Well, I’m solidly back at work at this stage, so painting time has taken a pretty hefty hit. I was looking for the Brigade Skeletons that I purchased last year to select an undead unit for the painting challenge over on Dakka this afternoon – I was thinking perhaps some Skeleton Archers, and instead found the little tub of models that I purchased from RPE at the same time. Inside were a couple of nice little undead models that combine well into an artillery piece and commander for KoW/Warhammer/etc, so I took them instead.
This is how the RPE models come in the post. Individually packaged in thick zip-locks with a backing full-colour slip that folds out for a little advert. I’m not sure if this is their B&M retail packaging or if they instead go out in blisters, but I have to say that I like this kind of packaging for mail order. Instead of anonymous zip-lock baggies with something scrawled on them in pen (or nothing!) you get to see what’s what and breakage is much less likely as the models all have a little bit more packaging to keep them safe. And of course, the zip-lock baggies can be reused.
The models themselves are pretty nice casts. There’s a little bit of flash and some minor mould lines, but it took literally a few minutes to clean them all off. It looks like at some stage in the past the Ballista must have come with a metal base, as both crew have pegs and the “slotta” looks like it’s actually supposed to be clipped off. The result is that they stand a little high when glued into the slottabases, even if you cut the tab down a little. (I prefer to use the tab, as the more contact point the better)
The “firing rope” skeleton had to be manually adjusted to lower his rope low enough to slip onto the end of the Ballista. I also had to use a GW 60mm base in order to raise the Ballista for the same reason. The wheels needed green stuff to fit and stay on the frame. I’ll trim the excess down later on. I’ll also add the defensive spikes later, once everything else is cleaned up and entirely dry.
Hopefully I can finish assembly tonight. These won’t travel well to be models to work on at work, but they should otherwise paint up pretty quickly at least.
And then I can have another look for those Brigade Skeletons…
….and FINISHED! (13th Feb)
Nice models and post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you mate, hopefully they’ll be painted soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When it comes to skeletons do you paint a black base coat and then dry brush with white? The last time I painted skeletons I was about 14.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the traditional (and probably easier) way to do it. I prime white, paint Bleached Bone/VGC Bonewhite, wash with a warm mid-brown (XV-88/Snakebite Leather/VGC Cobra Leather) then carefully wash the deepest crevasses with a really dark brown (Scorched Brown/VGC Charred Brown), then bring back the mid-tones with bone again, then highlight with VGC Elfic Flesh and finally VGC Off White.
Most of those can be seen here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart
It’s a bit more involved and a bit more work, but it’s still pretty bloody easy and gives a nice warm bone colour in the end that I like. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice one mate. Thanks for the info. I am definitely trying to get a little more technical with my painting style rather than always taking the easy road. Id much prefer a warm/old bone look that a starched white bone look. Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome mate – it’s a little late for these ones, but I can always do a basic tutorial on “my style” of doing Skellies if you’re interested?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes please sir. I’ve learnt so much already from a lot of bloggers but you can never learn too much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries. When I find those Brigade Skellies once I finish these, I’ll take some photos and do a step-by-step.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool man. Thanks
LikeLike
Looking good mate, should be nice & characterful when finished 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always a fan of single-piece metal models. Especially for things like Skeletons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The RPE models are ace aren’t they. The come in the ziplock bags when you buy them in shops as well as mail order and I agree – a bit of extra care with the packaging adds to the appeal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, I’ve been quite happy with the RPE stuff I’ve picked up. I just want to try and make myself paint everything I bought from them before I buy more. Not sure if I’ll manage it, though!
LikeLike
Those look quite nice/filigrane, something I prefer in skeletons. As it is hard to see in the pictures: Are they of the ‘evil’ eye variety or more realistic skeleton look?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are quite finely detailed, though simple. The Ballista crew are very “flat” or 2-D castings, if you know what I mean – with very little that can be bent to make them more 3-d (as I have pretty much always done when it’s been an option). The faces don’t have the “evil eyes” of the “oldhammer”-era GW skeletons, though I’d hesitate to call them especially realistic either. I’d say that they were someone’s best attempt at doing “realistic” at the time, though – and that’s the better description of the style.
The Mage Knight skeleton has a more detailed and characterful face, and could fit into either camp due to the coverage his helmet gives. I’m hoping to finish them this weekend, so I’ll (hopefully) have new/better pics up soon.
LikeLike
Pingback: RPE Skeleton Ballista and Mage Knight Skeleton (6-Month Tale of Gamers Challenge) | Azazel's Bitz Box.