Fembruary: Rita Young from Mansions of Madness

When Alex from Leadballony announced Fembruary this year I immediately knew that I was in. Of all the community challenges and events this is the one I like the best. it is as simple as it is important – drop what you are doing a push a model representing a woman (or female entity of any sort) to the top of you paint line and just get it done.

The last two years I’ve painted Drukhari models. The Drukhari range of miniatures is probably one of the best the entire catalog. The sculpts convey an absolute sense of purpose and power, the female sculpts are feminine but not sexualised. This is maybe the most important part for me. I want to be able to build, paint and game with the models without feeling like a sexist creep.

This year too the first thing that came to mind was to continue painting Drukhari models. I still have a fair few in grey. Ok, more than a few but … nevermind, I opted to take another road in the end. I’ve been looking for a co-op board game to play with my two oldest kids, especially with my 13 year old daughter. After looking around I decided on Mansions of Madness from Fantasy Flight Games.

The game is pretty cool. Set in the Chtulhu mythos, you take on the role of a group of investigators trying to unravel the horrific mysteries of the old gods. You struggle against time, monsters and creeping insanity. While a board game, you get a set of minis too. They are pretty good. Not crisp Games Workshop quality but quite ok. The plastic is a bit rubbery. Top notch board game quality but not close to tabletop standard.

I’ve decided to paint Rita Young, the athlete. It’s my daughter’s pick of investigator. Rita grew up in the Ku Klux Klan infested south but left to study at the Miskatonic University. She hoped to have left these robed men behind her but ran into them again. Only this time they wore black robes not white …

First time painting dark skin tones for me. I think I did ok. The blending is subtle as there is very few distinct and sharp features on her body. The face is microscopic and I did the best I could with my clumsy hands.

Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn