Draniki: The Lizardmen of Venus

[Laughing Ferret]

I finally put some paint on a project I started over 4 years ago.  Most of those years the minis were built and other than getting them out now and then to look and say "I like these- wish I had time to paint them' they have just been idle... although I did redo all the bases a couple years ago, so I'm glad I hadn't started painting them!

So here is the beginning of the Draniki, or as Earth-men often call them "Lizardmen of Venus".





I haven't updated the Phobosian VSF Quar thread in awhile- since nothing new is complete- been making some progress on Cavalry & more infantry though.  These are going to be the Quar's native allies in the Venus campaign, but I thought they deserved their own thread separate from the Quar, since they'll eventually be their own army.  I already have over 120 minis made for them including characters, cav, 'tanks', couple little sliers and various infantry types. I had thought to leave them unrevealed until the whole army was done, but seeing how this is the first paint they've seen in 4 years, it's anyone's guess as to how long that would have been. 

More background on the Draniki on the hobby blog here:
http://laughingferret.blogspot.com/2011/06/draniki-scouting-party-sighted.html
or click the topic 'Draniki' on the blog.

[Steve F]

Those have turned out very nicely - I particularly like the gradation of the green colour.

[Mason]

Lovely skintones and the blue markings on the eyes really set them off beautifully.
(Not sure 'beautifully' is the right word, but you get my drift, I hope!)

[Chairface]

These are top notch - the bases are superb!

[Bullshott]

Very nice indeed.

[Powered Armored Stooge]

Good Idea
+
Mind Blowing paint job
=
 

[Ray Rivers]

 

Very kewl!

Where did you get the minis?

[fitterpete]

How well did the Kroot arms matchup to the Saurus bodies? Did you have to do much filing or greenstuffing to make them fit? I was just thinking the other day about trying the kroot arms with saurus bodies and the lizardman cold ones bodies(the ones standing  upright on their back feet not the ones slouched over) too!
Really cool conversion and paintjob BTW.
Pete

[Froggy the Great]

Beats the heck out of my offerings along these lines...

[Mason]

I keep coming back for another look at these chaps.
Very inspiring!
I'm impressed

[infelix]

They look great, very impressive conversions. Gotta love the Kroot

[Laughing Ferret]

Thanks for all the feedback! Much appreciated   

responding to specific questions & comments:

Those have turned out very nicely - I particularly like the gradation of the green colour.

Thanks! I was pleased with the gradation too. This by necessity has to be a 'speed paint' project, since with well over 100 miniatures I'll never have a chance to finish the army otherwise- They've already been in a box for 3 years without a lick of paint and I don't have the time to devote to them to treat them with the focus I would a small project or a commission.. I can't afford to hire myself  So after primer, and giving a few of them an undertone of a vanilla color by brush I knew it just wasn't going to happen- so I did a group of 40 by airbrush, then did all the green levels by airbrush as well. Did about 5 days work in 5 hours -not as good as by brush, but I can't complain considering the time saved.  After so many years of building them, waiting & planning, was almost hard to start them 

Lovely skintones and the blue markings on the eyes really set them off beautifully.

Thanks! I'm happy with the blue.  I thought it needed a bit of bright color since so much of the minis overall was greens & browns. Glad it works.

These are top notch - the bases are superb!

Bases were quite easy. ground is just a bit of texture, the water is just color painted right on the base surface and a couple layers of water effect. Can get a good illusion of shallow water without really needing depth at all. Plus it is so much easier.

Where did you get the minis?

Kitbash: GW Lizardmen Saurus for bodies & heads.  GW Kroot for arms/guns & little bits.
I've also made some close combat shock troops with beastmen shields & weapons, cavalry & more.

How well did the Kroot arms matchup to the Saurus bodies?

Not so well. The Saurus chest is a good deal wider than a kroot chest. There is one arm/gun set that really doesn't work at all, but all the others can work alright. The Saurus chest always needs to be shaved down some, to get a smaller area for the arm contact, and often the chest needs to be thinned in a 'V' shape a bit so that the arms will angle to meet to hold the gun right.  Not much green stuff was needed, just a bit of fill, but all of the shoulders needed to have scales sculpted so the arms would blend into the back scales & look right.  Tedious. 

[Gun bunny]

those are fabulous, total and complete cool.i cannot wait to exterminate their culture and teach the heathens the error of their ways (cue triumphal music and heartfelt flag waving)HUZZAH!!!

[Bako]

They are most certainly wonderful! I think there might be an oversight on your implementation of the bayonet, however. Its spikes seem to be blocking the muzzle. Still pretty otherwise.

[leadfool]

Scaly.........But do they like turkish food?  or rather Turks as food?