This week I have managed to get 73 miniatures painted: 20 Bull Slann, 40 Jungle Braves, 10 Scouts, 2 Culchan Giant Birds, and one random Slann with a Blowpipe need to complete an regiment. In addition I have been basing up and converting Spawn Band Slann, monsters, and random odds and ends.
I wanted to tackle the Scouts, Bull Slann and Jungle Braves because of the painting schemes, and so get the unusual coloured Slann done first and then be clear on thier colourations in relaton to the bulk of the army. As the Scouts, and Jungle Braves are generally from the wild tribal areas of the Slann Empire, and because they from the same tribe, I am giving all those Slann the same flesh colour paint scheme within their own units. In addition, the background states that these tribes are usually very unusually coloured, have bright coloured skins and striping/mottling, so I am giving them more exotic colourings. I have used some of the Poison Frog colourings as inspiration.
The Bull Slann are bred in batches from Imperial spawning pools. So I have reasoned that they will be all the same flesh colour, and whilst not as exotic as tribal troops, they will have distinct colourations, and all be wearing the same uniform. It also helps to differentiate them from the Spawn Bands.
Concerning the rest of the army, I will be changing the approach to the Spawn Band colours scheme. Instead of all the non tribal/Bull Slann Slann being green, I will vary thier flesh colours to give a brighter mix. Just the green looked a little bland, so I will add a few blue, yellow, other green, orange, grey, red and striped/mottled Slann, although not too many, probably about a quarter to a third. I also plan on using darker base colours to make the highlighting contrast more and to give a greater feel of brightness and luminosity of the skin. For example, using Warpstone Glow instead of Goblin Green as a base for green Spawn Band Slann. I have also reasoned that the Slann would be using some steel/iron/sliver weapons, armour, and equipment as they have been in prolonged contact with the invading 'Dryskins'. So a few non gold items will add some different shineyness to the army.
I will also be only painting basic shield colours at the moment. I want to get the bulk of the painting done, and not get slowed down by painting a lot of shield devices and icons on the shields. Instead I will paint the basic background colours and then go back later and concentrate on the shields. That way I don't lose momentuem, and I can hone my so-so painting skills when it comes to shields.
Enjoy :)
Great week :)
20 Bull Slann, 40 Jungle Braves, 10 Scouts, and 2 Culchans.
20 Bull Slann.
I have used the solid based C32 Slann Palace Guard miniature for this regiment, converting up a standard bearer and unit leader.
Trooper, front and back.
As I was going for a bright set of colours for the armour and feathers, I chose a slightly darker base flesh tone. I also was looking at the Slann painting by John Blanche in the Warhammer Armies book, and the carboard cut outs and drawings of Slann for the Magnificent Sven Scenario. I based the general paint scheme on those sources, especally with the blue/pink feathered plumes and Iron/silver armour and mace edges, which I thought would make a change from the gold.
Standard bearer and leader.
I based the standard on the one illistrated on the cover of the Magnifcent Sven scenario booklet. It's made from brass rod with the Chaos Familar 'Iron Hawk' on top.
The back banner for the leader is from an old Tin Soldier range Aztec miniature.
20 Jungle Braves.
This regiment is made using the C32 Slann miniature 'Mixtecas'.
I decided to not alter the poses of the individual Slann, unlike the next regiment, as I quite liked the look of them all moving with a purpose.
The colour scheme is loosely based on the blue coloured Dumpy Treefrog.
Standard bearer and trooper.
20 more Jungle Braves, this time made using the C32 Slann 'Nahuatl'.
I will need to add a standard to the standard bearer, I am awaiting a mail order from Outpost Wargame Services for some more banners and shields.
In order to give the unit a less unified look, I have repostioned a lot of their poses to suggest a less formal mob of tribal braves. I chose the colour scheme based on the Green and Black Poison Frog.
5 Scouts.
As a general rule I am basing all the Scout models up with tall reed grasses on thier bases. This is to suggest they are moving through the undergrowth, scouting in fact, as well as to differentiate them from other skirmishers.
Two solid based C32 Slann 'Brave Leaders'
Two more scouts, 'Pinacolada' and an 'unlisted Slann with club'.
I ran out of blowpipers, so thought he would look good in the unit.
Slann Lieutenant with blowpipe from the Magnificent Sven range.
5 more scouts.
Two unlisted Slann with blowpipes. I like the way this Slann miniature looks like he is sneeking throught the undergrowth.
Another Slann Lieutenant with blowpipe from the Magnificent Sven range, and 'Lep'nluni' filling in the blowpipe gap in this unit.
Culchans: Great flightless birds from the plains of Lustria.
They were in 2nd Edition Warhammer, but never made it into 3rd Edition, and were avaliable in the C29 Large Monsters range as 'Giant Carnivorous Bird'.
To give an idea of their size, they are mounted on 40mm Square bases.
Left hand side.
I plan to use them as stand-in models for Sabre Tooth Tigers for my Animal Handlers.
When I paint the Animal Handler for these two I plan to paint a little Culchan on the shield. :)
This coming week might not be a productive, however I will continue to keep working my way through the Slann army. I have giant monsters (Spiders, Scorpions) and the Spawn Band Slann on my painting table. I am also going back over some of the older regiments and lightening up some of the paintwork and replacing banners and shields.
