Showcase: Mangler Squigs 2

Showcase: Mangler Squigs 2

Published 2023-07-21

Mangler Squigs are possibly the most insane living weapons to be unleashed upon the Mortal Realms. A pair of overgrown cave squigs, chained together in a foul-tempered toothy tandem. Together they crash, bound and roll across the battlefield like living wrecking balls, leaving trails of torn and broken bodies in their wake.

Miniature Review

I painted the original Mangler Squigs back in 2013 and it was one of my favorite miniatures for a long time, despite it constantly melting under th summer heat being Finecast. The new Squigs are the same height as the old, but quite a lot bulkier and more intimidating, while still having some fun to them. The chains hold them together far better than the old ones did so the miniature feels solid

I really love the huge open mouth with the massive teeth and trailing tongue. I'm not fully sure on the small pig eyes, but it does give them a distinctive look. The riding grots have a huge amount of character and add a lot to the character and fun of the model.

Talking about grots, you may have noticed the Fanatic from 1992. I recently rediscovered my old Orc and Goblin army and have decided to try and incorporate my favorite ones into the bases of larger models. I'm happy that he fits in really well, not looking too out of place being a much older sculpt.

Painting Techniques (Squigs)

Squig Skin

Blood Angels Red
Flesh Tearers Red
Evil Sunz Scarlet
Wild Rider Red
Kislev Flesh

All highlights are applied as a glaze. I also used a 50:50 mix of Wild Rider Red and Kislev Flesh between using the pure colors to help blend them.

Gums

Volupus Pink
Pink Horror
Kislev Flesh
Pink Horror
Pallid Wych Flesh

Pink horror is applied first, then a 50:50 mix of Pink Horror and Kislev Flesh, then a final 50:50 mix of Pink Horror and Pallid Wych Flesh.

Teeth, Claws & Spines

Aggaros Dunes
Agrax Earthshade
Rhinox Hide
Morghast Bone
Wraithbone
White Scar

Eyes

White Scar
Bad Moon Yellow
Nazdreg Yellow
White Scar
Abaddon Black

Drool

White Scar
Briar Queen Chill
White Scar

Steel

Iron Hands Steel
Agrax Earthshade
Grey Knights Steel
Stormhost Silver
Typhus Corrosion
Ryza Rust

I apply patches of Dirty Down Rust before applying the brighter Ryza Rust in smaller areas over the top.

Copper

Hashut Copper
Agrax Earthshade
Fulgurite Copper
Stormhost Silver
Nihilakh Oxide

Rock

Eshin Grey
Dawnstone
Nuln Oil
Dawnstone
Mechanicus Standard Grey

Rope

Aggaros Dunes
Agrax Earthshade
Rakarth Flesh
Morghast Bone

Painting Techniques (Grots)

Skin

Gutrippa Flesh
Biel Tan Green
Warboss Green
Orruk Flesh
Ogryn Camo
Skarsnik Green
Volupus Pink
Kislev Flesh

Volupus Pink is watered down and applied around the gums and face

Eyes

Blood Angels Red
Flesh Tearers Red
Flash Gitz Yellow
Phalanx Yellow

Cloak

Black Legion
Thunderhawk Blue
Russ Grey
Fenrisian Grey

Wood

Wyldwood
Steel Legion Drab
Tallarn Sand

Leather

Snakebite Leather
Agrax Earthshade
Skrag Brown

Rope

Aggaros Dunes
Agrax Earthshade
Rakarth Flesh
Morghast Bone

Steel

Iron Hands Steel
Agrax Earthshade
Grey Knights Steel
Stormhost Silver
Typhus Corrosion
Ryza Rust

I apply patches of Dirty Down Rust before applying the brighter Ryza Rust in smaller areas over the top.

Copper

Hashut Copper
Agrax Earthshade
Fulgurite Copper
Stormhost Silver
Nihilakh Oxide

Painting Techniques (Mushrooms)

Stems

Aggaros Dunes
Morghast Bone
Screaming Skull
Wraithbone

Blue

Pylar Glacier
Temple Guard Blue
Baharroth Blue

Base

I applied a mix of flocks, rocks, tufts, flowers and leaves grouped below by company:

Geek Gaming Scenics

Games Workshop

Army Painter

Gamers Grass

AK Interactive

Finally I painted the outside of the base.

Gore Grunta Fur
Rhinox Hide

Roundup

Following the same color scheme for all the squigs has worked out surprisingly well. I thought as they grew in size I would need to add more colors to improve the transitions but there's so many different textures to the skin that the same few colors was enough.

I've been getting a bit stuck with metallics trying to make them look good. I like the effect with just a base coat and a wash, but I'm finding the highlighting difficult recently for some reason. Adding the rust definitely helps, but I may need to adjust my technique.

Gallery