So here is a fun project that I have been keen to complete, after spending much of the last year collecting appropriate models at a reasonable price off eBay. To my mind, the only thing that is more fun than Orcs & Goblins squabbling at exactly the wrong time in your Greenskin army - is....
...Squig Herds going berserk after loosing their controlling Goblin masters!
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| The completed group of Squig Hoppers |
To this end Squig Herds fall into two distinct groups in my fantasy world. Those herds where the Goblins poke and prod from behind or those controlled by the more foolhardy Goblins who think that they can ride a Squig.
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| Unit Leader, Squiggy McSquigg |
I have just completed the first of two such Squig Herds and it has to be my favourite - the Squig Riders (also known as Squig Hoppers) just because they are bonkers. In this herd there are 5 riders/hoppers.
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| Two more Squig Hoppers in close up |
In the separate Squig Herd there are 15 Squigs being prodded forwards by 8 Goblin Squig Herders, who carry a variety of pointy sticks or loud musical instruments to urge their wards forwards.
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| The last two Hoppers |
I allow each Squig Herder to control up to 2 Squigs, if a Herder falls as a casualty and there is an excess of Squigs in the remaining unit - these remaining Squigs will go on the rampage!
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| The completed Squig Herd and Herders |
I'd like to say that each squig is unique but the fact is there are a couple of repeat castings in this unit, however, as they have been around for so long - and I'm not fussy about mixing different generations of the models there is still quite a range here. The one common trait is that these are all metal models, no resin or plastic here!
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| Close-up of a Herder and two of his Squigs |
I've described elsewhere how I paint Goblins and these were tackled in the same way - so I'll concentrate on the Squigs. I believe modern thinking is that Squigs can be any colour you like but I still really (in my heart) believe that all Squigs should be Red. (The other group I'll be doing won't actually be red, but that's another story!
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| Two Herders in charge of four Squigs |
All models were undercoated white, then painted with a thinned down coat of Army Painter Vampire Red, before being washed in thinned down dark tone ink. I then dry brush with Army Painter 'Pure Red' and repeat with the ink wash and highlighted again with slightly lightened Pure Red, especially on the lips. Where gums are on show these were picked out in pink and washed with a thinned down red ink.
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| A Squig Herder with Symbols to herd his Squigs |
Boils and spots are picked out in yellow, gums, tongues are pink, with a red wash and teeth are ivory, highlighted white, just to make them stand out!. Those Squigs with Horns or scales have these items treated the same way as teeth, as are all claws but without such prominent white highlights.
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| Another pair of Herders with three Squigs |
Due to the large amounts of bodily fluids emanating from the Squigs, the Goblin Herders are also prone to excessive numbers of boils as well.. Uggh!
