Tuesday 9 October 2018

"Across The Entire Prydian Precinct There Are Planetary Militias..."

"...Otherwise known as Planetary Defence Forces."
These two 15mm miniatures come from the "The Ion Age" code IAF022 Muster First Patrol (Pose One Muster Patrol Officer, Moth Type 8 Pistol) and code IAF021 Muster First Patrol Command (Pose Four Muster Patrol Trooper, Standard Bearer), and have rather embarrassingly been sat upon my painting table since they were first ordered in March 2014. The figures are actually designed to be used with the company’s “Patrol Angis” rule-set, but I’ve based them together in order to form a small Command base for a home-made set of rules loosely based within the early “Rogue Trader” era of the “Warhammer 40,000” Universe.

As a result, both figures were originally undercoated with two layers of “Vallejo” Black and had their uniforms ‘picked out’ with Heavy Bluegrey, as well as shaded with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, in order to try and replicate the palette of the Imperial Guard, back when Mark Copplestone was sculpting them. I then applied a little “Vallejo” Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to their epaulettes, ribbed body armour and cap badges, as well as the top of the standard so as to make their status ‘pop’ that little bit more on the tabletop.
"The Ion Age" WIPs - These Muster Patrol Troopers have had all their base colours blocked in
I picked out the trooper’s bare hands using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade, whilst treating the officer’s gloves, the standard’s pole, and both soldiers’ backpacks to a coat of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. Finally, I applied a base layer of “Citadel” Ironbreaker to their firearms and heavily washed them in Nuln Oil so as to dull the weapons down somewhat.

Sticking with “The Ion Age” and my Muster First Patrol miniatures, I have also managed to make some substantial progress on three more figures from their 15mm range. I intend at some point to greatly add to the number of regular Guardsmen carrying Moth Type 6 Rifles my ‘Imperial Guard’ company can field, but for now am solely focusing upon models I already own such as a Heavy Weapons Team carrying the awesomely-named Anvil 888 (mortar).
"Heroclix" WIPs - Black Widow, Hit-Monkey and Dum Dum Dugan
In addition, I’ve been busy pursuing a 'few' S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements for my tabletop campaign involving the fictional espionage, special law-enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency defending the Earth from an invasion of Dire Wraiths. "Wizkids" don't seemingly do a Rom - Space Knight "Heroclix" model currently, so I've instead started working on arguably the next best thing - his childhood friend known as Firefall.

I’ve also taken receipt of an additional box of models from my favourite “Wizkids” Second-hand emporium from across the Pond, “Troll And Toad”, which included Hit-Monkey; a gun-totting primate who formed part of Dum Dum Dugan’s “Howling Commandos Of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Considering the “Heroclix” figure’s diminutive size and predominantly black colour-scheme, the “World’s greatest assassin” shouldn’t take too long to paint, so I’ve added a couple of extra super-heroes to the mix such as the Japanese macaque’s boss, and the Black Widow.

22 comments:

  1. Nice work on the Ion Age PDF. Which version of Black Widow is that? It looks a nice size to mix with 28mm figures.

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    1. Thanks Simon. The Black Widow is from the "Clobberin' Time" expansion - my fave range of all the "Heroclix" and one of the very earliest. She is mixable with 28mm imho as you suggest.

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    2. Cheers dude. I may have a use for the figure.

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    3. You’re welcome. I don’t have a spare sadly, Simon, otherwise I’d ping one to you. The “Clobberin’ Time” stuff seems a bit hard to get for some of the minis.

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  2. The Ion age stuff is looking marvellous Simon! nicely done dude

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    1. Cheers Andy, much appreciated. Loads of “The Ion Age” to come over the next few weeks.

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  3. I like those ion age figures, need to get some!

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    1. Thanks Fran. I’ve got quite a few from the range to be posted, so plenty to tempt you with ;-)

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  4. For 15mm those figures have some very impressive detail - must have been a nightmare to paint.
    How you can keep going on so many projects simultaneously always amazes me. Dum Dum Dugan looks great btw.

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    1. Cheers Joe. Tbh "The Ion Age" stuff has loads of lovely chunky detail which makes painting them a real pleasure. Dum Dum is a huge figure and literally dwarfs Hit-Monkey. I think though this is about the fourth time I've had him on the painting table so I'm determined to get him finished this time round :-)

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  5. Lots of fun stuff here. You seem to paint up the smaller scales well mate.

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    1. Thanks Dai. I do like “The Ion Age” stuff, so its rather easy to be inspired and that helps focus etc. I’ve missed painting non-28mm stuff too, so hopefully these new monthly challenges will help with that, as I can paint a few 28mm alongside them.

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  6. You're really tempting me to get back into some 15mm stuff Simon, sadly it will be the new year before I can even think about this. I do like those "Ion age" Minis a lot though.

    Always nice to see you working on some Heroklix too, though I was convinced you already had a Dumdum figure.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. I'm currently working my way through my collection of "The Ion Age" stuff, and I do have a few that I won't be using if you want me to send them to you? It won't be straight away as it'll take me a while to sort through them all as I paint some of them.

      The Dum Dum figure has been a WIP for a few postings now, Roger, as I slowly pick away at him, so I'm not surprised you think I've previously painted one :-)

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    2. That is incredibly kind of you Simon, but I was actually thinking more along the fantasy route, as I've had a hankering for a couple of Hott armies for quite a while now, I've had the rules for many years, and have played a few games of it back in the day, but have never actually owned a Hott army. I might even talk Matty (my youngest into a few games (if I paint the figures of course!).

      But many thanks again for the offer.

      Cheers Roger.

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    3. Not a problem, Roger, if you ever fancy a HOTT army month or two then give me a shout as I'd certainly like to do one of the Dogmen forces or somesuch. These 15mm minis are so much easier and more fun to paint in my mind currently :-)

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    4. Thanks Simon, will bear you in mind, if I ever get round to it (I'll have to order some mini's first)

      Cheers Roger

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    5. No worries or pressure, Roger. I've silently stalked those Dogmen for years so no hurry at all :-)

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  7. Brilliant Simon! I had the exact same question as Brummie did, didn't realize that figure was from the Clobberin' Time run. Looks really good.

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    1. Thanks Ivor. “Clobberin’ Time” is my fave set, although I don’t like the blue costume they gave Natasha for it (I think its supposed to be black highlights in the same way Judge Dredd is usually inked). Hopefully I’ll have the Black Widow finished soon too :-)

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  8. I like your Ion Age project enormously. Avery interesting that you are using 40k as your inspiration. Your painting of the smaller scale minis is too notch, and something I am not sure I could do. Very jealous. Heroclix are a real draw for you aren't they? I do love your superhero stuff very inspiring! Lovely to read about your painting adventures, as always.

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. I've a lot more of "The Ion Age" to cover this month, as I try to paint-up a few more of my four year-old purchases.

      "Heroclix" have been a stable diet of this blog for almost as long as its been running, and I've no plans of stopping yet!! ;-)

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