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Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:16 am
by Lunchab1es
I have to say, I think Owlbears are pretty awesome and would love to have one on the pitch. Problem is, I've yet to see a model that I truly like. I do like the chibi-style one that Impact! is going to make, but that style is very different from my existing collection and will feel quite out of place.

With all that said, do you think it is possible to piece together, with perhaps some amateur conversion work of slicing and dicing and green stuffing of a few models...to create a quality owlbear?

This artwork is my inspiration: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.aspx ... e/20120516

(Scroll down to "Take 1")

That dude is awesome. I kind of want to throw a saddle on it and ride it to work. Achieving a model close to that image is the pie-in-the-sky goal.

Short legs, long torso and long arms... the body type is kind of ape like almost. Looked at the Apes of Wrath for a bit to see if I could find something similar. The part that scares me the most is trying to find a head that would work.

I don't know...I'm quite tired and not making entire sense...is this too crazy of an idea???

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:45 am
by bound for glory
i'd love to see an owlbear! i saw a umberhulk converted for bb a while back. it was quite nice. bugbears, ditto. but as long as the tities sell, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:01 am
by axiom
Otherworld Miniatures do a fab owlbear - have you checked it out? I think Pitch Invader might have used it on one team

Image

http://otherworldminiatures.co.uk/shop/ ... 1-owlbear/

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:55 am
by Magictobe
There was an owlbear in the Bones kickstarter.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/151 ... gaming-min

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 12:52 pm
by Norse
you could probably do a decent conversion using an Impact! werebear (a truly awesome mini I might add) and then do a head and arm swap with some plastic bird bits, possibly from the bretonnian line??

I think the "owl" face would be the hardest part - they are definitely raptors, but very distinct from the others in their anatomy - sticking on an eagle or griffin head isn't going to cut it..

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:16 pm
by Lunchab1es
@Axiom - yes I've seen that one but I'm not a big fan of the style... The head isn't quite owl-like enough for me, and I can't help but see a mullet when I look at the top of the head.

@magictobe - I'd forgotten about that guy. The pose might be a bit too dynamic... I'd have to see a better picture, maybe even painted.

@Norse - that werebear might just work as the base. I agree the face will be the hardest part.

Thanks to each of you for your suggestions thus far... Now does anyone know how to make feathers out of green stuff?!

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:31 pm
by Lunchab1es
This guy could be in the running for a head chop:
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/o ... down/03579

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:24 pm
by velvet mark
Ive never heard of an owlbear before but I want one now!

That Reaper mini's head looks good.

For green stuff feathers I'd make a small sausage the flatten it. With a model knife do the feather V like pattern on one side and let it dry. Once dry, cut to shape, flip it and do the other side if needed (ala deathwing terminator esque).

If its just to cover the gaps or fill out a mini, like fur, I'd do it in layers in a coupe of sittings and try not to do it all at once. Again a sausage shape per feather, starting with the under layers.

What team would you use an owlbear for?

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:17 pm
by Gaixo
I plan to have one in my underworld team (which will probably never get done-so many in line before it). I'm going to use the Reaper Bones version, most likely.

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:11 pm
by bound for glory
axiom wrote:Otherworld Miniatures do a fab owlbear - have you checked it out? I think Pitch Invader might have used it on one team

Image

http://otherworldminiatures.co.uk/shop/ ... 1-owlbear/
don't like this one? i think its quite nice.

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:15 pm
by bound for glory
Gaixo wrote:I plan to have one in my underworld team (which will probably never get done-so many in line before it). I'm going to use the Reaper Bones version, most likely.
i was gonna use a umberhulk for my underworld team. like i posted, i saw a nicly converted umberhulk a few years back. i wanna say its a ral partha miniature, but i can't be sure...

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:57 pm
by Norse
I don't like the face on the one above, but this one looks pretty good to me right out of the box..

http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/owl/sku-down/65123

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:17 pm
by Lunchab1es
@velvet mark - either to my existing underworld team, or maybe as the mino for a future chaos pact. Or as a star player. Or wherever I have a good enough excuse :wink:

@bfg - I like the sculpt, but not for an owlbear. To me it's more an eaglewithamulletbear.

@ Norse - that model is ok, but to pose is perhaps too dynamic. Also if you look at other angles the face is a bit off.

I do realize how picky I am being, but I have a vision in my head and the associated voices won't let me deviate much.

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:35 pm
by Steam Ball
Reaper has two other owlbears (one of them also in unleaded alloy line) with a more static pose:
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/o ... down/65068
http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/o ... down/02526

Re: Building a quality FF Owlbear...is it possible?

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:35 am
by Heff
Norse wrote:I don't like the face on the one above, but this one looks pretty good to me right out of the box..

http://www.reapermini.com/Miniatures/owl/sku-down/65123
That is the one they used for the bones kickstarter