Crossbones: A Red Skull crony and long time foe of Captain America.
The colour scheme for this one was pretty simple and I pretty much copied the card art. I was looking forward to painting the flesh, I wanted to continue practising my blending technique using glazes, but first lets have a quick look at the rest of him.
As usual, I primed black and then zenithal highlighted. His clothing was based with German Grey (VMC – key at end of post), which I usually use as a mid-tone when painting black, but in this case, as the webbing was going to be black, I used it as the base and built highlights up from there using Stonewall Grey (VGA) and Wolf Grey (VGC).
Using black as the base coat for the webbing, belts, etc. and highlighting up through German Grey to Light Grey (VMA) enabled some contrast against the clothing.
That just left the flesh to paint. Blocking in the shade – Tan (VGC), and highlights – Pale Flesh (VGC), gave me a base to work with. This is a technique I’m still learning and playing around with, and it takes a little getting used to, as things get a little messy before it all starts to come together.
I then mixed up a glaze for each of these colours, as well as Elf Skintone (VGC), which was to be the mid-tone. From here it was a case of playing around with the glazes, starting with the mid-tone and then adjusting things using the highlight and shade colours. I found it best to mix a little of the mid-tone into these to help blend them.
The thing with this technique is knowing when to stop; coming to terms with enough is enough. It’s a bit like skimming a wall – you always have a bit that your not happy with, so you try to touch it up only to make a mess of another bit – at least that’s what I do!
To finish off the flesh, I washed it over with Fleshtone (VGCW) thinned with Glaze Medium – I wanted it really thin to bring the colours together rather than discolour them, and I used it more as a glaze than a wash.
Eyes – I never enjoy painting eyes. I usually have at least three to four attempts to get them looking okay, and it’s always the right eye I have issues with, no matter how I try to position the mini. As you can see in the image below, his left eye is pretty good, the right, however, leaves a lot to be desired!
I’ve been reading a bit about lining in, something I’ve not paid too much attention to before, and how it can define an area, especially when viewed from a ‘gaming’ distance. Though there wasn’t much to line in here, I have had a go – around the eyeholes and where the flesh meets clothing – and I think it definitely brings something to the figure.
I have done it once or twice before and always found it quite tricky to get right, usually making a mess of an area I’d already finished, but doing it just after laying down the base colours seems the way forward. As you’ll see in my next Marvel posts – Baron Zemo, Captain America, and Captain Marvel – It’s something I’ve started to use more and more.
And so, that was Crossbones – simple in terms of colour variation, and a nice quick mini to paint. I actually really enjoyed painting him, especially the flesh, and I do quite like the dynamic pose!
Key
- VMC – Vallejo Model Colour
- VGA – Vallejo Game Air
- VGC – Vallejo Game Colour
- VMA – Vallejo Model Air
- VGCW – Vallejo Game Colour Wash
The Solo Meeple 
Very nice, Justin! 🙂 I really like him!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks John.
I’m looking forward to actually playing the game, my daughter’s chomping at the bit too, and Crossbones is one of my favourites, despite being one of the least colourful and simpler miniatures.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t care much for super heroes anymore, but this is a very nicely painted mini.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
I think many people are starting to feel the same, as Marvel seems to be everywhere you look these days, but I’ve been a long time fan and just can’t help myself!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually really liked Iron Man and Spider Man and a bit Batman in the late 90s. Also liked the first movies of the new franchise, but got tired of it. But the old asthetics are nice and you’re doing very well to bring them alive. It’s always a bit surprising how many heroes there are you never heard about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t sure about the MCU films at first, but the more I watched the more I got into them and now I can’t get enough, but my heart still lies with the comics, especially the ones I read as a lad. Crisis Protocol is doing a good job of throwing in some of the less common heroes/villains and miniatures are well detailed and nice to paint.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I understand that feeling. I was thinking the same, watching Cpt. America, which I thought would be pretty garbage given the theme, but was surprisingly entertaining.
As for the comics, I never really got into comics after I had become acquainted with manga/light novel and anime so I rather went that route. On that note the last Iron Man anime (was an actual in Nippon produced anime with voice acting, setting in Japan and so on) actually surprisingly good.
I find effort you’re putting into your solo-game reviews remarkable, will take my time and read through them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, much appreciated. It does take an age to write them – hobbies could so easily take over your life if you let them, lol!
I never got into Manga/Anime, though I used to like drawing the characters – I can see the appeal now, as I’ve got older I’ve grown to appreciate it more, but one can only concentrate on so many things!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can relate to that – better having excessive hobbies than having none though haha
There are quite a few artstyles by now, some come rather close to comics. I think that graphic novels are something awesome though.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And before I forget, I myself am guilty of really enjoying The Boys.
LikeLiked by 2 people