No worries!
My apologies to those of you that now have the somewhat annoying tune from Disney's The Lion King rattling around your head*. For some reason the phrase just popped into my brain whilst painting a couple of Warthogs from 'North Star Military Figures'. Using the Congo rules, the exploration of the Dangerous Terrain runs the distinct possibility that your intrepid explorers might come across some local fauna and so I went in search of various likely candidates to represent them, if such an occurrence were to happen.
*For those not yet aware of said ear worm, I have placed a link for your enjoyment at the bottom of the page.
Along with the Warthogs, I needed a Leopard and fortunately North Star came to my rescue again, with a particularly nice sculpt from their Africa range. Looking at the photographs, I don't seem to have managed to get just the right colour for the skin, it appears a little grey. Fortunately it does look a little brighter in the flesh and so I am more than happy to live with it for the time being.
Finally a great snake was required. I had considered heading to Poundland again in the hope that they might have some cheap plastic toys that I could use, but I was reminded of the Great Snake that I had painted from 'Otherworld Miniatures'. My first attempt had been painted to represent a South American Anaconda and so wasn't really appropriate for the jungles of the Congo.
I couldn't bring myself to repaint the original version and so in the end I decided to treat myself to a new model, this time painted to represent the mighty Royal Python, a nonvenomous, constrictor of sub Saharan Africa.
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| It's behind you! |
Hakuna Matata!
Outstanding work Sir Awdry, especially the snake which would have been a simple dry-brushed brown if I had been attempting such a model. Likewise the big cat is stunningly well-done too. Marvellous posting :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon and believe me, I did consider dry brushing the beastie myself!
DeleteExellent work matey !!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michael.
DeleteGreat work Sir M. Love the snake! I don't need to watch the video. Infact i probably could recite the whole film let alone the song. I must have seen the film well over 400 times!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks kids!
You poor, poor man!
DeleteGreat looking fauna Michael, the markings are truly awesome !
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dave.
DeleteNice snake skin, great work good basework
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Alex.
DeleteLove the snake.
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul.
DeleteOhhh! Excellent work sir!
ReplyDeleteThat is very kind, thank you.
DeleteNice, reminds me I need to get a Leopard.
ReplyDeleteI'm nit sure that you can ever have enough Leopards?
DeleteAbsolutely stunning brushwork Michael! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Greg.
DeleteOutstanding work. The snake is looking great!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hightower.
DeleteEverything is superb Michael, but the snake is truly outstanding! tip top brushwork all round sir!
ReplyDeleteCheers Roger.
Thank you Roger.
DeleteGreat work Michael but the snake takes the first prize for me :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you like him Frank.
DeleteBeautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil.
DeleteFantastic work once again Michael! Nice additions to your collection!
ReplyDeleteThank you Terry, it is becoming quite menagerie.
DeleteI am constantly in awe of your painting of 'real life' subjects, and that leopard is another exceptional example! My INability to be satisfied matching to reference imagery is largely why I stick to fantasy projects I suspect...
ReplyDeleteThank you, I can certainly understand that feeling though and often find subjects like these take a lot longer than more imagined ones.
DeleteEven more wonderful stuff! The leopard is awesome, but that snake is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Nick.
DeleteFantastic work Michael loving the snake.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Stu
Thank you Stuart, given his price tag I was determined to give him my best shot.
DeleteVery nice indeed, the snake is exceptional and so is your previous one at an eye watering price as well.
ReplyDeleteI personally am quite taken by the warthogs, can you tell me how you painted the bodies, it looks like a single grey followed by a greeny grey possibly lightly wet brushed over.
I have been trying to paint smooth coated animals recently with some very mixed results and any improvement would be good.
Thank you John, you are not wrong about the price tag! With regards to painting I had base coated the warthogs then applied some colour with the airbrush - they just happened to around when I was doing something else. I did try to 'paint' the skin, but just couldn't make it work and was getting more and more frustrated. In the end they were given a heavy wash of string tone and dry brushed. I picked out details like the tusks and fur around the skin and that was that.
DeleteThanks for the insight. When i dry brush it tends to look a bit chalky and fuzzy, like its a bit out of focus, and at high magnification i can sometimes see individual bristle strokes. That's why i thought you might have used a light wet brush.
DeleteCheers
Your painting is very nice, sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Jay.
DeleteAll of them painted quite good! Snake is most definitely my favorite of the bunch!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Nimrod, he is my favourite too.
DeleteLovely work, Michael. As you're posts have been coming thick and fast, I've not had the opportunity to comment on every one, but it's good to se you've regained your painting mojo after your break.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jez and not a problem. It also helps being on Easter holiday, at least for a few more days at least.
DeleteOoh, I want one of those Boa Constrictors!
ReplyDeleteLovely beasties Michael :)
ReplyDeleteWonderfully painted jungle creatures, Michael. The snake particularly impressive!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding pieces once more, Michael!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
And... Ear worm video worked... ;-)
Great stuff, although I am disturbed by the lack of meerkats in a post with this title. They should be simples!
ReplyDelete:)
Damn you ! I had to endure the Lion King for the entirety of the Xmas holidays in both film, series and floor-play and had ll but put it out my mind. (I had to be Pumba too, just to add further mind numbing insult). Still though your version of Pumba and twin did bring back some happy(ish) memories so thanks for that and it does remind me that I still need to add to my African menagerie.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, as always.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work on the miniatures Michael. I especially love the subtle ochre hues on the warthog's grey hide.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe, your paintjob on these animals looks very natural and realistic. You got these skin- and furtones exactly right. Well done!
ReplyDelete