Painting Nellies

[ochoin]

My Pyrrhus project is progressing: I've just finished 12 phalangites (sounds impressive? The unit needs 36 figures....) & I want to paint the first of my two elephants.

I've bought these beauties:
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=349
Yes, I know the first one is more Antigonus than Pyrrhus but I like them both.

After *quite* a lot of delving into the internet, I think I'll paint their hides as follows:
white undercoat & thin light grey top coat (Vallejo). Wash in Nuln Oil (Citadel black wash) then dry brush with a very light grey colour (again, Vallejo).

I *may* add some pinky-grey to edge of the ears & end of the trunk.

Comments? With only two elephants allowed, I want them to look good. Or as good as my meagre talents allow.

donald

[grizzlymc]

Isn't Nuln oil for reducing chafing of the nulns?

[RMD]

I've always used Humbrol 72 khaki drill mixed with black as the base colour for my nellies, then highlighting with the neat colour. It's more brown than grey.

[grizzlymc]

Do elephant's nulns get chafed?

[ochoin]

It's more brown than grey.

Brown or grey......I'm still not sure what's correct. And believe me, I've looked.

Maybe, the brown is the dust elephants tend to throw over themselves to protect from insects & sun? I've also seen photos of grey Indian elephants as well as brown.

Choosing grey for me at least partly rests on the fact that that's what elephants are supposed to be coloured. Perception is important.

donald

[Jeremy]

Seen hundreds of elephants in my life. Some no more than three or four meters away. Elephants are never really grey. They’re more brown than grey. Hodden grey is probably a good choice.

[bangorstu]

Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?

[grizzlymc]

Can't have a dirty elephant on parade

[Etranger]

Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?

[Jeremy]

Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?

Still more brown than grey.