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Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:45 am
by 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

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:48 am
by grizzlymc
Isn't Nuln oil for reducing chafing of the nulns?

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:59 am
by 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.

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:03 pm
by grizzlymc
Do elephant's nulns get chafed?

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:12 pm
by ochoin
RMD wrote: Mon Mar 22, 2021 11:59 am 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

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:41 pm
by 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.

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:29 pm
by bangorstu
Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:05 am
by grizzlymc
Can't have a dirty elephant on parade

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:02 am
by Etranger
bangorstu wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:29 pm Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?
Image

Re: Painting Nellies

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:56 am
by Jeremy
bangorstu wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 9:29 pm Though one assumes the Greeks would wash theirs?
Still more brown than grey.