WizKids Xorn - WZK73350

I just can't say enough good things about the WizKids line of new plastic miniatures.  They're packaged with a double plastic shell that keeps the figure safe during distribution, they're molded in a harder plastic that retains metal like qualities, and they come pre-primed with Vallejo primer.  All that for $5 retail for two medium creatures and you can typically get them at a slight discount (Miniature Market typically has a 10% discount and sells them for $4.49).  This is from their Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures line - https://wizkids.com/dnd-unpainted.

Painting instructions for Xorn (used my Vallejo Game Color)...

Step 1: Use Charred Brown on dirt/rocks base
Step 2: Use 50/50 mix of Charred Brown and Beasty Brown on dirt/rocks base
Step 3: Use Beasty Brown as highlight on dirt/rocks base
Step 4: Use Gory Red on body
Step 5: Use Squid Pink on mouth
Step 6: Use Ghost Grey on teeth
Step 7: Use Black on claws
Step 8: Use watered down Bloody Red as a wash on mouth
Step 9: Use Bloody Red to highlight the individual bumps on body
Step 10: Use Midnight Blue as highlights on claws
Step 11: Use Dead White as highlight on teeth
Step 12: Use Moon Yellow on eyes
Step 13: Use 50/50 mix of Dead White and Moon Yellow to highlight top of eyes
Step 14: Use Black to draw "eyeball" line on eyes

Reaper Miniatures Dungeon Dwellers: Cairn Wraith - 07005

This is another fantastic sculpt by Bob Ridolfi and part of a special edition line of metal models Reaper is putting out called Dungeon Dwellers.  They're supposed to be an "old school" look of models that they give out for free when you purchase $40 or more from the Reaper online store - this was the May 2018 freebie.  However, I was able to pick it up at my local hobby store!

The sculpt is beautiful, it's crisp metal, and it comes with a unique round slotta-base that Reaper hasn't used before.  My only gripe is that the base is about an 1-1/4" or 30mm wide which makes it just a bit awkward when using on a 1" square game mat for your favorite role-playing game.

I tried to do something new as a technique which I've never done before but have heard others rave about how great and easy it is - that is using both a black primer and a white primer.  The idea is to first primer in black.  After that has dried, the model is hit from the top with white primer as the light of the sun.  The idea being that now the highlight and the shading are complete.  Next step is to water down the paint to almost a wash so it's translucent and paint a few layers on.  The black and white should show through the translucency of the color and the model is complete!

I gave that a try.... black primer, white primer, and then a couple layers of watered down / translucent Goblin Green.  I did add a bit of Black to darken up the shades.  Then added a bit of Bonewhite to do some edge highlighting.

It's certainly a fast technique for getting models painted.  The con is that spray paint, in general, is a dithering technique of tiny little dots of paint.  This dithering shows through when you look close.  So while it looks great when placed an arm's length on the table, up close it's certainly not going to win you any awards.  I'd use this technique again if I was painting an army of undead where I'm going to use only one shade of color and handfuls of models to paint within a limited amount of time.