Bubbles and his Giant Spiders

Warhammer Armies 3rd Edition Slann Animal Handlers

Bubbles the spider trainer commands some of the most fearsome fighters in the army by use of special control crystals implanted into the spiders heads by means of some techno-magical secrets known only to the spider trainer cult.

Bubbles with a quartet of giant spiders

These spiders are two different sculpts of a giant spider by Doti for Katsina miniatures. She has managed to combine some cute features with some real menace – the large size of the models helps in this regards.

I have painted them with very bright threat style markings that warn other creatures that this creature is deadly. It can afford to advertise it’s presence so any other creatures better watch out!

Bubbles is of course also one of Doti’s sculpts. He has been designed alongside the spiders and shares some of their creepy cute menace vibe. They are no slackers on the tabletop so far and have already sacked the shrine of Rigg at BOYL 2019. I expect great things from my spider force going forward and will probably have to get Doti to make some more of them as they are such great fun easy models to paint.

Bizaza Jaguar Knight

This is a prototype home casting of the second totem warrior I sculpted. He is a big improvement from my earlier efforts. I would certainly change a few things on him now but I am pleased with most of him for now.

I am planning on making more of the totem warrior style frog people as they have great potential for some fun sculpts and look great as an elite element in the Bizaza armies.

The more eagle eyed will notice that he is more slight than the Bizaza Guard in the photos, this is deliberate as he represents an elite regular Bizaza rather than being spawned for the duty of soldiering like the Bizaza Guard are, the implication is that they are not necessarily as smart as the nimble Jaguar Knight who has had to fight to earn his position.

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Looking forward to developing some more animal suited friends for this guy soon.

Frogcats and Trainer

These are the master castings of Doti’s Frog Cat sculpts. Unfortunately the red one had a miscast ear, so we need to get him remastered before a production mould can be made for them. Frustrating as the other ones all came out perfectly. In this case as the ear was made from relatively soft green stuff it happened to collapse under the high pressure of the vulcanising press. Nothing for it but to rework the master again and make another master mould which all adds time to the process.

I got Doti to re-sculpt the ear on this master casting to match with the original so that we can at least paint the set to get some painted up for photos.

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Frogcats and Trainer

 

They are a cool looking bunch of cats. I like that each of them has a very distinct personality – just like real cats.

 

Sea Reiver Raid, Rivers Run Red

Recently I have made some new additions to my growing 3rd Edition Warhammer Slann army project.

I managed to paint up many copies of my own Bizaza blowpipe trooper sculpt and added in a couple of the vintage Perry Twins sculpted Citadel Slann models to break the monopose up a bit.

The colour scheme is straight outta Warhammer Armies ;P

I got the enthusiasm to finally finish off 5 Bob Naismith sculpted cold one riders. The riders themselves are Trish Carden sculpts, although I think the leader, who is a 40k Slann, might be a Perry.

Bull Slann Riders

I have heavily modified the basic cold one by adding on a fur saddle, an idea coming from Steve Beales blog. This helps me to fit the rather oddly posed riders on convincingly. That era of Slann were designed with wide open leg stances to be used as either riders or foot infantry. I also added a banner pole onto the back using brass tubing and brass wire to detail. Finished by sculpting a feather onto the top. The banner bearer is done similarly. Shields have had feathers sculpted on also. I made the long spears using brass rod, with some green stuff to simulate bamboo. The spear head is from an old Slann spear top.

Here we see our lady elf from the recent #makeatrish painting competition recently on one of the popular Oldhammer friendly Facebook groups.

Dark Elves are expert sea raiders, marching up the beach in a tight protective armoured formation, supported by fast firing repeater crossbowmen who use the main block for cover

Fast moving armoured missile cavalry

Dark Elf beach head

Cold ones surge forth in a frenzy

Bull Slann Rider Champion

Bull Slann Riders with Standard

Citadel Perry Slann

Jungle Warfare

The Venom Tribe

El Jefe waits for his moment….

….and strikes

Hail to the King Baby!

Bizaza – Strong Spawn Guard Unit

A unit of our own Katsina sculpts this time. The Bizaza Strong Spawn form the heavy infantry core of my own frogman army.

Bizaza Strong Spawn Heavy Infantry

Bizaza Strong Spawn – Right

Bizaza Strong Spawn – Rear

Bizaza Strong Spawn – Left

I built this banner from a pressmoulding of one of Doti’s shields, adding extra feathers, mounting it on a brass pole with some Green Stuff used to suggest the bamboo form. The warrior has had some minor conversion work to differentiate him from other versions of him in the unit. I choose a bright colour scheme for his uniform as I want him to draw attention as the focal point for the unit.

Bizaza Jaguar Knight / WIP: Sculpting a Space Frog Man Part 2

Technically this is part 2 of this previous WIP post….

So I took that old WIP and decided to do something with it. While it looks a bit ugly, once the basic proportions on the limbs are OK, we can build on top of it with fresh detail.

Midway through – brown stuff is used to structure the form usually building up in a couple of sessions.

I had a rough idea in mind for this guy rather than a specific design. As it shapes up it tends to inform the next things added and so on. I knew I wanted to have separate hands for later weapon and shield options.

Bizaza Jaguar Knight

The Jaguar Knights are a cult of proven warriors dedicated to the Jaguar god. Apprenticeship is open to any regular Bizaza warriors who have proven themselves by taking 4 high status warrior captives in battle to honour the gods in worthy sacrifice and of course, to stop the sky falling on everyone’s heads.

They dress in elaborate costumes crafted from the big cats bodies, believing that the wild spirit of the Jaguar God will posses them in battle and bring deadly ruin to their enemies.

In the army they fulfill the role of elite light infantry. They employ a light shield slung on the forearm for protection while they shower opponents with atlatl darts. When the situation calls for close work they switch to clubs and macuahuitl.

He will appear in a future KS this year with some buddies.

Human Slave

A home made casting (used Siligum to make a quick drop mould) of this green I made ages ago.

This chap is going to have a professionally made mould made for him as part of our Katsina Miniatures Kickstarter that is funding at the moment.

Bizaza Slaver Band

All of the Bizaza Kickstarter Models I have painted to date!

Bizaza make use of the giant spiders to capture slaves

Frolmec Heads

Frolmec Heads

The masters for the Frolmec heads Doti sculpted painted up to use as a jungle scatter terrain set.

They have simply been mounted on plasticard bases, with some foam card to make a simple step arrangement on a coupe of them.  Add texture and then paint.

Bubbles explores the ancient ruins…

I am happy with the results, they will provide some much needed cover for my upcoming plans to play some of the new Games Workshop Kill Team.

 

Bubbles

Bubbles is a character created and sculpted by Doti as part of our upcoming Kickstarter for Katsina Miniatures.  He is a resin master which we recently were sent by Zealot miniatures.

Bubbles is an animal handler, specialising in spiders.  He holds a control crystal in his hand.  The moss is a magical symbiotic organism I believe.

Bubbles

Bubbles is anatomically and mentally asymmetrical and proud.  He has a lot of ritual scarring which is especially a thing with the Bizaza who deal with beasts of burden and slaves.

The quality of casting is excellent as usual from Zealot.  I can’t recommend these guys enough.

 

Bubbles butt

 

 

Bubbles has the standard colour scheme I am using on any of the newer ones I have painted.  I like this classic froggy green and have tried to keep it brighter than my usual approach.