Pegasus Vermithrax from unboxing to completetion...

[SludgeMunkey]

Here is a link to the entire Vermithrax album in case you are just tuning in and wanted to see boring shots of boxes and sprues...

And, here is some shots from the custom base build. I really was not happy with the way the real limestone looked, even after staining, so I resorted to my usual repertoire of washes, inks and wet/dry brushing. I have the main rocks glued in place on a hunk of pine planking I have had laying around in the garage. Nothing special here, except perhaps that I used nothing but rocks from the backyard and some white glue.


I have quite a bit of work to go on this project, but head-cold and a series of hardcore tests in Organic Chemistry and Advanced Genetics slowed me down...

Anyway, without too much further mindless blather, here is some shots from the last week or so. Please note I FUBARed the primer job on Galen, so I had to strip him down and just haven't gotten around to getting him back in action.

The brass I ordered for the lance came in, but they shipped me a much different size than I ordered, so no work on that yet.

 

[Wes R]

That base if vastly superior to the one they sent you with the kit, and you don't have to worry about it not being heavy enough that it will fall if you bump it.

 

[The Mad Professor]

That is... wow... stunning...

Relevant, perhaps?

 

[chuckyAPP]

Really great job. I would go darker on the stone base, maybe some black washes. That whole cave would be covered in soot and smoke. Paints on the dragon look really nice.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

That base if vastly superior to the one they sent you with the kit, and you don't have to worry about it not being heavy enough that it will fall if you bump it.

Oh, it's heavy alright. As pictured so far that is roghly 20lbs of rock or so. I think of it as pug and cat proofing.

That is... wow... stunning...

Relevant, perhaps?

Thanks!
That picture makes me think of the old animated 80's flick, Flight of Dragons.

"...don't let him get a grip!"

Really great job. I would go darker on the stone base, maybe some black washes. That whole cave would be covered in soot and smoke. Paints on the dragon look really nice.

Agreed! Since those pictures were taken They have gotten much darker. additional rock , sand and gravel has also been added. Crazy class and work scedule (and an inbound snow storm) so it may be a few days before next photo update!

I also need some daylight here, the flash on my camera really is too bright.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Just an update: Still working on this project. Had to slow down a bit and rethink a few things/change some paint and make my fifth attempt a proper lance scratch build.

Pictures and such later this week.

 

[Robiwon]

Good to know your still plugging away on this. Have fun with the lance.

 

[johnfields]

 

[SludgeMunkey]

So after taking a few weeks off from this beast (and getting thoroughly distracted by other projects along the way), I spent the last two reworking the paint on the dragon proper to what I feel is a finished state.

I plan to make a few minor touch-ups here and there before the final matte clear coat and then follow up carefully targeted high gloss areas like inside the mouth, the eyes, etc.


Anyway, here is some shots of the dragon:

Still grinding away on the base and Galen. Have failed more times than I care to count on the lance rebuild. I plan to focus on the base for a while until a good plan forms for the lance project.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

UPDATE!!!!! Pegasus Vermithrax WIP

So I have had dragon in my blood this week and wave cranked out a bit more. After a bit more final paint adjustment, the beast is ready for clear-coat sometime next week. Then fun with powders and inks!

Also, Galen finally decided to speak up and show his face. He still needs a bit more paint and a certain hobbyist really needs to buckle down and build a proper dragonlance for him...however without further blather here is where the project is as of right now:

Been practicing with my camera work too. Hopefully by the end of this project I can stage some really wicked looking "stills".

 

[Robiwon]

Looks great so far. That side shot of Galen's face makes him look like Han Solo! I would tone down Galen's eyes a bit, they kinda pop out at you. But that's just me. Can't wait to see this done.

 

[youngwm]

I like it, great job.. Well done!

 

[SludgeMunkey]

Looks great so far. That side shot of Galen's face makes him look like Han Solo! I would tone down Galen's eyes a bit, they kinda pop out at you. But that's just me. Can't wait to see this done.

You got that right. He still has a few washes to go, and a dot of translucent gray for each eye. That will mute him down quite a bit.

I like it great job.. Really wish you would of explained some of the painting methods you did on this.. Is this kit tough to kit have not looked on ebay or anything.. Nice!

Basic painting techniques, nothing fancy. The secret is lots and lots of very thin layers of paint over time. If your first brush stoke of paint is opaque, itis too thick, add water until it is translucent.

I worked Dark tones starting with black primer through to lighter tones that are actually just the base colors used mixed with increasing degrees of titanium white on this model because it is always easier to cover up/ remove light colored mistakes. General color is always wet brushed. Detail color is always dry brushed. Layer upon layer upon layer!

As described earlier in the thread, I also used "slop and blot" ink washes with black india ink and sepia ink.

The only other real secret here is the actual paint used. No model paints for me! They are almost always formulated NOT to be mixed and this is bad if you need organic, dynamic color ranges.

As described early in the thread, I use Liquitex Basics artist paint on (non-mechanical) kits with White synthetic brushes. For inks, I use whatever water based calligraphy ink that is on sale thinned with water. With real ink a little bit goes a long way.

So, in short- good quality paint, lots of water, ink, paper towel and sponge,and many many layers of color.

If you would like detailed painting guides, I highly suggest you google Citadel Minatures painting guides for the Games Workshop Warhammer miniatures. This was where/how I learned model painting years ago. Same techniques, but better art-school geek paints and brushes.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

While a bit off the topic of the thread, did anyone catch the Vermithrax shout-out uttered by Viserys in Season one of HBO's Game of Thrones?

I'm in process of re-watching all of them getting ready for season three as I work on Vermithrax and a pepakura of a frost dragon from Skyrim. (I can work on my pepakura at work whilst watching movies on my hard drive- horrible mind numbing job, but someone has to do it...).

Forced me to get out all my volumes of "A Song of Fire and Ice" and see if Martin had done it originally. After an intensive scan, I am nearly certain this was an easter egg thrown on by the adaptation writers.

This makes me think I should dig out the sculpting tools and fabricate a trio of hatchlings some time in the future... So many project ideas, not enough hands.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

OKAY folks,

I need your input.

I am very unhappy with the various bases I have constructed for this model. I hate them so much I won't even bother posting pictures.

I am out of ideas.

Suggestions?

Only thing I am certain of is that I do not wan't to use the stock base.

:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm

 

[Robiwon]

Go to the model train section of your hobbyshop. Look for rubber molds for doing cliffs and rocks. You can use regular plaster of paris to cast these shapes. That's what I used for the base display for this A-10. They come in various sizes. I used the small ones. Not a great shot, but you get the idea.

You can also use bark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtb05D_bCvo

Or foam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSHt38eV2gQ