Thursday 29 June 2017

“Okay, Hoagy – Let’s Hit ‘Em Low!”

"Yup! The stogie's right, Sam!"
This 28mm metal model of Hoagy can be bought either from the “Wargames Foundry” “2000 A.D.” character range as Stock Code AD071, or from “Warmonger Miniatures”, and is based upon Sam Slade’s “dozy droid” companion. Created by John Wagner and Ian Gibson for the multi-issue story “Day Of The Droids”, the kit-built “imbecilic robot” would go on to hinder “Robo-Hunter” in many of Slade’s most memorable cases and made his first appearance in Prog 152 [February 16th 1980].

Disappointingly somewhat larger in size than his actual comic book counterpart, I was initially rather undecided as to which colour the robo-sidekick should be. Kevin Dallimore’s wonderfully vibrant green version on the “Wargames Foundry” website appeared a very persuasive palette, especially when I saw the cover illustration of Prog 259, which seemingly rendered Hoagy in a similar hue. However, having done a bit more research, it quickly became clear that the robot was predominantly ‘inked’ on the printed page a metallic blue with large yellow eyes; and I resultantly primed my miniature using some “Vallejo” Gunmetal Blue.
Torquemada WIPs - The Grand Master has had all his armour's tiny details 'picked out'
The figure was then washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Gunmetal Blue. This ultimately was a bit of a time-consuming process, as the acrylic paint tends to turn noticeably silver in colour as it wears thin on the brush, so I had to keep stopping to recharge my “Windsor and Newton” and dab the white synthetic bristles dry.

Once finished, I turned my attention to carefully ‘picking’ out the droid’s two eyes with “Vallejo” Iraqi Sand and shaded them with some watered-down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. As a final touch, I dotted both orbs with Abaddon Black, and then highlighted around these areas with “Vallejo” Iraqi Sand in order to try and draw the casual observer’s eye towards Hoagy’s face. The robot assistant’s nameplate was layered using “Citadel” Abaddon Black and then painted using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.
Gang Fighter Leader WIPs - The Boromite has had all his reflex armour finally base-coated
Sticking with the “2000 A.D.” comic book theme, I have finally found the time to focus upon the final figure I currently have planned for my "Nemesis The Warlock" mini-project. Purchased at “Salute” 2016, I had intended to simply ‘pick out’ Tomás de Torquemada’s sword and leave his resplendent red armour alone. However, the “Wargames Foundry” sculpt is so good, it seemed a pity not to try and ‘pick out’ most of the Grand Master’s various hydraulic attachments.

Lastly, I have returned to my Boromites by “Warlord Games”. I’m admittedly playing catch-up with this particular project, but hope to get my first unit of five Gang Fighters posted up soon, and then get cracking on the second so I can finally begin playing some “Beyond The Gates Of Antares”.

28 comments:

  1. Great Hoagy! Some Nemesis the Warlock batreps will be interesting. What rules are you thinking of using? MDRG?

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    1. Many thanks Natholeon. I will indeed be using "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" for my BatReps, and hope to post one up just as soon as I have enough finished minis.

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  2. I forgot about Hoagy. Lovely job. Did you locate your 2000AD Klix figures in the UK ?

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    1. Cheers Phil. The few "Indyclix" 2000ad minis I own I bought when they first came out. These guys are all from Warmonger Miniatures and are ex-Wargames Foundry stock. I'd try Blue Rat Games ref 2000ad heroclix in U.K. Or troll and toad in the USA.

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  3. Great job on Hoagy Simon, like the additions on Torquemada, and good to see the Boromites back in the painting que

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    1. Thanks Dave. I thought Torquemada deserved a bit of extra effort on account of his detail tbh, and yep, Boromites are back on the menu...

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  4. I think, well - Hoagy must be a series type of robot, right? A designation like "Series 265 Alpha Domestic-A1" (or such like). Well, I imagne like all series, there is probably a mark A2, or even a Beta A1 or A2 etc. Perhaps this mark of machine is bigger. Similar design but bigger, designed for a different household function, perhaps as a factory droid even? That`s how I always tend to get rod problems like that, be coming up with storyline alternatives that fit neatly into existing cannon.

    Tomás de Torquemada looks so stunning, he almost takes my breath away.


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    1. That makes perfect sense, Hils :-) Glad you like the Torquemada sculpt. He's a lot better than his "Heroclix" alternative imho.

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  5. I sometimes go a step further even. Take something like this new Doc Who game: I notice you can buy the 10th Doctor and assistants. If I like a character (like the Forgoten Realms characters - Drizzt Do'Urden, Guenhwyvar, Cattiebrie, Wulfgar etc) I make MY characters like them, but not them, if you follow me. So if I were playing Doc Who, my Doctor might be an alternative (10.5) version, and his companions might be Rachel (Rose), Maggie (Martha), Dominique (Donna) and Walter Moffat (Wilfred Mott), and although I`d have all the recognisable character quirks in my games, they`d be free to follow my own story lines and adventures. Not sure if I`ve just broken any sinful cardinal laws of do`s and dont`s, but that how I do tend to do things anyway.

    Simon, your Hoagy (Mark 2) looks so cutely cool. I`d be so proud of him if I had make that. Tomás de Torquemada looks suitably amazing, and so well done. And while I cant ersonaly seem to get into Gates of Antares, your Boromites look stunningly well painted.

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    1. Thanks Tarot. I totally see where you're coming from, and no reason why you couldn't call your own universe "Doctor Who: Adventures in Tarot and Space"? I oft times do versions which I refer to as Alternate Adventures - its that spark of individual imagination which makes gaming so personal, even when playing something based upon a widely-known IP.

      I've a few "2000 A.D." related characters coming, so I'm delighted you like both Hoagy and my Torquemada WIP. I also understand your difficulty Ref "BtGoA"; and you're not even painting these blasted Boromites :-)

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    2. Oh don`t get me wrong Simon, your Boromites LOOK amazing, and I can see them as some form of Cursed Earth mutation of the Mutie Mountains area or something.

      I think that AS Boromites they can only specifically be understood by someone who is intimate with Gates of Antares the game - and knows what a Boromites is even hehe. For the rest of the uninitiated, they are hard to place exactly.

      BUT, the cool way you have painted them, does, as I said, make me think of muties or something. Which is a complement and a testimony to your painting skills to evoke such an image.

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    3. Cheers Tarot. The Boromites are certianly seem unique to "BtGoA", but as you say, would make great Cursed Earth mutants. They are though, truly time-consuming and tedious to paint...

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  6. I prefer your paint job to KD's, if I'm being honest. The gunmetal blue and those eyes are brilliant. I even like the red chap, which I really didn't when I first saw the sculpt and your initial work a few posts ago, but how you're painting it is winning me over.

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    1. Cheers Roy, high praise indeed Ref Hoagy's paint-job :-) Hopefully my next WIP of Torquemada will win the sculpt over even more so!!

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  7. I too really like your Hoagy paintwork, that is very much how I remember him, shame he's a little on the big side (if that makes sense). I wasn't sure about that Torquemada sculpt to begin with but I have to say I thing with your paintwork you have created a simply stunning miniature, looking forward to seeing him finished now.

    The Boromites are good too, but as Tarot said just can't get into them as characters. Perhaps once you've batrep'ed them I might.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks ever so much, Roger. I've another WIP of Torquemada to post next time, and then he's done. The Boromites are tricky to like presently, as they are tough tough going imho.

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  8. I'm not familiar with Hoagy and Torquemada, but they have a very obvious "2000AD" vibe to them...

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    1. Both Hoagy and Torquemada go back to the Golden Age of "2000 A.D." imho, Hugh, but I suppose it all depends on when you started (or stopped) reading the Galaxy's greatest comic ;-)

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  9. Hoagy - 10 out of 10

    Torquemada - 10 out of 10 (much nicer that the clix original too)

    Boromites - nicely painted, no denying it. But hard to `get into` as I don`t know anything about that game I`m afraid. But they look great. I can see lots of potential for using them as other things.

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    1. Steve, many thanks for your most generous scoring :-) Hoagy was a bit of an impulse buy last year at "Salute", so its nice to get him finished; especially as I was rather dreading doing his eyes, but seem to have got away with them!!

      I think Bryan kindly put me onto the "Wargames Foundry" Torquemada; albeit I ended up buying mine from "Warmonger Miniatures" at this year's "Salute". He is, as you say, a much nicer sculpt than the "Indyclix" version imho.

      The Boromites are the bane of my painting queue currently. But I am determined to get some more done whilst I'm in the mood for them. The casting/sculpting isn't as crisp as I'd like, and the current Gang Fighter Leader I'm working on is in a rather squat, unattractive pose imho, which simply makes painting him all the harder.

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  10. Hoagy looks great and very comical imo wheres Torquemada is some serious looking figure, and reflects my memory of him from 2000ad.
    Boromites should be pushed up the painting queue imo.

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    1. Cheers Joe. The Boromites will be getting plenty of attention over the coming weeks as I give them such much-needed hobby-time.

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    2. yeeeey!! time for the lowly Boromites to shine :))

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    3. Well I certainly hope to get a few finished before August, Hils.

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  11. I really like what you've done with Hoagy and Torquemada. I'm sorry but I still find little to like about the Boromites. No wonder you find them such a bind to paint.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. Yeah the Boromites aren't doing it for me either, sadly. Though once the foot-soldiers are finished I'm hopeful that some of their other units will be more fun to paint.

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  12. Excellent work on Hoagy, and I have to say I am enjoying your 2000 AD kick. :)

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    1. Cheers Leon. I've a few more "2000 A.D" minis to come too :-)

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