I recently finished the most difficult and detailed model I’ve ever done!
This Mangler Squigs setup, beyond being terrifying and vicious in combat, is (overall) a GREAT looking model.
For the orange squig, I added an Orc leg (and appropriate gore & blood). Orange squigs gotta eat too! I discuss the issue with the squished Gobbo in the afterthoughts section at the end of the post. Orange Squig close-up:
I am really happy with how awesome the Blue Squig looks! The dark blue back to light-blue stomach fade on him was a bit of an experiment, I’ve never done this style of shading before, and I think it really came out better than I even expected. And that tongue! Despite my gripes with the Finecast material and the Goblin details, the squigs themselves are exquisitely sculpted. Blue Squig close-up:
And finally, just to give a sense of the scale of this model — Here’s the Mangler Squigs model next to a Dwarf Drummer and a Goblin Netter.
YIKES! Seeing the Mangler Squigs across the battlefield… *shudder*
Some afterthoughts about the model:
The Finecast material was the wrong choice. Beyond the normal finecast issues (LOTS of flashing, bubbles), I don’t like that the goblins on the model do not look like other GW Goblins, even goblins from the same era. These ones have much pointier features, and are almost less detailed in the facial features. The face of the goblin being squished between the two squigs was COMPLETELY FLAT except for the nose and mouth. This was irritating, as that’s one of the most visible goblin faces on the model. The squished goblin’s tongue/mouth looks okay, but I had to kind of fake the rest of the face since there was no detail on it. Annoying.
Paint does not like sticking to the finecast material.
Also — The material is VERY fragile. Particularly in the thinner areas, such as the chains attaching the “hanging on” goblins to the squigs. I lost around 1/4″ to 1/3″ of chain from the one part. It is so fragile, that the chains weakened and eventually broke while I was gently painting on them with an 18/0 detail brush! This is unacceptable in a model. In the future I’m going to have to very carefully consider how badly I want a particular model or unit if it’s done in finecast. I’ll likely look for equivalent non-GW alternatives if there’s another Finecast model I want. I already have a couple purchased and in the queue to be built & painted, and I will (eventually) do them… but future purchases will likely not include Finecast. I recommend avoiding the Finecast models if possible, there are better options out there.