Painting Those Damn Crusties

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Like many of you I'd been scratching my head on how to paint GZGs 'Crusties'. Oh I know what colour schemes I want to paint them - think Lobster Thermidor! - but it's how to get that effect without spending hours of effort detailing each figure.

Playing with my 'feral' Hammerhead Space Demons last night, it came to me..... take a look at my post of 25th April (here). Perfect!

Step 1: Citadel Bleached Bone basecoat

Step 2: Citadel OOP Flesh Wash over all of the model.

Step 3: Very very light Citadel Devlan Mudd wash in joints only

Step 4: Much watered down Asurmen Blue, again in joints. Better to repeat than to swamp your Crustie in blue. Add the blue to other areas to taste.

Step5: Highlight edges of exoskeleton with Bleached Bone. A very very light drybrush works best as you want that 'mottled' look.

Step6: OPTIONAL - A quick zip along the tips of all major edges with the edge of the smallest brush you've got.

Step7: OPTIONAL - Again using your smallest brush add 'camo' spots of Devlan Mud and or Flesh Wash (to taste) to the major limbs. Alternatively, for a lighter effect, watered down Bleach Bone spots.

UPDATE:

Ther figure isn't quite finished yet but following a bit of trial and error I've settled on this simpler and far quicker scheme:

1) Vallejo Elfric Flesh Base
2) Citadel Baal Red Wash
3) Citadel Devlan Mud Wash
4) Citadel Asurmen Blue Wash

You only want a thin coat of each wash. The Baal Red will turn very pink, don't worry, the Devlan Mud will give it more depth. Put the Devlan Mud on before the Baal Red dries fully, that way it will 'lift' some of the red leaving the Efric Flesh with just a pinkish tinge.

The Asurmen Blue provides the Crustie with a more mottled and translucent appearance - just like prawns! Don't let the lue wash pool too heavily in folds and creases - use a dry brush to remove any excess.

More Photos Later...... coughing fits and tight chest returned, so can't finish the fine detail tonight. Actual colour of the model is better than you see here, IMO. The camera flash has bleached the 'pink' and lost much of the colour gradation.

Cheers
Mark
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GZG 15mm New Crusties!

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There are two new packs of Crusties from Jon at GZG! If you thought the original pack of Crusties was good - you are in for a surprise! These are GREAT miniatures!

GZG 15mm Sci Fi "Crusties"
Specialists - Officer, 2x Plasma gunners, Sniper

I'm delighted to preview these new packs of 15mm Crusties on Dropship Horizon! The poses are superb, seriously superb and far better than I've been able to capture with the camera. The detail is excellent but most of all, they have the distinct appearance and feel of alien combat troops. In the right combination, the figures from the Specialists pack above, look for all intents and purposes like an alien SWAT team!

GZG 15mm Sci Fi "Crusties" Rifle Pack 2

Once again with this 'Rifles' pack, the poses are very good. Overall. the poses and design of the Crusties match the recently resculpted New Israeli's 'realistic' style of posing.

17mm hoof to eye level, 20mm overall height

Like the original releases, these are larger than standard 15mm Terran troops. The 'officer' figure stands 19mm hoof to eye and 21-22mm overall, whihc helps excentuate their alienness. The other figures vary in height according to their pose.

These Crusties are miniatures suitable for a new decade of the C21st. GZG have drawn a new line in the sand with both the Crusties and last month's New Israeli releases!

Available Soon from:

GROUNDZEROGAMES.NET

Cheers
Mark
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"Crusties" - Up Close

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Zliplock, I think it's time to put another human on the barbie!

GZG 15mm Sci Fi
Sg15-XO9 "Crusties"

I've popped in a few more pics below:




Cheers
Mark
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NEW GZG 15mm Alien 'Crustaceans'

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I thought I'd get a night off blogging but Oh No, that Jon at GZG has just dropped this little surprise into my email. Aliens with a Crustacean-like appearance which led to Human troops encountering the species for the first time to nickname them "Crusties".

GZG 15mm Sci Fi "Crusties"

They'll be the usual 8 to a pack with two each of four poses. The figures are 18mm sole-to-eye level and 20mm overall. Jon assures me the detail on the tentacled faces, is incredible - and acknowledges it doesn't show up too well in these photos.


The first pack will be "rifle" weapons, with some heavier stuff to follow if reaction proves to be good.

Available soon. Possibly in time for SELWG this coming weekend, but definitely the week after.

WWW.GROUNDZEROGAMES.NET

Cheers
Mark
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