Saturday 18 November 2023

WHY SO BLUE

 For Roger's Movember challenge I always like to push the boundaries on the hairy face, and this year is no different, as I have a Cobalt Blue Tarantula, which has a very hairy face. I've had this model since the early 90's and was bought on a whim, but since then I had the idea of using it with a skink champion mounted on it for Siege games, as it can climb walls with no penalties and fight at the top also with no penalties. So why did I chose a Cobalt Blue colour scheme from Asia and not a South American colour scheme, because this is my favourite Tarantula, not that I'd ever have a real one in the house, as my wife is terrified of spiders. I've included the reference picture below so you can see how close I've got with the colours (or not ! LOL)


As for a skink champion I'm still looking for something suitable, or will have to make one from scratch, but that is a project for another day, so until next time stay safe and have fun !

Cheers Dave

24 comments:

  1. Aargh! That monster is real! Wow, had never seen it! You really nailed it, that's quite an endeavour, I don't think it's easy to get that blue fur right. Lovely spider, really!

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    1. Thank you Suber, this post probably should have come with a health warning ! LOL In hindsight I should have probably mixed the fur colour to get it more accurate, but happy with the end result, I wont test it's realism on my wife, as if I've got it right she may squash my model ! LOL

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  2. John@justneedsvarnish18 November 2023 at 08:13

    Crikey, Dave, that is one hell of a spider! Didn't know they came in colours like that! Nice paint scheme! :-)

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    1. Thank you John, nature is full of many wonders, and if you think this one is colourful, you should see the peacock spider ! LOL I like more unusual colour schemes just to make things stand out a little more.

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  3. Very nice work - I didn't know they came coloured. (Especially bright blue!) It would make it easier to spot wandering around the house. I'm not partial to spiders myself, so only plastic or metal ones (that stay in their case) here.

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    1. Thank you Tarmor, thee bright colour certainly would make them easier to spot rather than the black and brown ones ! LOL The alien spiders I built years ago, were only moved from their case to the transport foam by me, as none of the crew would touch them ! LOL

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  4. I am very impressed with the finished beastie. The colour scheme is a break from the norm. I'd have done black, or dark colours like a normal house spider. Very colourful.

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    1. Thank You Phil, I had originally planned to do a red kneed Tarantula as they are native to South America, but in the end went with my favourite, as it is a fantasy army after all ! LOL

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  5. Fantastic work! I wasn't aware that real-life spiders can be so colourful, you matched the reference perfectly.

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    1. Thank you snapfit, nature is truly wonderous, check out peacock spiders to show all it's amazing colours. I got the pattern right, just really needed to deepen the blue colour, but looks effective enough.

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  6. But of course there are Ultramarine Spiders! As if those armoured blue bastards didn't include enough "blue" in the first place.

    Looks spot on though to your reference pic Dave and thanks for posting it as I'd never heard of a blue tarantula prior. Crazy nature and it's weird and wild creations. Next up, a green horse!

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    1. Thank you Dai, indeed those pesky Ultra Marines get absolutely everywhere, those damn tax collectors ! LOL
      The markings turned out really well, just wish I'd gone for a deeper blue, but hindsight is a wonderful thing ! LOL It's true just when you think you've seen it all, along comes mother nature to show you different, who knows on a green horse ! LOL

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  7. Love the blue color Dave, and you nailed it for this spider. Did not know Movember was even on? I''m sure my sleletons had beards at one time 😂😁

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    1. Thank you Mark, while I was painting it, it felt wrong right up to the point I got it finished ! LOL As far as I know Movember isn't being run this year, but as I saved up all these hairy faced models, I thought I would paint them regardless ! LOL That is a very valid point in my opinion ! LOL

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  8. That spider looks huge, Dave, especially as you mention looking to give it a rider. Great paint-job too. Mother Nature definitely comes up with some corking colour schemes.

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    1. Thank you Simon, he is pretty large with 100 mm leg span, and in metal. Mother nature is truly a great resource for unusual colour schemes ! LOL

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  9. Sweet Jesus, Dave, give us arachnophobics a warning LOL! The model looks fantastic and that's it, I'm getting off this page :-)

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    1. Sorry Matt, should have put a big warning at the top of the post ! LOL he's such a cute looking spider, are you sure you don't want a second look ! LOL

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  10. I'm with everyone else, I had no idea spiders came in that color! I think you did a great job matching the scheme and spider will certainly stand out on the tabletop! Also, you can add me to the has a wife that's scared of spiders club :)

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    1. Thank you Jeff, I'd originally thought of doing the red kneed tarantula as it was from the right area of the world, and had an interesting pattern, but as you say this one will really stand out on the tabletop ! LOL It means we always get to play the hero when they find a spider mate ! LOL

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  11. Man I love when an alternate scheme comes together and works so well, would have never thought to go for blue but it looks awesome.

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    1. Thank you, alternate colour schemes can really challenge your mind while painting it, as you question every colour you apply, but well worth pushing to the end.

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  12. Wow, I had to google some images of that spider. Really interesting! Oh, and don't share this with Matt but this bugger is pretty cute: https://www.etsy.com/listing/896173859/plush-spider-tarantula-cobalt-blue
    Nice work on the tarantula and the mini looks similar to a metal one I have. I think it came from Reaper. Some day I might even paint it, haha!

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    1. Thank you Brian, they truly are amazing creatures, probably best Matt doesn't look at that ! LOL This one was by Citadel Miniatures (The model section that became GW) late 80's early 90's, and yes it's been waiting that long to be painted ! LOL Look forward to seeing what you do with yours.

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