The HeroQuest Hero Quest: The Elf

Cheetor said: "No-one will want to do the elf, it's a pile of plastic crap*."

I said: "I'll do it, I quite like it actually..."

*paraphrased

So I volunteered to paint up the Elf, happily one of the few HQ figures I happened to have lying around in a box. Something about Elves has always pressed my buttons anyway - I don't like buffoonish Orcs or gruff, humourless Dwarves. I do like long-haired folk wearing tight trousers dancing around with rapier-sharp blades though...

Anyway, here is the classic red plastic of the HQ Elf post stripping of the previous paint job. Note the added dagger in his right hand. This was an addition by a previous owner and I decided to keep it, because it may very well have been a contemporary addition (so kind of doesn't break the "no messing" rule too much). Plus it looks cool.

The Elf. Unmodified (nearly).

 
Stage one of the prep, was to subtly file the sword tip so it looks pointy and dangerous, as opposed to something more akin to the blunt end of a poker.

Now with new, sharper blade.

Stage 2 of the prep was to remove the Elf from his unlovely rectangular base, and rebase on something a little more improved. I selected a hex base (as all my fantasy figures are getting hexes). I also added a piece of thin plasticard, trimmed to the size and shape of the hex. I scored it and nicked it with a knife to give me a dungeon flagstone look.

And a new base, suitable for dungeoneering.

The next stage was to paint up our lovely Elven adventurer. I decided to eschew traditional Elven colours (you know, green Wood Elves, white High Elves, purple/black Dark Elves), and go for something a little more in the vein of Elric - blonde hair and dark clothing. I was actually painting my Elf in a hotel room, and on the fly decided to paint his leggings in a white and red stripe.

I later realised that I pretty much entirely subconsciously copied Stone Cold Lead's Elric that he painted up for the Project Alchemy charity project. Now this is a masterful demonstration of how to execute the colour scheme!

This Elf is painted rather more beautifully than my HQ Elf.

The definition between the strands of hair is non-existent.

Note the malformed ears, barely present and lacking any detail.

The base got some hefty drybrushing in greys, and some spotting of a green-brown wash to add some visual interest. Then I called it job done :)

In spite (or perhaps because) of the lack of details resulting from the technical deficiencies of the period plastic moulding process, I really enjoyed painting the HQ Elf. I like the additional animation the added dagger has given him. I like his grim and expressionless face. I like his little shoulder bag.

The Gargoyle towers over the slender Elf with his tight leggings.

The Dwarf had gone barrelling off in the darkness. The Wizard was slumped a few rooms back, with an arrow lodged in his thigh. As for the Barbarian...Mydicynal Evenstar was unsure. He swiftly danced through a doorway, on the balls of his feet, only to face a terrifying sight. A murmured whisper escaped Mydicynal's lips, "OMG, it's the Gargoyle!!"

And to bookend this post, I return to Cheetor. When I shared a pic of the finished model, Cheetor said: "Man, I just love that. Something about the striped trousers, the blonde hair and the goofy, yet weirdly definitive model really turns my crank."

Now that's what I call eating your words Cheetor. Who's painted a pile of plastic crap now?!

And now, I hand over to Phreedh for the next instalment of HQ HQ.