Bailey03's WIP

[BloodASmedium]

Very no extremely well painted female skin...unbeatable idea for the base and the achievement you have strived for is equally inspiring ...as a whole it's a level up piece ,the fact that the female skin is as belivBle as the male counterparts and creatures you do speaks volumes that you've either been practicing this type of skin or your abilities to pull it off as if you've been doing females for years..either way this is one of your newest /best and one of my favorites of yours. Outstanding job again.ill leave now ,ill get my coat on the way out...there's nothing left here to say...your gifted ,hard working,supportive and that goes without say in everything.

 

[Bailey03]

Thanks, guys!

So I've started thinking about a future project and would like to hear your thoughts and suggestions on it. A little while back I saw an upcoming figure from Black Sun Miniatures of a centaur. It was being ridden by an elf which I didn't care for, but the centaur sculpt was awesome. They just put up the pre-order and I noticed they're selling the centaur by itself, so I definitely want to get that. The pose has him in mid attack, so I think this would work best in a multi-figure scene. I started looking around at other figures in 70 or 75mm scale whose look and pose might work well in this scene. I came up with a few options, the best of which might be the Barbarian from Scale75. I think the pose of the barbarian has the same sort of action as the centaur and looks like they could be in combat. In addition, I think the pairing works when viewed from multiple angles. I created some quick mock ups in photoshop to show how I think they'll look together
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I am a bit concerned that the figures are a bit too similar (lots of bare skin to paint). Though I could differentiate them with different skin tones, maybe add tattoos on the barbarian, war paint on the centaur, etc. I'm also wondering if I should add a third figure to the scene. Maybe an archer placed a bit further away. There are a couple options (female elven archer from NutsPlanet and female human archer as part of Nocturna's Quest kickstarter). There's also a ranger style figure with a dog from Scale75 that could be placed a bit away, about the release the dog and enter the fray.

So what do you all think? Do the figures work well together? Suggestions on other options or ideas for a third figure or something else to add to the scene? No plans to start on this too soon, but something I'd like to begin later this year if I can manage it.

 

[SkelettetS]

oh i approve. would be a very dynamic scene.

also; big 'like' to everything in this thread. you rock mate

 

[Bailey03]

Thanks, Skel!

 

[MAXXxxx]

I agree, they look like they'll make a great scene.

I think the 3rd figure is not needed. Either it will make the base too large or too cluttered.
Maybe if it wasn't a 3rd fighter, but a wounded/woman/child that one of them is protecting. Because of the pose the most like would be a human on the barbarian side, but... why not turn it around and the centaur could be defending this time.

As for skin color it's enough if they have different tones, they don't have to be radically different colors.

 

[fluisterwoud]

I think the scene works well with the barbarian, but since you asked for other ideas here is another option: Centaurs are from Greek mythology so how about this Hoplite from Pegaso? Scale 75 also has a Leonidas model that could work.

 

[Maenas]

Wonderful scene and miniatures.
I like Maxxx's idea about one of them defending a third miniature since it would add "background" to the fight.
On the other hand fluisterwoud's idea is also interesting, but it changes the scene completely to a mythological kind, and that's nice too!

 

[Foxtail]

Love the idea and the composition so far. I have to say, when I read your post I though that the non-centaur should need a shield. Because at the minute that barbarian is getting a spear through the chest.

Fluisterwoud's Hoplite might stand a more fighting chance, and the poses would make it look like they are circling round each other.

Whatever happens, it's going to look awesome when done

 

[Zab]

I did a vignette once... *twitch* *twitch* *twitch* It was fun :bulgy-eyes:

 

[BloodASmedium]

I'm gonna say this once SO REBER THIS WHEN IT HAPPENS. Save this scene for next years crystal brush . Not nova not Bay Area (like the spider hobbit scene) cause IDE bet my eyesight that when this is painted up by you with that magnificent honor guard base work you do, this WILL be an EASY contender for the top 3 check winners possibly first . Big model in a fight scene are your greatest strength as with the spider hobbit scene. No doubt in my mind. All you have to do it get it there in one piece. If and when you get it there all eyes will be in this one of a kind super über masterpiece that POWELL painting delivers each and everytime.guranteed.

 

[BloodASmedium]

By the way

I've been WAITING For you to do this!!!

foxtail - not necessarily - think bout this because they are frozen scenes it could be that as the spears is being raised to its final height for the strike the barbarian might have already told his brain start the swing at that exact same time . Basically if one movement end anither is just begining. After all duels are almost always win/ lost by a slight timing difference.aha think bout it, that's what is so great about open interpretation if still / action scenes like this.

 

[Bailey03]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

MAXXxxx, I like that idea. Having just the two figures makes it a duel. Interesting by themselves, but adding a third figure that's a non-fighter adds some stakes to the scene. Has the centaur captured her or is he protecting her? What happens to the other figure when one of the other two wins? I started looking around for some possible figures. I recalled El Viejo Dragon had a lot of female figures in 75mm. They're not the greatest sculpts, but could work. A few seemed okay, though I'd want to convert them to some extent. I also checked out Aradia Miniatures. They have a Diana figure (centaur-like, but woman merged with a deer). That could be neat, like the centaur is defending his mate. But, the pose wouldn't quite fit with the rest of the scene and would definitely make it a larger scene. Then I saw this other figure from Aradia. She's 75mm, so the right scale and I think the pose works too.
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I'd probably ditch the wings (easy to fill in the holes where they fit). It would be interesting to make her a fantasy creature too, but I'd go for something other than fairy... maybe a dryad, naiad, or nymph. That plays into the idea of whether the centaur is defending her or trying to abduct her. As you said, making her human would imply she's on the barbarian's side. If she's a mythological creature, then perhaps it is the barbarian who is trying to take her and the centaur is on the defense.

Fluister, actually I had considered going that route as well. There are some nice Greek figures out there, but none had quite the right pose. Now that you mention it, that Leonidas figure could certainly work. I just wish that, aside from the helmet and cape, he wasn't naked. I suppose I could sculpt armor over his body (though my sculpting skills are shakey at best). If I felt confident enough, I could swap out the head, sculpt on some clothing/armor, and use Leonidas as the base for a fantasy warrior as well. I will have to give that some serious thought.

BAM, you know exactly what I was thinking. This would be the kind of piece I'd love to bring to next year's Crystal Brush. It will definitely take a lot of time, but that's why I'm starting to plan it out now.

 

[Bailey03]

Oh, another options for a female figure is the Fallen Angel I just finished. The kit comes in a 75mm version too. Like the fairy, I'd ditch the wings and just fill in the holes. But could then add some chains and have her as a captive (either behind the centaur or behind the barbarian depending on who I want to be the villain).

 

[Zab]

Maybe don't ditch the wings but alter them to be broken or damaged, like hanging down limp or frayed?

 

[MAXXxxx]

Maybe don't ditch the wings but alter them to be broken or damaged, like hanging down limp or frayed?

yep, that Aradia figure with broken wing and a greenish skin to make it more dryad/nymph could work really well. (and make the 'monster' on the good side for once)
But you'd probably have to change the barbarian's pose a bit to make it more aggressive (arms more to the front, sword(and hands) tilted towards the centaur. Right now it really looks like he is the one defending.

to make the skins more interesting:
- Nymph: nothing, smooth skin, works well with female models
- Barbarian: warpaint, some blood/gore
- Centaur: tribal scarring on upper body (article on MV is good for trying this)

 

[SaintToad]

I think those figures will look great as a group, with or without an additional figure. I agree that if another figure is added, it should not be another combatant, as the tension between these two is so intense that we're already debating who's going to poke whom with a pointy stick!
I kind of like the idea that the human has been ambushed, as he seems quite unprepared for actual battle (I can't even find a scabbard). You could create a camp scene (possibly a nighttime scene with dramatic OSL or something set at dawn with the remains of last night's fire). It just looks to me that the barbarian (assuming you do use this figure, rather than a hoplite or something, which would also be awesome) has sort of sprung straight into the action. Luckily, hes a badass.

 

[Bailey03]

Good ideas, guys.

Well, if I wanted the barbarian to be the bad guy I could place the female behind him, maybe add some chains or something to signify she's a captive. Making her a fantasy creature as well (either with non-human skin tones, keeping the wings, or some small conversion like horns/antlers) would further help imply the centaur is trying to rescue her. My one problem with making the barbarian the bad guy is that the centaur is larger and more intimidating... that makes the barbarian the underdog and takes away some of the drama. If I really want to go that route, would be nice to add another barbarian even if they are a step or two away and not yet in the fight. That's going to make it an even bigger scene though...

Whatever I do, I like all these ideas and options. Once I get the actual figures I can start placing them together and see might and might not work. In the meantime, it's fun to keep considering the possibilities!

 

[Webmonkey]

I disagree,.. placing the girl behind the barbarian doesn't make him the bad guy. It makes him the hero for stepping between the centaur and the girl to protect her. Especially if you lose the wings,.. gives an automatic impression that they are a mated pair.

 

[Sicks]

I had similar ideas myself when I first saw this centaur model, I think you've got 2 great figures already for the scene, but just to throw some ideas out there, the blacksun barbarian carrying a woman could also be good, like the centaur is trying to save the woman from the barbarian, he's less dynamically posed but he does look like he's prepared to fight (maybe that's just in the paint job though). Maybe instead of a 75mm fairy you could get a 28mm one which when placed with the bigger models would give the impression that she's small, to my mind it fits with a "nature vs humanity" theme because centaurs are usually depicted as forest-folk

Edit: I don't have any smaller scale suggestions, hasslefree springs to mind but I think their only fairy is 40mm

 

[Bailey03]

Webmonkey, that's a valid point. Depends on the other cues. So if I wanted her to be his captive, I could add some chains on her. But, if I chose similar colors schemes then it would imply he was protecting her.

Sicks, that's a good suggestion. If I want to have more fantasy figures, I could look for some small scale pieces to use as fairies. As for the Aradia miniature, I plan to use her as something other than a fairy, so the scale would be fine.

Well, perhaps a bit anticlimactic after the last few posts, but here's a look at the Dragoon I'm trying to finish up. I'd done the bulk of his uniform before, but over the last few days I've been working on his helmet. I still need to do the black horse hair. I'm treating it the same way I did the hair on the fallen angel. Right now the shine is just sketched on. I still need to blend that in.
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