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Looking for a miniature

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
pluisjen
Oct 28, 2010 7:35:35 So, my girlfriend's birthday is coming up and she's notoriously hard to find proper gifts for. Now I've gotten the idea to get her a miniature for her favorite D&D character (the one that transfers over to roughly half her games) but I have yet to find anything suitable.

The miniature should be a dragonborn wielding a greataxe and weaing chain, preferably unpainted or naturally purple-skinned... I've tried Reaper Mini but they don't seem to have much, only a Half-dragon in Plate that seems to have an Axe available.

Anyone have suggestions on where I could find something like that? Or instructions for a total noob that sux at crafts to modify an existing mini?
#2
jesse.two.coins
Oct 28, 2010 12:00:29 you could ask them to make a custom for you depending on how persuasive/rich you are
#3
EscherEnigma
Oct 28, 2010 12:04:27 Probably not what you're looking for, but something I enjoyed back when I was playing D&D every week was making my own. Chopping up different little figures we had, gluing them back together, painting them up however I liked...

Might get expensive if you use real miniatures for parts, as I was using cheap little quarter-machine toys, but it's an idea if you can't find a single miniature that fits what you need.

And really, if the colors are all that troubles you, you can always just repaint it, ya know?
#4
jesse.two.coins
Oct 28, 2010 12:07:41 escher chopped up cowboys and indians to make them hold a bow in one hand and a six shooter in the other
#5
EscherEnigma
Oct 28, 2010 12:12:34 Nah, our quarter machines had Catholic saints and ninjas.
#6
jesse.two.coins
Oct 28, 2010 12:17:07
Nah, our quarter machines had Catholic saints and ninjas.

hey this is completely off topic but type Heil Hammerzeit! into google images
#7
CCS
Oct 28, 2010 12:46:57 There's all kinds of cool looking lizardmen/dragonmen/snakemen, etc minis out there.
Games Workshop (lizardmen army),
Iron Wind metals/Ral Partha,
Reaper,
Rafm,
Grenedier (long gone, but EBay),
Rackham,
Crocodile Games,
Priveteer Press,
Dark Platypus,
Wizkids (look for Mage Knight stuff)
Possibly something from the Star Wars minis (I'm thinking of Bosks' head...)

Check out Coolminiornot.com for ideas

Making your own....
1) Find a body you like.
2) Find a head you like (I think this'll be the biggest issue)
3) Find an axe you like

Cut off parts (I use a dremmel & an excto knife) as needed.
Reposition arms, add weapons, new head, etc as needed with Crazy glue & modeling putty (to fill gaps)
For the weaons it's best if you drill a small indent/hole in the hand(s) rather than just sticking the handles to them flat. (again, dremmel - this time with tiny drill bits) It looks better & it gives the glue/putty more surface to bond to.
Adding cloaks/capes can also work to mask defects on the back etc depending upon how you arrange it....

Making chainmail;
Take a pea size ball of modeling putty. Roll it flat & thin on a hard smooth surface.
Now take a bit of fine mesh/screen & press it against the putty. (the finer the mesh the better)
(You could also apply the mesh pattern after you've put the putty layer on the model.
Wich way works best? Depends upon the exact model....
Voila, chainmail.)
Apply this layer of putty to the places you want armoured.

Painting also isn't that hard.
Prime the figure.
White will be easier to paint bright colors over. Black will serve to shade areas you miss in painting but is a) harder to paint bright colors over, b) gives the finished model a darker hue in many cases. Personally? I like grey.
You say you want light purple skin? Try a watered down purple ink wash (I use GW inks). Paint the skin ares 1st.
Then paint the armour & other details.

If you haven't tried your hand at any of this before? I'd suggest getting a few cheap minis to practice on 1st.
#8
Mad_Jack
Oct 29, 2010 1:52:03
Reaper makes a dragonman conversion kit, although it doesn't include any dragonborn-style legs...

It does have a couple of good dragonborn heads, though.

Your best bet for a conversion is to find a mini that has basically the body you're looking for, then slice off the head and replace it with the dragonborn head and slice off the legs and replace them with the legs from a dragonman, half-dragon or lizardman. Unless your girlfriend is a particular fan of dragonboobs, you might even be able to get away with using a male body.
Weapon swaps are generally fairly easy, and any number of manufacturers sell weapons packs.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pluisjen Oct 28, 2010 7:35:35	So, my girlfriend's birthday is coming up and she's notoriously hard to find proper gifts for. Now I've gotten the idea to get her a miniature for her favorite D&D character (the one that transfers over to roughly half her games) but I have yet to find anything suitable. The miniature should be a dragonborn wielding a greataxe and weaing chain, preferably unpainted or naturally purple-skinned... I've tried Reaper Mini but they don't seem to have much, only a Half-dragon in Plate that seems to have an Axe available. Anyone have suggestions on where I could find something like that? Or instructions for a total noob that sux at crafts to modify an existing mini?
#2 jesse.two.coins Oct 28, 2010 12:00:29	you could ask them to make a custom for you depending on how persuasive/rich you are
#3 EscherEnigma Oct 28, 2010 12:04:27	Probably not what you're looking for, but something I enjoyed back when I was playing D&D every week was making my own. Chopping up different little figures we had, gluing them back together, painting them up however I liked... Might get expensive if you use real miniatures for parts, as I was using cheap little quarter-machine toys, but it's an idea if you can't find a single miniature that fits what you need. And really, if the colors are all that troubles you, you can always just repaint it, ya know?
#4 jesse.two.coins Oct 28, 2010 12:07:41	escher chopped up cowboys and indians to make them hold a bow in one hand and a six shooter in the other
#5 EscherEnigma Oct 28, 2010 12:12:34	Nah, our quarter machines had Catholic saints and ninjas.
#6 jesse.two.coins Oct 28, 2010 12:17:07	Nah, our quarter machines had Catholic saints and ninjas. hey this is completely off topic but type Heil Hammerzeit! into google images
#7 CCS Oct 28, 2010 12:46:57	There's all kinds of cool looking lizardmen/dragonmen/snakemen, etc minis out there. Games Workshop (lizardmen army), Iron Wind metals/Ral Partha, Reaper, Rafm, Grenedier (long gone, but EBay), Rackham, Crocodile Games, Priveteer Press, Dark Platypus, Wizkids (look for Mage Knight stuff) Possibly something from the Star Wars minis (I'm thinking of Bosks' head...) Check out Coolminiornot.com for ideas Making your own.... 1) Find a body you like. 2) Find a head you like (I think this'll be the biggest issue) 3) Find an axe you like Cut off parts (I use a dremmel & an excto knife) as needed. Reposition arms, add weapons, new head, etc as needed with Crazy glue & modeling putty (to fill gaps) For the weaons it's best if you drill a small indent/hole in the hand(s) rather than just sticking the handles to them flat. (again, dremmel - this time with tiny drill bits) It looks better & it gives the glue/putty more surface to bond to. Adding cloaks/capes can also work to mask defects on the back etc depending upon how you arrange it.... Making chainmail; Take a pea size ball of modeling putty. Roll it flat & thin on a hard smooth surface. Now take a bit of fine mesh/screen & press it against the putty. (the finer the mesh the better) (You could also apply the mesh pattern after you've put the putty layer on the model. Wich way works best? Depends upon the exact model.... Voila, chainmail.) Apply this layer of putty to the places you want armoured. Painting also isn't that hard. Prime the figure. White will be easier to paint bright colors over. Black will serve to shade areas you miss in painting but is a) harder to paint bright colors over, b) gives the finished model a darker hue in many cases. Personally? I like grey. You say you want light purple skin? Try a watered down purple ink wash (I use GW inks). Paint the skin ares 1st. Then paint the armour & other details. If you haven't tried your hand at any of this before? I'd suggest getting a few cheap minis to practice on 1st.
#8 Mad_Jack Oct 29, 2010 1:52:03	Reaper makes a dragonman conversion kit, although it doesn't include any dragonborn-style legs... It does have a couple of good dragonborn heads, though. Your best bet for a conversion is to find a mini that has basically the body you're looking for, then slice off the head and replace it with the dragonborn head and slice off the legs and replace them with the legs from a dragonman, half-dragon or lizardman. Unless your girlfriend is a particular fan of dragonboobs, you might even be able to get away with using a male body. Weapon swaps are generally fairly easy, and any number of manufacturers sell weapons packs.