"Each Vexilla Is Created On Terra..."

"...painstakingly fashioned over a period of one hundred standard years."

This 28mm plastic miniature of a Space Marine is by "Games Workshop" and comes from the now long OOP (Out Of Production) Betrayal At Calth boxed set boxed set by "Games Workshop". The multi-part figure has been assembled wearing MK IV armour and is carrying a Legion Vexilla (Legion Standard) which will allow its unit to add +1 "to the Wounds score used to determine if they win a Combat in the Assault Phase."

Due to the miniature forming part of my third Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for the Horus Heresy, it was primed in a couple of layers of "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before being heavily washed with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. I then applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to his Bolter, the joints of his Maximus Armour, and a couple of parts making up his backpack.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - This Sons of Horus Praetor is being painted from the boots up

The model's firearm and a couple of areas of its 'advanced power generator' were subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst I coated his left shoulder-pad, left lower-leg and Legion Vexilla with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Gold. These areas were later given a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and highlighted with some additional touches of "Vallejo" Gold on the sharpest edges and rivets.

As a final touch I applied some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal to the Space Marine's eye slits, and then a single layer of the "Citadel" Contrast colour Flesh Tearers Red. I also fixed four of the many decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto his right shoulder-pad, right lower leg, left wrist and in the middle of his standard's circular central emblem.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPs - Early days on three Russian NBC Troopers

Alongside the last of my Sons of Horus MK IV armoured tactical space marines, I have also started to work in earnest on the Praetor with Power Axe I predominantly assembled using one of the sprues from the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy - Age of Darkness boxed set I bought a couple of years ago. This particular traitor will doubtless take a little while to get tabletop ready, on account of both the myriad of details its original sculpt contained, as well as the various "Forge World" extras I added to him. But I still have my eye on him getting finished before the month is over.

Lastly, I am beavering away on three more 28mm metal models by "Athena Miniatures". This trio of 'Apocalypse Survivors' all come the company's AS12 Russian NBC release, and will double the number of dastardly 'Volgon' invaders I currently own for my "Invasion!" project - based upon the old "2000 A.D." comic book strip...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge” [IV/IV] March 2025

"The people of Britain must understand we Volgans are your friends." 

With my Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge (PPPP) now entering its final furlong, I thought I would mix things up a bit by moving into some of other scales I tend to pigment from time to time, such as 10mm and 15mm. This  change of direction should get me somewhat closer to my personal challenge's target tally than if I remained rooted to just 28mm - as I'm starting to find myself getting distracted by new 'heroic scale' purchases rather than focusing on finishing old projects - and help me clear up a rather large number of wooden painting sticks peppered with primed miniatures which are currently littering my hobby space.

However, I also want to break the back of my most recent purchases from "Athena Miniatures" at "Beachhead" 2025, and get enough of the company's Apocalypse Survivors tabletop ready so I can actually have a game (of adapted "Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games") using them. Having completed an eight-man unit of British NBC soldiers last month, I now need to really focus upon the Soviet invasion force threatening a nuclear bomb-blasted United Kingdom.

"There is only one sentence... Death!"

This will primarily consist of a similarly-sized Soviet NBC unit, along with a set of fourteen members of the Russian Spetsnaz Special Forces, armed with AK47s and an RPGs. In addition, I would like to get a couple of the actual British civilian survivors completed, including a certain shotgun-carrying gentlemen - who I hope will work well as a heavily-bearded proxy for East Londoner Bill Savage in any scenarios based upon the old "2000 A.D." comic strip "Invasion!" I want to game.

To get things off to a fairly strong start, I have already got the varnish and flock on a (fifth) 28mm metal model taken from "Athena Miniatures" AS12 Russian NBC four-sculpt set. This Soviet Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence trooper was initially undercoated using a couple of layers of “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, before being shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII.

February 2025 - "Black Tree Design" quite significantly extends its lead due to interest in "Doctor Who"

To try and break up the monotony of the Communist's rubber suit I then applied a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to his gloves and overboots. Finally, his respirator, rifle butt and coat buttons were 'picked out' with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst his firearm and eye lenses were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Painting wise, the past four weeks have definitely seen an encouraging increase in my productivity; something which has to be attributed to my impressive progress working through so many (really) old "Doctor Who" models by "Black Tree Design". I'm not sure this particular interest in thirty-year old sculpts will continue for much longer - unless I discover another stash of Sea Devils or Daleks in my backlog. But it has helped reinvigorate my hobby mojo to the point where I'm still very keen to clean away the cobwebs on many an old, long-forgotten project or three...

"I Didn't Know You Were The Sundance Kid When I Said You Were Cheating."

 "If I draw on you you'll kill me."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by “Great Escape Games", and can be purchased as part of their SKU: DMH306 Butch & Sundance two-figure set for Dead Man's Hand. The sculpt is clearly strongly influenced by actor Robert Redford's portrayal of the Sundance Kid in the 1969 Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", and depicts the outlaw's famous pose during his fatal shoot-out with the Bolivian Army.

Being rather ignorant of casting issues and concerns, I must admit to being rather surprised that this miniature came in two pieces. But a quick dab of super-glue soon seemingly fixed one of the gunslinger's arms in place, so the entire ensemble could be primed using a couple of coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. At this stage I also noticed that one of the bank robber's pistols was mis-cast and missing its barrel. However, I figured there was still enough of the hand-weapon for such a flaw to be overlooked on the gaming table.

"Exterminate. Exterminate!"

The Sundance Kid was dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then began the process of 'picking out' all of his details, using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade on his vest, and "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson" for his shirt. I also carefully traced out the outlaw's holster string (tied around his leg) with a thin line of White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and later weathered the string with a little "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

The train thief's guns and buttons were subsequently coated in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before I tackled his hair and moustache primarily with Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats". These areas were darkened down with a careful application of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and then highlighted with a patient dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow. As a final touch I decided to make the gunslinger's shoes and holster stand out a bit more from his all-black suit, by simply giving them a lick of pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - This Sons of Horus Space Marine just needs a final touch-up

In addition to the Sundance Kid, I have also finished working on another 28mm metal, multi-part Dalek by "Black Tree Design". Available as either DW303 - Dalek, or as part of their DW1001 - Dalek Patrol Plus Heavy Weapons Dalek set, the "Doctor Who" monster was predominantly painted using Citadel Abaddon Black, "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and Celestial Blue by "Two Thin Coats".

I've also managed to find a little more hobby time to plod on with the last of my Sons of Horus Space Marines by "Games Workshop". All of the main colours have now been 'blocked in' and in some places, even highlighted. However, I now need to carefully tidy my way up the 28mm plastic figure, ensuring that all its MK IV armour is finished, and any stray brushstrokes of "Vallejo" Gold or "Citadel" Abaddon Black are covered over...

"Our Father, Who Art In Heaven..."

"Hallowed be thy name."

This 28mm scale resin model of a Praying Mouse is produced by “Oathsworn Miniatures" and was part of the company's "Burrows & Badgers: Furs & Feathers" Kickstarter way back in July 2017. Known as 'Pious' Tom, the Mouse Monk, the figure was originally given away for free during the crowdfunding campaign to any "Pick'n'Mix" or "All In" backers. However, it has since become available to buy as part of the North East English company's "Burrows & Badgers" range on their website.

Due to the sculpt being knelt in prayer, I recall initially being somewhat tempted to plonk the small rodent onto one of the thin-lipped 40mm plastic circular bases I regularly use for my objective markers. However, in the end I superglued the tiny animal onto a lipped 30mm round base instead, and set about priming them with a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. The monk's robe was then shaded using a far amount of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before being roughly dry-brushed in (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

"There's nowhere to run!"

Having studied the mouse's 'official paint-job', I next applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to the critter's hood. This area was later highlighted with a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Brown. The monk's hands, feet and tail were simply layered in "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and subsequently treated to some additional lines of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone along its fingers and toes.

For the figure's face, I decided to try something a little different (and definitely much quicker), by simply giving the area a rough dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone over a Heavy Sienna base-coat. The entire head was then shaded with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and lightened with a much softer dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone. Finally, the closed eye slits were just darkened with a streak of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whereas the creature's fingernails and claws were given a lick of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, and darkened down with (even more) "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"The Volgs are coming down everywhere!"

In addition to my impulse paint-job - having only discovered the partially-painted model in a drawer the day before I finished pigmenting it - I have also completed the last two 28mm metal single-cast British NBC soldiers produced by "Athena Miniatures" I bought at "Warfare" 2024. Largely finished using lots of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, the troopers' semi-automatic L98 A2 rifles and lenses were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I also splattered their ammunition pouches with some round(ish) dollops of “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna, before drenching their equipment bags with a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. This basic camouflage pattern - which I've previously used whilst painting my 15mm German Panzergrenadiers for "Flames Of War" - was subsequently highlighted back up with some extra splodges of (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

"Pity? I Have No Understanding Of The Word."

"It is not registered in my vocabulary bank. Exterminate!"

This 28mm metal, multi-part model of a Kaled Mark Three travel machine is manufactured by "Black Tree Design", and can be bought either individually as DW303 - Dalek, or as part of their DW1001 - Dalek Patrol Plus Heavy Weapons Dalek set, from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Created by Terry Nation, and brilliantly designed by Raymond Cusick, this sculpt is clearly based upon the Time Lord's most feared enemies - who first appeared in the 1963 six-part storyline now known as "The Daleks".

Probably assembled using a little super-glue some twenty plus years ago, this particular figure has always proved a remarkably off-putting figure to tackle on account of all the fiddly sensor globes I'd need to pick out with my brush-tip. This 'intimidation factor' was largely due to my plan to pigment the Dalek in its original colour scheme of silver with light blue bumps, and it wasn't until I recently decided to swap that palette out for the much more painter-friendly one seen in "Genesis Of The Daleks", that I finally decided to get the classic monster tabletop ready.

"Titan Forge" WIPs - This Death Knight's armour has been base-layered and shaded

I therefore treated the model to a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and began the odious task of encircling all its sensor globes with some thinned-down "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Once this process was completed, I then drenched the entire miniature in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and gave its upper half a careful drybrush with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey.

With the 'basics' finished I moved on to 'picking out' some of the Dalek's much smaller details, using a photograph of the Masterpiece Collection Maxi Bust Genesis Dalek by "Forbidden Planet" as a guide. I therefore applied some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to the machine's manipulator arm, dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and plonked the infamous sink-plunger with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Titan Forge" WIPs - These two Death Dogs have been 3D printed, based and primed

I also gave its deadly gun-stick a layer of "Vallejo" Bronze, shaded it with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and dry-brushed the "standard personal Dalek weapon" using a little (more) "Vallejo" Bronze." Finally, I coated the creature's five-disc eyestalk in "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue and a splodge of "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. Whilst its two low profile comm lights (on the dome) were simply spotted with "Vallejo" White, darkened in heavily watered down Carcharodon Grey by "Two Thin Coats", and re-dotted with a tad more "Vallejo" White.

Alongside my first "Black Tree Design" Dalek in more than two decades, I have also been working on a Death Knight and his three Death Dogs by "Titan Forge Miniatures". These four models were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 5 3D Printer, and are the start of a fantasy skirmish project I have planned to potter away at for the rest of 2025. For now though, I simply wanted to get the mighty undead warrior and his hounds undercoated, ready for some base layering...

"I Have Found The Doctor."

"And you have your orders. Kill him."

This pair of identical 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and can be bought individually as DW510 - Armoured Sea Devil from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. "Awoken in 2084 A.D. by a group of Silurians who believed peace with humanity was impossible", the sculpts are clearly based upon the "amphibious Earth reptiles" seen in Johnny Byrne's 1984 television story "Warriors Of The Deep".

'Identified by historians as an example of a Silurian subspecies', the two figures were primed using a couple of layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and subsequently sploshed in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Some of the details on the shock troopers' uniforms, along with each creature's hand-weapon, were then 'picked out' using a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a dash (more) of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - All of this Dalek's sensor globes have been patiently picked out

The Sea Devils' faces and paws were simply given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, before being shaded with some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, despite the models' costumes not quite matching the samurai-looking helmets shown on the small screen, I decided to treat their ornate headwear to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Due to currently still being rather obsessed with classic "Doctor Who", I thought it was about time I corrected a major omission in my collection, by finally putting a brush-tip to some old multi-part Daleks. Perhaps unsurprisingly to many, I actually own a considerable number of these "Black Tree Design" miniatures from the planet Skaro. But up until now, I've always been put off painting them due to the numerous sensor globes surrounding their Mark III Travelling Machines.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - This Sons of Horus Space Marine's gold areas have been completed

To get over this 'hump' I've therefore decided to paint a pilot piece up using the fairly straightforward blue-grey/black colour scheme seen in such broadcast storylines as "Genesis of the Daleks" and "Resurrection of the Daleks". Hopefully this'll encourage me to then produce another handful using the same palette, before moving on to the silver/blue livery depicted in some of the science fiction series' earlier adventures.

In addition, I have made more progress on the last of my MK IV wearing Sons of Horus from the long out of production (OOP) Betrayal At Calth boxed set. This particular "Games Workshop" Space Marine has proved a bit intimidating on account of being equipped with a Legion Vexilla (Legion Standard). However, now I've finished all the gold areas on the traitor's Maximus armour, I'm pretty sure I'll soon have him ready for a 31st Millennium battlefield...

"Doctor, Be Careful. It's Obviously A Dalek."

"You were lucky to find the Tardis in all that jungle."

This 28mm metal model is manufactured by "Black Tree Design" and can be bought as DW155 - Vicki from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. "A student of a 25th century school system", the sculpt is clearly based upon one of the first Doctor's travelling companions as seen in David Whitaker's 1965 television story "The Rescue", and has languished in my collection for at least a decade. Indeed, I may even have purchased the figure as far back as twenty five years ago, when it was cast by "Harlequin Miniatures".

Probably primed with a double-helping of "Vallejo" White in late 2023, when I had planned to pigment the 'fourteen year-old space traveller' as part of a large "Doctor Who" project, the orphan then had her boots and dress base-layered in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. At the time I recall thinking that her legs were bare. However, having recently spotted some artwork capturing the young girl's early adventure on the planet Dido, it appeared that Vicki was actually wearing a pair of stockings.

"The outcome is certain. The ape primitives are no match for my warriors. They will be crushed."

Resultantly, the model's legs were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before being carefully dry-brushed with a little more "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. This aforementioned illustration also convinced me that the time traveller's dress wasn't plain black either, so it was subsequently picked out in "Vallejo" Storm Blue, and later darkened down a bit with a splash or two of "Citadel Nuln Oil."

To be honest the actual casting on this piece was pretty poor, especially on the child's bare arms. So in the end I simply settled for giving all of Vicki's skin a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and dash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshtone. I then went back with an incredibly fine brush-tip to highlight some of the more flat areas back up. The companion's hair was painted with a base layer of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow, a dousing of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and a dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow. In the photographs of actress Maureen O'Brien's on-screen character it seemed that her collar was decorated with a silver pattern of some kind. However, there was no such detail sculpted onto the dress which I could see, so considering how very small the figure was, I decided to leave the area bare.

"Great Escape Games" WIPs - Both Butch & Sundance have been primed and base-layered

Sticking with both "Black Tree Design" and "Doctor Who", I have also managed to finish another 28mm metal Sea Devil too - A classic monster from Peter Davison's tenure as the time travelling Doctor. Available as DW510 - Armoured Sea Devil, this miniature was predominantly painted using "Citadel" Abaddon Black, "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, "Citadel" Nuln Oil, "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Lastly, I simply haven't been able to resist starting work on the Butch & Sundance figures by "Great Escape Games", which I recently bought at "Beachhead" 2025. I must confess to being a bit surprised that the 28mm metal sculpts were multi-piece miniatures - albeit, they are dynamically posed. But once they were assembled, I've managed to get the beginnings of a base layer or two on the gun-slinging pair of outlaws for Dead Man's Hand.