WIP: Venerable Dreadnought, Part 02

After priming, I drybrushed the model with the base colors: Golden Iridescent Bronze, Vallejo Gunmetal Metal, and Liquitex Pyrrole Crimson followed by a layer of Pyrrole Red. Then I painted the fur areas with a watered-down mix of Vallejo London Grey (a very, very old bottle) and Liquitex Bronze Yellow.

Here's the result:

A few notes:
The two layers of red & crimson give me a nice worn base coat and better depth of color than I can get with with just a single red hue.

Because I don't want harsh black shadows in the patches of fur, I chose to coat it completely with a grey base coat instead of drybrushing. Now that I have a lighter base, the remaining layers will be drybrushed.

I use a paper towel to test each brush-load of paint before I apply it too the model. this way, I know I'll get the right texture.


No need to use a good brush for this step. I prefer an old Size 1 brush that's lost its tip. Some painters prefer to use a completely dry brush (it is "drybrushing" after all), but I like to wet the bristles and then gently pinch them between two layers of paper towel. The thin layer of water protects the bristles and keeps them from becoming overloaded with dry paint. Then they stay together, instead of shooting out at odd angles. I rinse and dry the brush every 2-3 minutes, and I wash it out whenever the tips get clogged with dry paint.

A few more photos:

WIP: Venerable Dreadnought, Part 01

This pewter Space Wolves model has been in my studio for years. It's time to put it together, add a few details, and get it painted:

Things I added:

A fur leg band (green stuff)
A banner (green stuff, welding rod, polystyrene tube, and the head from a goblin wolf-rider's mount)
Ground texture (rocks and sand)
A few extra decorations (plastic bitz)

Some time in the last six years, I added a dog's head (from a pewter Mordheim model, I think) to the pelt on the dreadnought's left arm. I don't remember why (I may have intended to convert it into a lion's head). That's the problem with holding a model for a decade before you decide to paint it. I'm not entirely happy with the dog's head, but I don't think it's a fatal problem. And if I wait until it's perfect this model may remain unpainted for another 10 years.

Here's a quick trip around the back and sides:

Slag Troll

Don't be fooled, I didn't paint this model in the last two hours. I was working on it at the same time I painted the Butcher.


It took me a while to warm up to Privateer Press' models. Compared to Games Workshop's, they seemed a little cartoonish and the assembly can be painful (so many small pieces, and so much pinning!). But after reading the Warmachine rules and painting a couple miniatures, I've changed my mind. These models have some wonderful details and loads of personality.

The rules look fascinating. I'm not much of a miniatures player, board and card games are my preference. And from that perspective, the Focus/Fury resource management and the game-changing special rules that come with each Warcaster/Warlock look like a lot of fun. I think I could learn to enjoy this game.

On to the model itself. In Privateer Press' artwork, Trollbloods are blue, not green. If I do paint more of these guys, they'll be blue too. But since this model has a collection of acid-based abilities, I thought green was more appropriate. Since other Trollbloods have fire- or ice-based attacks, they'll probably be color-coded too. To keep with the acid/corrosion theme, I also painted the stones growing from his body as bits of rusty iron.

The furry armbands and loincloth are made from green stuff. Since Privateer Press only makes one version of the Slag Troll, I thought bits of furry armor would be a great way to conceal conversion seams, should I decide to add and repose another one. But then I read the rules, and it doesn't sound like I'd need more than one. It was good practice though, and I learned a lot by adding a bit of extra fur. Look for more in some upcoming models.

Next up: A Space Wolves Dreadnought from Warhammer 40k. I have tons of old Space Wolves miniatures on the shelves and it would be great to get them painted.

And here are a few parting shots of the Slag Troll:

The Butcher of Khardov

With two months before work starts, I've got lots of time for painting. Scattered, indecisive painter that I am, I'll probably be all over the place. But maybe, if something takes hold, I may actually paint enough to...you know...play one of these games. In the meantime, it's just good to spend time makin' stuff.

First up, the Butcher of Khardov from Warmachine. Here he is in all of his nearly-finished glory:


There are several spots that need touch-ups, especially the axe-head and the boiler. The paint also wore away from a few spots on his gloves, but I think I may leave those spots untouched. Since they're part of his armor, it actually looks like wear and tear. I also need to paint the details on his badge.

I borrowed a camera (an Olympus SP-570UZ) to take these pictures, and I'm really impressed with the results. The static grass I forgot to brush away from the base, trenchcoat and armor are especially, painfully clear. Shame on me for not noticing this before I took the pictures.

Next up: A Slag Troll from Hordes. After that, I may tackle a Space Wolves Dreadnought from Warhammer 40k. There's no long term plan, at least not yet. But if one of these games grabs my imagination, I may try to finish an entire set before the new school year starts in August.

Finally, here are a couple more pictures of the Butcher: