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Thursday, 20 July 2017

Pygmies

In a bid to even up the sides, I have been beavering away on my Forest Tribes column.  Deep in the jungle our fearless adventurer has discovered an old and mysterious race of Pygmies led by their eccentric and demonstrative King.  
These are, of course, from the 'Wargames Foundry' Darkest Africa range and comprise of the Pygmy Chief Mbuti and his Pygmy Bodyguard.  I have selected my favourite six sculpts for our encounter along with the freebie spearman that was being given away at 'Salute'.*
*He is the chap with the fixed spear and a rather splendid pair of earrings. 
Although not immediately apparent, I have based them on slightly smaller 20mm metal washers to help convey their diminutive scale.  What they lack in stature these fearsome warriors will make up for in fortitude, particularly with the addition of the King whose addition to the group sees their Bravery Stat rise from a D8 to a D10.

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74 comments:

  1. riot ville20 July 2017 at 16:57

    Fabulous!

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  2. MartinC20 July 2017 at 17:31

    Lovely stuff

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  3. Phil20 July 2017 at 17:36

    Most beautiful Pygmies, great painting and very expressive faces...

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry24 July 2017 at 09:20

      Thank you Phil, the sculpts were a joy to paint.

      Delete
  4. Clint20 July 2017 at 17:58

    Short and furious!
    (The Hellarewee Tribe... so called as they tend to live in tall grasslands and keep introducing them selfes. "Wer the Hellarewee!" Old joke I know so please forgive me! )

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  5. Simon20 July 2017 at 18:14

    Pygmies are deadly in Congo, you can split the units into two. Both can move though using one action.

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    1. Michael Awdry24 July 2017 at 09:27

      I am starting to appreciate that Simon, I like the Harassment rule to where they can hit and run.

      Delete
  6. A J20 July 2017 at 18:22

    Jolly nice, those. Someone once suggested using 15mm Zulus for pygmies in 28mm gaming, but I think the idea lacks stature.

    (It's warm, I won't need a coat...)

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  7. Blaxkleric20 July 2017 at 18:33

    Gorgeous painting on some wonderfully characteristic minis, Michael. They look awesome :-)

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    1. Michael Awdry24 July 2017 at 09:28

      Thank you so much Simon, I was really pleased with these.

      Delete
  8. Dick Garrison20 July 2017 at 19:26

    I thought they were the "Oomegoolie tribe" as the spikey grass sometimes reaches above thigh height! (I too am very sorry). Beautiful painting, and I adore that lady adventurer!

    Rumour has it she became pregnant by one of the Pygmies, though I heard someone had put him up to it!!

    (I'm here all week, tip your waitresses!!)

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Michael Awdry24 July 2017 at 09:28

      Thank you Roger, who knew naming the tribe would be so much fun? :)

      Delete
  9. Terry Silverthorn20 July 2017 at 19:27

    Excellent work as always Mihcael!

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  10. Anonymous20 July 2017 at 20:11

    That's some lovely brushwork. And I love the colours used. Now which are taller; Pygmies or Bakemono?

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    1. Michael Awdry25 July 2017 at 18:43

      Now I had to take a tape measure to this question, from foot to eyes they are exactly the same, but of course the Bakemono are on bigger bases so they certainly appear taller.

      Delete
  11. Dai20 July 2017 at 20:35

    These have so much character, they are really lovely.

    Again, I'm very impressed with your dark skin tones sir.

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  12. Matt Crump20 July 2017 at 20:45

    That's not fair I have some pygmies to paint as well and I bet they won't look nearly as good 😩

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    1. Michael Awdry25 July 2017 at 18:49

      Nonsense, get the paint on them, they will look great.

      Delete
  13. Mallius Vane20 July 2017 at 21:04

    Lovely! I've been meaning to add some Pygmies to my Congo collection...I just keep getting distracted!!

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    1. Michael Awdry25 July 2017 at 18:54

      Thank you and you should as they have some great special rules.

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  14. pulpcitizen20 July 2017 at 21:17

    Lovely work as ever Michael, very impressive - splendid stuff! :)

    Leon.

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  15. Moiterei_198420 July 2017 at 21:32

    Simply superb Michael! Really love your work on the skin tones. Would you mind telling me your recipe?

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    1. Michael Awdry25 July 2017 at 19:02

      Thank you so much Nick, as for the recipe as for recipeI have tried a few over the years. More recently I am using the following. I airbrushed the miniatures, there were quite a few at the time, using a base of Vallejo Model Air Burt Umber. I then put on the first highlight with Reaper Master Series Dark Skin, followed by a final highlight of Reaper Master Series Dark Skin highlights.

      Delete
  16. Sander20 July 2017 at 21:37

    Great miniatures! You've done an excellent job painting them.

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  17. Da Gobbo20 July 2017 at 21:53

    a triumph! brilliant minis

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  18. Peter Douglas20 July 2017 at 21:54

    Wonderful vertically challenged warriors Michael. Excellent work on the skin tones. Did the females in the house give you any words over the female Pygmy?

    I do like the lady with the pink blouse and revolver. Very elegant fashion sense plus I feel that in this case the female is definitely deadlier than the male.
    Cheers
    Peter

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    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:27

      Thank you Peter, I seemed to have managed to remain unscathed over the Pygmy Queen, at least for the time being. ;)

      Delete
  19. caveadsum147120 July 2017 at 22:22

    Lovely looking pygmies and a terribly dashing explorer!
    Best Iain

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  20. Simon Quinton 20 July 2017 at 22:31

    Lovely work Michael. Very nice skin tones.

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  21. Nimrod20 July 2017 at 22:36

    Splendid!
    I really like these pygmies skin colors and adventuress is just plain lovely too. :)

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:28

      Thank you Nimrod, they were great fun to work on too.

      Delete
  22. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)20 July 2017 at 23:02

    Excellent brushwork Micheal!

    Christopher

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  23. Jay20 July 2017 at 23:56

    Hot stuff! You are on fire, sir.

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  24. Michal DwarfCrypt21 July 2017 at 04:43

    Lovly work! Skin tone rocks!

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  25. DeanM21 July 2017 at 06:21

    More great looking Natives and fabulous lady explorer too!

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  26. Cyrus21 July 2017 at 08:23

    Splendid pygmies and explorer!

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  27. Conrad Kinch21 July 2017 at 08:26

    Lovely stuff. The faces particularly.

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    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:33

      Thank you, more down to the sculptor than mean though.

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  28. Dannoc21 July 2017 at 08:27

    Wonderful painting. Great detail on the figures.

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  29. Samuli21 July 2017 at 11:28

    Great work Michael! The skin tone looks very good. Somehow getting a dark skin tone to look nice and natural seems really difficult, but you seem to have got the recipe spot on!

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:34

      Thank you so much, I seem to have stumbled across a successful recipe at last.

      Delete
  30. Rodger21 July 2017 at 11:32

    They are very nice Michael!

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  31. Wouter21 July 2017 at 16:36

    These are simply amazing, your skincolours are very convincing.

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  32. Millsy21 July 2017 at 22:55

    Very cool mate! Love the chief's spear. Compensating for something perhaps?

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    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:43

      Thank you Millsy, he does seem very proud of his big sticker doesn't he. :)

      Delete
  33. Ray Rousell22 July 2017 at 08:17

    Love the way you've painted the fleshtone. How's you get that effect?

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:44

      Thank you Ray the recipe is as follows. I airbrushed the miniatures, there were quite a few at the time, using a base of Vallejo Model Air Burt Umber. I then put on the first highlight with Reaper Master Series Dark Skin, followed by a final highlight of Reaper Master Series Dark Skin highlights.

      Delete
  34. MarkG22 July 2017 at 16:22

    Lovely work, they look superb.

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  35. Major Thomas Foolery23 July 2017 at 01:28

    They look great!

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  36. Zabadak23 July 2017 at 20:15

    And very nice chaps (and chappess) they are too.
    I thoroughly approve of th e20mm bases too - I've never seen any advantage using anything large, even for so-called 28mm figures.

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    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:46

      Thank you Joe, I was pleased with the outcome of the decision to use slightly smaller brushes, they just seem to sit more comfortably on them.

      Delete
  37. Herbert West23 July 2017 at 21:06

    Fabulous skin tone; not something I've ever been able to do. I am in awe.

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    1. Michael Awdry26 July 2017 at 14:46

      That is incredible kind of you, thank you.

      Delete
  38. FourEyedMonster24 July 2017 at 17:36

    Yet another set of minis with great poses brought to life with a great paint job. Love the dark skin tones too, very well painted!

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  39. Stefan (aka. Monty)3 August 2017 at 15:17

    Very nice work, Sir.

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  40. Hils18 August 2017 at 09:32

    I do so like your Darkest Africa collection. Stevie still pines when ever he sees anyone else`s Victorian-esque minis as I cruelly made him carefully pack all ours away in preparation for the house sale next year.

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