Yes, it’s a pun. A bad one even*
This fall I’ve painted two flying beasties already. The first was Tempest (featured last week), the 2nd is the model in the header. It’s a headswapped Balthasar Gelt model.
This post describes the hobby process how I built him.
first things first, why I love this model.
It’s the pegasus. I love the quicksilver (that’s the name) model because it looks kind and gentle; it has an easy and relaxed pose; much unlike the tempest model painted recently.
Furthermore it’s smaller than a normal horse, has semi-folded swings so its fits easily on a 50×50 milimeter base (for Kings of War), but can also fit quite well on a 40×40 one. (for 9th age).
Here’s how the various pegasi models compare to each other (this pic was taken before painting the various winged beasties). On the far right is the balthasar gelt model, see how it compares to Tempest (back) and the original high-elf pegasus that I normally use (left)
The rider (Gelt), I do not like however. His mask looks a bit like the stormcasts’ masks which I also hate. First I tried building a new mage from scratch using a free company model and green stuff, but failed because of the way the legs bend. (It’s hard to see on the pictures, but the legs are bent into an unnatural pose in order to fit the model around the pegasus” wings. The robes hide this fact pretty well.
Building the rider
This meant that I had to do with the Balthasar Gelt model. I decided on a head swap instead of a torso swap due to the robes. (which are plainly ridiculously large when looking at the model without the pegasus)
In the right is the model with a line where I wanted the head removed. Because the model’s collar is connected to the front of the model, I couldn’t use a saw, so used a drill to remove the head and trimmed the rest with a hobby knife. All-in, a pretty evening’s work.
I managed to retain the model’s regalia and the front sides of the collar, while removing all parts of the mask and the ridiculous oversized backside the collar.
Then I needed a new head. I chose a wood-elven head I had laying around somewhere so I could use the model as either sex as I didn’t have a backstory conjured up for him/her.
It’s good to have a decent bits box for projects like this!
The built result
Here’s Kai on his/her (as I don’t have determined his/her background and sex yet) pegasus.
I completed the model with the original staff (Staff of Volans in the Warhammer universe, bu timpressive enough as a wizard’s staff anywere).
The head is a wood-elf head from the plastic kit, which I connected to the original model with a green stuffed high collarto fit on the orignal robes.
Here’s a picture halfway the painting process.
Final result
*: As the model is the Balthazar Gelt model with a head-swap, it can be described as half the Gelt model. As it is “Half Gelt (though written slightly different) is a Dutch expression meaning “seriously discounted” hinting on knockoff quality.
As the Balthazar Gelt mini (especially the pegasus) is an excellent model, the contrast makes for a great pun. Too bad one has to understand dutch to understand it.
Vince on all things Kings of War 
2 thoughts on “Hobby update: Half Gelt”