"Converting another toy dragon for wargaming/RPG use." Topic

This time, the Safari, Ltd. Freedom Dragon gets a make-over, turning it into an AD&D Brass Dragon. Nominal figure scale (such as it is) would be 1/72 (where 72 inches = the average 6-foot height of a Human Being), or true 25mm.

The original figure is pearlescent white, overall. I chose this toy Dragon figure as it is somewhat close in sculpting design to the AD&D RPG's Brass Dragon's drawing, within the 1e and the 2e Monster Manuals. It is also available, in local stores, for around $19. USD Dragon miniature models, from companies such as Reaper, Iron Wind Metals, and others, tend to clock in north of $30 USD! With simple painting techniques, an inexpensive toy can be converted into a palatable fantasy gaming miniature, for a fraction of the cost. The sculpting is often less detailed, but for the price, I can accept the trade-off's.

I started by shopping for the most accurate Brass spray paint I could find. I cut out small pieces of blue painter's tape, to cover the factory painted eyes of the toy, then I sprayed two coats of the shiny finish, Brass spray paint to the toy: View 1, View 2.

The figure had a star shape molded into the top of its head. I used a file to remove 95% of this feature. I should have used some fine sandpaper to smooth it, but it is just a toy conversion, and so I got lazy (shame on me…).

I am thinking of making the talons glossy black, painting the belly a dark tan color. I also plan to apply a dark brown wash (likely Minwax Polyshades Urethane Stain -- Royal Walnut color) to give it a nicer, shadowed finish. Not sure about a matte clear coat. Will probably only apply a matte coat to the belly, leaving the metallic scaled areas a glossy finish. A little experimentation will guide me to the final result. Cheers!

Yeah, you are correct. Not sure why I mentioned scale, now that I think about it; I should have put a 25mm – 28mm Human figure in the photo to help readers get an idea of the Dragon's size. I will need to remember to post a Human figure with it, in the next update.

Thanks for the post, and the complement. Cheers!

PS:

Welcome to TMP!

I have always loved dragons in all sizes. Look at them in craft stores for kids I guess. What you did so far looks awesome.

Painted on The Dip Technique, Royal Walnut, my favorite color: Dip'ed Dragon1, Dip'ed Dragon2, Dip'ed Dragon3. Debating on matte clear coating it. Might limit the dull coat to the belly, and only the non-brass areas.

I know later D&D editions portrayed metallic dragons with oxidation in their wings and bodies. That has never appealed to me, so I will never add that type of 'highlight' to any of my dragon models. I use dark recess tones to create shadowing, using the easiest technique on the Earth, The Dip Technique. As an army painter, I go for the simplest techniques, that look good at arm's length. And converting toy dragon figures to use for my RPG sessions, along with my tabletop war games, makes for a fun crafting project, along with creating fun figures for gaming with. Cheers!

Final update: the Freedom Dragon is now converted into an AD&D Brass Dragon.

Here is a link to an album of photos of the conversion process, if you have time to kill… Here is a shot of my other recently completed toy conversion, a Draco-Lich facing off against his Brass Enemy. Cheers!

Thought I'd share some drawings of the 1e Brass Dragon and the 2e Brass Dragon from the relevant Monster Manuals. The Safari, Ltd. sculpt is a close match, IMO. Cheers!

Sure like him better bronze then white with racing strips. Has he killed anyone yet?