nothing | 13 Oct 2011 3:33 p.m. PST |
Mad Robot Miniatures is thrilled to give you a sneak peak of our next 15mm release, the Harook. Here is a little back story
"Very little is understood about the Harook; they are unpredictable and have an unknown agenda. Although they have an affinity to other avian species of life, it would appear that they have disdain for all others, especially humanity. Their speech patterns, consisting of a complex series of squawks and screeches, do not live up to the advanced technology they bear on the battlefield. This leads some to believe that an advanced, as of yet unknown, intelligence directs them."
There are 10 dynamic poses that have been painstakingly sculpted by Pedro Navaro. More to come on these in the near future. |
CorSecEng | 13 Oct 2011 3:40 p.m. PST |
Great sculpts. I also like the idea of a simple race being controlled and supplied by a more intelligent unknown element. Reminds me of how larger countries send special ops guys in to train militia or rebels in other third world countries. |
Redroom | 13 Oct 2011 3:49 p.m. PST |
I like the look of them a lot |
jpattern2 | 13 Oct 2011 3:51 p.m. PST |
They look lahk, I say, they look lahk an emaciated version of Foghorn Leghorn. Skinnier, that is. Good idea for a new race, and dynamic sculpts. |
Wolfprophet | 13 Oct 2011 4:08 p.m. PST |
Love 'em. Simply love 'em. |
clkeagle | 13 Oct 2011 4:14 p.m. PST |
Those are very impressive. I look forward to painting a few packs of these. Chris K. |
Privateer4hire | 13 Oct 2011 4:20 p.m. PST |
Like them very much. Look to see them for sale soon. As to their Foghorn Legorness
I say, Son, listen to me. I'm a tryin', I said I'm a tryin' to invade your planet, ya see? sotto voce <boy's as dense as a neutron star> |
nothing | 13 Oct 2011 4:35 p.m. PST |
lol
I'm starting to sense the desire for a special character
|
Uesugi Kenshin | 13 Oct 2011 4:41 p.m. PST |
Man, those just gave me a whole new reason to collect jungle terrain! |
ThorLongus | 13 Oct 2011 4:45 p.m. PST |
Woo hoo Impressive sculpting skills |
StarfuryXL5 | 13 Oct 2011 5:18 p.m. PST |
I wonder if the unknown intelligence directing them might not be
chicken hawks! |
StarfuryXL5 | 13 Oct 2011 5:21 p.m. PST |
Otherwise known as the Chihook, in keeping with lesser race's name. |
nothing | 13 Oct 2011 5:29 p.m. PST |
@StarfuryXL5: Have you been reading my design notes? |
StarfuryXL5 | 13 Oct 2011 5:40 p.m. PST |
Only the Chihook truly know. |
Gunner Dunbar | 13 Oct 2011 5:44 p.m. PST |
These are great, I will be buy them, I can see them in bright parrot colours. |
Eli Arndt | 13 Oct 2011 5:59 p.m. PST |
Cannot wait to get my grubby mits on these. Steve, I think Starfury knows to much. Want I should take care of him -Eli |
Uesugi Kenshin | 13 Oct 2011 6:00 p.m. PST |
The are so gonna ruin some Planetary Defense Force guys day! |
28mmMan | 13 Oct 2011 6:16 p.m. PST |
Two words
Venusian Birdmen! ***** And no I do not see the Foghorn aspect other than them having beaks and being bird men
there is plenty of beak to paint which is a nice feature! |
Dentatus | 13 Oct 2011 6:32 p.m. PST |
Foghorn was the first thing that leapt to mind. "I say, I say, what ails the boy? |
28mmMan | 13 Oct 2011 6:45 p.m. PST |
First thing for me was an illustration from the original Gamma World RPG but my google-fu skills have failed me
I need to scan in the art apparently to show it off. :) |
Wolfprophet | 13 Oct 2011 8:04 p.m. PST |
"Two words
Venusian Birdmen!" Don't forget the obvious possible use of them as proxies for 15mm Kigyar/"Jackals" for the people doing Halo in 15mm. :) |
28mmMan | 13 Oct 2011 8:07 p.m. PST |
True true
but that is not two words. :) Good call. |
Ravenstar | 13 Oct 2011 8:32 p.m. PST |
|
wolvermonkey | 13 Oct 2011 9:43 p.m. PST |
For some reason they remind me of Kroot. |
AVAMANGO | 14 Oct 2011 2:58 a.m. PST |
In the famous words of Colonel Sanders, "Their finger licking good."
|
wminsing | 14 Oct 2011 5:00 a.m. PST |
Man these look great! Definitely jumped to near the top of the list. -Will |
SpaceJacker | 14 Oct 2011 6:58 a.m. PST |
Amazing! I'm really excited about painting these minis. If it makes any difference, can I throw in a vote for nice thinned down bases on the masters? These figures are pretty big already and the base looks quite thick. |
TeknoMerk | 14 Oct 2011 12:28 p.m. PST |
Looks something like a Gamma World Gallus, mutated chicken! |
John Bear Ross | 14 Oct 2011 12:28 p.m. PST |
Beautiful sculpts. Best, JBR |
Mako11 | 15 Oct 2011 1:34 a.m. PST |
They look very nice, and remind me of the beings mentioned in the novel, "The Regiment". "In the famous words of Colonel Sanders, 'Their finger licking good.'". I find that hard to believe. They look old, tough, and stringy to me. Perhaps if you parboiled them
.. |
Eli Arndt | 15 Oct 2011 6:50 a.m. PST |
Good point on the bases. I've forwarded that on to Steve. I also suggested that he may not want them quite so big and round so as not to limit or interefere with rebasing. -Eli |
Eli Arndt | 15 Oct 2011 6:53 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the positive feedback folks. As somebody who has been really vocal about the lack of new types of aliens and specifically avian alien, I think these are an excellent release. I had an opportunity to contribute to their design process and I think they will work for a number of different roles in gaming either stock or with a little modification. Whether it's Parrot Men of Venus, mutant chickens, proxied for HALO Jackals or as a unique race in their own right, they do present something new and different. -Eli |
AVAMANGO | 15 Oct 2011 7:16 a.m. PST |
Parboil em nahhhh i say fric i say fric i say fricassée em boy
. |
28mmMan | 15 Oct 2011 7:37 a.m. PST |
Actually the standard treatment (yes I'm a certified chef :) for poultry (firm fish and pork also) that is not young and tender is to brine it first. The brine will penetrate the flesh and leave the meat fully moisturized (and potentially flavored). While cooking the extra moisture will act as an extra "fat" layer without introducing fat. This will proof or guarantee (if you are not a cooking bonehead and burn food :) the lower fat product. Basic brine process is to mix a clean salt (kosher and sea salt are less salty and have less trace iodine), sugar, and water
boil until completely incorporated
fill a large ice chest/bathtub/etc. with ice (this will shock the brine and prevent the meat from cooking which will seal the flesh)
pour in brine
add meat (brace/weigh it down) and submerge
leave for 1-2hrs per pound. Now comes the fun part, you can add flavors to the cooking brine to impart extra flavor to the meat during the brining process
the salt creates a transfer of fluids from the skin/flesh and this ebb/flow will leave trace salt/sugar (and other flavors which is why table salt is not preferred)
so adding fresh herbs, spices, fruits, veg, stock, etc. will just add to the flavor profile. I have used straight clean salt water to brine with. This is the most basic but if you have nothing else to work with it will do in a pinch. I used sea water, pineapple, and feral hog. ***** Anyway this process will help soften a tough piece of meat, breakdown the fibrous/stringy texture (due to loss of moisture, age, lack of healthy fats, etc.), and will just make the meal that much better. yummy in the tummy |
AVAMANGO | 15 Oct 2011 7:50 a.m. PST |
|
nothing | 15 Oct 2011 8:27 a.m. PST |
lol
You guys are merciless :P |
Eli Arndt | 15 Oct 2011 10:12 a.m. PST |
Considering the Harook are based on terror birds, I'd hate to see what they have in store for us! Something like this may have been their ancestor
-Eli |
Komorigumo | 15 Oct 2011 1:17 p.m. PST |
I've been excited about these since the first preview
Its great to see so many variations. Special character? Yes please. For me, these will be Kroot proxies
Since the Kroot are a rapid evolving species, these will be a racial variation. For what it is worth, I second reducing the bases. I can't wait, these are great. |
Gunner Dunbar | 16 Oct 2011 2:11 a.m. PST |
These are my Kroot proxies link The Harook will be a race all of their own, bright Green, red, and yellow, maybe blue as well, can't wait. |
28mmMan | 16 Oct 2011 7:34 a.m. PST |
Gunner
I like your Kroot and Tau, the helmeted ones really bring the look home for me. I had a thought about the colors
do you think the primary colors would accentuate the subtle humor element that the miniatures? I had been thinking about the colors since yesterday. Kinda a sticky pickle right? If you use a white base with touches of color on the comb then it is right back to the silly Foghorn thoughts. If you use parrot colors then there is a riot of color that may be too much. It is an interesting consideration to be sure. I really like these guys and would like to accentuate the form. In 15mm it is going to be interesting. When you say green did you mean this
or this
I am not sure I have the fine detail skills to pull off the first layered effect. Perhaps the bright colors with mundane uniform bits will bring it all home? Either way I do like these aliens, regardless of end resulting colors. |
Rogue Zoat | 16 Oct 2011 8:19 a.m. PST |
Aye, these'll do nicely! :D Great looking critters. Future Skeksis would you say? HmmmmMMMMMMmmmmmMMMM? |
JRacel | 16 Oct 2011 9:03 a.m. PST |
We have our own flock of parrots (my wife and I are honorary flock members), so they may provide inspiration for painting these. Lots of bright colors. They look a little scarier Wet! They go from This:
To this!
Doesn't he look a lot more ticked off in the second picture! Jeff |
28mmMan | 16 Oct 2011 9:19 a.m. PST |
I have been involved with raising many exotics through the years, and yes they look so mad when wet :) My favorite were a pair of Rainbow-bill Toucans
Clack clack clack beats rrrrrrraaaaaack any day :) |
28mmMan | 16 Oct 2011 9:20 a.m. PST |
If I had the skills I would try this pattern/color template on the Harook. |
Gunner Dunbar | 16 Oct 2011 9:47 a.m. PST |
I was thinking, bright green armor like your second parrot, red orange and yellow beaks, and maybe a blue comb, the basing will be jungle (although I have used a common urban basing scheme through all my sci fi) this will give me a chance to do something differant, I'm fine with an overly bright colour scheme, because it fits the subject matter, that Toucan looks good to and is another option worth considering. |
BlackWidowPilot | 16 Oct 2011 11:05 a.m. PST |
"I say, Son, listen to me. I'm a tryin', I said I'm a tryin' to invade your planet, ya see? sotto voce <boy's as dense as a neutron star>" LOL!!
Leland R. Erickson
|
28mmMan | 16 Oct 2011 11:54 a.m. PST |
|
SirFjodin | 16 Oct 2011 2:51 p.m. PST |
I like this colour scheme!
|
Cacique Caribe | 16 Oct 2011 3:13 p.m. PST |
|
28mmMan | 16 Oct 2011 3:26 p.m. PST |
Rainbow Lorikeets are great birds
not too big, not too loud, not too bitey, and they are quite stunning.
A nice feature for these guys is that they appreciate interaction with people, display tricks on their own, and in general are a quality choice for a bird
a bit pricey though at $400 each. |