"Lich-Mobile: magical battle platform for a Lich" Topic
6 Posts
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 Sgt Slag  | 06 Oct 2025 2:05 p.m. PST |
I mentioned this project in another thread. I finally made some progress on it. The base is thin plywood; the perimeter fence is made up of 6" Skeletons who have been cannibalized for parts: skulls, ribs, and hands. I glued them into place using E6000 Premium contact adhesive. I arranged them in such a way as to form a "fence" around the edges, to stop any enemy soldiers from bum-rushing the Lich riding his levitating magical platform (it will be mounted atop a short wooden dowel beneath it, attached to another rectangular base, holding it around 20-25 mm above the base). The center is flat and open, allowing the Lich to move around a bit, as needed, possibly allowing one of his subordinates to ride with him (cannon fodder; another target to absorb enemy attacks; someone to assist him in commanding his undead hordes?). I used a wire cutter tool to remove the rib cages from the spines, as well as removing the skulls and the hands. I then cut the rib cages in half, to create a curled shape, similar to barbed wire atop a chain-link fence, to keep enemies from climbing over the rib bones to attack those inside. I bought three packs of skulls from Reaper Miniature company. I plan to glue these atop the ribs for further decorations. I might allow the Lich to cast various spells inside each skull, or maybe just the larger Giant Skulls, giving him some magical defenses against enemy troops which approach his Battle Platform from any side: Magic Missile spells to repel all would-be boarders; perhaps Fear spells to augment his own Terror aura; maybe even a Stinking Cloud or a Cloud Kill spell to engulf his Platform (Undead will be unaffected by these spells…)? View #1 (side view, with the ribs blocking would-be boarders); View #2 (note the skeletal hands beside the Skull); View #3 (top-down view). Not sure how to finish the wooden platform: leave it as wood, or something else? Planning to mount the humanoid/demi-human/human/demon skulls atop the ribs, on the sides, and likely finger tips, front and rear. Need to wait 72 hours for the E6000 Premium Glue to fully cure before messing with the skulls on the finger tips… Cheers! |
| Frederick | 06 Oct 2025 3:30 p.m. PST |
Well, that's not creepy Good work! I would stain the wood and leave it wood, but you da boss when it comes to finishing it off |
| Sgt Slag | 06 Oct 2025 3:35 p.m. PST |
Well, that's not creepy ROFL! Thanks. I think I will leave it as wood, maybe staining it grey, for an aging effect? We shall see. Cheers! |
| Sgt Slag | 07 Oct 2025 6:32 a.m. PST |
I would like the platform to suggest powerful magic, so wood seems anti-climactic. A friend agreed, wood is not appropriate. That broke the dam of my artist's block… I am thinking lapis lazuli, as a base: dark blue, with flecks/streaks of gold, with maybe a touch of silver. Add to this some sort of large glyph, in the center (which will most often be covered by the Lich figure's base -- Grrr!). I need to stew on this for a while. I want it to be a bit of a showpiece. Time to let the subconscious mind percolate on it for a while. Cheers! |
| Sgt Slag | 07 Oct 2025 7:35 a.m. PST |
I think that I will employ a metallic blue nail polish as the base "Lapis" color. I used metallic red and metallic green nail polish on some plastic beetle figures, years ago, and they turned out rather nice, IMO. The metallic blue will be more interesting than a simple blue paint base color. I will use gold and silver acrylic paint pens to add wisps of gold and silver to create the Lapis appearance, sealing that in a gloss clear coating, to really make it shiny. I think that, without any glyphs, will really be a good look. More photos to come, as progress is made. Cheers! |
| Sgt Slag | 09 Oct 2025 11:47 a.m. PST |
Progress update: The bones have been stained (Dip'ed), the wooden platform has received its initial application of metallic blue nail polish: Photo #1, Photo #2, Photo #3, Photo #4. The whole was baked at 170 F, for 25 minutes, after applying the urethane-stain, to speed cure it. The E6000 Premium Glue was unaffected by the baking process. After that, I grabbed a throw-away School Paint Brush (~$0.30 each) and I applied the metallic blue nail polish to the wooden base, filling in as much as I could, surrounding the bones. I will apply a total of 2-3 coats of the nail polish, to provide full coverage. After the final coat of nail polish cures, I will use gold, and possibly silver, Acrylic Paint Pens to create wisps of metal, to create the illusion of the base being made of Lapis Lazuli. Once that is cured, I will apply a spray matte clear coat over the whole platform, to dull the shine on the bones. I will follow that with a glossy clear coat brushed onto the Lapis Lazuli base portions, to bring them back to a (hopefully!) beautiful glossy, polished finish. Once that is done, I will create a textured base, using a small wooden dowel (painted black) to make it appear to float above the "ground" base beneath it. Cheers! PS: The smaller skulls of Demi-Humans and Humanoids might be too much, making the model too busy… Yep, too much. I will have the Lich ensorcel the larger skulls with his magical defenses. Adding more details to the model would make it far too busy. |
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