Sunday 20 September 2015

For the First Time in Forever...

Introduction

Well, it seems like forever since I painted any models!  Actually, I think it's only about 2 months, but having recently got my workbench sorted out (the Big Tidy, I thought it would be nice to build something once more.

This wish to start making things again coincided with my birthday earlier in the month.  On that occasion, I was delighted to receive some figures from my family.  I'd previously pointed my wife very firmly in the direction of North Star Figures (definitely one of my favourite distributors) and amongst other things I received a pack of "Young Fire Elementalists" from their own Fantasy Worlds range.

The "Young Fire Elementalists" turn out to be 2 young women; one is wearing a long dress and windswept cloak while the other has what looks to me to be a Norwegian-themed dress and hooded cloak.  I've decided to name them "Elsa" and "Anna"; these names just seem to fit.

Elsa

Elsa is in an ankle-length, clinging dress and has a lightweight cloak around her shoulders.  At least, I assume that it's lightweight from the way it is billowing in the breeze.  She has long hair, worn in a single braid that comes forward over her shoulder, and is striding forwards purposefully with arms held back and head slightly lowered in concentration.  Perhaps she's about to cast a spell on someone?

I decided that a pale blue would suit the gauzy cloak very well and that her dress should be turquoise.  Both pieces of clothing needed to look satiny and shiny, so I added a fair amount of silver paint into these colours.  Elsa's hair is an off-white, making her look quite the ice maiden.  No fire wizards for me!

Anna

In contrast, Anna is wearing a long skirt, a bodice and a winter cloak with a fur-lined hood.  The model originally had one hand raised, holding a pillar of fire.  I decided that I'd prefer the model to be less obviously a sorceress, so I replaced the cast-on hand with an open plastic one (from a female zombie kit, if I remember correctly).  It now looks as if she's about to burst into song, or is perhaps reaching for a small songbird or other woodland creature.

For Anna's clothing, I went for dark, rich colours.  Her skirt is blue, the bodice is black with a gold trim and the cloak is burgundy red and has a black decoration along the edge.  She's got red hair, though possibly this is a touch darker than I had intended.

Conclusion

I've no idea when, how or if I might use these figures.  Sometimes I paint things just because they're fun to do - and I certainly enjoyed building these two models.  Even my daughter has expressed more interest in them than she usually does about my models...

24 comments:

  1. Very nice painting C6, they look wonderful if not a little familiar ;-) You've really got these sisters down very well indeed and I think you're spot on with the couples' colour schemes. Lovely blue on Elsa and a far warmer richer colour choice for Anna. Marvellous stuff.

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    1. Are they sisters, then? Yes, I suppose that they could be :-) . Thanks, Blax!

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  2. Nice work on these; they could work for many scenarios - you can never have enough lovely ladies.

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    1. Thanks, Dean. I've based them for indoors, so maybe they'll find use in a castle or dungeon-crawl game?

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  3. I am not at all surprised that your daughter loves them. What girl wouldn't? I think they are absolutely wonderful.

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    1. Well, I dare say that there are a few girls who don't like this sort of thing :-) . But I do! Thanks, Bryan.

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  4. Brilliant! Unfortunately I now have a certain tune running around my head!

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    1. All part of the service. But - just *one* tune running around your head, Michael :-) ?

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  5. Very nice! Are the bases done using Basius? I have had a go with mine, but the figure is only primed and has to wait until I get the Vikings done.

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    1. Yes, well spotted, Lee. They are indeed my first attempts at using Basius pads for the bases. I'll be writing a lot more on that subject very soon, I think.

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  6. Fabtastic! Not seen these will have to get the girls some!

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    1. Thanks, Simon - if your girls are anything like mine then I'm sure they'll love these (at least, the theory part; perhaps not the practical painting & building bit!).

      I believe that these miniatures are very recent releases, so it's maybe not too surprising if you've not heard of them before.

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  7. Lovely job C6! Beautiful colour scheme and those bases are great.

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    1. Thanks, Bob. I did enjoy painting this pair of models and I'm quite chuffed at the way they've turned out.

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  8. Great to see you paint again... Lovely work.

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    1. Thanks, HW! I've got so many things part-painted that if I can maintain this enthusiasm then I should be able to finish a lot of models in the near future. Probably :-) .

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  9. WE should all paint things we like more often.

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    1. Well, if we're not having fun then why are we doing it? Thanks, Clint :-) .

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  10. What can I say ... both minis are fantastic. You got both colour schemes spot on. AND I think Anna's pose is such that you can actually do another version i.e. one in which she has been turned to ice. You definitely do more of such work. Love it.

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    1. Thanks - that means a lot to me!

      You're right: I hadn't thought about it before, but the model for Anna could indeed be painted up as an ice statue.

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  11. I foresee these gret fiugres having many uses, considering how many different skirmish-style genres they could fit into and combined with you agile (overactive?) imagination for scenarios.

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    1. Thanks, Joe. Hmm, now I'm going to have to do some thinking about scenarios :-) ...

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  12. Lovely... How about use them for Frostgrave? Wizard and Apprentice?

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    1. Well, I suppose that is how they are advertised on the North Star site :-) . But then I'd need to get into Frostgrave and while I'm not against the idea in principle, I think that I'm already overloaded with projects :-( .

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