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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: obsidian3d on July 27, 2013, 01:54:53 AM

Title: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread - Stratos (pg. 2)
Post by: obsidian3d on July 27, 2013, 01:54:53 AM
Masters of the Universe in 28mm: Panthor and Skeletor!
(reposted from http://obsidian3d.blogspot.ca/2013/07/masters-of-universe-in-28mm-panthor-and.html)

I mentioned acquiring some old 28mm Masters of the Universe figures (produced by Grenadier in the 80s) several months ago, and I've finally gotten a start on them. While working on my Etherian Horde and Avion Warriors for Dreadball I was thinking about the coach models for my teams. Since I have no Hordak figure at the moment my thoughts immediately turned to Skeletor.

My Orx/Goblin team the Snake Mountain Smashers are going to be Skeletor's, even though thematically it would make more sense for them to be Caligars coached by Whiplash. Perhaps later on I'll do another team for that. The Smashers aren't ready for prime time yet, but their coach is all set for his debut appearance.

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zpsef9753d7.jpg)

The paint work was pretty simple. Army Painter Crystal Blue for the skin, a little GW Liche Purple mixed with AP Uniform Grey for the cloth on his armour, and P3 Greatcoat Grey for the leather armour bits. Matte black for the spear shaft and fuzzy shorts, gloss black for his claws. GW Bleached Bone for the bones on his chest and P3 Thrall Flesh for his face. I painted his eyes white first and then put some Tamiya Clear Red over top, as well as on the gem in the middle of his chest. Finally I used GW Gorthor Brown for the straps on his back.

To finish things off I gave him a liberal coat of GW Badab Black, then highlighted the skin with AP Electric Blue. A quick dry brush on his underoos with GW Fortress Grey and some standard basing work to finish.

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zps90d31d6b.jpg)

Naturally Skeletor needs his favourite pet: Panthor. In the assortment of models I received there was a Battle Cat, but no Panthor. In fact, the range never included a Panthor figure to my knowledge. I had tested out some of my Army Painter quickshade dip on a sabretooth tiger model from Horrorclix and happened across it in a drawer. "Perfect," I thought, and set about painting it purple.

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zps2d83d343.jpg)

I think he turned out great, especially considered how mediocre I thought it looked as a sabretooth tiger. It was an easy paint job to put together: AP Alien Purple, GW Bleached Bone, Testors Gloss Black, P3 Flesh and a very liberal dash of GW Leviathan Purple wash. His eyes were done by painting them white, applying a light wash of GW Thraka Green wash, and then a tiny dot of P3 Necrotite Green on top.

Panthor is pretty intimidating size-wise compared to the MotU figures (Battle Cat is even BIGGER!), because they're pretty much true 25mm figures. I suppose on their bases they're 28 - 30mm, but compared to more contemporary figures they're quite small. I'm not too concerned about that though, simply because they're awesome.

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zps67b1f0fe.jpg)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: aggro84 on July 27, 2013, 02:57:42 PM
Nice paintjobs!
What a fun idea as well!
 :-*
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on July 27, 2013, 06:43:27 PM
Thank you. I'm not sure if I'll paint them all at once or as I get around to their teams. I would like to make a grey skull and snake mount terrain piece at some point too, but that's long off in the future.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: von Lucky on July 27, 2013, 08:27:47 PM
Well I'll keeping an eye on this thread - beautiful beginning.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: Za Zjurman on July 27, 2013, 08:43:02 PM
Wow nice paintjobs and thank you, I just had a trip back through memory lane...

Regards,
Za
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: DeafNala on July 28, 2013, 02:43:31 PM
For moi, the memories that revolve around He Man are of my Boys playing with the Action Figures & glued to the TV show. That aside, the minis painted up WONDERFULLY...WELL DONE!
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: infelix on July 28, 2013, 03:36:21 PM
I completely loved the show and comics growing up so I'll definitely keep my eyes on this project. The painting is wonderful, you really captured the characters of them.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: cheetor on August 02, 2013, 11:32:35 AM

Skeletor is one of my favorite bad guys.  Like Wile E. Coyote and to an extent Dr Doom, I end up rooting for Skeletor somewhat, largely because his cause is pretty much 100% hopeless and his nemesis is a sanctimonious jerk.

I didnt know that there were official MotU 25mms.  Those two look great.

I had plans to turn a sabre-toothed tiger mounted barbarian from EM4 model into a Battle-Cat mounted He-Man a few years back, but never got around to it and traded it away.  They dont seem to stock it any more now it appears.

Were there many models in that Grenadier MotU range?  What characters did it cover?  Did Trap-Jaw make the cut?  I always quite liked that guy.

Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: white knight on August 02, 2013, 12:58:33 PM
Great stuff, I am also trying to collect the range, but only have one set so far. There actually was a Panthor made, but it was never officially released.

I would like to make a grey skull and snake mount terrain piece at some point too, but that's long off in the future.

The Icon Heroes castle grayskull scales very well with the figures if you'd prefer to buy one (note, those are not my pictures).

(http://www.lulu-berlu.com/upload/image/131071_grande.jpg)

Apparently they're coming out with new add-ons bits for it, as well as a proper Snake mountain:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1004811_620081794682666_812524756_n.jpg)

(http://www.he-man.org/assets/images/home_news/sdcc_iconheroes_full.jpg)

I assume you know of the Heresy Miniatures not-Orko figure?
(http://tritex-games.co.uk/image.php?url=products_miniatures_heresy/Heresy_NorkoHalfling.jpg)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 02, 2013, 04:50:28 PM
The castle is in better proportion than I thought. I had heard about it but could never find any photos to use for scale comparison. And if there's a snake mountain in the works...SOLD.

I do have the Orko as well. He'll fit in with the group very nicely.

Oh and yes, there was a Trap Jaw figure. I think there's one in my box of toys. As to how many figures were in the Grenadier line I'm not quite sure. I've got to do some thinking about how to create an Evil-Lyn and Sorceress for my collection.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: Spooktalker on August 03, 2013, 04:52:05 PM
Awesome!!!  :-* :-* :-* :-*

I have two of the Grenadier Skelator variants myself but I've been unable to win any more. Some months back was a very near miss where there was a big lot miscategorized and I thought I had a real shot, but in end I low-balled it cos to make up for overspending elsewhere and lost out.

I've daydreamed what it would take to license a new range of figs. A buddy of mine GMs a rather freeform ostensibly GURPS MOTU game and it's a blast.

Can't wait for more and maybe I'll have a hand at mine.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: D@rth J@ymZ on August 03, 2013, 05:01:51 PM
Fantastic work.  I'd love to see these in person as I was a huge MOTU fan as a kid.  Very inspirational!
and I want both of the castles too... ;)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 03, 2013, 11:39:54 PM
I'll bring them next time James. I'll definitely be buying the castles now as well. Tabletop MotU gaming shall be mine!
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: Brummie Thug on August 04, 2013, 11:04:51 AM
As said on the blog this awesome. Is that Hasslefree chick anygood to you?

http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?product=delphine~hfh064&category=miniatures~fantasy-humans
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 04, 2013, 07:52:17 PM
She's on my to-buy list for theme alone! I'm not sure whether I'd use her as my She-Ra or not though.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: Doomsdave on August 06, 2013, 07:39:32 AM
Thanks for the heads-up on the snake mountain.  I already have the greyskull statue and it looks great with figs on it.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: white knight on August 06, 2013, 08:52:03 AM
That Talon Fighter looks like it might be close in scale as well. :)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 06, 2013, 06:12:13 PM
I'm hoping to get the Stratos figure on to my painting table some time this week.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: white knight on August 06, 2013, 09:05:09 PM
Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: cheetor on August 08, 2013, 08:21:11 AM
Looking forward to it.

Definitely :)

Although I wasnt particularly into He-Man as a kid, something about the idea of skirmish gaming in Eternia really appeals and has preoccupied me since I saw this thread last week.

As tracking down a set of the Grenadier figures doesnt seem likely and even if it was then I reckon that it would be out of my league financially I have been considering alternatives.  The most obvious solution if I dont get bent too out of shape about exact outfit matches would be to use GW Marauder figures with suitable heads.

I was pointed in the direction of a GW Space Wolf head that looks very suitable for the main character:

(http://sho3box.files.wordpress.com/2112/02/he-man-head.jpg?w=468)

So thats He-Man, Faker and Prince Adam sorted lol

Barring the occasional feathered or bionic arm then I reckon it would be easy enough to track down suitable heads for many of the others.

I dont want to hijack this thread too much, but if obsidian3d doesnt mind then maybe some others might have some suggestions.  I can set up a separate thread if necessary.

Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: white knight on August 08, 2013, 08:44:12 AM
As tracking down a set of the Grenadier figures doesnt seem likely and even if it was then I reckon that it would be out of my league financially I have been considering alternatives.

Plus, it will save you and me from bidding against each other while I try to complete my collection of them.  ;)

Tin's Bits did a few not-motu figures too:
(http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/img_big/557df1ef7ad5e23215cb81032f9045a2.jpg)
(http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/img_big/4d493340536155240e462b16a8afc2b0.jpg)
(http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/img_big/391ed5ab25b128092ae613d58f6306cd.jpg)
(http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/img_big/d2b8a370675cfa404ba5de4a13371e48.jpg)
(http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/img_big/c6233ab52e670ae8c3953e780c5221a2.jpg)

OOP, but still available here:
http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/showarticles/26460-1-tins_bits.html (http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/showarticles/26460-1-tins_bits.html)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: cheetor on August 08, 2013, 09:20:57 AM
Plus, it will save you and me from bidding against each other while I try to complete my collection of them.  ;)


:D  So the more suitable alternatives and heads that you come up with the better in that case ;)


Tin's Bits did a few not-motu figures too:

Those are nice models. 

Funnily enough the GW Marauders body shape - that is, a totally ridiculous body shape - fits with my notion of what Eternians look like slightly better than those Tin's Bits figures do.  The Tins Bits are darker and edgier (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkerAndEdgier), but that makes them slightly less MotU if you know what I mean.  The splayed legs, grimacing faces and as-wide-as-they-are-tall physiques is what the franchise is all about, to me at least.

€9=tax+shipping is beyond my budget for a project like this anyway, so kitbashed Marauders is the direction that I plan to take (plus the Heroquest sorceror as Skeletor) so any suggestions for heads for Beast-man, Mer-Man,  Man-at-Arms etc happily accepted.

All assuming that obsidian3d doesnt mind his thread being diverted a bit.  I can start another one if he does.  In fact, maybe I should anyway...



Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 08, 2013, 09:44:22 AM
I had forgotten about the tin bits figures. I'll likely try to pick up the evil lyn and Fisto figures. The others don't quite work for me though. Lyn's chest would have to be covered, which does seem a shame... :P
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: cheetor on August 08, 2013, 10:36:42 AM

FYI, I have started a separate thread for any MotU kitbash ideas (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=56897.msg676122#msg676122), so that I dont hijack this one further.


Im looking forward to seeing the Stratos model :)
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: obsidian3d on August 20, 2013, 06:15:25 PM
Stratos is finished!
(reposted from http://obsidian3d.blogspot.ca/2013/08/masters-of-universe-in-28mm-stratos.html)

After all of the positive feedback around the interwebs I received about my Skeletor and Panthor figures I was eager to continue on with this project. I don't have a ton of figures for mini MotU, but there are enough to allow me some options in my gaming. I just recently finished reworking my season 1 corporation team "The Avion Warrors" for Dreadball, so their coach Stratos seemed the easy choice.

As the second figure from the old Grenadier line I'd be working on, I had a decent idea of what to expect while painting. The sculpting is good but not excellent. The feet are a little bit too small and blend into the base a bit, and the mould lines are a bit of a pain. However, other than the line that runs along the top of his outstretched left arm, they were fairly manageable. He is certainly recognizable as Stratos, and that is the important thing to me.

I had good results priming with gesso on Skeletor so I thought I'd do it again with Stratos. I found that this time it dried a little bit rougher, and now I think I've pretty much hit on a good formula for using it. Adding just a drop or two of water to the gesso smooths it out a lot, so that's the way I'll likely use it from now on. I also really like that I can make my primer any colour I want simply by adding a few drops of paint to it!

Once again the paint work here is extremely simple, but yields effective results. I started with all of the skin and fur, covering with GW Fortress Grey. The exposed skin of his face is GW Tallarn Flesh. All of the blue was done with AP Crystal Blue, the red on his weapon, helmet and feathers is GW Red Gore, and of course the silver is good old GW Boltgun Metal.

With the block painting done I covered the whole figure with a coat of GW Badab Black wash and waited for it to dry. I used the original grey, silver and blue to go back and highlight those areas, but used GW Mephiston Red on the feathers and helmet to make them pop out a little bit more.

Based and done.

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zpsb24ae3ea.jpg)

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/Obsidian3d/MotU/file_zps51aadbda.jpg)

Although I'm not as happy with this figure as I was with Skeletor it still turned out nicely. Can't wait to tackle a few more characters to start rounding out the ranks!
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: white knight on August 20, 2013, 07:08:14 PM
Good job! Guess the reason you're less happy with him is just because his coolness factor can't compete with skeletor's.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: Brummie Thug on August 20, 2013, 07:46:29 PM
I had this the toy figure if this guy and forgot! Very cool love it!
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread
Post by: cheetor on August 22, 2013, 02:29:16 PM

I really like that paint job.  Stratos looks very like how I remember the toy to look.  The tones of the colours used look just right to me :)


Good job! Guess the reason you're less happy with him is just because his coolness factor can't compete with skeletor's.

Well, unless you are into defeating your enemies, Skeletor is always going to be a hard act to follow.
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread - Stratos (pg. 2)
Post by: Mr Tough Guy on September 04, 2013, 08:37:45 PM
Have you seen this, it's bloody brilliant  :-* :-* :-* :
(http://orionpax.de/23/uploads/photos/small_1148219_10201679433058325_815502847_n.jpg)
http://orionpax.de/23/index.php/showroom/one/634/MASTERS-OF-THE-UNIVERSE
Title: Re: obsidian3d's Masters of the Universe thread - Stratos (pg. 2)
Post by: obsidian3d on September 04, 2013, 09:03:50 PM
That is very, very cool. :)