Citadel - Giant Spider from 1991 red catalogue

Citadel Giant Spider

Ok, this was a real challenge. I've received this guy with all the legs broken in more parts. 

The original model is very static, so I would have a more dynamic pose.

If you have this model, you'll know: it's a real pain in the a**e to modify. 

At least I've painted it inspired by the mexican orange knee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi). I gave it a pose as if it were walking, adding a piece of branch as a broken tree in the base. 

This model will be a fantastic gigantic spider for a mordheim goblin warband, but I'll utilize it in my lizardmen southland army (counting as jungle swarm). It could be also a fantastic dungeon monster. 

I hope to be able to do better pictures in the newt days.

Ciao!

Original Bulette - Land Shark for D&D

The original Bulette - Land Shark

When I was a child I just loved dinosaurs toys, and my parents bought to me many of them, including some strange looking models that was obviously not dinosaurs, but they was sold as is.

Few years ago I've discovered that that toys was at the base of development of some of most iconic monsters of Dungeons and Dragons: the Owlbear, the Humber Hulk, the Rust Monster and the Bulette or Land Shark. 

The originals toys, from a topic on the Reaper Message Boards.

When I've found in an old box full of toys the Bulette I've immediately decided to repaint it. I've choosed a colour palette that was similar in some ways at a reptilian/amphibian creatures, and I've appropriately based the little monster when finished. 

Ive just found another one of this little toys, so I will paint it and I'll give it to my brother-in-law, that play usually and D&D. 

The second Bulette, ready to paint.

How to base miniatures: my (easy) way

Usually, I utilize alwais the same way to base my miniatures. The results is often very good and someone ask to me how to base miniature in the same way. 

So, here you find my step by step way. It's surely easy, fast and effective. 

1 - At first, I stick on the miniature base some pieces of bark with cyanoacrylate glue. I love particulary cork, 'cause is very easy to model. 

2 - After this step I fill every other surface part of the base with wood glue. At thia point usually I add also other materials that I would to include in the base - skulls, wreckage, eccetera.

3 - At this point I cover all the surface with fine sand, and I let all the base dry for few hours.

4 - When the glue is totally dried, I paint the base with matt black spray. 

5 - After 1 hour I start to paint the base drybrushing them with a dark grey.

6 - So I add a second layer of paint, drybrushing part of the base with a paler grey.

 7 - The last layer of paint is white, drybrushed in a smallest area than pale grey. 

Here tre different bases at this stage: 

8 - At least I add many kind of static grass and/or lichens. I change the colours of this elements based on the miniature that will be glued on the base. 

And that's all. This is how I base my miniatures. I hope this could be useful for someone. Cheers!

Citadel 5th Edition Kroxigor (conversion).

Citadel 5th edition Kroxigor

This model is an old citadel Kroxigor from 5th edition Lizardmen army. It's probably my favourite ever Kroxigor model. 

Citadel 5th edition Kroxigor

I've done a little conversion, adding a crest from an old chaos hound model, and an horn from a plastid dwarf warrior. 

Citadel 5th edition Kroxigor

This Kroxigor will be added to a skink unit, that I'll paint in future. Ciao!

1988 Citadel Mantis Warriors Space Marines with shuriken catapult.

1988 Citadel Space Marine.

I needed a break from my current involvement with the SouthLand Lizardmen Army project, so I decided to paint something different.

The model is a Space Marines from 1988 Citadel Catalogue armed with a shuriken catapult. I chose the chapter of the Warriors Mantis, using the color scheme present in older White Dwarf numbers.

1988 Citadel Space Marine.

It will be the first of a series of models of the Rogue Trader Era that I paint from time to time in the coming weeks.

See you soon!

Citadel 5° Edition stegadon WIP.

Converted 5° edition Stegadon - WIP

After I start working on the new stegadon, I decided to resurrect my old 5th edition metal model.

Converted 5° edition stegadon - WIP

So I made some conversions to make it in line with the new plastic stegadon, using part of bits from the latter.

Converted 5° edition stegadon - WIP

The howda is the original one, while the crew is in part made from new plastic models, as well as the giant bow. 

I hope to soon dedicate to finish both of these monsters. Ciao!

Citadel - 5° edition Lizardmen Salamander.

Lizardmen 5° edition salamander

Some days ago I had few hours available to paint, and I've chosen this miniatures, a 5° edition Lizardmen salamander,  for a complete restyling.
I've tried many times to paint her, but I was never satisfied by the results, 'cause I wasn't happy of the colour scheme.

Lizardmen 5° edition salamander.

This time I think that I've found what I was searching for: a colour scheme inspired by a real lizard genus, the Calotes, with many nuances of brown and a reddish head.
Soon I'll paint also her handlers.
Ciao!

Lizardmen 5° edition salamander