Ignacio Julve, aka "Mukitauro", runs a fantastic Oldhammer painting blog "Chequeo de liderazgo" (which google translate tells me means "Leadership Check"). If you look to you're right, Mukitauro's blog is the first link on the Skaven Blogroll (which definitely needs to be expanded, if you have a Skaven-themed Plog, or something similar let me know and I'll add you to the Roll). His output is consistent and amazing.
Mukitauro embarked on his Oldhammer Skaven army project in February of 2015 and finished in February of 2017. His work over those two years speaks for itself..
Mukitauro embarked on his Oldhammer Skaven army project in February of 2015 and finished in February of 2017. His work over those two years speaks for itself..
The process is well documented over the two year span,and if you want to know more, I highly recommend hopping over to Mukitauro's blog to get the full story, I will just show off a few highlights here (there's a "Skaven" Tag you can follow to get right to the rats).
Mukitauro states his goals up front:
Mukitauro states his goals up front:
"For my first test model I have decided not to use a lot of washes,
and see how it looks like, keeping in mind I want to have this look similar
to the famous source of oldhammer skaven inspiration: Andy Chambers."
and see how it looks like, keeping in mind I want to have this look similar
to the famous source of oldhammer skaven inspiration: Andy Chambers."
It all started with the first "test model", 1987's C47 Warpeye
Significantly, Mukitauro shares his recipe:
"I primed the mini in black and then painted all skin with Charred Brown. After that drybrush with Flat Brown and then Flat Brown + Ushabti Bone for a lighter colour. Then the areas of the skin without fur where painted with Dwarf Flesh (not shown in the picture). And eyes with Mephiston Red and teeth with Ushabti Bone and lights with Ushabti Bone + a tiny amount of Skull White. Same technique for the small skulls. The bag was painted with Charred Brown and then a lighter colour applied mixing it with Ushabti Bone. The belt was painted with Terracota."
Mukitauro also call's out 24-Cigarette's bases as a specific inspiration, and laments that his first attempt at emulating them doesn't turn out quite as he wanted. They've obviously improved, however, by the time Mukitauro gets to his first full regiment.
Mukitauro's progress is quick, with several more miniatures quickly following.
Mukitauro also share's his basing technique:
"I started by breaking out some irregular pieces of cork out of a 5mm cork sheet. Then I glued them to the base with white glue for wood.
After that I painted one thick layer of Vallejo's oxid paste which gives a very nice rock texture. I also use this same oxid paste to all regular bases."
After that I painted one thick layer of Vallejo's oxid paste which gives a very nice rock texture. I also use this same oxid paste to all regular bases."
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"As a final touch I added some gravel in some parts of it,
no need to add additional glue as the gravel will stick to the oxid paste."
no need to add additional glue as the gravel will stick to the oxid paste."
"Only thing left is paint them with several grey drybrush layers and glue
the skaven to it. To do that I remove the tag from the figure and pin it."
the skaven to it. To do that I remove the tag from the figure and pin it."
At this point, we've only reached April of 2015. Mukitauro is still refining his techniques
"I have used the basing technique I described in my previous post but to be honest I am not entirely satisfied with it. I have also tried to paint the side in brown as suggested by some fellow oldhammerer but that also I did not like. So for now I leave them like this and perhaps when I find something better I will revisit them. At least it is a simple scheme that could be easily adapted.
As for the monks themselves I have followed a straight forward technique, although they have taken me more time than expected.
I have limited the palette to browns, greens and in general putrid colours and I have used strong contrast. As a final touch I used a teeth brush
to snap some ink on the clothing to add to the general dirty looking."
As for the monks themselves I have followed a straight forward technique, although they have taken me more time than expected.
I have limited the palette to browns, greens and in general putrid colours and I have used strong contrast. As a final touch I used a teeth brush
to snap some ink on the clothing to add to the general dirty looking."
I detect a hint of Nico's influence on the clothing
And we get a new description of the painting process
- Black undercoat with Black Army Painter spray
- Model Color German Grey for the base
- Drybrush the base with AP Wolf Grey and GC Wolf Grey
- Basecoat of Vallejo Game color Charred Brown for wood, leather and skin
- Basecoat color for clothes, in this case, GC Plague Brown
- Basecoat of MC Gunmetal Grey for metal
- Generous layer of AP Dark Tone quickshade over all clothing, leather and wood
- Drybrush on skin using MC Flat Brown
- Light the skin with some lighter tone of brown
- Nails and teeth with Games Workshop Ushabti Bone
- Eyes with Games Workshop Mephiston Red and light with Game color Parasite Brown
- Leather and belts done with a mixture of Parasite Brown, Ushabti Bone, Plague Brown and Charred Brown
- Flesh with Game Color Dwarf Flesh and lights applied by mixing it with Ushabti Bone
- Apply rust effect using Parasite Brown on metals, mainly by light drybrush
- Apply effects on metals using Game Color Silver
- Finish details such as warpstone, glow effects, etc..
- Apply a subtle drybrush of Vallejo Burnt Umber pigment on the base and lower part of the clothing to create a dirty/rusty effect
- Glue the grass to the base
- Apply a generous layer of anti-shine varnish Army Painter spray
- Apply with a brush if needed Vallejo Gloss Varnish (to warpstone for example)
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In July of 2015 we got a look at the army's progress up to that point. Around 70 Skaven in 5 months, and Mukitauro was also working on many other miniatures at the time!
The other projects take up Mukitauro's time until November he reveals his Doomwheel
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2016 brings in a new host of additions
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At the end of the summer, in August 2016, Mukitauro unveils perhaps his most impressive addition yet, the iconic Screaming Bell
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2016 continues with no less impressive an output...
...leading to a new army shot in October
2016 finishes off with Queek Head-Taker
This just leaves a few additions at the beginning of 2017...
...finishing off, appropriately, with the Vermin Lord
Overall an ambitious and well executed project that it was an inspiration to follow along.
Though the Chambers influence remains omnipresent, Mukitauro brought his own style of painting and aesthetics, giving the army a unique character all it's own.
Though the Chambers influence remains omnipresent, Mukitauro brought his own style of painting and aesthetics, giving the army a unique character all it's own.