Hey All,
Figure-wise I've got almost all I want for this project worked out. There are only a few things left that I can't find suitable figures for - but I got plans for all of them.
The problem is that they'll all require a bit of sculpting. Nothing all too major - hair and hats, mostly - but more than I feel I can do to a standard that I'll be happy with. The plan would be that I'll team up with someone at some point to do the sculpting for me, but I don't personally know anyone who can sculpt. I'm not sure how to go about recruiting for such a job,
I've started a thread over in the Workbench about that, but if anyone is interested, please PM do me. UK only preferably (for purely postage reasons). Time and labour compensated for in money or figures.
Anyhoo, here is the plan:
1.) Wizard Howl, in his lesser monster form.This is the sort of thing I'm aiming for:
Plan for this one is to take
Microworld's "Great Dingonek" figure that I already have:
The plan would be to sculpt on a sort of 'emo fringe' over the figure's otherwise rather friendly badger-like nose, something like this:
I'm not sure where these images are from, but I think they're both fan-drawings. They convey the point though - the hair extends out of the rest of the body and to cover most the face in that stylish way that anime characters seem to like wearing their hair.
2. Wizard Howl, in his greater monster form.This is what I'm aiming for:
After looking though a lot of owlbears and giant eagles, I think I've settled on the suitably aggressive looking
"Terror Turkey" sold by Bears Head Minis.
The miniature is going to need a fair bit of sculpting, though. The tail is going to need a bit of fleshing (feathering?) out, that tuft at the base of the neck will have to go, and the whole base of the neck to the top of the head is going to need a covering in feathers. It'll be the most work of all of the figures, but if it can end up looking like it looks in my head, it'll be worth it.
My other consideration for this one was this rather lovely
Owlbear sold by Oathsworn Miniatures as part of their Sensile Shoes range. I don't think it is quite intimidating enough for the role - much too thoughtful and cautious - but it is a lovely figure. I imagine I'll end up buying one to use for something else one day.
3. Magicians turned to MonstersThis should be one of the easier ones.
Khurasan Miniatures make these lovely little "Foul Spirits, Winged Demons" which are just he spitting image, don't you think. They need hats though. Hats and masquerade masks, which will need to be sculpted on.
4. The BlobmenThese should be the very easiest of the lot. After a lot of looking around for blob monsters and 15mm scale figure blanks, I came across these
"Blue Aliens" made by The Scene. I can file down the bulbous eyes, and they'll need big round noses and straw boaters. I'm hoping that, if 15mm scale hats are a fairly easy thing to sculpt, I'll be able to buy a few packs and re-pose them to make a horde of henchmen.
5. Flying Canoes I've had quite a look around for these, but I've not found anything yet that would work as the basis for a conversion. I think I'm going to have to take another approach with these - more details if I make any progress at all, but they are firmly on the back burner for now.
So, that is the plan. Would be interested in anyone's opinions. If anyone can think of better figures for converting from, do tell. And, if you're interested in maybe helping me with the sculpting, drop me a PM.
I've ordered a large bag of lollipop sticks which should soon arrive in the post - once they're here, I've got about two hundred figures to clean up ready for spraying!
MM.