Today I have another model from the Conan Kickstarter. Well, the first one, not the current one that’s in the midst of a Pledge Manager clusterfuck. This model is of a character called “Valkyrie”, which implies the Arnie film version of Valeria, except, well the art seems to imply otherwise.
Because, you know, Valkyrie.
Kickstarter Text: A feisty warrior who is in NO WAY RELATED TO ANY CHARACTER YOU MAY KNOW is a character that can be used as both a Hero and an overlord minion!
However, Paolo Parente’s box artwork, seems to indicate someone else. Someone a bit more specific. I’d make a dumb joke about how I’m not sure who, but I already kinda gave it away with the heading. Not that you’d much help to guess who based on the art.
Like oh-so-many of my models, she was started a decent little while ago. Realistically, it would have been right after I finished the last roughly-human-sized Conan model, since I have a habit of starting a new model that relates to a thing right after finishing one. Which just means I end up with tons of half-painted models, hence my whole Neglected Model drive for the moment. I didn’t realise what was wrong with her leg until I was attempting to complete her a few days ago, when I figured out that she was missing a scabbard for a dagger on her thigh. So, basically, I got a dodgy model and didn’t notice until now. Not much I could do about that, so I went looking in my old bits boxes and found a 1/35 modern military sheathed combat knife and glued it on there, and then painted it up appropriately.
This model was pretty disappointing in terms of details – it’s basically only a half-steb above the original Bones models in terms of soft, chewing-gum detail. I mean, it’s fine as a boardgame piece, but it’s not what I’d consider a high quality miniature. Look at that awful fur and how soft the cloak is – not to mention her soft-looking NERF cosplay sword! Yeah, this wasn’t a model I wanted to spend extra time getting realistic looking fur. I just wanted to get her done and outta here. I also went with Contrast for the backs of her loincloths. Got them done, and good enough for this model.
Speaking of cosplay, I went against the box art for her front loincloth and combat bikini top, going with gold instead of fur. If you’re doing the chanmail bikini thing, you may as well go all the way, right? Anyway, she’s done and if I ever get around to playing Conan, she’ll see some tabletop time. Or if we ever need a fantasy chainmail bikini chick for anything else, I guess…
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Looking good mate.
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Thank you 🙂
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Nice paint job on as you what is a sub- par miniature.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Cheers Pete – painted and finished and good enough for a boardgame!
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Not the best mini but,, hey,, Do you want to live forever?
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Right now I’m just trying to live through the pandemic …without infecting or killing anyone I know! 😮
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I hear you,, no doubt. I’m nowhere as prolific as you, so I probably have enough Romans,, Gauls,,, Carthaginians,, Continentals,, Redcoats, colonial Militiamen, Hessians and zombies to keep me going until I can get out and loot the game store. Priorities, you know…
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Yeah, the world could shut down for the next 10 years and I doubt I’d get through my backlog…
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I quite like her actually! 🙂
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…but imagine what someone like Hasslefree could do with the same brief!
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I just answered my own question…
https://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=sana~hfh063&category=miniatures~fantasy-humans~fantasy-%26steampunk~fantasy-humans
Now I have to buy that model. And do does TIM.
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Good enough mate – done now, move on 😊
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Yep, yep…
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If you hadn’t mentioned the combat knife I’d have never guessed it wasn’t original – hopefully it’s in no way related to any other combat knife we may know! 😁
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I don’t recall which kit it’s from, but based on the kits it might be from I assume that either Mark, Ann or Alex once had a very similar one..
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Uh oh! Let’s hope the lawyers don’t get involved, lol 😃
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Heh, I think we’re safe from all of that!
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Good use of bright colours; I think she’ll make a fine gaming piece. And, I suppose, if you’re going with the chainmail-bikini look you might as well lean right into it!
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That was the plan! 🙂
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You’re rocking some really vibrant hair on her! Good stuff 🙂
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She gets her hair dye from the same place my Slayers do. 😉
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Cant say I like this model a lot, but the job you did with it came out great. That you are happy(in a sense) with it is all that is important. Good job mate
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Yea, it’s good enough for boardgaming, which is as much as I can hope for it. To say it was a disappointment when I unboxed it would be an uunderstatement, though…
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She came out well and good job knocking this one out. The details are soft which definitely takes away some of the appeal of the sculpt and you’re right to call out the sword. Its rough! You did an excellent job with her hair which gives this lass a lot of personality 🙂
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Thanks Kuribo. Sometimes a sword is a blunt weapon, I guess! 😉
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It’s funny that you mentioned the missing scabbard, it’s happened to me that it’s only when viewing the photos I have taken that I realise I have failed to paint some parts of left something of a figure 😳🤔😅
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I have to admit I have done that myself in the past…. more than once!
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As you say definitely not a high quality miniature but with your high quality paint work you’ve made her look incredible
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You’re too kind, IRO. I’ll have to get a proper sexy female model into the queue in-between trays as a reward. I may even have the right candidate in mind right now…
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Despite my aversion to capes flapping around all over the place I did think she looked pretty good, until I saw the Hasslefree version you linked to above that is… Still, you’ve done a fine job of her all the same.
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Comparing a PVC boardgame model of any kind to a Hasslefree model is always going to make the PVC look pretty awful I reckon 😀
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I have to say I like her – the scale of the sword is much more realistic than the one of the axe you shared so maybe that’s my 1980’s non hero scale bias? Still, I always admire your painting and this model is still something to be proud of Az
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I’ll give you that for sure, but even with that in mind the differences in every other aspect of the models gives it to the Hasslefree. 🙂
She’s done though, and she’s fine if I need a chainmail bikini wearer… 😉
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