Tuesday 27 June 2017

"Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid Of A Bomb!"

"Hand me down the shark repellent Bat-spray!"
This 35mm metal model of Batman (Adam West) is made by "Knight Models" and comes from the company's "Batman Miniatures Game" range. Taken "directly from the Sixties Television Show", the sculpt depicts the Caped Crusader as portrayed by American actor, Adam West, during Executive Producer William Dozier's colourfully-camp "live action series."

Sold as a three-piece "white metal kit", the figure's instantly recognisable head was pinned into position upon the torso's shoulders, and its legs (which come with the bat-belt sculpted on top of them) were super-glued in place too. Ordinarily, I'd actually pin the upper and lower halves of my multi-part miniatures together, but because the back of the Bright Knight's underparts rested against the underside of his cape, I was confident that there was enough contact between the two components for my Cyanoacrylate adhesive to do its work.
Batman (Adam West) WIPs - The model was primed, washed, dry-brushed and then layered
Having attached the model upon a 30mm lipped circular base, as opposed to the pre-moulded stand which comes with it in the box, I primed batman with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and then liberally washed him with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. Disconcertingly, I did find that in certain areas this "Games Workshop" Shade somehow 'ate' away at the "Vallejo" paint underneath, and resultantly I had to reapply some more Heavy Blue to these patches of bare metal before giving the entire miniature something of a heavy dry-brush.

With the basics finished, I set about 'picking out' Adam West's grey leotard using "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, and later inked the garment with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Frustratingly, despite using a freshly opened bottle of the Shade, the wash somewhat 'glooped' everywhere rather than simply run into the sculpt's nooks and crevices, so I subsequently had to try and desperately dry-brush the tights with more "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey in order to lighten the costume's colour and lessen the 'blotchiness'... 

I painted the Caped Crusader's famous utility belt with "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and Gold; subsequently shading these areas with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshade and Agrax Earthshade. The figure's bat symbol was patiently painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and some watered down "Citadel" Reikland Fleshade, before being highlighted around the symbol's edges with more "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre.
Batman (Adam West) WIPs - The model's tights, utility belt and face were then washed and highlighted
To begin with I'm only planning on creating a couple of 150 Reputation point-sized crews for the "Batman Miniatures Games", and this particular version of Bruce Wayne will be my Batman affiliate team's Leader. To be honest I'm not particularly familiar with this rule-set currently, but was immediately won over by this sculpt's wonderfully characteristic sculpt and the model's abilities of "KaPow!!!" and "Shark Repellant Bat-Spray"; a ranged template weapon which may be used twice during the game and causes its intended target to lose 1 Action Counter if successfully affected.

Fortunately, I have additionally managed to lay my hands on the "Knight Models" Commissioner Gordon and SWAT Team blister. Due to Batman (Adam West) costing 75 Reputation points alone, this four miniature set would either allow me to pair the Bright Knight up with James W. Gordon (Sidekick) to create my own version of the 'dynamic duo', or field a couple of law enforcement henchmen alongside the Caped Crusader instead...

For those interested in the "Batman Miniatures Game" I'd highly recommend PulpCitizen's "Eclectic Gentleman Tabletop Gamer" website and Simon Quinton's "Brummie's Wargaming Blog". Both of these bloggers predominantly post about their painted crews and latest tournament accomplishments, plus provide plenty of useful tips and advice as to how to make best use of the many models currently available.

58 comments:

  1. This is superb Simon. I have this miniature and have bottled putting it together several times now. Great to see your complete and it might just inspire me to revisit mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Michael. My worry is this could be the start of a whole new miniatures range for me... ;-) I look forward to seeing yours though, it is a great sculpt of Adam West imho.

      Delete
  2. Great job on an iconic miniature. He is a fitting tribute to the fantastic Mr West.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Natholeon. I'm very pleased to finally get my Mister West on the tabletop.

      Delete
  3. Great job on an iconic piece Simon, and very topical with Mr West's recent passing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Dave. I had the pleasure of meeting Mister West a few years ago, and he was an absolute gent as you can probably imagine.

      Delete
  4. Excellent work Simon, very well done. And as others have noted, a timely tribute. :)

    And thank you for the kind shout-out. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Leon. Glad you like him, as you've been tempting me with this range for ages with your excellent "BMG" paint-jobs. No worries about the shout-out, it was the very least I could do :-)

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. Thanks Clint. It seems to have been an age since I painted any super-heroes, but in recent weeks that all seems to have changed.

      Delete
  6. A fitting tribute to the recently departed Adam West.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh gosh Adam West as Batman capsules all I find best about the golden age of cinema and tv. Will you pick off the Burt Ward Robin to, do you think?

    We`ve been humming and harring about about setting our entire Gotham campaign in more of a 70`s style setting, a bit like one would if playing 7TV2e, i.e. needs a totally different mind set to do a good job at i.. needs lots of "KaPow!!!" added in as well **grins**

    And we really toyed with the idea of doing a "What if" sit in the Cursed Earth (as in, our Gotham/JD crossover theme) and wrote all we do for in the style it WOULD have been done, had it been mainstream TV running alongside Adam West`s Batman, back in the 60`s. The whole tone would have been sooooo differently cool. How to make JD a family show (perhaps each episode showing morals to the kids with do`s and don`t of running foul of the law and the upstanding boys in blue hehe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Hils. Sadly "Knight Models" don't do anymore minis based upon the Sixties television series, so there isn't currently a Burt Ward mini. But I will buy a Robin at some point.

      As I think I commented on your own blog, there's no reason why any other character couldn't be temporarily teleported onto the Cursed for Judge Dredd to encounter, and the comics actually have him meeting Batman on a few occasions.

      Delete
    2. uugh sorry my last comment was so riddled with typos. I was writing it from my daughter` infernal high tech phone, and I`m just too dim to understand this newfangled technology lol.

      Ooow its a shame "Knight Models" don't do a Burt Ward mini, but still. Like you say, you`ll find the perfect one for yourself, one day.

      And yes, your snippets of information and advice for cross-overs between Cursed Earth and Gotham are always taken note of and written down (same from Jez too). Massively valuable to the likes of us.. who are still learning every day.

      Delete
    3. No worries, Hils. There's quite a few of the Batman minis I have my eye on, as I'm hoping they'll mingle well with the "Doctor Who" 35mm minis for some odd crossovers :-) I'm certainly looking forward to seeing your Mega-City One exploits in the near future too :-)

      Delete
    4. I truly cant see any difference in scale between Warlord Games supposedly 35/38mm Doctor Who minis and normal 28mm ones made by other companies. I placed the 10th doctor and a coupe of his painted companions next to some Crooked Dice 28mm Blakes 7 and could see absolutely no height difference what so ever. Weird huh?

      Oooh good luck with the "Knight Models" Batman range. I ca think of nothing nicer or better to flesh out the Doc Who range. ( (me personally) so very nearly collected that Batman miniatures game. I had to delay for a couple of weeks due to bills needing paying, and only at the last minute decided not to go for this game. I still look at it wistfully, and both Tar` and I look at that Harley Quinn (the one you can ONLY get in the "Suicide Squad" starter set) and wish oh how we wish we could get our hands on just that ONE minis lol.. Sadly, they don`t sell her separately.

      Delete
    5. {{>> I'm certainly looking forward to seeing your Mega-City One exploits in the near future too :-) <<}}

      Shouldn`t have to wait too much longer Simon. Few things to do first, Napolenics in 8mm, an Army Men AAR, and a few other bits and pieces to cover during the post or two: then it will be all systems go with Gotham/Cursed Earth, and a healthy dob of DW thrown in for good measure :-)

      Delete
    6. Hils, I certainly find the human characters a little bigger than say "Crooked Dice" non-Who minis, and noticeably different to "Black Tree Design" figures. But perhaps my OCD is a little more advanced than yours :-)

      I certainly don't want to fall into a huge mountain of "Batman Miniatures Games" minis, not now I have so many "Doctor Who" to paint. But Adam West certainly seems on scale with my "Warlord Games" "Doctor Who" figures, so I'll certainly be using him in a future game or two ;-)

      Delete
    7. Naps and Army Men definitely sound good to a glossy red-cheeked toy soldier fan like me, Steve, so I'm looking forward to your AARs enormously :-)

      Delete
  8. Great stuff, Adam West was awesome in Batman and I was captivated by the reruns as a kid! Nice brushwork on an iconic figure mate

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Andy. Glad you approve of such an "iconic figure" :-)

      Delete
  9. AWESOME sculpt, and nicely done Simon. I`m so glad you went with the old school Batman. Cant beat good old Adam West and Burt Ward.

    Will you put them both in Mutants and Death Ray Guns; or do you have other ideas for this intrepid duo? Perhaps we`ll even get to see Batman ad Robin in Barrier Peaks?

    As for us, we`ve finally settled on D20/3.5 D&D combined with D20 DJ, but using Dwimmermount and Worlds Largest Dungeon and City as a cool old school nucleus for an old school feel (lots of room for OSRIC input there too, we are thinking).

    You have Drimmermount too don`t you Simon? perfect for dropping into any retro toned game, be it Batman, Dredd, Metamorphosis Alpha, Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.... or any other setting of your choice.

    Check this map pack out.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0984983236/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Steve. I do actually plan on giving the "Batman Miniatures Game" a brief go to see what it is like. But as the minis are 35mm scale and match wonderfully alongside "Warlord Games" "Doctor Who" figures, the preferred rule-set will indeed by "Mutants & Death Ray Guns"; so I can combine the two genres together. In addition I was thinking maybe using Dave Stone's "Death Match" rules..?

      I don't own "Dwimmermount", but it does look like a worthy host for the combined adventures of Batman, Judge Dredd, Metamorphosis Alpha etc. Thanks for the link, I'll bear that pack in mind :-)

      "JD not DJ (unless he`s take up hanging about at discos and night clubs)" - No worries Steve, I knew what you meant :-)

      Delete
    2. Stevie`s asked me to send you over a full PDF of Dwimmermount (its a big, big file and I have more download/upload capacity from my addy). Its old school style, so all black and white. just print it off double sided, and away you go. I`d bind it if I were you, its several hundred pages and will benefit from the binding.

      Delete
    3. As they say here `good man yerself` and why not, the "Batman Miniatures Game" looks mighty tempting...it almost caught Hillers on its hook, and more than once - nearly got me.

      BM and DW minis together, mmmmm lovely combo. I`m so glad you are staying with "Mutants & Death Ray Guns" as I truly think these will serve your needs perfectly, for your preferred and unique style of play.

      I wouldn't discount Dwimmermount yet, as a source for MORE adventures after (or to link into) Barrier Peaks, as it certainly has a part to play I would say - especially once you get the additional minis to throw into it (just need to chat with you about that first, phone on Sunday morning?).

      Adding in Dave`s "Death Match" rules sounds like a marvellous idea. If his rules re anything like as good as his minis, then wow. He just gifted Hils Tweak and Judge Heston, and I must say I`m mightily impressed.

      Delete
    4. Hils, many thanks indeed for the PDF :-) I'll have a good nose through it just as soon as I get the chance, but my copies of "The Fourth Doctor" and "The Fifth Doctor" for the "Doctor Who RPG" have just arrived too :-)

      Delete
    5. My only problem at the moment Steve, is I have a huge backlog of completed minis and WIPs to post, and am thus struggling to find the room for BatReps. It is however, a marvelous problem to have in some ways too - but I'm determined to get in some more "Mutants & Death Ray Guns" as soon as I can.

      Thanks ever so much for the Dwimmermount stuff, I'm sure it'll come in very useful for future BatReps etc.

      I'm delighted Dave Stone's gift arrived safe & well - he did contact me to inquire as to the location of the Emerald Isle's Musketeers :-)

      Delete
    6. Ooo enjoy your new Doctor Who loveliness, mmmmm always wonderful when new stuff arrives like that, all at once, and you get that feeling of being blissfully overwhelmed.

      Enjoy the PDF at your leisure (the map pack himself gave you the Amazon link to, completes the experience, and gives you a ginormous old school experience (OSRIC or Labyrinth Lord or any OOD system actually) of mammoth proportions - 13 dungeon levels alone, half of it very sci-fi and Barrier Peak-like in its premise. Old Gods, Egyptian like (very Star Gate), Elf/Eldar Aliens, Golem Dwarves etc etc.

      Delete
    7. the more I look at your painting job on the Adam West Batman, the more I love it. Really nicely done that.

      DOnt push yourself on the BatReps Simon, I know what its like to be utterly snowed under with projects. Work at a pace YOU enjoy and forget the rest. We`re all keen, because we love what you do, is all :-)

      Ooooh it was youuuuuuu gave him our addy hahahaa; It was an absolutely amazingly lovely surprise for Hillers when she opened it, and found two such amazing models BOTH of which were on the top ten of her/our most wanted list (hows that for fate). Ever since we`ve both been going mine... mine... mine... and sneakily moving them from her glass shelves shelves to mine and back again LOL.

      Delete
    8. I'll send you another set Steve as I wouldn't want to cause any arguments ! LOL

      Delete
    9. "13 dungeon levels alone, half of it very sci-fi and Barrier Peak-like in its premise" - Dwimmermount sounds fantastic Hils, and definitely something I'd be interested in.

      Tbh Steve, all I did was point Dave in the direction of your comment posting with your address in it... and no need to worry about me pushing myself Ref BatReps, I gave that up long ago when I realised this blog is for me first and foremost, and if fellow wargamers enjoy it as well, then that's a bonus :-)

      Delete
    10. {{ gave that up long ago when I realised this blog is for me first and foremost, and if fellow wargamers enjoy it as well, then that's a bonus :-)}}

      NICELY said xx

      Delete
    11. >>>> I'll send you another set Steve as I wouldn't want to cause any arguments ! LOL <<<<<

      LOL no no noooo!!!! we share everything, always have and always will hahaha. Lovely of you mate, but seriously, what`s mine is mine and what`s hers is mine, so we`re good here ^ ^

      Delete
    12. I HEARD that.. mush-few-brains *grins wickedly**

      Delete
    13. "NICELY said xx" - Yep. The fun is in the posting for myself. The joy though, is in sharing it with like-minded wargamers :-)

      Delete
    14. STAMP!! of approval

      beautifully said :)

      Delete
  10. That is a smashing figure Simon, and one I've looked at myself several times, but I just cant warrant the thirteen odd pounds he is in the Wargames store by me, I just go and drool over it each time we go in (might get it cheaper is the packaging gets soggy enough ;-)

    You have done a cracking paintjob on him thought and as said above a fitting tribute to one of my childhood heroes.

    Cheers Roger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Roger. The minis are very expensive imho, and difficult to assemble, and paint... But as this was the only metal Adam West figure I know about I thought it'd be worth the expense as a one-off; albeit as I aforementioned, I do own a fair few "BMG" blisters from previous show deals.

      Delete
  11. Lovely. Looks just like Adam West

    ReplyDelete
  12. Holy Retro-Bat Goodness, Simon! Sorry, had to done...lol

    A very nice paint job on an equally nice figure. Whilst the Knight Models version is a little out of my price range, I think Heroclix did a whole set based on the 60's Batman show, so this could be an alternative option for those craving a bit of Mr West and company.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Jez. "Wizkids" did indeed do a whole range of "Heroclix" based upon the Sixties Batman, just a couple of years ago too, including a Batmobile :-)

      Delete
    2. mmmm I had my eye on that particular Clix Batmobile for a long time - Bluerat Games have one. But Jez put Hils onto a REALLY cool Batmobile (from the Michael Keaton Batman era) and the price was right, and WOW am I glad we went for that one.

      Delete
    3. Did you go for this one by any chance, Steve: http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/1989-batman-movie-batmobile.html

      Delete
    4. this one (scroll down a bit to see it). Hmmmmm is that the Michael Keaton one, or is it perhaps the Dark Knight version?

      http://thegamerscupbard.blogspot.ie/2017/05/fortune-favours-frugal-and-lucky.html

      Delete
    5. Ah, that's the one Bruce Wayne (and later Jean Paul Valley) drives throughout the awesome "Knightfall" series. Its on the cover of "Detective Comics" #601. Great design imho as at the right angle it looks like a futuristic hover car. Very nice :-)

      Delete
    6. you really really, REALLY really know your stuff, don`t you.

      Delete
    7. I might read the odd "Batman" comic from time to time ;-)

      Delete
  13. Fabulous job on a fitting tribute mate. I am having similar painting issues myself. Weirdly some of my blacks and greys when I brush on the matt varnish I use even very gently seems to erode the paint down to the bare putty.

    Not sure what the exact cause is yet.

    Thanks for the shout out dude :D You finally succumbed it is a slippery slope from here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Simon. I'm not sure what happened with either the "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade or Nuln Oil; possibly the heat? You're welcome Ref shout-out and you have indeed made me succumb to a slippery slope!!

      Delete
  14. All set to retrieve the Rare Art Map of Gotham from the nefarious Joker! This piece definitely captures the classic look, not to mention Adam West's distinctly non-ripped physique ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Allison. Its a corking mini of Adam West imho and, as you say, definitely captures that leotard look of the Sixties TV Show :-)

      Delete
  15. You paid a great tribute to the late Adam West with this rendition of the early Batman (the one I prefer).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joe, I too always picture Adam West whenever anyone says Batman to me. Glad you liked the mini :-)

      Delete