Slowly Getting Cranky

Greetings, fellow beachcombers! We’ve got a zesty 3D-printed hybrid monster for you today with three different easy paint schemes to choose from! Let’s snap to it!

Longtime 3DRPG readers know DM Ben adores mismatched, freakshow monster combinations, so it’s no surprise that when he saw today’s featured TTRPG 3D print, he immediately requested it get to his paint desk toot sweet!

Our saucy STL is from the immensely talented team over at STL Miniatures – a staple in our beloved DnD 3D printing community. As part of their monthly Patreaon, they released this magnficent, freaky-a$$ creature…meet the Grakyura! Half turtle and half crab, this bad guy means business.

We even experimented with the size of the miniature, making some smaller than others. DM Ben likes the idea of the group fighting the smaller ones at first, only to realize later that the party took out the babies, and the parents are none too happy about it!

DM Ben was our primary painter here, and he used a trusty Google search technique to generate some initial color combo ideas. He asked Google what series of steps he could use for a specific paint brand in his collection. Specifically, we asked, “How could I paint a turtle shell using Army Painter paints?”

• Prime Flat Black only (no Slapchop).
• Layer FAN Oak Brown for the base shell.
• Apply FAN Leather Brown to the middle of the shell (e.g., the Scutes).
• Cover with a FAN Strong Tone Wash.
• Reapply the FAN Leather Brown to the Scutes.
• Lightly drybrush FAN Dusty Skull to all the raised edges.
• Optional: do a little stippling to the Scutes one last time.

And for the rest of the 3D print:

• Pinchers P1: Slapchop.
• Pinchers P2: ASP Nuclear Sunrise.
• Pinchers P3: randomly dab on ASP Grim Black.
• Feet P1: Slapchop.
• Feet P2: ASP Rigor Mortis.
• Feet P3: FAN Dark Tone Wash.
• Feet Toenails: Use a light grey with a red wash over them (optional)
• Mouth/face P1: drybrush white.
• Mouth/face P2: drybrush FAN Desert Yellow.

Since we already had a great plan for the crab claws, the wet-sand base, and the turtle legs (thanks to some previously painted models and videos), the goal was to develop a slick shell.

Next, we tried an alternative color scheme for the focal-point turtle shell, this time using our trusty Green Stuff World paints.

• Prime Flat Black only (no Slapchop).
• Layer on GSW Angel Green.
• Apply GSW Army Green to the middle of the shell (e.g., the Scutes).
• Cover with a FAN Dark Tone Wash.
• Reapply the GSW Army Green to the Scutes.
• Lightly drybrush FAN Ancient Stone to all the raised edges.
• Optional: do a little stippling to the Scutes one last time.

For the other model components, we were sticking with those same color combos for the claws, feet, etc.

Google often suggests a couple of color schemes, and we were so intrigued that we tried the alternative look for our Green Stuff World paints!

• Prime Flat Black only (no Slapchop).
• Layer on GSW Military Green.
• Apply GSW Ochre Desert to the middle of the shell (e.g., the Scutes).
• Cover with a Black Magic Craft homemade Brown Wash.
• Reapply the GSW Ochre Desert to the Scutes.
• Lightly drybrush GSW Sandstorm on all the raised edges.
• Optional: do a little Stippling to the Scutes one last time.
• Optional: Add GSW Gloss Varnish to achieve a wet look.

That GSW Military Green is a fantastic color, and we’ll definitely be using it more in the future. Also, our picture of the miniature on the left doesn’t do the wet Gloss Varnish look justice. We’re not going to make all the different miniature versions use that look, but at least a few more will have that vibe.

One of the things that sets STL Miniatures apart from my 3D print creators is their dedication to providing a handy PDF with a great description and a full set of stats. They do this for basically all their releases. DM Ben has printed these multiple times for our DnD games, and it’s such a time-saver! We’re truly amazed that other companies haven’t followed suit here, but honestly, that just shows STL Miniatures dedication to their fan base. Their PDFs are even better for the huge library of NPC 3D prints, by the way.

If the stats and details aren’t exactly what you need, at least you have a starting point to edit from. DM Ben is going to use the AC 19, HP 210, multi-attack +11/2d10+6 (claws) and bite +11/2d12+6, and Freezing Breath (recharge 5-6). And then he’ll use a lesser version of those 5e DnD stats for the babies.

Until next time!