Incoming Dire Trolls

So I'm being really good at updating...

A quick update now before I get better pics together to put up: I was stuck at my parent's place this weekend cat-sitting, and decided to bring along all my airbrushing gear, and some models that need the work!

For now, the photos are the best a cell phone can pull off in a dark basement, but I assure there are better photos on the way, once I can hook my better camera back in. The first set of trolls (and Madrak) are done, by the way, and I'll have photos of them finished as well shortly, I hope.

This is all balanced on a sink, giving me quick and easy access to water and washing. Instead of a fancy airbrush holder stand, I have an old vice clamp that while it's not so good as a clamp, it's great as a holder!

I quickly determined that I wanted different colour depth on each troll, to give them some variety. That also meant I had to start lining up the hands for each to their various DTs!

The next layer was a more purple tone to shade, and also darken around the various rocks and whatnot on them. I figure purple's the Dire Troll equivalent of more ruddy skin on humans.

Here you can see a bit of the purple on the palms.

The next layer was the skintone mixed with pale sand, providing an appropriate highlight. The mix was thin enough I got to overlay a few times to make the colour build up. Due to a happy accident, it didn't highlight entirely cleanly, so their skin looks rougher as a result. This chap above is both converted in pose, and in getting a kilt, and looking more like Rok.

Here's the Earthborn Dire Troll, with purple, and highlight. I may yet do a green wash to make him look more earthy, but I'll have to decide once I get the stones done.

Yay cellphone pics

Here you can see the overall effect on the dire trolls after all the airbrushing was finished.

Hopefully it shows through that Rok (bearded/kilted troll) is paler, while the middle guy with bonus armour plates is the darkest skinned of the lot. I'll be able to bring out the differences slightly more with washes, and then it'll be on to detail painting!

Here's hoping it's not a month that slips by before my next post!

It's been how long?!

Eesh, A month ago was my last post! As you can perhaps imagine, it's been a busy month at work for me, during which I've had nearly no downtime in which to paint, let alone photograph or blog about what I've been up to!

Hopefully shortly the workload will balance out, and I'll be able to update more frequently. As it stands though, I have an update on the trolls. I've been working hard at experimenting and playing about, and have gotten clothing, metal, and skin touched up.

The metal was washed with black, and with brown, then little splotches of rust were added before re-highlighting certain sections. All the bits of clothing were made to look utilitarian in cloth and dye, and the leather's been a fun little play. I'm  not 100% on it looking like leather, and not just brown fabric, but hopefully a few more washes and highlights will sell it more.

(Also, you will notice I haven't quite nailed down photography in the new apartment yet. It's a bit hit-or-miss still!)

On this you can see a bit of the variety of leather colours I've put together. So far, the bottom-central spear sheath is almost luminous, but with another wash or two it evens out nicely.

Unphotographed, but still fun: We've been working more on laser cutting: A word of wisdom, don't cut plasticard. It is likely to contain PVC, and if not still vinyl. Cutting it (read: burning it) releases either cyanide or chlorine gas, which is NOT fun to inhale... we're working on alternatives to hopefully set up some terrain printing for ourselves as well!

Currently I'm working on finishing up the trolls (painting tartans, detailing, etc.) and getting the Morats finished up at long last, and waiting for me 'patiently' are my two Icestorm Nomad sets, and a mostly-converted Iguana tag!