ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Sunday, 6 October 2019

Zulus to the southwest... thousands of 'em.

Well...Thirty of 'em.


This little scene from the film Zulu should get you in the mood...


"Zulus to the southwest... Thousands of 'em"


I recently offered to paint up a unit of Zulus for Michael Perry... Partly to help him get the thousands of 'em that he needs but mostly as an excuse to try out some more contrast paints to see how well they would work with African skin.
I have aimed for a nice rich brown tone...One that reflects the skin colour of The Zulu People but also one that looks good on 28mm miniatures.




The miniatures were first given an undercoat of The Army Painter Fur Brown...




https://shop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=15




Next up...
Two coats of undiluted Contrast Guilliman Flesh... You could add more if you want but liked the way this looked.
 https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Guilliman-Flesh-2019




The next stage was to block in the rest of the colours...


The shield front... Vallejo Model Colour... 981 Orange Brown.
The shield rear and necklace decoration... Citadel... Tallarn Sand.
The loin cloth and leopard skin head band... Citadel... Balor Brown.
The monkey tails... Citadel... Stormvermin Fur.
Necklace and waistband... Foundry... 9B Boneyard.
Spear staffs and clubs... Citadel... Rhinox Hide.
Plumes, leg and shield decoration... Citadel... Pallid Wych Flesh.
Hair and circlets... Citadel... Abaddon Black.




Everything is given a coat of Aly's Brown Liquid then - apart from the skin - re-highlighted with the original colours.







I based them up to fit in with the rest of Michael's collection using Citadel Texture Agrellan Badland and some static grass tufts...




I am afraid that this picture is a bit out of focus...
I only noticed it after I had given Michael the miniatures.




An enjoyable diversion which didn't really take that much time...


The paints are Wargames Foundry, Citadel and Vallejo...
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/paint
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Painting-Modelling
https://acrylicosvallejo.com/en/categoria/hobby/model-color-en/


The figures and bases are Perry Miniatures...
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_62&products_id=3770&osCsid=op1enihrm6gn70hc0enfjurcj1


All the best...   Aly.



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36 comments:

  1. Matt6 October 2019 at 12:01

    Love your work sir!

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  2. WSTKS-FM Worldwide6 October 2019 at 13:31

    Yes, they look great!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  3. The Good Soldier Svjek6 October 2019 at 14:44

    Difficult skin tone to get right but I think you've nailed it with this paint combination .

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  4. Phil6 October 2019 at 15:25

    They look superb and motivated, excellent work Aly!

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  5. Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com6 October 2019 at 15:40

    The paint colour names mean nothing to me but the pictures speak highly of the quality of the painting.

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  6. painterman6 October 2019 at 18:35

    That skin combo looks great (and speedy), very nicely done Alys.
    Simon

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison6 October 2019 at 19:03

      Thank you Simon...
      It worked really well... The Contrast Colours are quite useful...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  7. Natholeon6 October 2019 at 21:49

    Beautiful work! They look fantastic. Now, get back to those Marlburians!

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison6 October 2019 at 21:51

      I am doing some right now.... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  8. Ed M7 October 2019 at 00:45

    An excellent tutorial and splendid results: much appreciated!

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  9. Mark Strachan7 October 2019 at 04:02

    Fabulous looking impi Aly. I am still struggling with the Contrast Paints.

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison7 October 2019 at 07:26

      Thank you Mark...
      I have just been using them as an alternative to my Brown Wash when I want a more saturated colour... they worked really well on these and they definitely work on horses...
      I am painting my French command with them at the moment.


      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  10. Matt Crump7 October 2019 at 07:18

    Nicely done Aly....a good looking unit ready for action

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  11. marinergrim7 October 2019 at 07:19

    Impressive. I'd appreciate your thoughts on the Citadel textured paints, ease of use and how far they go (i.e. how many bases) and what highlights used.

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison7 October 2019 at 07:37

      Thank you Paul...
      The texture paint are really easy to use... it’s best to apply them with the spatula .
      I have highlighted these with Karak Stone and a bit of Pallid Wych Flesh...
      GW have actually got some tutorials on the website.
      I’m not sure how many bases you can get out of a pot...possibly two units the size of these zulus with a bit left over... but I don’t think it will be a lot... certainly not anywhere near the numbers you paint
      Hopefully this is of some help...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
    2. marinergrim8 October 2019 at 05:53

      Thanks Aly.

      Delete
  12. Maurice Mickelwhite7 October 2019 at 12:25

    Good write up! How did you find the contrast paints in comparison to the "non contrast" paints of yore?

    I've got another.............170......zulu to paint, but absolutely no impetus to work on them.

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison7 October 2019 at 15:22

      Thank you...

      The way I think of contrast paints v’s ‘non contrast’... is that they are more like a fortified wash as opposed to a paint... you know if ordinary washes are red wine contrast is port...
      They are much more pigment heavy...
      I still use them the same way that I would use washes... over a base coat ... but that is because that is the way I like to paint.
      I have seen them used very well over a light bone or grey under coat but I have yet to try that for myself...

      They did work very well with the Zulus...

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  13. (Kym) + Warburton + (Classic40K) 7 October 2019 at 22:30

    Very nice. I have been using the contrast paints like this too--as heavy washes--it has been working quite well as they are more like the old inks from the mid-1990s than anything else I have come across since.

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison8 October 2019 at 07:04

      Thank you...

      They certainly have the colour saturation of the older inks... but I think a better (matt) finish.


      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  14. Phil Robinson8 October 2019 at 07:17

    Spiffingly done Mr. M. They will never get shot at either you can't see the white of their eyes ;~)

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  15. David8 October 2019 at 07:45

    Nice diversion! I'm sure they will do sterling service. I'm interested in your view of the contrast paints as like the inks as I use the ink on my SYW Brits and am almost out.

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    Replies
    1. Aly Morrison8 October 2019 at 22:27

      Thank you David...
      The contrast paints are a lot more pigment heave than the inks...
      I have used Blood Angels Red diluted with contrast medium over Evil Sunz Scarlet to good effect....

      And yes I know you think the names are silly... but they are no worse than some of the concoctions Dulux come up with... ;-)
      They would probably have used summer sunset memories over strawberry passion sunrise... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

      Delete
  16. Jay White8 October 2019 at 20:48

    They look great!! I love the cracked earth effect on the bases.

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  17. Moiterei_198411 October 2019 at 20:58

    Wonderful work Aly! I think your method for painting their skin proofed highly effective.

    ReplyDelete

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