Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Praise to that bee (in Your bonnet)! As always with Your miniatures - very detailed work with skin tones, as little as these nomads are showing it. I'm sure they will get their weapons in equally high standard! And an armor recipe, apparently, is a success, both contrasting enough and bright enough. Cheers!

Cheers, Wirecat - appreciate the response.

Actually finished them up last night - nothing special, a little rushed and sloppy, but they're my first ever finished Infinity models, so that's cool...


Also used my trusty old-school Vamp model (who has some great textures to test colors on, as you can see) to test out a recipe for the skin tone I want to use on some of my Combined Army guys (Unidrons, Anathematics, etc.). I was shooting for "fleshy but clearly alien"...


Not sure what's next, but I've taken some baby steps on both Arena Rex and Infinity models, so we'll see what grabs my attention next.

That is a wonderful cool blue on the infinity crew.

The vamp/alien flesh is turning out nicely as well.

 Theophony wrote:
That is a wonderful cool blue on the infinity crew.

The vamp/alien flesh is turning out nicely as well.

Cheers, Theo - thanks for the feedback. It's Army Painter's Toxic Mist with some Reaper Heather Blue paint as a wash, then highlighted/washed back and forth some more. I really like how it turned out - but looking at them now I think I need to work some purple glazes in to sharpen the contrast a bit. Maybe I'll just let them be and try that when I move on to the Mobile Brigada...

Looks really striking for such a simple job. Would be interesting to see what a purple glaze or three does to the contrast, but I think they look cracking at the moment

I really like them without the purple so far. It’s such a glowing white/blue.

Realized the alien flesh reminds me of Vorlon ships from Babylon 5 .

Nice job on the Infinity minis!
It's not a range I have any interest in myself, but I do enjoy seeing other people painting them.

@aku-chan: Thanks! I went back and forth about whether I was interested for a couple years, then decided, " it, I'll just grab a starter box," which then turned into me buying the Combined Army OCF box, the Anathematic, etc. It's a cooler game than I realized, and I've only been playing the Junior version.

@Theophony: Never watched Babylon 5, but I assume the Vorlon are cool.

@IGtR=: Thanks! (Still undecided about that purple, though).

UPDATE:
And, of course I moved onto the Combined Army models instead of sticking to the Pan-O guys from Op: Icestorm. So, here are some of the steps I've gone through for the Unidrons...

Using these paints (R to L)...


I got my first Unidron's skin started...


Then I washed with more thinned Nihilakh Oxide and Baal Red in some key spots and base-coated the armor with Reaper's Weathered Stone...


Finally, I washed the armor with super thinned Shadowed Stone and cheap-o Timberline Green...


Next, I'll go back with Weathered Stone + white to highlight the armor, then probably splash something interesting into the recesses (N. Oxide? Something brown or green? We shall see).

As also, any feedback is good feedback. Thanks for looking!

UPDATE:
More progress...


He looks a little washed out (the fluorescent lights in my work room do that with some colors unfortunately), but most of the way done, I'd say. I used a stippling technique to add back the original gray (Weathered Stone), then thinned straight white and did the same thing as a highlight. Glazed some darker gray, stippled some Nuln Oil into the recesses, then finished with another thinned white edge highlight. Next steps: need to highlight the plasma gun, hit up a couple lights on the armor, then figure out how to do the base.

That armor is looking neat. And a very vibrant yellow on the gun.

UPDATE:
First Combined Army unidron: done.




(I tried processing these a bit using my 100% amateur Photoshop skills to try and make the colors a little "truer" FYI).

Thanks for looking!

UPDATE:
Accidentally started in on Anum. I actually got some base-coating done on the next couple Unidrons for Infinity, but then I picked up this guy and basecoated his skin, then used some leftover brown to start on the hyena fur, then started messing around with some orange... One thing led to another and here we are.


Obviously need to tidy up the hyena (this thing seriously needs a name) fur, need to do Anum's skin, need to replace the club that I ing broke... So, decent start but still a lot to do.

I'd love to hear you feedback. Thanks for looking!

I hate you and your “accidental” awesomeness. Might be alcohol and 1am talking, but still. It all looks amazing. Love his orange wrap.

As for names.....Bruce. Because the joker has two hyenas (can’t remember the names, ask Graven), and since there’s only one, might as well call him Bruce so ITV doesn’t get confusing.

That's a gorgeous mini! Great job on both the cloth and the hyena, they look ace!

Theophony wrote:I hate you and your “accidental” awesomeness. Might be alcohol and 1am talking, but still. It all looks amazing. Love his orange wrap.

As for names.....Bruce. Because the joker has two hyenas (can’t remember the names, ask Graven), and since there’s only one, might as well call him Bruce so ITV doesn’t get confusing.

Ha ha - thanks, Theo. The accident was starting on him in the first place when I was "supposed" to be working on other stuff. And I think I'll go with Bruce. S/he looks like a Bruce to me.

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:That's a gorgeous mini! Great job on both the cloth and the hyena, they look ace!

Cheers, Gwyn - thanks for the feedback. I wanted the cloth to suggest a kente pattern without having to actually paint it in this scale.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
UPDATE:

Anum finished.




As soon as Red Republic Games previewed this guy, I knew he'd be on my shelf - it just took a looooong time for me to get him finished. He's technically one of the Morituri (Egyptian death ludus) but he opens up the Bestiae ludus, too, which is Anum plus any number of Beasts you can field.

Now here's my version of a Bestiae cohort...


And the entire crew...


Thanks for looking - I'd love to hear your feedback.

The chest, face, and gorget definitely rose to the level of the fur and cloth. Fantastic job!

He's looking great, especially the hyena!

Love the facial chalk, really gives him a nice punisher vibe .

The monster group just looks fearsome, good thing he has that hyena to keep the others in check .

Latest bunch looking great, and whilst you may be having problems with colour correction, they regardless look fantastic!

Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll wrote:The chest, face, and gorget definitely rose to the level of the fur and cloth. Fantastic job!

Cheers! I appreciate the kind words.

aku-chan wrote:He's looking great, especially the hyena!

Thanks - as with all the animal models I've done for this game, I've really made realism a priority, so I consult tons of visual references for each of them. If I'd just started in painting him, I would have a perfectly fine model but sticking to the actual examples helped a ton.

Theophony wrote:Love the facial chalk, really gives him a nice punisher vibe .

The monster group just looks fearsome, good thing he has that hyena to keep the others in check .

Thanks, Theo. Though after sitting on it for a bit, I think I might go back and try the other bodypaint scheme I debated using... I dig how the face turned out but I'm not really happy with the torso. And I agree - I had to laugh at how the yippy little hyena was going to keep the rest of the giant badass beasts in line.

IGtR= wrote:Latest bunch looking great, and whilst you may be having problems with colour correction, they regardless look fantastic!

Thanks a ton! I appreciate it!

Fantastic work on that hyena handler. I especially like the cloth that has a feeling of a cloth, very rough and rather firm, and how simple contrasting patterns accents it. Congratulations!

Anum is great, you nailed the look of painted skin. Cloth is really nice too, but my favourite part is the hyena, excellent work

Wirecat wrote:Fantastic work on that hyena handler. I especially like the cloth that has a feeling of a cloth, very rough and rather firm, and how simple contrasting patterns accents it. Congratulations!

Thanks - the model itself has some texture built into the skirt, but that is definitely something I tried to accentuate. Glad you noticed!

monkeytroll wrote:Anum is great, you nailed the look of painted skin. Cloth is really nice too, but my favourite part is the hyena, excellent work

Cheers! I used a couple different hyena references to get it right. I think I would've missed how dark the front of the legs are in relation to the backs if I just tried to ad-lib it.

UPDATE:
Been a while since I swung the brush a bit, but free time over winter break inspired me to have a go at a few minis. So, I finished Euryale, the first Arena Rex gorgon model. I have to admit that I wasn't keen on her at first since I was mostly into the more realistic fighters, but I ended up snagging her awhile back and am super glad I did. The model is awesome, and her rules in-game aren't too shabby either.

First off, here's my inspiration for her snakeskin: a white-lipped python.

I've seen this model done with all sorts of traditional python/boa snakeskin patterns, like what you'd find on boots or handbags, but I wanted something different that would still pop. When I found this snake I knew it was the one, but I ended up taking two or three false-starts on it before getting it done pretty much exactly like I had hoped.

I think you nailed it . A great source for an alternative scheme, and I love the dark scales to help blend into the night.

 Theophony wrote:
I think you nailed it . A great source for an alternative scheme, and I love the dark scales to help blend into the night.

Cheers, Theo! Thanks for commenting. It's been a loooooooong time since I felt motivated to paint at all (work, kids, other hobbies, etc. blah-blah-blah) and I was a little worried I'd bitten off more than I could chew with her early on. Once I settled on using a drybrush-wash-and-repeat system on the iridescence of the scales it ended up being the simplest part of the model.

UPDATE:
Here is the art for Crassus, the giant Arena Rex bear:

Looks sweet!

Buuuuuuut, here's the model:

WTF? Is it a bear-ape hybrid? I don't even really know what the sculptor was going for TBH...

So (with a little prompting) my kids got me the La Meridiana grizzly model for Christmas as a substitute. It's from their 54mm historical line so I was a little worried about how big it would be in relation to the other AR beasts, but here it is beside Leo:

Not bad at all, IMO.

So, I got started painting him up today...

I'm seeing how far along I can get only using washes - I know I'll need to do some more traditional brushwork and some drybrushing eventually, but I like the results thus far.

As always, any feedback is good feedback. Thanks for looking!

Glad to have found this blog today - and thank you for continuing it. Very inspirational. I really loved the early Bloodbowl work, but stayed for the amazing Arena Rex work (which I knew nothing about before this).

Euryale looks lovely. As per Theophony, I think you nailed the snakeskin inspiration and it really pops against the white marble. That said, I feel there is almost too much white. I'd suggest a different colour for the underbelly - but what, I couldn't say . I think more transition from snake to skin would have been nicer too - it's almost enough on the back, but noticeably lacking on the front.

(Not) Crassus is coming along nicely - your mix of research and talent paying off once again. I look forward to seeing him completed.

On a side note - I take it Leo is pinned to his base? I don't think I've seen a model supported by a proportionally smaller footprint, and at the far edge of the model too!

Keep up the good work.

Amazing job on those snake scales!
The bear is looking good too.

Poor Crassus the Cave Bear . No one loves him. I couldn't find it here in your thread, though I just did a quick look again, I guess it was on the forum for Arena Rex. I saw that they had mentioned that the type of Bear that Crassus is supposed to represent is a breed that was hunted to extinction and had several differences to modern bears. Either way he is fugly , and the model you chose to represent him is great. Any chance of a side by side of the two to get an idea of size difference if any?

Also, looking back at all your other painted models I re-noticed the black trim on the bases. I think that helps to bring in the snake lady's coloring too.

Also, Also, What is your painting formula for the sand? Is it just sand and PVA mix, primed and then painted with Zandri Dust? Or is there another 14-15 steps that I am missing?

I may have just downloaded a bunch of free Arena Rex .stl files to print the Playmobile walls, roman columns and other assorted items. I still have yet to order the models . Too many games and not enough opponents. Though their current sale and shipping deals are hard to pass up.

Arakasi wrote:Glad to have found this blog today - and thank you for continuing it. Very inspirational. I really loved the early Bloodbowl work, but stayed for the amazing Arena Rex work (which I knew nothing about before this).

Euryale looks lovely. As per Theophony, I think you nailed the snakeskin inspiration and it really pops against the white marble. That said, I feel there is almost too much white. I'd suggest a different colour for the underbelly - but what, I couldn't say . I think more transition from snake to skin would have been nicer too - it's almost enough on the back, but noticeably lacking on the front.

(Not) Crassus is coming along nicely - your mix of research and talent paying off once again. I look forward to seeing him completed.

On a side note - I take it Leo is pinned to his base? I don't think I've seen a model supported by a proportionally smaller footprint, and at the far edge of the model too!

Keep up the good work.

Wow - you went waaaaaay back in this thread! Thanks for commenting - you're the second person with the feedback around the white belly, but that really was an intentional choice. I wanted the black/white contrast from the start (though I did toy with some speckles where they intersect before painting over them).

I agree about Leo's infamous point of contact. He is most definitely pinned. I drilled into his leg further than I thought possible by angling so I went into his leg above the ankle, using thicker gauge wire than usual, and bending the excess wire up under the base rather than cutting most of it off. So far so good!

aku-chan wrote:Amazing job on those snake scales!
The bear is looking good too.

Cheers!

Theophony wrote:Poor Crassus the Cave Bear . No one loves him. I couldn't find it here in your thread, though I just did a quick look again, I guess it was on the forum for Arena Rex. I saw that they had mentioned that the type of Bear that Crassus is supposed to represent is a breed that was hunted to extinction and had several differences to modern bears. Either way he is fugly , and the model you chose to represent him is great. Any chance of a side by side of the two to get an idea of size difference if any?

Also, looking back at all your other painted models I re-noticed the black trim on the bases. I think that helps to bring in the snake lady's coloring too.

Also, Also, What is your painting formula for the sand? Is it just sand and PVA mix, primed and then painted with Zandri Dust? Or is there another 14-15 steps that I am missing?

I may have just downloaded a bunch of free Arena Rex .stl files to print the Playmobile walls, roman columns and other assorted items. I still have yet to order the models . Too many games and not enough opponents. Though their current sale and shipping deals are hard to pass up.

I think you're referencing someone in the Arena Rex News thread trying to justify the awfulness of the sculpt by claiming it was maybe supposed to be an Atlas bear - but that was just a type of brown bear that lived in the mountains of northern Africa and didn't really have any physical differences (like a grizzly is just a brown bear that lives in North America). And I don't actually own the Crassus model - no way I was going to reward RRG for commissioning and casting that. I try to support the company as much as possible, but that's a bridge too far.

For the sand bases, the first thing is that I use super fine sand. After that, it's Zandri Dust -> wash with extremely thin black -> wash with thin brown (sometimes Agrax Earthshade, sometimes just a random brown) -> [optional] splash around some of GW's yellow wash (whatever it's called) -> successive drybrushes of Zandri Dust + Delta's Antique White -> drybrush Antique White

That Playmobil arena is still out there on my wishlist... I saw it pop up not too long ago for <$50 and almost pulled the trigger, but the difficulty storing it due to its size made me pause. And I hear you about "too many games, not enough time" - I don't really game much at all anymore, just paint models for things I can play with my kids, which means few models and accessible to casual players. Arena Rex fits that to a tee if you ever decide to actually buy models. Simple rules, easy to learn, layers of complexity that level up as you do (and the models are great, obviously).