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From the workbench of Zebraoutrider
Recommendations: 754
About the Project
This blog details my attempts to reduce my own ‘pile of shame’ which is totalling 100s of miniatures that need constructing, basing and painting. The blog will focus on 25mm and 28mm fantasy minis from Reaper, Dark Sword, Diehard, Dunkeldorf, Midlam, Grenadier and ‘Oldhammer’ Citadel Miniatures. I won’t be necessarily logging the preparation of the miniatures, as you can read about WIP on other projects that I have completed, so this blog will focus on the end product of my painting efforts. I don’t use an airbrush, preferring to use blending, dry brushing and washes to get these guys to the table top as playable characters rather than display or competition pieces. My painting style is rather grim-dark and gothic, normally utilising black under coats and with some influence of Blanchitsu to create a ‘dirty’ impression. I paint for pleasure and not for profit. I will be seeking inspiration as I go along from what I see, read and from those I interact with in this great hobby. Hope you enjoy my adventures…
Related Game: Dungeons & Dragons
Related Genre: Fantasy
This Project is Active
St. Georgina and the Nightmare Dragon
‘St. Georgina and the Nightmare Dragon’ - the paladin knew that a bladed weapon would not harm this manifestation of the dark. So clasping her trusted morning star she leapt forward to send the beast back into the light… Models chosen: Dark Sword Miniatures Female Paladin with Morning Star SKU: DSM7404 sculpted by Jeff Grace mounted on a 30mm lipped base and Citadel Miniatures Nightmare Dragon SKU: DS8 (1987) sculpted by Nick Bibby. Dragon is a non-slotta base and so is remounted on a scratch-built base incorporate a Fenris Resin treasure pile and green stuff and then positioned on a 60 mm round base. Both bases flocked in similar styles with scatter grass. 
Taking inspiration from @scribbs Spring Clean challenge with some Oldhammer miniatures, I’ve revisited my active projects. The fantasy pile of shame reduces… this was approximately 6 hours of painting without including drying time and painted in my usual gothic, dirty style using dry brushing techniques and layers of washes. This is a marrying of one of my favourite Dark Sword Miniatures and my favourite Citadel Dragon just waiting to spar. Unfortunately the dragon s long OOP and appears to only be available at extortionate prices on eBay. The Plucky Egg Thief
When the big thaw comes each year, it means Spring is in the air and the Frost Dragon returns to inspect her precious eggs. It knows that it’s only a matter of time when the eggs hatch. With only being able to lay between 2-3 eggs each Autumn, it knows how valuable a single hatchling will be, but it also knows how vulnerable this youngster is from carnivorous predators but particularly from a more recent threat in those hairy-footed little people who steal away with the unhatched eggs, never to be seen again!
“The Frost Dragon Mother” - Model chosen Grenadier Miniatures Dragon Lords Frost Dragon (1985) SKU 2519 sculptor unknown. OOP. 
“Baby Frost Dragon” - Model chosen Reaper Miniatures Ice Dragon Hatchling SKU 03691 sculpted by Kevin Williams.
“The plucky egg thief” - Model chosen Citadel Miniatures C11 Halfling ‘Lotman Lowlegs’ (1986) sculpted by the Perry Twins with metal Citadel Miniatures shield. OOP.
Base - 100mm lipped plain round base from Secret Weapons. Real stones, polyfilla and Grass tufts from Serious Play to form the nest. Eggs made from green stuff. This was a dry-brushing wonder-lust. The detail on the dragon scales and hair and face just lent itself to my style of washes and highlighting. This is the second Grenadier Frost Dragon that I’ve painted… the last one being in 1987!
The Egg Thieves
I like to try to create a narrative around the miniatures that I pull out of my pile of shame. In this case I mounted a loose dragon-like mini on a 50mm round lipped base with some green stuff and decided that rather than it become a pet (the initial plan), I would marry the beast up with a tough fighter and a nimble thief who are attempting to steal the dragon’s eggs from the nest.
“The Bearded Fighter” - Model chosen Reaper Miniatures Castrus Vile Evil Mercenary SKU 03496 sculpted by Guy England. Mounted on a 30mm lipped round base with green stuff. The miniature is supposed to carry two axes, but the one in the right hand broke off when I got him out of the package! So rather than stick it back on, it gave me the opportunity to sift through my bits box and cut down a GW chaos marauder’s double headed morning star to replace that weapon. The sculpt reminds me of the actor Stephen Lang who played Khalar Zym in the 2011 Conan the Barbarian film. 
“The Nimble Thief” - model chosen Reaper Miniatures Human Rogue Serris, SKU 02997 sculpted by James van Shaik. Mounted on a 30mm lipped round base with green stuff. I’ve painted her as a rendition of “Red Sonia” to go with the Conan theme… 
“Mama Dragon” - model chosen Ral Partha Wyvern SKU 01-050 sculpted by Tom Meier. Mounted on a 50mm lipped round base with green stuff. Eggs made from green stuff and tall grass from Serious Play.
Nighttime Encounters - out with the hunt?
If the adventurers find themselves outside after dark without a warm bed for the night, they may encounter the sleep-walking Duchess, the Vampire Hunter or indeed the winged Vampire! Models chosen: Dark Sword Miniatures SKU DSM5003 Melisandre, Priestess of R’Hllor sculpted by Tom Meier with a 30mm lipped base and sculpted insert; Reaper Miniatures SKU 02743 Human Rogue, Tara sculpted by Werner Klocke. Another 30mm lipped base with sculpted insert has been used; Freebooter Miniatures SKU VAM001 Raven sculpted by Werner Klocke. The base is the original 25mm square with integral, metal insert. This miniature is an early Freebooter mini and is out of production. It is one of my favourite models of all time from Werner Klocke and when it does come up for sale on auction sites, sadly it tends to be at a typically extortionate price!
The Sleep-Walking Duchess - with a pallid complexion, what is causing this noble lady to venture outside when there are so many dangers? Is something or someone calling her in her dreams? ??? Layers of white washes over flesh paint used to capture a fitted nightdress. 
The Vampire Hunter - nimble but brave. With her gaunt expression, she is focussed on her nemesis prey. 
The Winged Vampire - out for a nighttime feed? Themed, batch painting is certainly the way forward for me to keep motivated and to produce minis I’m happy to give away or be used in games. 
I hope you’ve enjoyed my journey so far? Since this project started in July 2021, I’ve managed to get around 90 miniatures to the gaming table. All inspired by a 12 year old lad taking an interest in D&D and giving me the opportunity to pick up my brushes and paint him some adventurers. I’ve still got plenty of fantasy miniatures from a variety of indie manufacturers as well as the behemoth of GW in my ‘pile of shame’, so this project will continue into 2022 and beyond…Arabian Encounters - whipping up a sandstorm…
Back in the dry desert, our adventurers face huge risks from sandstorms to dehydration and Arabian roaming bandits. Throw in a Jekyll and Hyde-like Vizier who can either conjure up a genie to grant wishes or a dust devil to suck out the life energy of our travellers depending on his mood and our intrepid explorers may have met either their saviour under the heat of the sun or increased their suffering? Miniatures SKU 60115 Human Wizard, Genie Binder sculpted by Tim Prow; Reaper Miniatures SKU 60155 Shazathared, Marid sculpted by Bob Ridolfi; Reaper Miniatures SKU 14245 Dust Devil, Nefsokar Monster sculpted by Jason Weibe. The Genie Binder has GW Chaos Space Marine transfers on his robes and is mounted on a 30mm lipped, Micro Arts Halodyne base, while the Dust Devil and Genie are mounted on 40mm Halodyne bases. 
The Vizier - a help or a hinderance? 
The Genie - can she grant you the wish that you want? Look into her piercing eyes…
The Dust Devil - with four arms and four swords, he comes in pretty handy should you annoy the Vizier… Painted to match the sandy base as if he was conjured direct from the ground.
Wilderness Encounters - when shall we three meet again?
Out in the wilds, three mysterious ladies come a wandering, each with a mission for the adventurers. Will they take up the offer from the priestess, the red-headed sorceress or the young, blonde hunter? Models chosen: Dark Sword Miniatures SKU DSM7436 Female Mage sculpted by Jeff Grace; Dark Sword Miniatures SKU DSM1168 Evil Female Mage sculpted by Patrick Keith; Dark Sword Miniatures SKU DSM7301 Female Beast Master with Spear sculpted by Dave Summers. I’ve used 30mm lipped bases filled with green stuff and flock to incorporate the integral bases. Again, a grim-dark but simple palate has been used to bring these three to life. 
The Priestess - blending, washes and dry-brush highlights employed here. 
The Sorceress - black leather robes, black leather clothes, black leather boots… is that a clue to her potential alignment?
The Hunter - she seems to have lost her trousers… do you think that maybe that’s what she needs help in hunting for?
Dungeon Encounters - the witch and the succubus
If you pop down a nearby dungeon, then perhaps you will encounter this friendly witch along with her paladin and cleric companions? Models chosen Reaper Miniatures SKU 50128 Krissy, Modern Witch sculpted by Bob Ridolfi; Reaper Miniatures SKU 02725 Human Paladin, Alaine sculpted by Werner Klocke; Reaper Miniatures SKU 02825 Human Wizard, Jolie sculpted by Werner Klocke. Now if your luck is out your adventurers may encounter this succubus instead! Model chosen Reaper Miniatures SKU 02098 Lillith the Succubus sculpted by Bob Ridolfi. Again, painted in my grim-dark, gothic fashion with the use of Fenris(?) 30mm lipped bases. 
The Friendly Witch and her cuddly familiar. This is actually a Reaper Miniatures Chronoscope heroine but is suitably fantasy-like to include in this collection. 
The Paladin…
The Cleric looking puzzled by an entry in her book.
The Succubus…
Tavern Encounters - the Bookkeeper’s Offer
Here we have a potential Tavern Encounter - the Bookkeeper, the Bookkeeper’s Apprentice and the Bookkeeper’s Bodyguard. Keeping a control on expenses and recognising that his employer may need to recruit a band of adventurers to recover a missing object from his inventory of valuable assets, a trip to the local public house may be fruitful? Models chosen: Reaper Miniatures SKU 03956 Townsfolk: Money Lender sculpted by Bobby Jackson; Midlam Miniatures SKU KS2016-01 Wizard’s Apprentice with Books sculpted by Martin Baker; Dark Sword Miniatures SKU DSM3032 Female Pirate with Treasure Chest sculpted by Dave Summers. Bases are 30mm lipped and green stuff used to sculpt floor boards. The Apprentice’s base has a candle from Dunkeldorf Miniatures and a book from the Citadel Miniatures Mordheim Accessory Sprue. The Bookkeeper’s base has a barrel from the Citadel Miniatures Ogre Trooper sprue. Painted in my usual grim dark fashion with GW transfers used on the hem of the Apprentice’s robe and on the fallen book.
The Bookkeeper
The Bookkeeper’s Apprentice 
The Bookkeeper’s Bodyguard 
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