Reaper Antarctic Explorer part 2

Reaper Bones Antarctic Explorer

Sometimes the paint just flows and it did last week.  I pretty much polished off the Antarctic Explorer figure.  Everything just worked out well and I really liked the way the snow effects came together.  Having documented this previously on this blog (part of the Prince of Novograd figure) also helped as I didn't have to re-invent the wheel.  I did add as a final step the 'Snow Microballoons' by AK.  These are really nice and make a great gentle fine snow cover.

On the figure some of the colours I used (I'm finding I'm using more Jo Sonja's paints every figure)

Pants - VMC Black/Grey + VGC Beastial Brown
Shaded - VMC Dark Sea Blue / Black
Highlights - JS Orange/white
Jacket - JS Hookers Green + VMC English Uniform.
Shaded - VMC Red and Violet Red.
Highlights - added English Uniform, Yellow, White
Jacket lining - white/yellow, shaded down with VMC Smoke.  Point highlights with white
Belt - VMC Black/Grey + English uniform
Gloves - Black grey, highlighted with JS Warm White
Gun Strap - Beastial Brown + Black
Highlights - orange/white
Backpack - VMC Red/Black/Brown
Shaded - black/brown
Highlights - Brown, white
Snow Shoes - VGC Leather Brown

Really happy with the jacket (the Hookers Green is very much like the old Citadel Dark Angels Green) and the backpack (even though it gets covered with snow).

After the figure was done I glue it down and used some more modelling clay to blend the figure base in.  Normally I would cut off the integrated figure base but couldn't in this case as the figure base had the snow shoes sculpted in it.

Originally I didn't have the bag on the base, but the composition looked a bit lacking without it.  Luckily the wife reminded me to put in footprints.  I was going to do them, but kind of forgot.  I also added on some snow material to the top of the figure.  I find people go a bit too heavy with snow on figures.  Anyone moving around will naturally shake the snow off themselves so it should really only build up in catchment areas (brims of hats, cuffs, etc).  Not the huge lumps the size of your head on each shoulder.

Reaper Spirit of the Forest part 5 and Reaper Antarctic Explorer part 1

Spirit of the Forest

So with the holidays fun and games been a bit patchy with the blog posts.  However good progress has been made. 

I finished off the Spirit of the Forest figure.  Final steps on the base included

- brass etched ferns
- water reeds in the pond, then Vallejo Water Effects to add some ripples to the pool
- redoing some of the grass to add some different tones
- painted a butterfly (hand made from paper)
- made some Old man's beard from steel wool.  Originally painted green and then lightened on the figure

Butterfly cut out

On the figure I varied some of the green areas as most of the green was too uniform in tone.  I did this by using Jo Sonja Hookers Green and Pthalo Green to darken and cool some of the lower greens.

Steel wool vines

I did a bit more on the OSL, but not much.  Then it was just gluing the figure to the base and repainting the sides of the base to clean up any over paint.  Calling it done.

Butterfly in (fuzzy) detail

Then it was onto the Reaper Bones Chronoscope Antarctic Explorer 28mm figure.  I saw this one in my LGS and really liked it.  Something quite different in genre.  I cut off the rifle barrel and replaced it with a plastic rod.

Reaper Antarctic Explorer

I had a strong idea for a base of a ruined building in the background to give a "end of the world" vibe.  The figure being more a survivor than an explorer.  With that in mind I wanted muted colours and worn clothing.

Wall painted and window frame done

For the base I purchased a sheet of pre done plastic card brick work.  I cut out a window and used plastic card for the framing and clear plastic sheeting for the glass.  I cut up some more plastic card to make the wooden planks.  I tried the method of scoring the plastic card with a razor saw to make wood grain.  It worked a bit but not enough.  Need to give that another try and be more violent in the application.

Fire damaged wall

The ground work was built up with some DAS modelling clay.  The snow effects will be added once the figure is in place.

Painting the wall I used Vallejo German Red/Brown primer as the base coat.  It is a near perfect red brick colour off the bat.  I then added some lighter and dark coloured bricks to break up the wall.  I went for a mix of approx.

- 40% base colour
- 20% one step lighter
- 20% one step darker
- 10% two steps lighter
- 10% two steps darker.

The mortar was VMA Light Brown.

The wood planks were Bestial Brown + Black as a base and then shaded as usual.  Once everything was glued together I used my airbrush to add some smoke damage.  First VMC Black/grey and then VMA Black.  I find straight black too much normally.  I then painting in the graffiti ("No Food").

Next time the figure.