" DOUBLE TAKE OF THE TWO HEADED MONSTER "

Recently Steve and I both set about painting the same two models at the same time, neither of us showing the other what we were up to, in this article you will see the results.

"QUAFFIG"

First up is one of the other nobles on Traventi Quaffig, in the Traventi culture a rotund physique denotes great wealth as they always have the best food and plenty of it, they celebrate their shape and flaunt it at lesser nobles and common people.

She has a pet eyeless squiggle sat by her leg, these helpful little creatures help keep her free from food scraps, which could attract the ferocious Terats that are a plague on the planet Traventi.

"STICKS"

This second model could be a court adviser, army general, or simple butler depending on how you paint it. For my example I went with adviser to the house Vallatrix denoted by the purple in his jacket.

"ALIEN GOLD"

Next up is a quick SBS on how I paint alien gold :

Step 1 First lay down a even coat of hammered copper.

Step 2 cover all the gold areas in purple wash. 

Step 3 Next apply brassy brass over the areas leaving the deepest shadow areas in the colour of step 2. 

Step 4 Highlight on the top surfaces and vertical edges with glorious gold.

Step 5 Spot highlight on the highest points with polished gold.

Hope you find this useful, now I'm off to play with some green stuff, until next time have fun and over to Steve . . 

Cheers Dave.

Interesting just how differently we approached these new models. I deliberately painted mine without looking at Dave`s photos first, because I didn't want anything to influence my take on how I see this world and the cool (and sometimes not so cool) characters within it.

For me, when I think of Lady Quaffig, I see Augustus Caesar's daughter Julia (from the old BBC TV drama series "I Claudius"), in her mannerisms and her character.

Vain, overtly sexual, somewhat overweight, and yet flirtatious and rather unorthodox in her attire; tries (somewhat unsuccessfully) to pull off sensuality in her manner and in her dress sense... i.e. a thirty five year old still trying to dress like an eighteen year old chick, and is all in all a bundle of hot trouble for her austere noble father - the Lord Mallatrix (Lord Vallatrix`s brother). 

Stix whispers in Lord Vallatrix`s ear that the kitchen servants have accidentally dropped his niece`s Birthday cake all over the floor. There will doubtless now be an additional (kitchen staff)  arena display in tomorrow`s games.

I gave her a light matt spray undercoat of white, followed by dark blue and gradual brushed lighter dry brushing in various blues to affect highlighted changes in skin tone. Eyes are edged with WWII German Uniform Grey, with egg yolk yellow eyes and goblin green pupils. Her Sari is Warlock Purple with shading of German Luftwaffe Green and Uniform Grey, with gold and bronze flake trim on her belt, arm torques and on her forehead beading. The eyeless pet squiggle resting on her thigh is painted in Green Fluo and touched with Goblin Green... and the whole thing then washed with burned Nut Brown ink (three parts water to one part ink).

By the way, Quaffig means "intoxicating one" in old English. 

Stix, the ancient and venerable family retainer, summons up an image (in my mind) of Mr Flay from Mervyn Peake`s Gormanghast/Titus novels.

This spindly tall stick insect of a Traventi servant knows EVERYTHING there is to be known within the myriad chambers and passages of his Lord Vallatrix`s vast labyrinthine place court. I painted my model with a light flourish of white spray undercoat, followed by gradual layers of Mole Skin Grey, and progressive lighter grey dry brushing on top, to build a multi toned grey suited, drab old fashioned fuddy-duddy; out of touch with current style and although rich garb... looks tired, old, and as though he has seen better days. And yet he looks comfortable, if you know what I mean.

His eyes are painted just like the Lady Quaffig`s, only with black pupils instead of green. The ears of both Lady and servant are painted in dark grey, then highlighted with a dry brush in a light contrasting desert sand colour.

 Cheers for Now,

Steve.