Friday 26 February 2016

"Constructs Are Artificially Created Objects..."

"But constructs made of stone, bone, plants and even paper are all possible."
This 28mm metal model of a Stone Construct is made by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought together with a Flesh Golem as code FGV306 from their “Frostgrave” range. 

The model was given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey before being heavily washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. To bring out the sculpt’s detail the “artificially created object” was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and treated to some intermittent washes of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. These areas were then given (yet) another dry-brush with “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey.
Evil Hooded Minions WIPs - These staples of the Pulp Era fiction have been primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Violet
In addition to adding a construct to my ever increasing "Frostgrave" bestiary I have also been basing and priming some of Bob Murch's wonderful Evil Hooded Minions for the Sixth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. These "Pulp Figures" will hopefully be submitted as part of my entry in the event's Pulp Side-Challenge and prove worthy tabletop adversaries to the 'Boys In Blue' that I completed this time last year.

I've actually undercoated all ten of the "nefarious members of a criminal cult" purple in order to help replicate the eye-catchingly rich violet colour scheme of the miniatures as depicted on the sculptor's website. Though as a handful of the figures come with detachable hands and weapons, I have tried to differ a few of the model's arrangements from those shown within the "Weird Menace" range catalogue.
Batman Miniature Game WIPs - Batman, Alfred and the Red Hood (Joker)
It was perhaps inevitable given the recent release of "DC Comics" eight-issue limited series "The Dark Knight III: The Master Race" by Frank Miller, as well as the amount of attention the miniatures receive from various notable bloggers, that I would finally purchase and start to paint some of the sculpts from the "Batman Miniatures Game" by "Knight Models".

Indeed I've actually had these three beautifully detailed models waiting in the wings for some time. However, having bought the Frank Miller version of Batman, I found the somewhat unbalanced metal figure rather difficult to keep upright on its moulded base despite desperately trying to weigh the miniature down. In the end I came to the grim conclusion that in order to stop it consistently toppling over I would have to remove the Caped Crusader from his perilous rooftop perch and plumb for an infinitely more stable 40mm lipped circular base instead.

To dampen my enthusiasm for the skirmish game even more so I also encountered a few issues whilst pinning the Red Hood (Joker) together, as the "exclusive" miniature's billowing cloak and thin straight gun arm both required some significant drilling in order to remain solidly attached to the sculpt's main torso. Only Alfred the Butler proved an easy model to base and undercoat.

24 comments:

  1. Excellent work on the construct! Ha sorry :) They are great figures though especially the Frank Millar batman figure. I am catching up with the cartoons. The Dark Knight Returns part 1 is ace I can't wait to watch part 2

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    1. Many thanks Simon. It is nice to occasionally have a miniature in front of me which I can simply ink and dry-brush without worrying about 'blocking in' any other colours and the Stone Construct is one such figure.

      I'm a huge fan of Frank Miller and the animated adaptation of "The Dark Knight" are terrific. The new "Dark knight III: The Master Race" comic series isn't bad either :-)

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  2. Nice addition to the collection in your Construct. :)

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    1. Cheers Pulp Citizen. I can see I'll be visiting your "BMG" postings for lots of inspiration in the coming weeks :-)

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  3. Now where to start? I'm so glad I managed to resist Frostgrave, because I think I would have ended up buying everything, especially the wonderful constructs, great job Simon. Then it looks like it will be a case of I see your 6 red cowled cultists and raise you 10 stonking purple ones! Finally, welcome to the love/hate relationship of owning Knight Models! Patience is everything with these. The amount of times that I have cursed and cried during their construction only to finally arrive at the other side with a crew that I am ultimately proud of. I am sure that it will be the same for you.

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    1. Many thanks Michael. I am really trying to resist not buying every single "Frostgrave" mini going. But it is rather hard tbh. What is infuriating me is that I keep painting monsters and beasts and still haveb't finished a warband with which to encounter them [blush].

      To be fair the first five of my Evil Hooded Minions have been sat primed since before the start of the AHPC. But your stunning cultist entry has made me switch from doing Bob Murch's gangsters next to doing mine, as I thought your paintjobs on them [http://28mmvictorianwarfare.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/cult-heroes.html] were excellent!!!!

      You are spot on with your comment about "Knight Models" and I'm only glad that I didn't decide to concentrate on painting a number of these models for the AHPC or else I probably wouldn't have anything painted. They are definitely a range where I'm going to need to simply pin/glue a little piece on a model and then leave it for a few days, and add another piece to it. They are not, unlike much of Bob Murch's stuff, the sort of minis I can put together and start painting in the same sitting - which is frustrating.

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  4. That construct is a cracker Simon, I really like that, and the paintwork is spot on. The cultists look the biz too, as Michael said they seem to be all the rage at the moment (must resist), and are these the Dark Knight models you were talking about getting at Salute last year? they as gorgeous but to dear for my meagre budget, I guess I'll have to stick with the Heroklix conversions (Though I keep looking at the Thing (really must resist!!)).

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. A simple mini thankfully, as I have so many other "Frostgrave" minis to get through... The Cultists should work out as being useful for several factions, including henchmen for the Ultra Retrovian ;-)

      Yes these are indeed the "Knight Models" I was talking about at last year's Salute - so that shows just how long it's taken me to finally finish putting them together :-/ They are rather expensive, though if you shop around on the internet or look out for show deals (buy 3 packs & get a fourth free), they quickly become a little more affordable... and I have always got my eye out on a discounted Ben Grimm for you. I just need to get one for myself first :-)

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  5. Cracking stuff...love those Cultists!

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  6. All of the figures you've reviewed here look superb. The stone construct is particularly impressive. I already have loads of cultist figures but sadly none by Bob Murch. I could definitely find a use for them. Whilst the Batman figures look gorgeous, they are not for me. I'll stick with my Heroclix Batman figures for now.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. I have a bit of a hole in my painted collection when it comes to Cultists, so these Bob Murch models should help fill that. I too am very happy with my "Heroclix" Batman stuff. But the Frank Miller Dark Knight and Red Hood did scream 'buy me' I'm afraid ;-)

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  7. The Evil hooded minions look really ace. Full of "PULPY" goodness... erhm well evilness.

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    1. Thanks Clint. I hope my paint job does them (in)justice!! :-)

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  8. Where would pulp be without hooded cultists? Great start on these, Simon.

    It seems even Alfred has a slightly sinister look about him in Dark Knight Land. Interesting sculpt.

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    1. Cheers Finch. Early days on the hooded Cultists tbh. The Alfred sculpt for "BMG" is a little underwhelming tbh. but nicely detailed.

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  9. I love the cultists bud, look forward to seeing them done!

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  10. Lovely construct Simon! A proper wizard muncher I'll bet.Ooo more cultists, that purple is amazing dude.
    I've read a few times that the BMG figures can be a pain and some of them need a lot of clean up despite their premier pricetag.

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    1. Cheers Bob. I've yet to establish just how powerful the Stone Construct is as, rather embarrassingly I've yet to play "Frostgrave" on account of not finishing my warband yet [blush].

      The "BMG" models are wonderful to look at on the "Knight Models" webstore, as well as many blog posts. But they certainly seem to require an awful lot of prep, pinning, filing and filling before they even see a paintbrush... and they are expensive if you don't shop around imho.

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  11. Somehow I managed to miss this post, jumping straight on to the next one. I keep forgetting just how prolific you are...sneakingadditional posts in when no-one's looking. Where do you find the time? Are you secretly one of the 'idle rich'? "More Burnt Sienna, Jeeves, I'm running woefully low..." ;-)

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    1. Sadly I'm neither idle or rich Jez, but simply want to clear a big space on my painting table in order to allow me to do some big projects later in the year. Plus I do have a 500pts tally to achieve on the AHPC :-)

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  12. The rock construct looks the part. Nice and solid and able to weather the elements. Thought about adding a moss effect here and there?

    Cultists are some fun sculpts. I like that they have separate weapons – makes for some less dull finished results.

    Batman… (Wasn’t aware there’s a DK part3!?!) Much like the infinity sculpts, they look like such amazingly detailed miniatures, but so fine and dainty. Good luck with them.

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    1. Thanks Dai. I did think about moss but as the brute is meant to in colder climes I decided against. Although I then considered perhaps some snow on his shoulders...

      The cultists are already getting nicely progressed as I type. I'm hoping to get a model finished every couple of nights for "Murch March" :-)

      Having built my "BMG" models I'm quite keen to get them painted. but building up the enthusiasm to pin together some more will take some time sadly. These were swines to put together.

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