"Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini Was An Italian Dictator..."

"...Who founded and led the National Fascist Party."

This 28mm multi-part plastic miniature was assembled using various parts taken from the Italian Army & Blackshirts sprue produced by "Warlord Games", and can be found inside a number of their boxed kits such as SKU: 402015801. However, my model was assembled from a free sprue the Nottingham-based manufacturer kindly sent me as part of a much larger "Bolt Action" order, and could well become the start of an Italian army for "the ultimate World War II tabletop miniatures game" next year.

With this potential project in mind, I thought I'd probably best start with my force's Officer, and having perused the various pieces available to me, felt that I could a fair representation of the "Duce of the Italian Social Republic" himself. Indeed, not only did the sprue appear to contain a 'spot on' head. But it also included the country's famous "Che vuoi?" hand gesture too.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPs - Four of the eight British NBC troopers currently being progressed

Once assembled, the figure was primed using a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then tried to take inspiration from the uniform plates which feature inside the "Armies Of Italy and the Axis" guidebook by "Osprey Publishing", by picking out Mussolini's water bottle, pistol holder, and odd leather strap with "Vallejo" Heavy Brown. These items were later washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

I also applied a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil" to Benito's pistol and shovel, as well as a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to the emblem on his felt fez. In reality I believe this symbol was a large gold-on-red eagle. However, the sculpt appeared to simply be a rectangle, so I just carefully followed the detail's edges with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, rather than try to do anything particularly fanciful.

"Diehard Miniatures" WIPs - After a few shades and dry-brushes, this undead astronaut's bones are finished 

Having completed this rather impulsive ensemble, I have settled down to progressing all eight British Squaddies dressed in Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) sold by "Athena Miniatures". This unit is still in its early stages. But I'm happy with the miniatures' palette, and even plan to do some camouflage upon their ammunition grab bags - as per some 'official' photographs I've seen.

In addition, I've stumbled upon a 30mm metal undead astronaut by "Diehard Miniatures", which I apparently first put a brush-tip to just over five years ago. These sorts of long abandoned projects are just what my current Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge is all about, so as I'm in a moon-themed mood anyway, I thought I'd finally get the ghoulish rocketeer completed. Plus, I understand you can only buy the mode as part of the manufacturer's Skeletal Spacemen Unit 1 set - so presumably his four comrades-in-death are lurking around my backlog pile somewhere too...

"Volgons Invade Western Europe!"

 "6.00AM., Friday January 1st, 1999. Black Friday!"

These three 28mm metal models are manufactured by "Athena Miniatures" as part of their Apocalypse Survivors releases, and can be purchased as part of the company's AS12 Russian NBC four-figure set. "Dressed in cold weather gear [and] armed with a variety of weapons", I succumbed to the temptation of picking up a fair few sculpts from this range whilst at "Warfare" 2024, due to the characterful collection being equipped "to do battle with Zombies or Aliens, or whatever has brought about" an end to life as we know it in the United Kingdom.

This premise immediately too me back to the classic "Invasion!" comic book strip created by Pat Mills for "2000 A.D." during the late Seventies, and with a few simple homemade rules I thought I could quite easily adapt "The Silver Bayonet" ruleset by "Osprey Games" for a series of skirmish games set within that war-torn country. Resultantly, all three of these Soviet Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence troopers were undercoated using a couple of layers of “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII.

"The papers screamed a terrifying headline!"

The models were then shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII so as to bring out all the folds/creases in their rubber suits. This straightforward palette helped get the majority of the trio completed in record time. However, I thought the miniatures would look rather plain, so decided to break their overall look up a bit by using a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on their gloves and overboots.

I also thought the Russians would look more menacing if I gave their respirators, along with their rifle butts and coat buttons, a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. As a final touch I painstakingly 'picked out' all the firearms and eye lenses with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil - hopefully helping to break-up the figures' rather monotone colour scheme even more so.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This Heartless Warmonger is having his details 'picked out'

In addition to these new acquisitions, I have pulled out a fair few much older buys from my unhealthy backlog as well. I had planned to pigment many an Alien Legionnaire and Defender Of The Earth from the Rick Rhodes retro science fiction range by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" during last year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). However, having departed that event much earlier than planned, most of the pre-prepped 28mm metal figures have simply sat gathering dust on my painting table.

That apathy towards these models has now ended, as I thought the likes of their Heartless Warmonger - which wonderfully captures all the hallmarks of General Klytus from Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon" - might make some 'quick-wins' for my own Partially Painted/Printed Pledge instead. This self-motivated drive to finally finish as many side-lined projects is currently going great guns, so I'm confident I'll soon own a fairly sizeable force of dastardly minions for the Emperor Ming to order into battle...

"There's No Point In Acting All Surprised About It."

"The plans and demolition orders have been on display at your local planning office..."

These two 28mm scale Vulgorn Guards were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer and are available as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from "Lost Heresy Miniatures" on "MyMiniFactory". The corpulent extra-terrestrials are part of an eight-figure collection, whose sculpts have clearly been heavily-inspired by the Vogons as seen in Garth Jennings' 2005 movie "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

I've also enlarged them both using "Chitubox" Basic, as I wanted to make Bill Thornhill's corpulent creations match up size-wise with the science fiction miniatures I've previously produced by "Papsikels Miniatures". This basically meant I upscaled the figures by 108.41% (something I repeatedly refer to as 'Arnie size') using the eye-level and dimensions of their Colonist Marine Cyborg Hero E-900 Exterminator STL as a guide.

"...in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years."

The pair were undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before having their large bodysuits layered with "Vallejo" German Grey. They were then drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo Grey." and had all their leather straps and gloves carefully 'picked out' with a lick or two of "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

I next applied some "Vallejo" Gunmetal to their zippers, eye holes, ear protectors and mouth guards, before darkening the areas down with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Their flesh was tackled using a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and dash of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I did attempt to give one of the models some suitably red lips. However, I simply didn't like how this looked on my figure, so ended up simply painting over them.

"The peaceful dreams of mankind bridging the stars were short-lived."

Furthermore, I gave the Vulgorn Guard's rather rectangular hand-weapon a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, before giving it some "Vallejo" Bronze. The firearm was subsequently shaded in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Bronze and then a smidgeon of Gunmetal. Finally, I treated it to a second wash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, which hopefully makes it look like the well-weathered gun was once silver in colour. But had since got covered in grime with age.

In addition to my two 3D prints, I have also completed another of the 32mm resin NASA Astronauts produced by "Black Site Studios" I received as part of my Lunar Core Game pre-order way back in July 2021. Essentially, the miniature was undercoated with "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue, drenched in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and dry-brushed with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue, before I 'picked out' his firearm with "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln...

"The Long Feared Attack On Britain..."

"...By the Volgon Republic of Asia has begun!"

This 28mm metal model is produced by "Athena Miniatures" as part of their Apocalypse Survivors range, and is one of four similarly attired figures found inside the Swindon-based company's AS12 Russian NBC set. I actually picked it up as part of a quite considerably-size impulse buy at "Warfare" 2024, as they're based on the notion of the Russians invading the United Kingdom following some great calamity - whether that be a nuclear strike, zombie incursion or some deadly extra-terrestrial attack.

I immediately started thinking back to the classic "Invasion!" comic book strip created by Pat Mills for "2000 A.D." during the late Seventies, and felt I could quite easily adapt "The Silver Bayonet" ruleset by "Osprey Games" for some skirmish games. For openers though, I simply wanted to try a fairly bland (and easy to paint) colour scheme on this member of the Soviet's Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence, and begin building up a sizeable squad of bad guys for my small party of survivors to battle against.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPs - Three Russian NBC Troopers partially-painted and awaiting washes

The soldier was therefore primed with plenty of “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. This extremely simple approach arguably sorted out the entire chemical suit in one fell swoop. But I thought the model would look a little boring in such a limited palette, so decided to break it up a bit by using a little "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on the chap's rubber gloves and overboots.

I also decided to 'pick out' the respirator on the miniature's gas mask (as well as his assault rifle butt and coat buttons) with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, the figure's firearm and eye lenses were given a lick of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil - again just so I could cause some contrast between the predominantly dour palette I'd chosen.

"Wargames Foundry" - This Late Line Infantryman is being used as a test piece for my British colour scheme

Alongside the first of what I anticipate will be a fairly large project for 2025 - I spotted a resin Land Rover amongst the range on the "Athena Miniatures" stand last month, which I intend to treat myself to when I visit their stall at "Beachhead" next year - I have also been beavering away at the rest of the squad. Now I've settled upon a paint scheme I hope to get these soldiers completed "toot sweet" and move on to the British NBC troopers I also bought.

I've also not completely forgotten about my desire to field some sizeable Napoleonic forces for "Black Powder", so somewhat in the background have been poking away at a single sculpt taken from the "Wargames Foundry" blister B041 Late Line Infantry Flank Company Shouldered Arms. I had intended to get a quartet of these British Grenadiers finished by the end of November. However, I've since found my enthusiasm for this long-term plan dwindling in recent weeks, so haven't been able to face all the red and white lacing which this particular combatant contains...

"The War For Earth's Moon Has Begun."

"A Cold War gone hot."

This 32mm resin miniature is produced by "Black Site Studios", and forms part of the Lunar Core Game pre-order I made with the American-based manufacturer way back in July 2021. These days the model is available as either part of the five-figure set SKU: LNR6809BSS - NASA Astronauts, or the manufacturer's current Two-Player Starter Box, and was put together using elements taken from the incredible number of hands, weapons and equipment pieces which came inside my old starter box.

To begin with the "moon walker" was super-glued to "Citadel" 30mm circular stand, as opposed to one of the bases which came with the kit, and then armed to best illustrate their role in a homebrew version of "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games" which I'm planning. As I intend to use this particular sculpt as the Commander of my United States force I opted for a knife and a piece of Ceramic Plating (to use as a makeshift shield of some kind).

"Black Site Studios" WIPs - This NASA Astronaut is having all his details 'picked out'

The miniature was subsequently undercoated with plenty of "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue, drenched in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and dry-brushed with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Celestial Blue. I next applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade to a piece of insulation material running along the edge of the astronaut's backpack. I had hoped this darker shade would help break up the monotony of the spaceman's palette a little bit. But disappointingly it's a little too close in hue to the predominant colour to make much of a difference.

The model's knife and cabling were first 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, layered in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and finally sploshed with "Citadel" Nuln. The self-made shield was painted in "Scale 75" Cobalt Alchemy, treated to a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and later dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Cobalt Alchemy to help bring out all the ceramic tiles' details.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPs - Early days on this trio of Russian NBC soldiers

With my enthusiasm for the Lunar universe at an all-time high, I've unsurprisingly been beavering away on a second American spaceman. I've recently received some reinforcements in the guise of Freelancers, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and some Republic of China (R.O.C.) Taikonauts, so aim to get my United States force finished as soon as possible so I can start progressing some of these new figures too.

Lastly, I have made a start on four 28mm metal Russian NBC soldiers, which I rather impulsively picked up from "Athena Miniatures" whilst at "Warfare" 2024. I got rather enthused by the company's Apocalypse Survivors range to be entirely honest, and bought a good few packs so as to fight in a near future where a nuked United Kingdom has been invaded by the Soviet Union.

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge" December 2024

Last month's output was a bizarre mixture of figures - and many more are now likely to come

Traditionally around this time of the year I am building, basing and undercoating all manner of miniatures in preparation for the annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). Indeed, both my hobby desk and surrounding drawers would ordinarily already be swimming in various resurrected models awaiting a second push to the finish line, or some brand news ones which I had somewhat disconcertingly purchased in order to enter the competition's bonus stages - so as to 'pick up' many of the much-needed extra points I would invariably require to achieve my target tally.

However, having decided not to participate in that particular event again I thought I'd instead reinvent an old personal goal I have repeatedly failed to achieve in the past - namely to spend four months plodding through my unfinished backlog. As a result I thought I'd give my previously named Partially-Painted Pledge (PPP) an extra 'P' so as to include anything I've 3D printed over the past twenty-four plus months, and genuinely focus on chipping away at the giant 'Inventory of Inspiration' I have accumulated.

"Black Site Studios" WIPs - The first of my NASA Astronauts is almost finished

The self-imposed rules are pretty straightforward, as the models simply need to have been started in some way to be eligible - so even a bare metal model super-glued to a base or a multi-piece plastic miniature having been assembled, will suffice. This should cause me to stumble through all manner of genres, scales and rule systems until the end of March 2025, and simultaneously help stimulate/maintain my enthusiasm as I declutter my collection of long-forgotten figures.

Furthermore I aim to actually (finally) finish approximately a hundred 28mm models or rather attain 500 points - using my monthly scoring mechanism - and in doing so hopefully bolster my increasingly flagging productivity. This may well prove a tall order, despite some of the models being considerably close to completion. But it at least gives me something aspirational to aim for rather than just meandering from one old half-hearted paint-job to another.

November 2024 - "Crooked Dice" make a big leap towards challenging for second place

To begin with I aim to knuckle down and complete the five-man NASA Astronaut set by "Black Site Miniatures" I had expected to complete during November. I've actually picked up a few of the company's "Lunar" Faction Expansions from UK-based "Spectre Miniatures", as well as taken advantage of the American manufacturer's Black Friday Sale to pick up a few of the range's 'harder to get' kits from their side of the Pond. So I really want to get all these goodies painted before I splurge out on any more.

I'd also imagine that the likes of "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", "Pendraken Miniatures" "Ground Zero Games", and "Battlefront Miniatures" will greatly benefit from this challenge, as I've already discovered many a drawer and container quite literally 'packed to the gunnels' with their sculpts - all of which have only been partially worked on before being discarded in favour of something else...

"Vogons Are One Of The Most Unpleasant Races In The Galaxy."

"Not evil. But bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous."

These two 28mm scale Vulgorn Guards were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer and are available as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from "Lost Heresy Miniatures" on "MyMiniFactory". The corpulent extra-terrestrials are part of an eight-figure collection, whose sculpts have clearly been heavily-inspired by the Vogons as seen in Garth Jennings' 2005 movie "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

I've also enlarged (and mirrored) the same pose using "Chitubox" Basic, as I wanted to make Bill Thornhill's rotund sculpt match up well size-wise with the science fiction miniatures I've previously produced by "Papsikels Miniatures". This basically meant I upscaled the figure by 108.41% (something I repeatedly refer to as 'Arnie size') using the eye-level and dimensions of their Colonist Marine Cyborg Hero E-900 Exterminator STL as a guide.

"On no account should you allow a Vogon to read poetry to you."

The pair were undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black before having their large bodysuits layered with "Vallejo" German Grey. They were then shaded using "Citadel" Nuln Oil and vigorously dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo Grey." I next 'picked out' their zipper, eye holes, ear protectors and mouth guards in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Finally, I applied plenty of "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the bureaucrats gloves and tackled their bare noses with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and dash of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I did also momentarily consider pigmenting the duo's bases using my predominantly grey Moon/Mars basing (with 2mm tall Chilli Red flock) so they could be used to tackle my slowly growing "Lunar" collection of models by "Spectre Miniatures". However, in the end I just based them in the brown mud and green grass I usually use, so I could stick to my original plan of having them tackle Xenomorphs and Exterminators.

"The bears may be relatively realistic in appearance, with detailed masks or fully rounded headpieces."

Alongside my Vulgorn Guards I have also completed four more 28mm metal Strawbears by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. This single model can be bought as SKU: MINI 466 from their Children of the Fields range, or be purchased as part of the Lincolnshire-based company's four-figure Mummer Procession deal, along with a Hobby Horse, Accordionist and Drummer. I picked up mine as part of an eight-miniature pre-order from their stall at "Warfare" 2024.

All of the miniatures were primed using a couple of coats of “Vallejo” Dark Yellow and drenched in “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. Each figure was then heavily dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Dark Yellow, and then Buff, using a large, soft-bristled make-up brush. I next decided to break up their palette a little bit more by sporadically applying splotches of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade and Biel-Tan Green to certain areas of each model, and subsequently blended all these colours together with a second dry-brush of (more) “Vallejo” Buff.