Manta Ray 5 Submarine

My whites are getting better, but producing even coats remains a challenge. Overall, however, I think this little minisub looks pretty good. 
 

Guardians of the Grid

ZOUNDS but these were PAINFUL to paint, but I prevailed. All those tiny tiny lines on the suits! 

I used tape to mask off the bases, which allowed me to paint perfectly straight lines to evoke the neon grid lines of Tron. 
 

Head Thing

Ewwwwwww but I love how the mouth and eyestalks came out. 
 

Vecna

Oh my gosh! Colours fading into each other! And it wasn't even that hard once I put my mind to the task. 
 

A Miniature Team

 

A Man and His KITT KARR

Here we have Michael Knight, painted using some of Jeff's tips from the past few days (though not all, as sometimes I'll have painted figures, like this one, before Jeff generously offers updated advice). I'm happy with the clothes and very pleased with small details such as his belt buckle, jacket zipper, and eyebrows. The skin is smoother than usual, and while I couldn't quite create a convincing set of lips, you can see a hint of smirk nonetheless. 

I painted KITT some time ago, but now, at last, he has a pal and partner. 
 

A Pair of Zayces

Here are two versions of Doctor Zayce, one of the leaders of the simian faction in the Star Schlock skirmish game. No reason to be unhappy with these; the skin tones look good, the hair looks good, you can see the fine detail in the vests, and everything looks pretty clean. The exceptions might be their doomsday devices, which don't look quite as neat. 
 

Rod Roebuck Leads the Charge

This cements it: I'll no longer be adding Reikland Fleshshade to my minis. I need another strategy for creating shadows on skin. 

Creepy Critters

These critters look okay--I especially like the hint of tongue seen at the back of two mouths--but I might touch these up by choosing a paler colour for the talons and adding a very, very thin line of slightly darker pink down the middle of the protruding tongue at far left. 
 

Chucky and Lydia

This is the first time I've attempted to paint a flesh-toned minifigure using Jeff's most recent tips. I underpainted the hands and face with the thinnest coat of light red I could, then added very thin layers of flesh tone. The result is certainly better than typical for me; I shot the figure in two different places to try it out under different lighting conditions.

Note, however, that I did not add an ink wash to Chucky's flesh. This becomes relevant below.

Here are two photos of Lydia, Diana's conniving rival in the television series V. I painted this model the same way I painted Chucky, with one exception: I added an ink wash, typically recommended for miniatures to make small details like the shadows between fingers distinct. 

Lydia still looks better than a lot of my human figures, but the ink wash has given her a ruddy look; I was hoping for something paler to better approximate Lydia's actor, June Chadwick. 

I'm using Reikland Fleshshade for ink wash, but I wonder if perhaps there's a lighter shade I could use to avoid this muddy/ruddy effect. Or I could forego a wash altogether; Chucky seems fine without it. 

A Slice of Humour

What do you call a pizza large enough to feed a rebellion? 

The pizza de la resistance. 

McGinty

Red wrench in one hand, red toolbox in the other, McGinty is ready to repair whatever needs repairing. Pretty happy with this one. 
 

Maisy the Maid

Let me tell you, I was hesitant to post this one because the motherly black maid is such an overwhelmingly overused stereotype. But then I thought about actress Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar, and how much I've enjoyed her performances over the years--often, yes, as a maid, but she was unfailingly excellent and often the most empathetic and sympathetic character in her films. 

I have not figured out how to convincingly highlight Black skin. Poor Maisy's features are indistinguishable in this photo thanks that that very problem, although she looks okay on the table. 

I'm pretty happy with my attempt to add some colourful flowers to her apron. 
 

Mrs Pike

A surly chef, knife in hand, butchered bird in the other hand. Maybe I should have dabbed some blood on the knife and apron. 

And bird, and floor . . . 
 

Max the Chauffeur

Not bad! 
 

Chesterfield

This is from the "Surly Servants" collection at Pulp Figures. He does look a bit surly, perhaps because he's one of five mid-20th century pop culture stereotypes found in the set. 
 

Books Patterson

Books Patterson is Boss McCoy's accountant. Whoever paints for the Pulp Figures website gave this guy a pinstriped suit--far too ambitious for me! I'm happy I managed eyebrows. 
 

Miss Lake

Miss Lake, Boss McCoy's secretary. I like how her hair turned out. Another mini that looks better in real life than in close-up. 
 

Boss McCoy

Looks like a rough customer. 
 

Emerald Silvermane

Pulp Figures created a set of five Femme Fatales (or should that be "Femmes Fatale?"). They didn't name the individuals, so I have. This one is Emerald Silvermane, and these are her colours. 
 

Wanda

Wanda's skin looks lumpy here. The paint is too thick. I could have avoided this problem on her arms and legs by making the outfit more modest, but what fun is that? At least her lipstick looks okay. 
 

Desk Sgt. O'Hara

O'Hara will greet you, clipboard at the ready, when you visit the 16th precinct. He looks grumpy, but don't all sergeants? 
 

Motan

Motan presents an imposing figure, clad here in royal purple and orange. 
 

Harry Hoover

 

Poor Harry Hoover is a frequent visitor to the 16th precinct, staying overnight two or three times a week to sober up. Still, there's a slight smile on his face. What secret does he hold? Is he more than he seems? 

Officer Doyle of the 16th Precinct

I feel like my drybrushing technique isn't contributing as much realism to these figures as it could. I've found some success, but I think I need to mix up the way I apply the brush--maybe small, tight circles instead of back-and-forth motions?