’t say I’d be keen to make any more.













And just to help show the scale, as he’s a bit larger than the pics might suggest, bring on a 40mm base.


Here beside a couple of WFB Skaven you can see the scale a bit better.


That’s all I’ve got just now though I’m not far off another potential side by side double header. Watch this space.

Is it a pirate Mist Ghast fox? After all he is carrying a barrel of rum and has lost his tail.

CB

Came out well enough--I like the interactions you've got going there between the ghost and the solid bits.

Cheers guys. I enjoyed making him but I think I’ll prob just buy some smaller ones in my next Oathsworn order. Not a huge fan of painting these ghostly things either, but I’d like to have some more for gaming options.

Asterix and Brunhild finally got some paint!



It’s not the finest photography I’m afraid but then it’s not a great paint job either as my painting set-up and opportunities these days isn’t exactly conducive to good light conditions. I’m just getting on with it any way I can sometimes.


It’s a nice looking piece but I can imagine the outstretched wings being a pain in a BnB game but hey ho, I enjoyed working on a classic miniature and giving it a new take.


And nothing says death from above better than a nice pink frock. This was inspired by looking at PR Spitfires the other day, they used to paint them pink for missions at certain times of the day to better blend in with the sky.

Another classic side by side duo coming up soon. Thanks for stopping by.

Nice! Very characterful! Kinda sucks about the lighting, but still, more painted now than when you started.

I see Bean, Boggis and Bunce finally caught up with Mr Fox! He came out pretty well, I do love a good ghostly scheme.

Great work on Asterix and Brunhild, a really imposing pair. Intrigued by the next offerings

Cheers guys. Thanks. Here they are, another painted sculpt beside a painted purchase.



My own wascally wabbit Elmer finally gets his lick of paint, first sculpted of all my rabbits and somehow last painted. And beside him we have I think one of the original first collection of Oathsworn’s Burrows & Badgers, the tremendously sinister looking wildcat with his big ol’ chopper.

Not a natural pairing maybe but i just wanted to get that last rabbit done so I could do this.



All seven of my Rabbits finally completed. What a fearsome looking little warband they make.

Not sure what next for this project. I haven’t been sculpting of late but there’s still plenty left to paint. Including a ton of mice!

Always nice when you can put a nice milestone down on a project. Rabbit looks good too.

Ghost minis are the best minis, painting them is a joy, so quick

Good to see rabbit elmer getting some color. Always great to see your fantastic sculpts painted! The warband shot is amazing.

Thanks guys. Didn’t have any further plans really beyond painting up what I’ve already got but then this happened.



You must be right Viterbi, that ghost minis are the best because this will be another one. A snake ghost. Should be something a bit different at least. It appears there’s No danger of running out of minis to paint on this project. As long as I have wire and putty lying around.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Putty progress

Appropriately spooky! Nice to see more ideas take shape!

Back to my Burrows & Badgers sculpting project with another side by side painted pair. One of mine and one of the originals.
This time it’s my own Beaver sculpt (he has plastic Warhammer Black Orc arms) alongside a proper Burrows and Badgers Otter Ranger.


I think I’ve got the Massive size down better on this one compared to the Large otter.

Nice to have another pair in paint. I still have a cat and a pirate shrew to pair up with some of my other sculpts. Probably Ginga the Ninja and the witches. Who’s up next might depend what the next theme for the painting challenge is. It’s been good at keeping me motivated if not exactly pushing the pace of the painting.

Nice sculpt on the beaver It looks like that otter is about to have a massive headache

Yes, but the Beaver should prefer his tail attack.

Cheers,

CB

Cheers guys, he’s a big bruiser, not particularly sophisticated but he’ll fit the bill if anyones looking for that sort of thing in their warband.

In other news…



One ghost snake sculpt complete.

All painted up, that Beaver looks like a professional sculpt. Very impressive. I'm even more impressed by the ghost snake-- it would make a great vapor snake for Frostgrave.

That ghost snake looks awesome!

 theCrowe wrote:
Cheers guys, he’s a big bruiser, not particularly sophisticated but he’ll fit the bill if anyones looking for that sort of thing in their warband.

In other news…



One ghost snake sculpt complete.

That sculpt looks great and could really fit in a fantasy world

Lovely seeing the sculpts getting some paint, it really helps bring them to life. And as others have said, they could easily be pro sculpts

Great job on the beaver! But now you need another, 'cause two beavers are better than one (sorry, but the song from HIMYM was on my shuffle today ).

Thanks guys. Glad you’re all still enjoying my strange journey.

Looks like this fella jumped the painting queue.



Pretty quick paint job for this one. Didn’t take much effort at all and I’m happy with the effect. Nice and spooky and the green has a good ectoplasmic gloss to it.

Definitely a snake ghost! Very nice work theCrowe!

Nice painting on that beautiful sculpt, it definitely does it justice.

Very spectral theCrowe! The green has a nice slimer glow to it too. Keep em comin!

Hi everyone, sorry I’ve not been about much. My dakka presence is waning of late, partially due to my new favourite miniature (a Cocker Spaniel puppy called Louie) but maybe it’s just a bit of an off season for me. I’m only really painting in the monthly challenge to keep doing something as my general interest is pretty low if I’m honest.

But anyway. Show and tell time, it’s finally the turn of my Mouse Guard sculpts to get the limelight. (Or poor photography due to direct sunlight, whichever you like)



Celanawe and his protégé Leiam.


Friends and rivals Saxon and Kenzie.


Sadie is a bit of a loner but here she is with Leiam.


The leader of the Guards Gwendolyn and her stalwart Shield Mouse Rand.


Still got some witches, a ninja and some Oathsworn minis to finish up. None of which really fit the theme this month so I can’t promise anything new here for a while. I’m certainly not sculpting anything new either… wow, I’m so negative. Thanks for taking the time to listen to me whine (sing along now)

Your mouse guard turned out incredible! Amazing work. I'm sorry to hear that you aren't starting any new sculpts, but it should be done for fun. Enjoy the puppy

Amazing! And enjoy Your new little friend, spaniels generate lots of energy but are they power (attention) hungry too!

These are fun! Cool stuff.

Awesome work on the Mouse Guard! The sculpts took the paint really well giving them even more character. I love the shot of Saxon and Kenzie, looking like they’re having a proper duel! Also, you must’ve moved because Northern Ireland doesn’t get that much sun! . Hopefully the hobby mojo returns, but in the meantime enjoy the puppy!

Thanks everyone, it’s good to see they’re meeting the general approval of fans of the original work.

yes Wirecat I’m finding you are exactly right. The daft pup was wiped out after an hour at the beach and then he slept all day and now even after a quick midnight walkies there’s no sign of him settling and letting me get to bed.

Thanks gobert, that shot’s right out of the book.

https://images.app.goo.gl/xS7Hbg36hMjhXd3w9

I tried to get some of the poses as close to some of the original art as possible.

Anyone remember way back on page 14 I made a thing with a wood elf torso and then never spoke of it again?

Of course you don’t, you have a life!

Well here it is now.


My cat chomped it and busted off the top of the bow which made me so annoyed I just chucked the thing in a box and forgot about it. (The mini not the cat.) So now I’ve decided to crack it out once more and sling some putty on it. Making a little dog just to spite the cat!

Looks like a good start so far, and spote is always a valid choice.

Looking in the B&B rule book I can tell you that a dog is a pretty poor choice for an archer. It has a better Strike characteristic than Ranged and has terrible Concealment so… I don’t know. Also I’ve made this guy way too small for a Medium sized creature. Or rather by trying to use the detail in the torso I’m restricting the size to something more like a mouse than a dog.
What to do? Seems either have a badly scaled and not particularly useful dog, or pop it’s head off and make it another weasel thing.

Head isn't too far off a weasel, so thats an option. Sillier one that just occured to me is break off the bow bottom, give them a pair of punch daggers, or otherwise use that pose to give them a melee weapon or two. Angry punchy chihuahua or other purse dog...

Well I just stuck with the dog in the end,


but since he has a bow and a camo cloak and is half wood elf to begin with I’m putting him on a square base and he can join a regiment of wood elves when it’s painting time.

That might even give me an excuse to paint some plastic wood elves from yesteryear while I’m at it. We’ll see if the painting challenge theme goes toward elvish doggies at any point… you never know.

Came out good, hopefully finds the paint and game tables eventually.

Maybe he’s a yappy terrier or jack russel? They’re pretty small and more threatening than effective! Regardless, great sculpting as ever!

Thanks Vejut, thanks gobert. Been a little less enthused for sculpting of late. But luckily I still have some minis left to paint.

Like these two, done for this month’s painting challenge. It’s Granny Weasley and the Black Cat (AKA Kitty-Muma)








I’ve attempted my first ever OSL on the black cat’s magic green fireball but it kinda just makes her face green.

Your OSL work looks really good. It's just subtle enough to work.

Yeah, I think the OSL is pretty good, it’s certainly clear what you’ve intended. Granny looks cool on her broomstick l, very elegant riding side saddle too

Thanks Kid, thanks gobert. I’m glad the OSL came out well though it’s not honestly a style I think I’ll do very much. I’m not a huge fan to be honest.

Been busy making more doggies and I’m a bit mixed up between projects as the archer pup above has a square base like the doggie henchmen of old and one of the doggies I’m making will be deliberately intended to double up for B&B use and will be on a large round base. Not that the boy cares, I’ll maybe do a run of production photos here just on him if possible.

In other news, and again thanks to the painting challenge. I have three new Oathsworn originals all painted up.

The Fox, the Rat and the Cat.











I really enjoyed painting these. Absolutely beautiful miniatures!

Those are all pretty cool, but I think I like the piRat the best. The slightly off-white trousers look lived in, and the stripes on his hat are superlative.

Cheers Josh, hoping they’ll collect a good showing of votes in this months painting challenge.

And just when you thought you’d seen all the painted Oathsworn from me, I go and turn out another trifecta.

These are a small/medium mistghasts done in l three different styles just for kicks.

And if you’re enjoying those you’ll be glad to know I have another order in with Oathsworn already. Happy crimbo to me.

But what about the sculpting (I hear no one cry) well having taken stock of my whole collection today (some 86 individual minis in all) I realised that I didn’t have a medium Bird or a medium hound. (I could’ve run this exercise BEFORE placing an order that included 2 more mice!)
So behold! Yet more wire and bits.


Going for a duck with a crossbow and a warhammering sausage dog.

If you’ve been following my other sculpting blog “Sculpting for the kids “ you’ll have seen this big fella amongst the rest of the doggies.



Sculpting is now complete however the boy has rejected this and the recent archer dog from r-mour Dog’s doggie park on the basis that they have no technology’s worth of an RDI logo. (R-mour Dog Industries)

So along with the little archer fella I’ll be wheekin’ the old square bases of f as soon as I have some proper lipped round ones the right size.

Also, exciting milliput stage for the duo that sounds like a pub name, The Dog and Duck.

Looking good, Crowe!

I'm looking forward to seeing the sausage dog with the warhammer, sounds comical

Cheers guys. Sadly these two are taking a bit of a back seat to the relentless march of the Doggie Henchmen at the moment. I’ve typically bit off more than I can chew there and am trying to squeeze in some painting for the monthly challenge too. But not to worry, I’m looking forward to seeing these two come to life eventually too. There’s something a bit special about that duck, I just feel it.

So here’s the painted pooch and ninja weasel.



Not sure if these will be the final pictures. I’ll maybe do a bit more work in them… maybe.


That pouch behind the dog’s horn might be better in red.

And this is what it’s like to face them upon the field of battle!

Terrifying stuff.

Great job! I still can't believe you made that Viking Hound from scratch.

They look great, as usual
It's hard to know what's best to do with that bag, I can see what you're talking about. I think either way is fine.

I LOVE that weasel! Great job painting him up. His axe mate looks sweet too. A red pouch would add some contrast, but sometimes less is more (or so I’ve heard!)

Nice work, as always. I feel like some shade of brown would be better than red or blue for that pouch.

How did you make the shuriken? The edges look too crisp to be green stuff, but that's probably my lack of skill talking.

Thanks everyone. Think I’m just going to leave the blue pouch as is because I’ve got a bunch of other irons in the fire and a hasty paint job is better than nothing else painted.

 JoshInJapan wrote:


How did you make the shuriken? The edges look too crisp to be green stuff, but that's probably my lack of skill talking.

I went back to look at the in progress pics on this one and discovered that I didn’t take many.
I think I made each shurriken separately with thin greenstuff on a bit of soft plastic sheet and maybe when they cured I maybe cleaned them with a knife before gluing them in place. I likely put the best one in her throwing hand and hid all my messier work in her bag.


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In other Burrows & Badgers news I did also pick up this little band of Oathswon Lovelies at Christmas time.

More to pile on the painting list for the coming year.

Sadly not much progress on my sculpts of late. Not in a greenstuff mood it seems. Maybe I went too hard busting out the doggie henchmen for Hedgee’s Heroes to battle. (In fact I’ve been enjoying painting tiny WW2 aircraft more than anything else.)

Hey, paint what feels right in the moment. It helps avoid burnout!

December was a busy month but over the holidays I managed to get a few games in. In fact I actually organised the beginnings of a Burrows & Badgers campaign!

There are five warbands in the Campaign so far (one of which hasn’t had a chance to play yet.)

Here they are.


Initially based on the Wild in the Willows crew, a Badger, a Rat, a Mole, a Toad and an Otter (yes there are Otters in the book) this band of Freebeasts have proven eager if not particularly successful in their first two outings. But Tyson Furry is hoping his luck will change and they’ll manage to secure a solid knock out victory in their next bout.

Big Badger’s Quintet.


Another rival band of Freebeast these marauders have a pretty good mix of brains and braun. Scoring two big wins early on they’ve set themselves up as the warband to beat.

The Shadow Imps

Emerging like a post-mortem parp from the nasty end of the underworld, the foulest stench is in the air, the funk of fourthly thousand years; Zum the Necromancer and his band of ghoulish horrors have already stricken fear into the hearts of one local warband and hope for more opportunities soon to terrorise y’all’s neighbourhood.

The Call of the Wild

My own little cadre of critters, this band of lightweight, light-footed Wildbeasts led by a fearless Ferret are hoping to prove that bigger isn’t always better and that greater numbers can outweigh the hefty lumbering beasts.

StarFox

And bringing up the rear, a little late on the scene and yet to play their opening game is the Super Nintendo inspired StarFox royalists. Equipped for combat against any eventuality these versatile soldiers may yet prove a deadly threat.

I’ll not be doing full write-ups of every encounter but I hope to at least provide some of the highlights of the campaign as we go.

Will the burgeoning FreeBeasts rivalry come to a dramatic head?

Will my attempt at out-numbering the big bruisers result in anything other than a hospital-ward’s-worth of injured critters?

Will the version 4 Necromantic Warband rules prove more balanced than every OP version that preceded them?

Will I ever provide any narrative backdrop to this disorganised 5-way rumble?

Follow our progress here as I continue to paint sculpt and play this wonderful fantasy skirmish game.

I love your warbands. However, your Starfox band needs an updated photo now that Pepper is painted

And the gangs all here.

Successful project there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

They look great the Crowe, plenty of cool minis to play with. Hope you have fun on the campaign

So it’s high time I dropped an update on how this campaign has been going besides some of the gangs involved.

Still no overarching narrative. No real story driver to engage my players. (I’ve been a very lazy campaign runner.) I’m just trusting that the narrative we create while we game will carry the thing. Knowing some of my players it’ll not be long before old rivalries are re-forged and ground to a bitter edge on the field of battle.

So enough pre-amble. On with the event.


************
It all started when my band of Wildbeasts were looking for a likely place to set up basecamp. An abandoned farmstead where we could plant up a kitchen garden to feed a good many mouths and likely a magical shrubbery or two. Pippin, our rabbit runner and our eagle eyed avian lookout Elwing had returned from scouting out just such a place. It was perfect, they said, there were even some ancient stone circles and dolmens in the fields which was sure sign of a good magical flow in the area. Perhaps too good, because as it turned out we weren’t the only ones eying up the old farmstead.

As we left the edge of forest approaching the farm from the rear I could see something glowing eerily in the field beyond the gate. Something ghastly loomed out of the mist passing right through the boundary hedge.

Pippin balked and would’ve legged it, (typical rabbit) if I hadn’t’ve grabbed him by the ear and looked him in the eye.

“Do I look scared?” I demanded, “What am I, a Ferret or a mouse?”

Míriel scoffed at this. Shrew’s don’t think much of the courage of mice as a rule and she, despite being half the weight of the quivering rabbit in question was the very picture of confidence.

“Ummm…” faltered Pippin, “ok.”

Mæglin was tasting the air. I’ve never seen an adder wrinkle his nose but I swear his face looked sour. “Foul Magics” he called it. Which, coming from someone who can freeze your blood colder than his own with little more than a hard stare, was fairly damning in itself. Melian didn’t look her normal bright-eyed bushy-tailed self either . Clearly the magic in this place was all off-kilter.

I was glad of Thorins steady reassurance that night I can tell you. A cool hand and a calm head has that hedgehog. Sturdy and reliable as they come.

Elwing twitched in the tree above us and almost made me jump, I’m not normally this nervy before a scrap but I don’t mind telling you the place by now fairly made my blood crawl.

But you know how it is; Ferrets don’t back down. I set our battle order and we headed for the farmstead. I’d be damned if I’d let some lonesome spook of a disgruntled farm-hand scare us off. I ain’t afraid of no ghost!

***********



There were five objectives to contest or control. The stone circle, the dolmen, the farm house, the outbuildings and the main gate. While I attempted to control or contest as many as I could my opponent went for the throat.

The fighting at the farmhouse gate was fierce with Thorin taking on the weasel thrall, and The Boss doing all he could to keep the big skelly at bay. It was a take and hold mission but the rabbit on the farmhouse doorstep didn’t take to holding much when the large mistghast came for him.



Across the way Elwing took a crossbow bolt for sitting exposed on a rooftop singing sweetly, while Mæglin rescued his tharn friend from the ghost.
Melian had done well to cast bear strength on the boss for his fight against the big stable-ghast but Zum the necromancer was lying I wait.



She rolled badly in her awareness to avoid the ambush and the bat made the most of his opportunity badly mauling my mage and ending a badly needed spell.

It all went down hill from there, first the rabbit then the squirrel fell, the adder barely made it out of the melee alive. Besides a banished Mist-Ghast the only successful elimination was the Black Cat apprentice necromancer. My only chance lay in grabbing enough objectives at the end of a round to claim victory but it wasn’t to be. Zum struck again as Elwing tried to swoop on the stone circle.

When Thorin the Hedgehog fell it was curtains for the Wildbeasts and a failed rout test was a welcome end to their suffering. The farmhouse should go to the Necromancer and his ghoulish minions. The Wildbeasts would have to find somewhere else to call home.

A fresh sculpt has jumped the queue as it’s going to be my entry for this months painting challenge.


This old fella has been raised from the depths of the ship he sank on. Looking forward to seeing him painted.

I love your Necro-Parrot! I saw him in the latest Dakka Painting Contest. Your sculpting skills never cease to amaze.

Cheers Kid, he’s getting some paint now; going for a Norwegian Blue, beautiful plumage.


Time for another update on the campaign I think. The second and third games were played back to back and went like this.

No love was lost between the two freebeasts warbands who appear to have instigated something of a bitter rivalry from the outset.


Camped out for the night and off their guard, Tyson Furry’s Wind in the willows gang were sitting ducks for Big Badger’s Quintet who had them surrounded. The forest they knew of it was the loud report of a blunderbuss in the night and Tyson took a critical hit.

Big Badger was quick to capitalise and took down the opposing freebeast leader before anyone had a clue what was going on.

With their leader out of the picture the remaining Willows gang battled on for another couple of rounds. Losing their otter, the writing was on the wall and they bottled it leaving the Quintet to gloat over their devastating ambush.

So we handled some post-battle book-keeping and perhaps unwisely decided to play another game.

This time my wildbeasts joined for a three-way search for a paychest.

The race was on to search the farmhouse. My Rabbit being the quickest reached it first and with a spectacular search roll found the paychest in the coal pile out the back. But she wasn’t the only one looking for the loot.


Sandwiched between Tyson Furry and Big Badger with a chest full of gold in her hands it’s hardly surprising that she went out of action in short order.

The rest of the battle can be summarised reasonably well like this.



In a vain attempt to save the rabbit my adder mage managed to paralyse one of the badgers but alas the other one had her well in hand but perhaps more significantly had the gold in hand now too.

But the Quintet weren’t done yet. As Big Badger struggled to move his fox buddy made a grab for the cash slashing at Tyson Furry with a poisoned blade.

Tyson battled on through the pain hoping for some assistance but the only Willows nearby were still dealing with my buffed-out leader gleefully swinging his sword double-handed with Bear Strength.

At one point a burning fox fell from on high but that was about the height of it as the club had to close for the night and our game was cut short. We rolled off between the two freebeasts gangs and were satisfied when the Quintet who looked most likely to carry off the winnings won the roll off. So that was it.

Three warbands with two games each. Only one of them with a pair of victories under their belts.

Next up a new warband joins the fray as a new band of Royalist mercenaries battle the forces of the evil dead.

(Slow) progress update on these two.

Been a bit on the back burner as the dead parrot has taken shape but now that he’s been nailed to the perch to continue pining for the fjords I’m getting back round to these.

Not a huge amount to show by way of progress, just the base layer of clothing. Looks like garbage now but I’m hoping more layers and some nice faces will help it all come together.

You make it look so easy, Crowe. A lot of us would be proud to pull off what you would call "looks like garbage".

Good use of Middenheimer/Mordheim parts, BTW. Very curious to see those two finished.

And lastly:

E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!

 KidCthulhu wrote:


E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!

Will the dead parrot be stored in a cage? You'll need to make sure he doesn't muscle up to those bars and 'vooom'! bust out of there.

Ah yes. Looking forward to an outpouring of python quotes when the painted parrot lands.

In the meantime. Sculpting continues.



The dog is more or less complete. Just the second wing and the head of the duck to complete and they’ll be into bases and ready for paint.

Oh very nice! Is that a chainmail coif on the hammer puppy?

Nah, it’s just wool. His granny crocheted it for him and painted it silver to look the part.


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It’s bleedin’ (un)demised!






Not sure if I’m fully done on this fella but if I don’t take any notions to change anything this’ll be him done.

Wow! That looks amazing!

Hyacinth macaw?

 KidCthulhu wrote:
Hyacinth macaw?

Norwegian Blue.

Another pair of completed sculpts to add to the growing pile.


I did a full audit of all the beasts I have available to use in the campaign and discovered a lack of medium sized hounds and medium sized birds so these have both been made to fill the gaps.

No ideas just yet for more sculpting but I have a half-dozen Oathsworn beauties to paint up anyway. I’m just hoping for a March painting challenge theme that fits.
EDIT: actually I just remembered March is for Marines. … aw well.

Also, do you think this duck needs a hat?

To my eye, the duck's crossbow looks so much like a grumpy goblin at the angle of the picture
The duck looks great as is, but I'm intrigued by your idea of a hat. I'm thinking a big, floppy with a feather sticking out of it.

Hmmm. You might be right with the big floppy hat plan. You see I’ve noticed that his head it too round and his bill is too wide so I’m hoping that maybe a big floppy hat might disguise that a bit and also I think his wings are too flouncy so an extra flouncy hat might go some way to making sense of that. I had been thinking something like a guards helmet but the more I think about it the more a feathered hat appeals .

Aye I think a cavalier hat would look excellent.

Another amazing pair of sculpts, Crowe!

I like the duck as-is, but but being a crossbowmanduck, how about a Landsknecht hat with a big feather?

Just while the putty sets on this floppy hat here’s an Oathsworn original I’ve recently added to the painted collection.

It’s a bit hard to see in the kitchen spotlights but I’ve gone for a bit of a lighting effect like his little praying face is basking in the glow of holy intervention.


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Definitely glad I went for a hat on this one.





I’m not sure if a cavalier would’ve used a crossbow or if such a hat wouldn’t impede a duck’s flying somewhat, if it would even stay on his head at all. Not very practical, I suppose but it looks nice.

I’ve thought about the Landsknecht look but honestly I’m just not that good at this. I’ve got a Von Wodr sitting ready to paint (
https://www.oathswornminiatures.co.uk/p/9144265/von-wodr-otter-mercenary-large-otter-freelances.html
and how Mike Lovejoy does the Landsknecht style is beyond me. There must be some method to it.

The end result on the duck's hat is great! I struggle with sculpting hats myself, so I envy your abilities.

Also, I'm really liking the Landsknecht otter and hope he's in your painting queue soon.

Oh he is. He’s just one of those slightly intimidating minis that you almost hesitate to paint because you really want to be sure you have a good plan in mind before you start.

I had a notion that I’d just do the same classic style as the original because I really like it but then it’s always nice to show something new to people with your own scheme.

I’ve also got the Oathsworn great brown rat which I intended for a conversion just for the same reason. But not having anything in mind I’m a bit loathe to start chopping. Need the right idea.

I love the way the hat turned out!

Cheers Syro_

I’ve gotten this fella painted and all.



Think I’ll maybe try for some better pictures in the morning light.

Love the cavalier duck! What a fantastic miniature, your sculpting is always superb.

If the duck was worried about their hat blowing off, you could always sculpt a little bow underneath, tie it under their beak.

They just keep coming.

Well done theCrowe

Cheers,

CB

Some lovely birds around here at the moment. That ex-Parrot is particularly nice, though I’m not sure Parrots are native to Norway… anyway, goosey with the hat is a rather fine fellow too, though I am a little disappointed you didn’t seque in to a Lumberjack themed creature (has to be a beaver or woodpecker right?)

Olthannon wrote:Love the cavalier duck! What a fantastic miniature, your sculpting is always superb.

If the duck was worried about their hat blowing off, you could always sculpt a little bow underneath, tie it under their beak.

Thanks Olt, I had thought about a bow but didn’t want to turn it into Gemmima Puddleduck. Think I’m happy with the result without it.

Captain Brown wrote:They just keep coming.

Well done theCrowe

Cheers,

CB

Cheers CB. The long sculpting war continues.

gobert wrote:Some lovely birds around here at the moment. That ex-Parrot is particularly nice, though I’m not sure Parrots are native to Norway… anyway, goosey with the hat is a rather fine fellow too, though I am a little disappointed you didn’t seque in to a Lumberjack themed creature (has to be a beaver or woodpecker right?)

Thanks gobert. I have it in good authority that a Norwegian Parrot always kips on its back.

Yes a lumberjack would be ok in my book.



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In other news, we have another painted pooch.

This photo makes his fur a bit blacker than the mini really is but ho hum, not to worry.

You sure have a natural talent for sculpting that sort of stuff. You're a good painter too. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more minis!

While I love the recent birds (both alive and unlive), I want to shout out that excellently executed Dob Knight.

ShadowsAndDust wrote:You sure have a natural talent for sculpting that sort of stuff. You're a good painter too. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more minis!

Cheers S&D. Very kind of you. I’ve long since passed the point of actually needing any more for games. I’m just enjoying making stuff now and adding them to the collection.

KidCthulhu wrote:While I love the recent birds (both alive and unlive), I want to shout out that excellently executed Dob Knight.

Thanks Kid. I wasn’t a huge fan of the old doggo but I’m glad you dig it.

Well I’m glad you liked the birds too because apparently I can’t get enough of sculpting feathers!

This is only the beginning. I have a typically ambitious plan that will see me hate sculpting birds long before it’s done.

Doggo knight looks good to me. Those armatures look intriguing, the big one looks like it might be a heron or stork to me

I have a story in mind and these will be some of the main characters.
The big fella will be a swan (yes another swan!)

And just because I’m clearly nuts! There’s now 5 of them!
Looking at making a Swan, a pigeon, a blue tit, a swallow and a magpie. All in a flying pose.

Sculpting has taken a back seat of late. But thankfully I’ve kept the paintbrush wet with this lot of beautiful Oathsworn minis to try and redress the balance of my collection.





I really should try for some better pictures because these lovely minis deserve a better showcase.

That's a very noble hare.

Great paint jobs! Love the rabbit and the otter. The checks look great as does the Landsknecht attire, must’ve been fiddly. As for the pics, pinch a piece of paper from the kids’ craft drawer fir a background and move the lamp away a bit (better yet, have another on the other side)

Nice work there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

Need to get back on track with this project as I haven’t sculpted anything in 6 months.



Five birdies ready for green.

Very nice! You really nailed the body shapes, making them easily recognizable.

Gorgeous birbs!

 theCrowe wrote:
Cheers CB. The long sculpting war continues.

We wouldn't do it unless we enjoyed it...which is why our wars will never end

CB

 Captain Brown wrote:

 theCrowe wrote:
Cheers CB. The long sculpting war continues.

We wouldn't do it unless we enjoyed it...which is why our wars will never end

CB

This is true. Though maybe I should’ve said “The long Sculpting war will continue after a brief 6 months hiatus.”

And here’s some feathery progress.

Amazing work as usual! Love the swift/swallow (I can never remember how to tell them apart!)

Those sculpts look fantastic, looking forward for the progress.

Lovely sculpting as per! The feathers on the wing are very nice.