An Ancient Dynasty Dating Back Before Human Record..."

"...The Nautican Empire has reigned supreme over the underwater kingdoms."

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately as Nautican Warrior B, or as part of their DEAL 415 Nautican Warriors four-figure set. Sculpted by Iain Colwell and Ian Mountain, these miniatures would appear to have been somewhat inspired by Gerry Anderson's Aquaphibians for his 1964 television series "Stingray".

However, as I wanted to give the water-breather a bit more of an Atlantis vibe, I decided to give the "warlike under-sea" villain an undercoat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, rather than treat him to a prime of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey - as I've previously done with the resin 3D print of one of tyrant Titan's minions by "Big Mr Tong" some years ago. As a result I was then able to apply a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to his vest, turning it into chainmail as opposed to just a string vest.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three more Nautican Warriors

I then applied plenty of "Vallejo" Deep Sky Blue to the model's bare arms, legs and head, and subsequently gave these areas a shade using some heavily watered-down "Citadel" Drakehnof Nightshade. Certain parts of the figure, such as the fingers, forehands, eye-ridges, nose and head-tips were later given an extra lick of "Vallejo" Deep Sky Blue to help contrast them with the rest of the sculpt from 'three foot away.'

I also considered doing something more than simply dot the fish-man's eyes with a spot of "Citadel" Abaddon Black - perhaps giving them 'normal' black and white eyeballs or pure "Vallejo" Heavy Red ones. But ultimately I figured the pure black ones somehow made the figure look suitably menacing, especially with the aforementioned "Vallejo" Deep Sky Blue highlights surrounding them.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three of four Alien Legionnaries currently being progressed

Perhaps unsurprisingly considering how enjoyable pigmenting this 'test piece' was, I have set to work on the three remaining Nautican Warriors by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". Now I'm happy with their colour scheme I've already made some good headway on the trio's chainmail, trident tops and parts of their blaster rifles, so should soon be ploughing through all the base layers of their flesh.

Likewise, I've managed to get all the black leatherwork roughly done on four more Alien Legionnaries by Karl Perrotton's company too. This phase of their paint-scheme is by far the most tiresome and tedious. Yet now it's done on the entire quartet I can simply take each "Flash Gordon" influenced figure in turn and clean them up with plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson...

"One Tiny Crack In The Hull..."

"...And our blood boils in thirteen seconds."

This Terran Large Transport vessel is by "Fat Dragon Games", and was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer. It can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file as part of the company's Expansion Set Three for "Battlefront Valkyrie", and has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.1mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model.

As with my previously painted Terran Transport freighters I decided to forgo the usual predominantly "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey palette I have been using on my (not) Federation starships, and make the cargo-carrying spacecraft stand out by giving it a double helping of "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh as an prime/base coat instead. The miniature was then washed using some slightly watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and dry-brushed with (more) Rakarth Flesh to help bring out all its details. As a final touch, the transport's propulsion unit was 'picked out' using my tried and tested combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Talassar Blue.

The Imperial Fists get in close and personal, whilst the Sons of Horus form a line near a water feature.

Alongside my latest addition to my Terran fleet, I have also managed to squeeze in a battle using my homemade 15mm science fiction collaborative rules, "M.I.S.S.” - once again using a load of Xenomorphs by “Ground Zero Games”, 10mm Face Huggers by “Pendraken Miniatures” and Ion Age figures by "Alternative Armies". The game centred around an old ruined complex being infested by H.R. Giger’s famous aliens, and saw the Emperor deploy a combined force of Sons Of Horus and Crimson Fists to eradicate them.

For much of the onslaught the Space Marines were able to simply hold a line and whittle down their attackers with some impressive displays of ranged fire - The Warmaster's Legion doing a particularly fine job with its dreadnought whilst hugging the edge of a lagoon for added protection. However, a particularly strong horde of alien warriors did manage to reach the Crimson Fists quite early on in the game, and required the presence of the Chapter's white-helmeted Veteran Squad to finally be vanished.

Both Space Marine forces become embroiled in plenty of close combat towards the battle's end.

Indeed, the Crimson Fists seemed to become far more embroiled in the battle's close combat shenanigans for most of the fight as they pushed ever further forward so as to reach one of their main objectives, and even had their Sergeant charge into a small horde of Xenomorphs when the deadly extra-terrestrials threatened the Sons of Horus' main transport tank.

Ultimately though, even those who followed "the most favoured son of the Emperor" found themselves knee-deep in acidic alien blood, as the assault upon Mankind reached its climax, and the Space Marines managed to push on to capture the final goals needed to assure their victory. This was a cracking way to spend an afternoon, and perhaps unsurprisingly has resulted in my making a little order with "Alternative Armies" for some Ion Age reinforcements...

"Excellent, Doctor."

"Envy is the beginning of all true greatness!"

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought as MINI 2390 Devil In Disguise. Sculpted by Ian Mountain, the figure is clearly inspired by Anthony Ainley's long running incarnation of The Master as first seen in the January 1981 BBC television story "The Keeper Of Traken".

Initially primed using two or three layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, I did contemplate dry-brushing the Doctor's arch-nemesis with some "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and subsequently dousing him in "Citadel" Nuln Oil - my usual recipe for predominantly black clothing. However, as I've always felt this particular villain's costume was always immaculately dark, I decided to leave it alone, and have the grease from my fingers add some highlights over time whilst handling the miniature instead.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - A Nautican Warrior

This didn't though mean that the evil time traveller was finished, as there were still a few little details which needed 'picking out'. Foremost of these was the intricate collar design, which was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. In addition, I spotted that a stray flash of flesh was visible on one of the model's arms, so carefully lined the strip the skin using a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshtone.

Lastly, I carefully considered applying a little "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the chap's eyebrows. These had clearly been sculpted onto the model by Mountain - perhaps in recognition of Ainley's noticeable brow ridges. Yet strangely omitted in the figure's 'official' paint-job; something which I felt made the face appear a little odd to me. As a result I decided to try my best to delicately add a line of "Citadel" Abaddon Black along these details, and hopefully provide the Devil In Disguise with a truly dark, brooding visage.

"Beast In The Broch" WIPs - Alpha One and Alpha Two

Sticking with "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", I have also started to make some proper progress on the first of their Nautican Warriors I own. This particular test-piece will give me a good idea as to how best pigment the rest of the similarly shaped Aquaphibians I own. Although the overall look of these miniatures doesn't appear as strikingly similar to the nefarious "Stingray" minions I once 3D printed in resin using some STL (Standard Triangle Language) files by "Big Mr Tong" a little over three years ago.

Finally, I'm also making some significant headway on the last couple of figures I need to make tabletop ready from the Systemic Units set I own by "Beast In The Broch". Most of the base layers for Alpha One and Alpha Two are now in place, so I am to start applying a few washes on these areas, before 'picking out' the odd wire and computer-related detail on their heavily "Blake's 7" influenced uniforms...

"Enterprise, This Is Captain William Riker Of The Klingon Vessel Pagh."

"I order you to lower your shields and surrender."

This Kurgun B-1A Battlecruiser was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file by "Fat Dragon Games" as "Battlefront Valkyrie" Expansion Set 11 - albeit I was lucky enough to be sent this particular file for free by the tabletop gaming publisher. The two-piece spacecraft has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.1mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model, and measures an impressive 80mm in length.

The "sleek, heavily armoured behemoth" was primed with plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I then enthusiastically dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before 'picking out' its rear warp nacelle and "devastating massive plasma cannon" with a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red.

"Beast In The Broch" WIPs - Alpha One and Alpha Two

Having completed so straightforward a miniature, I have also (finally) be able to make a start on the last two figures I need to finish from the Systemic Units set by "Beast In The Broch" - namely Alpha One and Alpha Two. This pair of 'leaders' are a bit more colourful than the quartet of Systemic Security minions I've recently been ploughing through, so will doubtless take a bit more time to get tabletop ready than their predominantly black-uniformed guards.

However, I will be incentivised by Graeme Dawson's recent announcement of some more (very welcome) additions to this science fiction range, including some FedSec Technicians and (male) Mutaints, as well as the imposing looking Alien Harvester - which bears an uncanny resemblance to the giant insects seen in the February 1980 television of "Blake's 7" entitled "The Harvest of Kairos". In addition, the company has also announced that a duo of space assassins and two rogue FedSec scientists are now up for pre-order too.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three of the four Alien Legionnaries I'm currently working on

I'm desperately trying to be good with all these temptations, especially as "Beast In The Broch" do a tantalising discount to the cost of their models when pre-ordered. But my painting queue is currently already overwhelmed with all the genres I want to get on my various battlefields, so I really don't want to get too overloaded. Plus I plan to pick up a few more Systemic Security units too, in order to better fill out my patrol squad, so it'll be a sizeable amount of miniatures when I'm actually ready to checkout my online basket.

To make matters worse, I'm also having to plod away at four more Alien Legionnaries by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" after failing to resist their recent release of a Submarine Security team and Lunar Command crew - all of which have already arrived at 'Fantorical Towers'. These have already joined the Nautican Warriors I have 'waiting in the wings', so I really need to add this predominantly red-coloured quarter to my Heartless Warmonger's ever-growing force as fast as I can...

"Only Hate Keeps Me Alive."

"I must see the Doctor die in shame and dishonour."

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought as MINI 2389 Heinous Husk. Sculpted by Ian Mountain, the figure is clearly heavily inspired by Peter Pratt's portrayal of the decayed Master in the 1976 BBC science fiction television "Doctor Who" story "The Deadly Assassin" - and then later by Geoffrey Beevers in 1981 adventure “The Keeper Of Traken”.

The miniature was initially primed using a couple of licks of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before having its decrepit overcoat layered in "Vallejo" German Grey. This filthy garment was then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" German Grey.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - My Devil In Disguise is almost finished

So as to make the cloth appear that extra bit dirty and dishevelled I later mixed some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and sporadically dry-brushed this mixture across the disagreeable villain's sleeves, hood and robe. With hindsight, I should probably have used "Vallejo" German Grey rather than "Citadel" Abaddon Black, as it made the combination a little too dark for my liking. But what's done is done.

The evil time traveller's flesh was originally just painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and shaded using a little "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. However, to make the fiend even more emaciated I dry-brushed the figure's face and hands with "Vallejo" Dead White, before applying a few drops of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green and Carroburg Crimson to the areas too.

"Beast In The Broch" WIPs - Another Systemic Security figure is on the painting table

Sticking with Karl Perrotton's products, I have also managed to make a proper start on the range's Devil In Disguise model. I'm hoping to get this particular fellow finished quite soon, so I can begin work on a pack of Nautican Warriors I picked up at the same time as these Machiavellian Time Travellers.

Lastly, I've got my sights set on completing the fourth and final Systemic Security miniature by "Beast In The Broch" I need to polish off from the manufacturer's Systemic Units set. This will then mean I just need to pigment a couple of Alpha Unit character figures before setting my sights on another order with their "Blake's 7" focused series of recent releases...

"Leave Us, Or I Shall Have You Stripped Of Rank..."

"...And sent home in a transport!"

This Terran Medium Transport vessel is by "Fat Dragon Games", and was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer. It can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file as part of the company's Expansion Set Three for "Battlefront Valkyrie", and has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.1mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model.

As with my previously painted Terran Small Transport freighter I decided to forgo the usual predominantly "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey palette I have been using on my (not) Federation starships, and make the weaponless spacecraft stand out from my fleet by giving it a double helping of "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh as an prime/base coat instead.

"State the circumstance by which you came to be aboard Deep Space Vehicle II."

The miniature was then shaded using some slightly watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and dry-brushed with (more) Rakarth Flesh to help bring out all its details. As a final touch, its propulsion unit was 'picked out' using my tried and tested combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Talassar Blue.

In addition to this vessel I've also found the time to finish another model by "Beast In The Broch" too. This 32mm scale pewter cast miniature of Systemic Security 4 can be brought either individually as SKU: ALI06 or as part of the six-figure Systemic Units set SKU: PAK 07. Digitally sculpted by Carl Stoelzel, I've painted the model up to resemble one of the System's guards as seen in the 1979 television episode of "Blake's Seven" entitled "Redemption".

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" - This Heinous Husk just needs some finer details to be 'picked out'

The guard was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and later shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then used plenty of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on the chap's visor and chest area (front and back), before tackling some of his finer details - like pigmenting the communications bracelet in "Scale 75" Decayed Metal and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, his hand-weapon in "Vallejo" Dead White and Pale Grey, and the minion's front-facing tubing in "Two Thin Coats" Ethereal Green and a smidgeon of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

Lastly, I have made some solid progress on my Heinous Husk by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". I'm really hoping to have this particular Machiavellian time traveller tabletop ready before the week is out so I can begin work in earnest on the company's Devil in Disguise sculpt. Once these are completed I can then begin ploughing my way through a number of Nautican Warrior and Alien Legionnaries, before I visit Karl Perrotton's stall at Warfare wargames show with a bit of a wish list in November...

"Crudely Built But Capable Of Taking Quite A Beating..."

"...The tank crushes and barrels its way around a battlefield."

These two 15mm scale Space Goblins' vehicles are sold by “Alternative Armies” and can be purchased as Pack Code IAF046 Infernus Tank - Malig Ball Tank from the company’s "The Ion Age" range. Supplied as a multi-piece metal and resin kit, they are armed with both Charon Fire Projectors, Maia Guns and also come with a 50mm resin scenic base.

However, once assembled each model was actually super-glued on to a large-sized plastic "Flames Of War" stand by “Battlefront Miniatures”, and subsequently primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. They were then base-layered in "Vallejo" Gunmetal. I did momentarily consider using "Vallejo" Heavy Red - as that seemed more in keeping with a Goblin force. But in the end decided to stick with the 'official' colour scheme instead; at least for these first two miniatures.

"It's two hull halves spinning while the centre remains stationary."

"Often deployed in support of Malig Tesserans", the assault rollers were drowned in “Citadel” Nuln Oil, before receiving a heavy dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal. I next splodged some heavily watered down "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna over their 'hull halves' and later pigmented the centre portion with pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

To be honest, the most difficult part of getting these quite hefty Infernus Tanks tabletop ready was attaching the two outer parts of the vehicle to their (stationary) middle. All of these pieces were made of cast resin and without any guide-markers or slots, it was rather hard to get each ensemble properly aligned with one another before the super-glue set fast. In the end both of the models were a little wonky, so I ended up using some green-stuff on their base to help balance them up for the human eye not to notice.

"Alternative Armies" WIPs - The (backwards) Runner Drone and Female Retained Veteran

In addition to these formidable additions to my evil Shia Khan Legion, I have also begun work on a much smaller stand of infantry for my Prydian Army - largely inspired by a female Inquisitor adorned in power armour from the "Warhammer 40K" universe. Resultantly I am plan to plonk a Taranis (Jammer) Runner Drone alongside a Female Retained Veteran, and use the duo as another 'hero' base for my non-canon games of 15mm Horus Heresy.

Rather embarrassingly though, I've already noticed that I have permanently affixed the drone's mechanical legs back-to-front, so the pose's two headlights are now facing to its rear. This error on my behalf is incredibly annoying; albeit I strongly doubt it'll actually be noticeable to anyone who looks at the two-figure unit once its been fully painted, glued together, flocked and had static grass applied to it...