I’ve had these models – Shieldwolf Miniatures’ Krumvaal Lower Yetis for a few years now, as I picked them up from the Kickstarter when they were released, and have been wanting to paint them for awhile. I mean, I want to paint everything I buy, and whenever I sort through unpainted models in my collection, almost all of them do manage to “Spark Joy” and make me want to paint them – as do so many of the posts I read from members of this community. So with Swordmaster’s Monster March having been a thing very recently, I decided to paint my two sets of these Yeti (6 models in total), and although I got all six of them started and some way through them, I didn’t manage to complete any of them – but I did manage to push the first pair of them through to completion this month (April – so they will count towards my tally for Ann’s “Paint the Crap You Already Own!” challenge.
Unfortunately, these models weren’t easy or especially enjoyable models for me to paint in practise. I thought they would be, given the predominance of several simple textures that I usually enjoy – fur, skin, wood… but what I found was a lack of differentiation between the Yeti’s own fur and the fur cloak(s) that they wear, and so I had to scratch my head and try to decide how to differentiate them from one another, while still wanting to keep both of them a white, or at least dirty grey. Because Yetis. features like their ears blended in with the fur, and I’m still not entirely sure what’s supposed to be going on with the bridges of their noses..
For the actual painting, I wanted to try Contrast Paints and similar over a Zenithal highlight, since it’s supposedly a quick and effective method of getting some good looking results. Given that Yetis covered in fue are pretty outdoorsy and rough compared to, say Elves or parade-ground marines, I thought these were a good place to learn how that all works.
I was originally planning to give them greyish skin, but it turned out to be just way too much grey for me with the fur and their own body-hair-fur, so I ended up giving them a rich, darker tone for their flesh over grey in the base, which was something new for me. I also used several of Warcolours‘ Antithesis paints that I purchased a little while ago on these to see how they would work and look. The Anthithesis range are a Contrast-like paint, but with a gel base. They’re much thicker, and they are trickier to use than Contrast due to their thickness. I also have worked out by this point that the way I generally like to use Contrast paints isn’t the official “speed-paint” way, and for me they’re something to use in a variety of different ways, sometimes over primer but more often over a coloured base, and pretty much always combined with one or more of the more established, existing techniques. I think the result is, again, decent, but the experience wasn’t as pleasant as I’d hoped, especially as the “Contrast over Zenithal” thing did not work at all well with the Antithesis paints.
As you can see here, they’re some chunky bois. And as with many of the models that I don’t especially enjoy painting, I do like them a lot more now that they’re done. Unfortunately… there’s still another four of them :P. But that’s (hopefully!) where Monster MAYhem will come in handy…
Oh – and if you’re wondering why they’re not on snowy bases – simples! They’re not fighting next to where they live. They’ve come down the mountains to tag along with whichever army I drop them into (Ogres, probably) and raid the puny folk!
Great work mate, I wouldn’t have known they were wearing furs, other than you telling me, so can understand your frustration trying to differentiate the two. The overall effect you’ve achieved works perfectly for them
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Thanks Dave – and yeah, that was something I only realised when I was painting them. Unfortunately, the “fur” and “hair” textures are almost identical on the models where they cross over (on the head/shoulder area) and are effectively identical elsewhere. I just subtly darkened the Yeti portion, but it’s really not obvious unless you’re looking for it. And even then, it’s still not what I’d call obvious.
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They look great- love the hairy arms… looks like grey fur with oiut looking too ‘old’
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks Pete – that would be a different look – “Old Man Yeti”! 😀
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I think they turned out great…I need to keep practicing on my techniques…you’re great inspiration 🙂
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Many thanks Kevin. I can certainly say that as with so many other things – reps count, and don’t be afraid to experiment and try new techniques or methods to see what best works for you! Do you have a blog or somewhere you post your work?
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Yep if you click me you shod get nocoffeemuchgrumpy.ca which is now my showcase for my 3d printing and painting addiction LOL
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Thanks for the direct url – that works. Your pic just gives me your Gravatar profile! 🙂
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Nice job dude, they do look tricky! I also get frustrated with models where things are less defined, but they are usually worth the effort of persevering 😊
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Cheers, Alex. I’m glad they’re done now but somewhat less glad that I have to wade through the other four…
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Very nice! 🙂 I can agree with you on painting the flesh a different shade from the fur/hair – believe it not I have painted a yeti and went with a similar approach!
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Now that’s something I think we need to see posted up! 🙂
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Honestly, it is literally “a yeti”, singular and, wash my mouth out with soap and water, a 15mm figure as well! This must now confirm that I have lost the plot for those that weren’t quite sure before, given my focus on 20mm figures! I might post it, but it belongs to an as yet stalled project!
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Hahah well if you do post it up, I’ll be interested in having a peek! 🙂
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These came out great – really imposing models, too!
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Thanks Dave – that’s one thing that they definmitely are!
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Great painting mate, I hate it when one part is too similar to another and it makes them a pain to paint.
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Thank you, and yeah – it’s always nicer when the details are more defined.
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This is a great sculpt that I’ve never seen before! If only I had a dollar for every time I said that about one of your posts! 😉 These would be great stand-ins for the Yhetee in the old Ogre army (not sure if GW still makes those models anymore). They look so much more imposing than GW’s versions and the chunkiness fits in with Ogres really well too. I love the huge hammer/club thing they’re carrying. It looks lethal! You did a great job painting that part and the fur. It might be hard to get through the remaining four but they will look awesome when done.
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Thanks Mate! Yeah, I think the WHFB OK army (and the 9th Age versions) might have just been in mind when these were designed. 😉
I added a little bit of spatter to the end of one of the clubs for a little bit of differentiation on top of the slightly different wood colours.
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True eye candy Az, love the fur, and you made it all tie together well IMO.
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Thanks Mark – much appreciated. Hopefully I can get the others done before too long. Hopefully this month!
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That is a shame you did not like painting the as they do look very nice when you got them done!
But the where one bit starts anothers stops issue is a big pain when it happens!
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Thanks Mate. I guess the main thing to say is that it’s just a thing that comes up when painting some models. I *am* happy that I got ’em done in the end, though! Now for the other four…
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Hope they feel better to paint, I’m sure they will look great!
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