Another model from big shipper box of random Shadows of Brimstone stuff today. It’s the Dark Stone Hydra!

Another in the series of simple Brimstone models that I’ve worked on, this one feels very “rattlesnake” in its sculpt.

The Dark Stone Hydra really is a bad model, and a prime example of why the initial run of Shadow of Brimstone models copped so much shit when they were first received by backers.

This model got started quite a few months ago, but was so uninspiring that it just sat in a tub with half a base-coat and a wash on the lower scales, literally for months until I saw it in there the other day and thought I should try to knock it out for Monster March. I mean, it could just as easily be a Neglected Model Month model, but MM is what prompted me to get it out and finish it, so credit goes to Swordmaster of Hoeth there. – This is also why, despite running my own painting challenges each month, I also try to join in a few of other people’s ones. Because it works to spike motivation. Turns out that it also fits in with the Gender-Ambiguous challenge that I am running here as well, so double-win.

Because of the whole rattlesnake thing, I decided to paint the model in a similar manner, though having to work around the wonky sculpt added some difficulty. I mean, the easy thing would have been to go with “man paints snake green” and it would have looked fine, but I always think models that look more natural in their colouration (if not anatomy) tend to look a bit better. So I looked up some rattlesnake images on google image search and tried to make them fit the sculpt. With some difficulty because of the XXL-sized scales, initially, until later I just decided to ignore them. I didn’t even think to look up the box art (for what look like airbrushed lines on the body) until I was wondering about the crystals/stones embedded in it’s hide (and for it’s “rattle”.) Purple, huh?

I often forget scale shots, especially for critters that look like they could be various sizes, so here it is, next to a Space Marine.

Another model from my big shipper box of Shadows of Brimstone sprues today. It’s the Swamp Raptor of Jargono!

Like pretty much all of the Brimstone Models I’ve worked with to this point, it’s a pretty simple model, all in all – though not a bad one.

The Swamp Raptor box doesn’t come with an included Barbarian Bikini Babe. At least to my knowledge. I’m pretty sure she’s not even a playable character, NPC or even enemy type in the game, so I dunno what Flying Frog were thinking there?

Given that the model is supposed to be a Swamp Raptor, I also ignored the colourful rendition on the box art and went instead for a darker green look. Trying to straddle that line between overly-realistic dullness and bright enough to be interesting tabletop miniature. I also swapped out the pitifully small, round Flying Frog base for a larger oval that fits the model much more nicelty, while allowing some space for rocks and some foliage.

To this end, I incorporated some striping, though the washes, highlighting and shading makes the striping blend in much more than originally envisioned.

The tonal variation on the teeth is there, they just didn’t come out in the photograph. You can kinda see it in the claws at least, though again, nicer in real life. I really need to get better at photography, though it’s a little trickier with larger models like this – and of course, what looks fine onscreen can look less fine on the PC, later.

I added some yellow to the dorsal crest and the tail. Again, trying to straddle that like between ambush predator and way too colourful. A yellow glaze and some yellow into the green highlights brightened the crest up a little without going fully neon.

Scale shot! Dwarf Slayers attack the Raptor, seeking a Mighty Doom!