Miniature Review: Stephen Amell/Arrow (Batman Miniature Game)

Arrow (Stephen Amell Version)
Cost: 14.88€ ($17 USD)
Release Date: February 2015
Get it Here: Knight Models

In my younger days. I used to enjoy Heroclix, but I eventually grew out of that game. Even though I still play Robotech RPG Tactics, Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40K and paint Reaper Miniatures, I was still missing a quality super hero skirmish game. That’s why I’m so glad in late 2014 I found the Batman Miniature Game. The figures are pricey because they are metal rather than plastic, but I love painting figures and the sculpts are generally fantastic (The only ones I don’t like are the current Nightwing and Catwoman models). You don’t need a lot of figures on the board, there is no random blind purchasing and the mechanics are a lot more fun than Heroclix. Honestly, Heroclix fans need to start finding this game as many would convert…except those that can’t/don’t want to paint.

Anyway on January 19th, Knight Models announced there three new releases: The Red Good (Jason Todd), Swamp Thing(!!!) and curiously, a Stephen Amell version of Arrow. Now, the game already has a Mire Grell inspired Green Arrow figure, but Arrow has proven to be a popular TV show and there was demand for this figure so Knight Models happily obliged. As my wife and I are fans of the show (even though I prefer my Ollie to be a happier super liberal hothead and I rooted for Deathstroke throughout Season Two), I knew I’d have to add Oliver Queen to my collection. So I ordered him, Swamp Thing (The one I REALLY wanted, but he’s huge so look for that review down the road) and the Poison Ivy bundle (To give Alec Holland some plants) the very day the figured were announced. They arrived on Tuesday, February Second and I got right to work on basecoating and painting. As Arrow is 95% green I decided to tackle him first. Here now is a look at the figure from beginning to end. Remember you can click on each picture to get a larger, more in-depth look.

This is the package the Stephen Amell Arrow figure came in. This is the same packaging as all the Batman Miniatures Game figures. Remember, you’re going to have to have paint and super glue on hand.

The back of the package along with a paint job by a professional artist that I will never be able to come close to.

A look at the card with all the stats you need to field Arrow in the Batman Miniature Game

Here are all of the pieces out of the box. As you can see, you have a choice of two heads – one with the hood on and one without. I let my wife choose which head I would glue to the body and she chose the hooded because it was iconic and how she thinks of the character. I agreed but that choice and how hard it was to paint part of it, would come back to haunt me. Had I know, I would have just taken the un-hooded head and called it a day.

Here is the metal figure all assembled. As you can see I chose the hooded head. The quiver isn’t glued on yet as I wanted to paint that separately. Once on, it would be a lot hard to paint parts of the back.

The beginning of the paint job. Oh man, was that head hard to paint. The scale of the heads on Batman Miniature Game figures are so much smaller than the Warhammer and Reaper figures I usually paint and trying to get those mask eyeholes painted? Oh god, that was hell. I started with white eyeholes, but then I painted the mask and I messed up. After several attempts of trying to get a white that looked good with the mask and the eyehole to mask ratio correct, I gave up and painted the eyehole black. I did a better job and it looks good, but you can’t really tell in the picture. It just looks like a green streak on the face. I swear, it looks better in person.

I also gave the figure a smirk instead of a frown. This was for three reasons. The first is that Stephen Amell is a pretty happy upbeat awesome dude, so I wanted to reflect that in the figure. The second was that the facial hair and lips were barely present on the face of this sculpt so even with a light basecoat of paint, I couldn’t see them and pretty much had to guess. Being this is the beginning of my second year painting and I have neither a sense of touch in my finger tips nor working ulnar nerves, this was the best I could do. I really botched the face here, especially compared to the other Batman Miniature Game figures I have painted. Ah well, the body looks fantastic IRL.

Here we are further along with the paint job and the figure fully assembled. I’m really happy with the body party of my Arrow at least as I kept all of the detail on the figure intact. I just wish the face reflected the rest of the figure. Anyway, I used five core paints on this figure. The body was mainly Citadel’s Abbadon Black with WAAAGH! Flesh on top (both via a standard brush and drybrush). Some Nuln oil (Black Wash) to highlight any crevasses that needed it and that was it aside from the usual Lantham Medium mixes and shades. Face-wise I used Reaper paints. I had Fair Skin and then Flesh wash for the lips. I wish the wash would have brought out the beard and actual mouth so I could have done more but as I said, just a spray of basecoat was enough to completely fill those in. They were that shallow. I think I just got a bad head.

The back of the final figure. It’s times like this I wish I could take a picture that would really highlight the detail and textures on these figures. My new iPhone 6 just does not like to focus in on dark painted figures.

Finally we have the Stephen Amell Arrow alongside the other figures from the Batman Miniatures Game I have painted. Their faces look a LOT better. Still, I’m happy with everything but the face on this one and Arrow was well worth the money and time spent painting him.

$17 might sound a bit pricey to those of you who don’t paint or play miniatures games, but the price is pretty good and far more affordable than what Games Workshop puts out for its Warhammer lines. The fact this guy is all metal makes it even more of a good deal. I might go back and get a second one down the road and have it with the unhooded head to see how good I can do with that. I’d definitely recommend the figure but remember, as a Leader, he can’t be fielded with Batman and you’ll pretty much want to buy Black Canary and Speedy/Arsenal to go with him. If you’re just looking to paint though, Arrow was one of the easiest times I’ve had painting a figure (face not withstanding) and I’m happy with the end result. Knight Models figures are wonderful to paint, even for relative rookies like me and the Batman Miniature Game is a lot of fun. With the first ever physical copy of the rulebook coming out next month, there’s no better time to start playing!