Chris Palmer
This past week I painted up the half dozen Goblins from the Bones 3 Goblins set, as I needed a few more for a game I’m running at Historicon in July. Nothing fancy for these guys, just a get-‘em-on-the-table paint job.
I used the same color scheme that I started using on the Bones Goblins back in in 2014 with the Goblins from the Bones 1 Kickstarter; based on my old D&D Monster Manual, which said Goblins ranged in color from yellow to dull orange to brick red.
So, I prepped the figures in the usual way; soaking them in a dish of water with a couple drops of dish-soap added and then rinsing and drying. I then glued them to 1" black-primed fender washers with Aleene’s Tacky glue. I then glued the figures to a pair of tongue depressors, 3 each, with a couple drops of the Elmer’s glue each.
I began by giving all six figures a wash with Reaper MSP “Brown Liner”, and when that was dry, I painted the skin on all six with accent “Golden Oxide”. Then on the first three I painted the first and third ones’ shields, and the second one’s pants with Reaper MSP Bones “Cinnamon Red”. Next, I painted the loin cloths on all three with Folk Art “Teddy Bear Brown”. I also used this color for the back of the shields. After that, I painted the second one’s chest armor, and the cross pieces on the third one’s shield with Black.
I then painted all their shoes, belts, straps, and wrist braces with Crafter’s Acrylic “Cinnamon Brown”. After that, I painted their weapons, and the second one’s helmet, all with Americana “Zinc”.
Next, when everything had had a chance to dry, I gave the figures a complete wash with Citadel “Agrax Earthshade wash. When that was dry, I realized I hadn’t painted their teeth, so I painted them with Americana "Antique White”. I let that dry, I then went over their mouths again with some of the “Agrax Earthshade’. When it was dry, I painted their eyes, and then highlighted their teeth with Americana "Bleached Sand”. After that, I highlighted their skin with a mix of the base “Golden Oxide” mixed with some Ceramcoat “Maple Sugar Tan”, and painted their weapons, the hemet, the chest armor, and any studs, with Folk Art Metallics “Gunmetal Grey"
Next, I painted the bow, and the shafts on the halberd and spear, with the"Teddy Bear Brown". I also used this color for the back of the shields. After that, I painted the edged weapons, the second one’s helmet, shoulder armor and wrist guards, all with the “Zinc”. On the third one, I painted his shield half Apple Barrel “Yellow”, and half “Black”.
Next, when everything had had a chance to dry, I gave the figures a complete wash with the “Agrax Earthshade wash. When that was dry, I realized I hadn’t painted their teeth again(!), so I painted them with the "Antique White”. I let that dry, I then went over their mouths again with some of the “Agrax Earthshade’. When it was dry, I painted their eyes, and then highlighted their teeth with the "Bleached Sand”. After that, I highlighted their skin with a mix of the base “Golden Oxide” mixed with some “Maple Sugar Tan”, and painted their weapons, the hemet, the chest armor, and any studs, with “Gunmetal Grey”
via All Bones About It http://allbonesabout.blogspot.com/2018/06/goblins-bones-3-figures.html
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Those turned out nice! I don’t know why I always think Goblins should be green, next time I paint some for D&D, I should try out a color scheme closer to yours.
Thanks!
My first introduction to Goblins was from the old original 1970s Monster Manual which listed them as ranging from yellow to dull orange to brick red in color. So I’ve usually gone from that spectrum when I paint mine. I don’t think it was until GW came along that they all seemed to became green.
I think there were probably some in my children’s books that were green. Also, there is the Spider-Man villain “Green Goblin”, who certainly was green. I can’t recall what color they were supposed to be in Tolkien’s world, though if they were green, I could see why TSR would use a different color to avoid any copyright issues.
We played quite a bit of Basic and Advanced D&D, but I think I rarely read the colors as given in the Monster Manual. Instead I relied on the few color images on module covers and books.
True, about the existence of goblins colored green early on, though I still think the main influence for them being painted green was Games Workshop. I’m not sure Tolkien ever mentioned any specific colors for goblins or orcs.
Nice Chris! To Faust’s question, I still have 2 Polly S Goblin Flesh paints circa 1983 that are like new leathery brown. I like to see them like that too, though gotta say green is good too, but here I’m voting for what you did. Glad to see you’re back in the saddle.
Thanks, Mark! That’s very interesting about the Polly-S colors!