Today’s models are another pair of Mythos creatures from Cthulhu: Death May Die. This time, they’re something called Flying Polyps because… well, why not, I guess? I really don’t know anything about these, but they’re in the boardgame as enemies of the players and the models looked fairly straightforward to paint, so they also got tapped for the Monster Challenge Months and like the Fire Vampires we’ve just had, they didn’t get finished in time. Unlike various other models, these ones do belong to a game that I’m wanting to play and so between seeming like quick and easy wins and that – they got moved up in the queue.
Painting them was a fun exercise in blending layers of Contrast paints for the most part. I used a mixture of Citadel and Green Stuff World’s ranges for this, and at times literally a mixture of their paints! There’s a little traditional highlighting in there as well – both drybrushing and layering but I wouldn’t blame anyone for not having any idea that it’s in there. The eyes were painted using the traditional “gemstone” techniques. The one from before gemstone paints.
These are some of the mid-tier enemies in the game. Above things like Human Cultists and Deep Ones and Ghouls but below, say, the Star Spawn of Cthulhu or any of the Great Old Ones. These particular models are some of the smaller creatures in this “tier”, but I don’t think it will mean they’re any less dangerous to our Investigators…
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Definitely on the gruesome side! Very nice paint job! 🙂 I wouldn’t really have thought of them as flying creatures though!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks John. The original prototype models as shown actually were mounted on flying bases with the typical clear acrylic pole.. kinda floating insectoid balloon things…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, OK! I like them better based on the ground as you’ve done! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
excellent work mate, the colour variations and tones work really well together, and great use of the old school way of doing gems for the eyes, way better than the gemstone paints.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Cheers Dave. This really is the way Contrasts work best for me – in conjunction with traditional painting techniques. I do like the Gemstone paints as well, especially for time saving with smaller gems or eyes but for something this size…. 😅
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are really doing a magnificent work on this project. The colour blending on all the creatures is awesome, and today isn’t an exception. I for sure don’t know how to use Contrast paints that way! Additionaloy, those eyes give me the shivers, brrrrr!
Fantastic job!!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you! I’m hoping to get a group progress shot done in the next couple of weeks to help keep up my motivation for the project, so that hopefully should be fun. As for using Contrasts like this, it’s actually surprisingly easy. The key is Contrast Medium and lots of thinning the really heavy and opaque ones.
I might have to get Marouda to take some pick for a tutorial since you do have to work reasonably fast for some of it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
At first I thought the monsters were walking on weird appendages. That might be even creepier than flying. I think these monsters were also in Cthulhu Wars as some flying spherical shaped lower level monsters. The blends are really nice, especially the purples transitioning into the flesh tone. I was going to ask why you went with the pre-gemstone paint approach, but I’m guessing the end product says it all because those eyes are really amazing. I don’t know that I’ve ever tried the pre-gemstone paint approach, but I think I’ll have to give it a shot. Great work mate! 😃
LikeLiked by 4 people
I just googled the Cthulhu Wars versions and yeah, you’re right. Some of them look a bit goofy unfortunately – but that’s always a risk when a model has eyes so large on it. It’s a real line between creepy and goofy when you paint stuff liek this with an iris and pupil, and seeing those I’m glas that the DMD artists went for the gemstone eyes which I simply emulated! 😮
I’d certainly encourage you to give the old-school method a try, it’s not all that difficult to pull off and can look great. I learned after reading a WD article many years ago when ‘eavy Metal had techniques and tutorials in it using images and text. Wish I knew which WD it was in…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers! I think I have a copy of that gem technique saved somewhere. Might also be in my Foundry Miniature painting book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I feel like it would have been featured in a few different places and even multiple WD mags over the years…
LikeLike
These came out really well and are a suitably disgusting addition to the collection to be sure. With Lovecraftian stuff, there is something effective about mixing a little bit of flesh tones with any kind of monster that makes them look off-putting. I really like the gemstone eyes as well. You don’t see quite as many gemstones in Warhammer these days which is a shame because they look awesome when done properly like these are.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Nasty and gross monstrosities. Cool!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you – a pretty accurate description of them I think!
LikeLike
I really like these! You’ve achieved some great transitions on the skin, and those gem eyes are lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Maybe I should have emphasised the pustules a little more strongly, but overall I’m hapyp with them. 🙂
LikeLike
Maddeningly good mate, I can feel my sanity crumbling just looking at them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Wudu – looking forward to your versions! 🙂
LikeLike
I really like these mate, serious floating brain-bug vibes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Alex – a fair few of these would fit into something like Stargrave, I reckon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Creepily beautiful, and I can’t help but remember an upcoming colonoscopy appointment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mark – hopefully even if they make you remember they don’t end up being familiar! 😮
LikeLike
OOOOOO! Very nice!
LikeLike