Monday 26 March 2018

"Put On The Headsets Or You Will be Dispersed!"

"The high brains have been captured."
These two 28mm metal Kroton models were manufactured by “Harlequin Miniatures” and represent the "semi-sentient armoured crystalline beings" first seen in the December 1968 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Krotons". Unfortunately, the "predatory quasi-organic tellurium based crystal" creature with its feeding tube intact would appear to be out of production. But the other Kroton can still be bought as code DW212 from the "Doctor Who" range sold by "Black Tree Design".

A "crystalline race from the planet Krosi-Aspai-Core" the pair of extra-terrestrials were primed using "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently layered with two coats of Ironbreaker. The figures were then washed with Nuln Oil and some Drakenhof Nightshade, before being dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.
"Crocodile Games" Wendigo WIPs - The hairy hunters have been primed, shaded and dry-brushed
I was tempted at this stage to leave the miniatures well enough alone, but thought they looked a bit too monotone with their decidedly silver palette. As a result, I 'picked out' their featureless crystal heads with "Vallejo" Dead White, shaded them with some heavily-watered down "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and gave them a light dry-brush of "Vallejo" Dead White.

With two more of my embarrassingly large backlog of "Doctor Who" models completed, I've pulled out some partially-painted Wendigo Hunters I bought off of Ebay years ago. Produced by "Crocodile Games" I would appear to have an entire Hunting Party on my hands, including their Hunter Leader. I recall that these figures were in a truly shocking state of affairs upon their arrival, perhaps the reason why I simply spirited them away into a cardboard box, so I have had to spend a fair bit of time re-assembling a couple of them, re-basing them all and bending the odd spear or three.
An extremely generous donation of "Heroclix" miniatures from the Michigan Killdozers
In addition, despite their white fur, all six of the "Wargods Of Hyberborea" models had previously been primed with black paint and then had their undercoat rubbed off for some reason; presumably with a toothbrush or some such. This has meant I have had to apply several thin coats of "Vallejo" White over the miniatures in order to cover their bare metal, but also not 'stodge up' all of their detail.

Finally, long-term followers of "Fantorical" will know I also run a daily comic review blog entitled "The Brown Bag". This secondary hobby really helps fuel my painting mojo and also seems to go down rather well with a few comic book collectors across the other side of the Pond. Having recently heard that I was looking to grow my collection of "Heroclix" figures so as to actually play "Wizkids" game rather than re-base/re-paint them, they rather generously banded together in secret and incredibly generously sent me a rather large, undeniably heavy box containing over a hundred of the rule-sets pre-painted figures... 

28 comments:

  1. Great work on the Krotons Simon, a trick in future if you have second hand models that have been undercoated black that you want white, is to undercoat dark grey then wet brush light grey and finally dry brush white.
    What a wonderful gift to be sent I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with them

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    1. Thanks very much Dave. I think the Krotons looks a lot better than simply being plain ordinary silver, and their heads should be crystalline anyway. I'll remember that top tip in future, and yes, there's plenty of fun to be had with so many "Heroclix" :-)

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  2. Krotons look great dude. Thats a lot of klix!

    Those Wendingos are nice minis can't wait to see those guys finished!

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    1. Cheers Simon. It is indeed a lot of clix. Hope to have the Wendigos finished soon(ish) ;-)

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  3. Wow! What a fantastic gift from your Brown Baggers - a really heart warming gesture :-)
    I'm liking your work on the Krotons, and have to ask, do 28mm mini's look OK on the table alongside the Warlord Games offerings? (I've been meaning to ask for quite a while)
    As for the Wendigo, if ever you're looking for the BEST thing to use for stripping secondhand mini's, try giving them a short soak in mentholated spirit and then set about 'em with an old toothbrush ;-)

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    1. Thanks Greg. I'm very grateful as you can imagine. I'm afraid the vast majority of the "Black Tree Design" minis don't compare too well with the "Warlord Games" models - they're a lot smaller. Have a look at this postings scale comparison: http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/silence-later-you-will-be-questioned.html

      I'd actually have been happier with the black undercoat remaining, Greg, but as I say the person who owned them before clearly changed their mind and 'attacked' them all with a tooth brush :-)

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    2. Thanks Simon - if Sarah Jane Smith is "true" 28mm, then (alas) the rest of the ranges are too far up the scale-creep ladder to have any appeal for me :-(
      I'd like to have The Doctor and some of his opponents able to "drop in" in some of my other existing games ;-)

      Oh, and "mentholated" spirit????
      Mi spill chickur'z in thu blonk agin!

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    3. No worries Greg. The "Crooked Dice" and "Black Tree Design" minis work alright together, but the "Warlord Games" ones are slightly too big imho.

      I'll be paying a lot of attention to "Warlord Games" "Doctor Who" range over the coming months so perhaps I'll have a few tempting models on show to encourage you to start with a whole new scale ;-)

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  4. The thing I like about the Krotons os that they DO look like people in costumes, which is one of the things I like about a lot of the sculpts from Black Tree. Nice work on them.

    And what are you going to use your Wendigo for? Frostgrave? Proxy Morlocks for some time travel shenanigans? Fighting Alpha Flight? Inquiring minds want to know...

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    1. Cheers Jez. Much appreciated. I rather like the Krotons myself too. The Wendigos will primarily be for tackling Conan in some potential snow-laden shenanigans and perhaps "Metamorphosis Alpha". Of course, as I've placed them upon the lipped bases I have based my "Frostgrave" stuff on, then I could use them for that too ;-)

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  5. When i saw your Wendigo I immediately thought of "Dracula's America." I, too, would be interested to know your plans for them.
    Receiving so many "Heroclix" figures must have felt like Christmas for you. A marvellous gift to be sure.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. I'm really hoping to get all my "D&D" stuff finished this year and get some "Metamorphosis Alpha" and "Gamma World" games in. Fingers crossed.

      I'm sure over time you've probably very generously gifted me just as many figures, Bryan, if not more, but coming in one box all-at-once was a marvellous experience; and they even kindly supplied a few doubles knowing I;d fancy re-basing/repainting them :-)

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  6. I am embarrassed to say that I had not heard of the Kroton before now, but they look mighty fine and my word what a generous gift! In other news my tpb of Shako has arrived and what a joy it is. I was thrilled to find that the final story, White Fury, is the one I remember from 1978 annual and the imagery is still as strong and emotive to this day. Thank you so much for the heads up.

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    1. Not know of Patrick Troughton's awesome adventure "The Krotons", Michael. Surely it is a dark day indeed at Awdry Towers ;-)

      I'm delighted you like "Shako", its a tip top read imho :-)

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  7. The Kroton is not one of my favourite pieces that you've produced, not knowing its original form doesn't help stop me thinking it looks like a futuristic vending machine, but I'm betting it looks the part.
    I'm surprised how the Wendigo look as they're not how I imagine them at all but s they're fantasy they're open to a wide range of interpretation.
    The donation of that huge collection of clix figures must have been very heaet-warming - an indication to you to keep doing what you're doing!

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    1. Thanks Joe. I appreciate the Krotons are invariably a case of personal taste, and my enjoyment of them stems back to repeatedly listening to its soundtrack as a young man.

      I'm pleased with how the Wendigos are turning out, and was simply gobsmacked by the "Heroclix" gift!!

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  8. So the painting the backlog before buying anymore toys seems to have been scuppered by our American friends, bless them.

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    1. LOL Phil. Hopefully most of these beauties will remain on their "Heroclix" bases and feature in a while series of BatReps I now have planned. Only a few will be chopped, re-based and re-painted :-)

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  9. What a generous gift, congratulations. That Kroton is a weird looking thing, but has turned our nicely. I am intrigued enough to look them up on the interweb. I love those wendigo models. I have a unit of those and a chieftain painted up in my collection so I am keen to see what you do with them. Crocodile games produce some superb minis, and deserve wider recognition and support. Hopefully Wargods of Olympus will come out at some point!

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. I'm sure you'll have a good look through them soon enough. Big fan of "Crocodile Games" myself, with fond memories of being dragged off straight to their stall one year at "Salute" despite having other vendors I wanted to visit first ;-)

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    2. Ah, but think of all those show special models we have managed to get by me dragging you to certain stalls first. Cough - Red Hood - Cough! Etc....Also, you may just inspire me to paint my Crocodile Games giant hamster!

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    3. I've found a huge stash of "Crocodile Games" minis, so there may well be more to come in the future ;-)

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  10. Those Krotons look "tip top" now Simon, great work on them, the Wendingos look interesting too Conan should have his hands full with them. But wow ! what a great gift that is a whole lot of Klix'ers I counted at least six Hulks of various hues! so that will be you sorted for "Forgotten heroes" this year then, no excuses now!

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Ha Hah! Cheers Roger. I'm rather pleased with the Krotons and tempted to get some more, especially as "Black Tree Design" do one with a hand-weapon...

      I've already got my "Forgotten Heroes" project ready, and yes it will be "Heroclix", but a few further additions to Mister Freeze's crew ;-)

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  11. What an amazing gift! Brilliant

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  12. Alright, with the nifty blue crystal effect the Krotons look way better.

    The Yeti's seem to be fun sculpts regardless of lots of cleanup. More (otherwordly) support for Senor Frio?

    What a haul of Heroclix! Lucky so and so.

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    1. Thanks Dai. I rather like the Krotons now they're finished. I don't plan for the Wendigos to join Mr Freeze, but rather give Conan something of a hard-time; I do have some additional minis to add to Mr Freeze's crew though.

      I'm also tremendously pleased with the "Heroclix" as well you can imagine :-)

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