{"id":5699,"date":"2021-12-28T22:14:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T03:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/?p=5699"},"modified":"2021-12-28T22:14:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-29T03:14:26","slug":"castle-ravenloft-rat-swarm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/28\/castle-ravenloft-rat-swarm\/","title":{"rendered":"Castle Ravenloft rat swarm \u2014 Miniature Painting"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='__iawmlf-post-loop-links' style='display:none;' data-iawmlf-post-links='[{&quot;id&quot;:166,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/amzn.to\\\/3HmR2Wu&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.com\\\/Liquitex-Professional-Acrylic-Transparent-Burnt\\\/dp\\\/B0026439C4?crid=3I0ED12Z36R11&amp;keywords=liquitex+ink+burnt+umber&amp;qid=1640744758&amp;sprefix=Liquitex+ink+bur,aps,169&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=burningorg-20&amp;linkId=a7494b073f9552b523915c11ddf44a67&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]'><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Painted rat swarm mini-fig\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/0-acrylic-alone-corner.jpg 1912w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve started painting the minifigs \/ monsters that came with the Castle Ravenloft board game. I decided to start with the rat swarm first, because I figure if I can paint all those little rats and still retain my eyesight, the larger models should be a piece of cake.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5701\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"ratswarm model painted flat black with primer\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/8-burn-umber-ink-wash-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I started off with a flat black auto spray primer. I got the most bang for my buck using a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3HmR2Wu\">transparent burnt umber acrylic ink<\/a> from Liquitex (left side) over the basecoat, and that really made the black rats look good.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5702\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"half of the rats painted brown\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-brown-rats-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The second step was to cover approximately half of the rats with brown to turn them into Norway Rats (Sewer Rats) as opposed to Roof Rats. I tried to keep the brown rats evenly distributed within the black rats, and did each of the three models differently (mostly because I didn&#8217;t want to try and remember which ones I&#8217;d done previously&#8230;).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5703\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Drybrushed with golden brown and gray\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-drybrush-golden-brown-gray2.jpg 1660w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The third step (rats on the right) is to dry-brush the backs and heads with a lighter shade. I used gray for the black rats, and golden brown for the brown rats.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5704\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-coral-tails-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Then I got out my smallest brush, and lined the rats tails with Coral. It&#8217;s OK if you get some coral paint on the base, as you can cover it up with black later on, try and avoid the rats.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/4-bright-red-eyes-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other than the tails the only other detail work I did was the eyes. I used bright red on the black rats, and black on the brown rats. (Again, with my 2nd smallest brush.) A few black rats have red ears, but at this scale it&#8217;s hard to tell&#8230;)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-acrylic-matt-gloss-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The plain acrylic paint (left) \u00a0 looks best in the photos, the center rat swarm is coated with a matte clearcoat, and the gloss clear-coat on the right \u00a0 looks the best in person (according to my wife and son).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-5707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone-120x120.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-high-gloss-alone.jpg 1788w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve started painting the minifigs \/ monsters that came with the Castle Ravenloft board game. I decided to start with the rat swarm first, because I figure if I can paint all those little rats and still retain my eyesight, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/2021\/12\/28\/castle-ravenloft-rat-swarm\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[144],"class_list":["post-5699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-projects","tag-minifigs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5699"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5708,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5699\/revisions\/5708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.summet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}