Terrain Tutorial - Birdhouse Towers

A while back on one of the Frostgrave Facebook pages someone posted a link to Michael's Birdhouse Castle and commented they could make some good cheap terrain.  At $4.99 they were right about the price but a little work needed to be done first.

Michael's' Birdhouse Tower

 Other than needing a paint job the tower also cannot fit a standard 25mm base on the second level.

To solve this I decided to have two towers for the price of one.  The first thing I needed to do is get rid of the off center base on the bottom of the large tower.  To the band saw!

With the crooked base trimmed to the walls I could now get a straight cut between the top of the large tower walls and the crenelations/roof.

To make the roof and crenelations usable I needed to remove the small tower.  

I used a Dremel cutting disk on my DeWalt cordless drill to cut out a base for the small tower.

The crenelations were now free of the small tower but there was a lack of a roof!

To fix this I cut two pieces of 1/8 inch plywood.  One matches the dimensions of the crenelation square and one roughly matches the inside dimension of the square.

I then drilled a hole in the center of the roof pieces for a ladder to get to the top.

Add some Gorilla Wood Glue and then drop the wife's Kettle Bell on top until it dries!

Once the top was re-attached to the tower I wanted to make the walls look more like stone than wood planks.  So I used a rock to begin marking up the sides with divots and gauges.

Next I added some DAP spackling putty to fill in the gap between the new roof and the crenelations.

I then added some DAP spackling putty to the edges of the new roof to fill some slight gaps.  I also added some bits to the walls to give even more texture.

With all the hard work done it was time to paint.  First I primed the towers in Matt Black.

Next I added a base coat of Anita's All Purpose Acrylic 11086 Charcoal.

I then added the first highlight of AAPA 1200401 Antique Nickel.

And finally I added a highlight of AAPA 11084 Rainy Day Gray.

With a little bit of work we now have two towers with top floors at 4.5 inches and 2.5 inches, with an extra 0.75 inches in height for the crenelations to give your ranged miniatures some cover!

These towers allow for some cheap, easy terrain suitable for both fantasy games like Frostgrave and historical games set in the Dark Ages, all for about $5 and a little bit of work!

Painting Guide: Radagast

As a bonus figure in the pack, Radagast the Brown was included in the starter set, and while he does not have a part to play in the escape from Goblin Town, he is an excellent sculpt and comes with a sculpted base as well.  The base has a lot of hidden details I did not catch until I started painting/highlighting the base coat.

0.  Radagast started with a Matt Black under coat.
1.   Paint the flesh using Tanned Flesh.

1a. Wash the skin with Soft Tone.

1b. Highlight using Barbarian Flesh.

2.   Base coat the hair and beard in Monster Brown.

2a. Highlight the hair in Ash Grey.

2b. Add a second highlight Matt White.

2c. Wash with Strong Tone.

3.   Paint Radagast’s trousers in Oak Brown.

3a. Highlight the trousers with Leather Brown.

4.   Paint Radagast’s shirt in Desert Yellow.

4a. Wash the shirt in Strong Tone.

5.   Paint Radagast’s shoes with Oak Brown.

5a. Highlight the shoes with Monster Brown.

5b. Wash the shoes with Dark Tone.

5c. Add a second highlight of Monster Brown.

6.   Paint the log and staff in Oak Brown.

6a. Highlight with Leather Brown.

7.  The two spiders are painted Matt Black.

7a. Highlight with Uniform Grey.

8.   Paint the staff top in Crystal Blue.

8a. Wash with Blue Tone.

8b. Highlight with Hydra Turquoise.

9.   Paint Radagast’s coat in Leather Brown.

9a. Wash the top of the coat in Strong Tone.

9b. Wash the bottom of the coat in Dark Tone.

9c. Highlight the details with Fur Brown.

10.   Paint the satchel in Leather Brown.

10a. Wash the satchel in Strong Tone.

10b. Highlight the details with Monster Brown.

11.  Paint the leaves with Goblin Green.

11a. Wash the leaves in the satchel with Strong Tone.

12. Paint Sebastian in Oak Brown.

12a. Paint Sebastian’s face with Skeleton Bone.

12b. Highlight Sebastian’s spikes with Skeleton Bone.

12c. Add dots of Matt Black for Sebastian’s eyes and nose.

Some last notes:  

A. The eyes were painted between the Flesh Tone Wash and the Barbarian Flesh Highlight.  The eyes are done with a 5/0 brush.  First paint a horizontal white line and then place a black dot in the center.

B. AP Soft Tone is a good wash for flesh and other light colored items.

C. AP Strong Tone is a good general brown wash similar to Citadel's Agrax Earth Shade. 

D. AP Dark Tone is a good black wash similar to Citadel's Nuln Oil.

I added some Army Painter Summer Grass to the base and then painted the edge of the base in Leather Brown. 

Before we have the painting guide for the goblins we have the terrain tutorial I have been talking about.  In addition, beginning next week, I am going to be alternating between the painting guides and battle reports.  Shep played his first game of Frostgrave tonight and I will be putting together the 72 picture battle report this week.

I must thank TALE OF TWO PAINTERS for the inspiration for these tutorials.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photos like they do as I found their site after I was a quarter of the way complete.  They painted the miniatures using Citadel paints.  I felt a guide using The Army Painter brand was warranted, especially as there is no readily available conversion chart for Citadel and AP brands like the other major miniature paint brands (Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc.).  When I painted these miniatures I only had the 42 bottle 2015 Mega Paint Set II, so there was a lot of mixing of paints to get the right color.

Painting Guide: Gandalf

The instigator of this little party, Gandalf the Grey, has arrived and is ready to begin!  Despite him coming out a little dark, this is one of my favorite miniatures I painted from the starter box.

0.  Gandalf started with a Matt Black under coat (which was probably why he turned out so dark).
1.   Paint the flesh using Tanned Flesh.

1a. Wash the skin with Soft Tone.

1b. Highlight using Barbarian Flesh.

2.   Base coat the hair and beard in Monster Brown.

2a. Highlight the hair in Ash Grey.

2b. Add a second highlight Matt White.

3.   Paint the inner cloak and sword belt with Deep Blue.

3a. Highlight the above with Crystal Blue.

4.   Paint Gandalf’s scarf with Wolf Grey.

4a. Highlight the scarf with Ash Grey.

4b. Add a second highlight of Ash Grey and Matt White in a ratio of 1:1.

5.   Paint Gandalf’s over cloak in a mix of Uniform Grey and Matt Black in a ratio of 10:1. (In retrospect I should have done just the Uniform Grey).

5a. Wash with Strong Tone.

5b. Highlight with Uniform Grey.

5c. Add a second highlight Ash Grey.

6.   Paint the staff, belts, and shoes in Oak Brown.

6a. Highlight with Leather Brown.

7.   Paint Gandalf’s gloves in Monster Brown.

7a. Wash with Strong Tone.

8.   Paint Glamdring in Shining Silver.

Some last notes:  

A. The eyes were painted between the Flesh Tone Wash and the Barbarian Flesh Highlight.  The eyes are done with a 5/0 brush.  First paint a horizontal white line and then place a black dot in the center.

B. AP Soft Tone is a good wash for flesh and other light colored items.

C. AP Strong Tone is a good general brown wash similar to Citadel's Agrax Earth Shade. 

D. AP Dark Tone is a good black wash similar to Citadel's Nuln Oil.

I based the miniature with coral beach sand for the rocky/sandy caves of Goblin Town and added some Highland Tufts and Meadow Tufts from The Army Painter Battlefields range.  I then painted the edge of the base in Ash Grey. 

Think we are done with the free peoples?  Nope, a special bonus figure comes with the set, making a trip all the way from Rhosgobel on the western boarders of Mirkwood.

I must thank TALE OF TWO PAINTERS for the inspiration for these tutorials.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photos like they do as I found their site after I was a quarter of the way complete.  They painted the miniatures using Citadel paints.  I felt a guide using The Army Painter brand was warranted, especially as there is no readily available conversion chart for Citadel and AP brands like the other major miniature paint brands (Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc.).  When I painted these miniatures I only had the 42 bottle 2015 Mega Paint Set II, so there was a lot of mixing of paints to get the right color.

 

Painting Guide: Thorin Oakenshield

Finally, the King Under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield, deigns to make his appearance!  Lots of detail, as befits his status, but not my best paint job unfortunately, too thick of paint obscuring those details I just mentioned. Click on the pictures for a larger view!

0. Thorin started with a Matt Black under coat.
1.   Paint the flesh using Tanned Flesh.

1a. Wash the skin with Red Tone to get the ruddier tone of the Dwarfs.

1b. Highlight using Barbarian Flesh.

2.   Highlight the hair and fur between the boot straps with a mixture of Uniform Grey and Matt Black in a 4:1 ratio.

2a. Highlight a second time with Uniform Grey.

2b. Highlight the fur only a third time with Skeleton Bone.

3.   Highlight the scabbard, elbows, knees, boot straps with a mixture of Uniform Grey and Matt Black in a 4:1 ratio.

3a. Highlight a second time with Electric Blue.

4.   Paint Thorin’s scale mail, belt, scabbard top, and steel toe caps with Plate Mail Metal.

4a. Wash the mail, belt and scabbard top with Strong Tone.

4b. Wash the steel toe caps with Dark Tone.

5.   Paint Orcrist in Shining

Silver.

5a. Highlight with Blue Tone.

6.   Paint the hilt and pommel with Plate Mail Metal.

7.   Paint Thorin’s tunic and wrist guards in with Deep Blue.

7a. Highlight with Ultramarine Blue.

7b. Wash with Dark Tone.

7c. Create the cross hatch with Matt Black.

8.   Paint the scabbard with Monster Brown.

8a. Highlight with Desert Yellow.

8b. Wash with Strong Tone.

Some last notes:  

A. The eyes were painted between the Flesh Tone Wash and the Barbarian Flesh Highlight.  The eyes are done with a 5/0 brush.  First paint a horizontal white line and then place a black dot in the center.

B. AP Soft Tone is a good wash for flesh and other light colored items.

C. AP Strong Tone is a good general brown wash similar to Citadel's Agrax Earth Shade. 

D. AP Dark Tone is a good black wash similar to Citadel's Nuln Oil.

I based the miniature with coral beach sand for the rocky/sandy caves of Goblin Town and added some Highland Tufts and Meadow Tufts from The Army Painter Battlefields range.  I then painted the edge of the base in Shining Silver and Electric Blue. 

That finishes up Thorin’s Company but what about the one who brought this crew together?  Stop by next week to see the best fireworks maker in Middle Earth!

I must thank TALE OF TWO PAINTERS for the inspiration for these tutorials.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photos like they do as I found their site after I was a quarter of the way complete.  They painted the miniatures using Citadel paints.  I felt a guide using The Army Painter brand was warranted, especially as there is no readily available conversion chart for Citadel and AP brands like the other major miniature paint brands (Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc.).  When I painted these miniatures I only had the 42 bottle 2015 Mega Paint Set II, so there was a lot of mixing of paints to get the right color. 

Painting Guide: Bombur

The last, but certainly not the least, of Thorin’s dwarves comes rolling in looking for a feast.  A fairly simple paint job but a very enjoyable miniature. 

0.  Bombur started with a Uniform Grey under coat.
1.   Paint the flesh using Tanned Flesh.

1a. Wash the skin with Red Tone to get the ruddier tone of the Dwarfs.

1b. Highlight using Barbarian Flesh.

2.   Paint Bombur’s shirt in Goblin Green.

2a. Highlight with Necrotic Flesh.

2b. Wash the shirt with Green Tone.

3.   Paint his boots with Oak Brown.

3a. Wash the boots with Dark Tone.

3b. Highlight the boots with Leather Brown.

4.   Paint Bombur’s vest in Leather Brown.

4a. Highlight with Monster Brown.

4b. Do a second highlight of Monster Brown and Desert Yellow in a 1:1 ratio.

4c. Wash in Strong Tone.

5.   Paint Bombur’s hair in Fur Brown.

5a. Highlight with a mix of Lava Orange, Skeleton Bone, and Pure Red in a 2:2:1 ratio.

5b. Wash the hair in Strong Tone.

6.   Paint the trousers and gloves in a Uniform Grey and Matt Black mix in a 10:1 ratio.

6a. Highlight with Ash Grey.

6b. Wash with Dark Tone.

7.   Paint the satchel in a 1:1 ratio of Desert Yellow and Monster Brown.

7a. Wash in Strong Tone.

8.   Paint the butcher knife and ladle handles in Oak Brown.

8a. Paint the metal of the butcher knife and ladle in Gun Metal.

Some last notes:  

A. The eyes were painted between the Flesh Tone Wash and the Barbarian Flesh Highlight.  The eyes are done with a 5/0 brush.  First paint a horizontal white line and then place a black dot in the center.

B. AP Soft Tone is a good wash for flesh and other light colored items.

C. AP Strong Tone is a good general brown wash similar to Citadel's Agrax Earth Shade. 

D. AP Dark Tone is a good black wash similar to Citadel's Nuln Oil.

I based the miniature with coral beach sand for the rocky/sandy caves of Goblin Town and added some Highland Tufts and Meadow Tufts from The Army Painter Battlefields range.  I then painted the edge of the base in Necrotic Flesh. 

Next week we come to the end of the company and the King Under the Mountain makes his appearance!

I must thank TALE OF TWO PAINTERS for the inspiration for these tutorials.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photos like they do as I found their site after I was a quarter of the way complete.  They painted the miniatures using Citadel paints.  I felt a guide using The Army Painter brand was warranted, especially as there is no readily available conversion chart for Citadel and AP brands like the other major miniature paint brands (Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc.).  When I painted these miniatures I only had the 42 bottle 2015 Mega Paint Set II, so there was a lot of mixing of paints to get the right color. 

Painting Guide: Bofur

Bofur is the next one of this group of dwarves.  He comes swinging his mattock, showing the plight of many of the dwarves of Erebor since their exile began.  Another character with lots of freehand detail work to be done.      

0.  Bofur started with a black under coat.
1.   Paint the flesh using Tanned Flesh.

1a. Wash the skin with Red Tone to get the ruddier tone of the Dwarfs.

1b. Wash the skin again in Flesh Tone.

1c. Highlight using Barbarian Flesh.

2.   Paint Bofur’s hair, hand guards, pouch, and weapon wrap with Leather Brown.

2a. Highlight with Monster Brown.

3.   Paint his hat, boots, trousers, with Leather Brown.

3a. Highlight the boots and trousers with Fur Brown.

3b. Add a second highlight of a Skeleton Bone and Lava Orange mix in a 3:2 ratio.

4.   Basecoat the overcoat, tunic, and boot fur in Monster Brown.

4a. Add a highlight of Desert Yellow.

4b. Wash with Strong Tone.

5.   Paint Bofur’s mattock shaft and belt in Oak Brown.

6.   Paint his scarf and hat fur in Uniform Grey.

6a. Highlight with Ash Grey.

6b. Wash with Dark Tone.

7.   Add details to the overcoat, tunic, and wrist guards with Oak Brown.

8.   Paint the buckles and mattock head with Gun Metal.

Some last notes:  

A. The eyes were painted between the Flesh Tone Wash and the Barbarian Flesh Highlight.  The eyes are done with a 5/0 brush.  First paint a horizontal white line and then place a black dot in the center.

B. AP Soft Tone is a good wash for flesh and other light colored items.

C. AP Strong Tone is a good general brown wash similar to Citadel's Agrax Earth Shade. 

D. AP Dark Tone is a good black wash similar to Citadel's Nuln Oil.

I based the miniature with coral beach sand for the rocky/sandy caves of Goblin Town and added some Highland Tufts and Meadow Tufts from The Army Painter Battlefields range.  I then painted the edge of the base in Demonic Yellow. 

Next week everyone’s favorite dwarven wreaking ball lands on Bilbo’s door stop, be sure to come on by!

I must thank TALE OF TWO PAINTERS for the inspiration for these tutorials.  Unfortunately, I do not have step by step photos like they do as I found their site after I was a quarter of the way complete.  They painted the miniatures using Citadel paints.  I felt a guide using The Army Painter brand was warranted, especially as there is no readily available conversion chart for Citadel and AP brands like the other major miniature paint brands (Vallejo, P3, Reaper, etc.).  When I painted these miniatures I only had the 42 bottle 2015 Mega Paint Set II, so there was a lot of mixing of paints to get the right color.