Sunday 24 April 2016

"I Suppose You Could Call It A Galactic Weed..."

"...Though it's deadlier than any weed you know."
This 28mm metal model of a Failed Experiment Minion is from code SKU: 26 by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and is one of many miniatures I’ve painted up as part of my (badly overunning) Zomtober 2015 “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” project. The figure will represent a hapless staff member of botanist Harrison Chase, who has been partially infected by the Krynoid's deadly extra-terrestrial virus and is thus slowly ‘turning’ into one of the alien invader’s plant-zombies.

Having first pinned and superglued a Failed Experiment Head to the torso, as well as a spare plastic “Games Workshop” mutated hand, I gave the hapless Chase Manor Security Guard an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue. I then picked out the ‘infected’ monster's zipper and name badge clipper with “Citadel” Iron Breaker before washing both these metallic areas and his jumpsuit with Nuln Oil.
Mole Hill Mob WIPs - The majority of these henchmen simply require some washes before being finished
The goon’s spiky appendage was painted using a combination of Vallejo “Heavy Grey”, “Citadel” Thrakka Green and Carroburg Crimson, and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. This formidable vegetable growth was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey. The former human’s flesh was painted using Heavy Skintone and some watered down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

I've also made some good progress on the latest "Heroclix" criminal gang I intend to field during my "Cosmic Cube Wars" campaign. These three henchmen will form part of The Riddler's Mole Hill Mob, and are thus being painted predominantly green and purple in order to match their master's colour scheme. Once I have completed five of the garishly-hued criminals, they'll join Black Manta and Two-Face in the first of my mass super-hero battles using the "Age Of Sigmar" ruleset by "Games Workshop".
Crossbowman WIP - The soldier still has quite a bit of work left to do. But is making some steady progress
Finally I am still pottering away on the last couple of figures I need in order to field a Witch's warband for "Frostgrave". As a result I have been making some progress on one of the crossbowman made by “North Star Military Figures”. This multi-part hard plastic miniature has proved incredibly time-consuming to 'get right' on account of all the additional pieces of equipment I added to the soldier's torso, after becoming somewhat disillusioned with the original softly-detailed sculpt.

Fortunately, after much grimacing, I am finally making some good headway on the model's numerous layers of clothing, equipment and pouches, and hope to be paying this noble stooge 50 gold pieces in the near future in order to field him alongside another crossbowman I painted at the end of last year.

34 comments:

  1. I do like your failed experiment chap. Surely you can't have many more figures to paint up for you (long overdue) "Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom" project?

    The three thugs look suitably menacing and nice work on the weapon swap with crowbar guy now getting a pistol.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. Two more Failed Experiments to go, including Arnold Keeler and then I just have some scenery to finish off. Unlike you and your wonderful Cops vs Robbers project, I seem to keep getting distracted...

      I love the "Heroclix" Lackey sculpt, so there are plenty more coming with different paint schemes etc over the coming months. Just as soon as these five are finished then I can hopefully show what this "Cosmic Cube War" project is all about with a BatRep or two ;-)

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  2. All coming along nicely...love the hapless scientist and am eagerly awaiting the Seeds of Doom!!

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    1. Cheers Gordon. It'll have been along wait but hopefully "The Seeds Of Doom" will be worth it.

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  3. I'm not complaining about the lovely dr Who figs you're producing Simon, they're brilliant but I want to see them in action **stamps feet in diva like strop!**

    I'm actually torn because the models you're doing are fantastic and want to see more of them, but desperately want to see them in an AAR...... ;-P

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    1. Thanks Andy. I'm close to finishing the final Chase security guard, and then its simply scientist Arnold Keeler to go. In the meantime I'm hoping to have the first of my "Cosmic Cube Wars" BatReps done as soon as I finish off the Riddler's gang. patience my young Padawan ;-)

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  4. Lots going on here Simon, love the failed experiment and good to see the project move forward. In other news my Time Robbers have been dispatched and I bought a castle this morning! This blogging malarkey is becoming expensive!
    http://critfailure.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/building.html

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    1. Cheers Michael. Always loads going on, which I guess is why I keep losing focus :-) I am though keen presently to not only finish my "Seeds Of Doom" project, but finish my "Frostgrave" and "Guildball" warband/team. Plus obviously get some games of "The Cosmic Cube Wars" in...

      That castle looks just the job. Are you planning on it residing on the outskirts of Sherwood Forest or do you have other designs for it?

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    2. The evil protagonists of my Witchfinder General games are vampires and so I was thinking what better place than a castle for them to hold up against the angry mob with pitchforks. Then there is the 'Medieval Mayhem' knights that need a home, not to mention a possible place for the Ghostbusters to investigate - I'm doomed, I tell you!

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    3. Well every one of those options sounds like a positive treat Michael, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing how it turns out. you seem to be incredibly enthused for the hobby presently - long may it continue!!!

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  5. Nice to see the Seeds of Doom hasn't been forgotten dude. With all your other irons in the fire, I'd never keep track. Great job Simon.

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    1. Thanks Bob. Been meaning to finish off my final three 'infected' for a while, and now I'm down to just two. Fingers crossed I should get the others done soon.

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  6. I was wondering about what had happened to the "Seeds of doom", pleased to seeit's still bubbling away in the background. Great additions to the goon squad.

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    1. Cheers Joe. Its not been forgotten I assure you, just taking a devil of a long time to complete now Zomtober is over [blush].

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  7. The Seeds of Doom return! Ace. :)

    Nice to see the project continue to bloom....

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    1. No Pulpcitizen, it was Sarah Jane in "Seeds of Doom", Ace came later. (sorry I'll get me coat).

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    2. And I'll help you put it on, Roger ;-)

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    3. LOL. :)

      Very good Dick/Roger. :)

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    4. Please PulpCitizen, Roger doesn't need any encouragement :-)

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    5. At least someone appreciates me!

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    6. Well that's true enough ;-)

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  8. Seeds of Doom back on track I see, it's not often the Doctor has quite this long to build some thingummy bob or other to combat a world threat !!

    Frostgrave warbands hmmmm, that rings a bell from the distant past as well it seems, can't for the life of me remember where though;-)

    And see I didn't even mention stripy shirts once (oh damn I have now!! sorry).

    All looking good though by the way.

    Cheers Roger

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    1. Thanks Roger - I think :-) I certainly plan on spending the next five or so weeks simply finishing off some long-forgotten projects, as well as getting enough goons & henchmen done to start gaming "The Cosmic Cube Wars". They'll be no stripy shirts for now at least, as I've clowns for the Joker and five henchmen for Mister Freeze next to do - though I might paint up five ice zombies for victor as per his stooges in #308 ;-)

      There will though be an end to my Krynoid 'infected', plenty of scenery to represent Chase Manor, a couple more "Frostgrave" minis and some "Guildball" players too. That is as long as I don't start basing/priming some of my purchases from "Salute"... What!?! I've already started doing that!?! Oh crumbs...

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  9. I think that thus far, your X-bow fellow looks just fine. Picking out details on such a detail packed figure is time consuming, but it'll definitely be worth it in the end. (X-bows kill stuff way too easily in Frostgrave!)

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    1. Wait! Where'd the rest of my message go!? Two bloody other paragraphs that didn't post! >_<

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    2. Cheers Dai. I certainly need to dedicate a painting session or two on my Crossbowman if he is to be finished, on account of all his detail. Its good to know that he's useful in "Frostgrave" though - that's encouraging :-)

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    3. Oh dear... I do hate it when blogger does that to me!

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  10. So many projects, so little time...
    Nice to see Seeds of Doom progressing...and Frostgrave, etc, etc. That's why I have self-imposed time limits on what I do - it encourages me to get stuff done within a certain time scale. Doesn't always pan out, of course...I've still got half painted Ghostbusters and I believe there may be a Ronin bunting knocking about somewhere that needs finis...ooh, shiny! I simply must base/paint/build that next! Lol

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    1. Thanks Jez. Always lots on the go. Just trying to be a bit more disciplined for the next few weeks and actually clear some stuff out of the way, so I've room for the new ;-)

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    2. "Salute" didn't help did it Michael ;-)

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    3. Not at all and now I'm the proud owner of half a dozen Time Bandits that arrived yesterday! :D

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    4. Payback for the "Blackadder Goes Forth" minis I bought during the AHPC ;-)

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