"So Much Death."

"What can men do against such reckless hate?"

This pair of 28mm scale metal Uruk-hai were manufactured by "Games Workshop", and could be bought as part of their Uruk-hai Command and Uruk-hai Warriors randomly populated blisters respectively. Disappointingly, neither figure now appears to be available as part of the Nottingham-based company's current "The Lord Of The Rings" range for the Forces of Isengard, and were actually purchased in various states of disrepair second-hand at a gaming show or two many moons ago.

In order to eradicate its previous partial paint-job the Uruk-hai Captain was first treated to a couple of layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being given a coat of "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. This "Metal N' Alchemy" water-based acrylic was then dry-brushed with "Scale 75" Thrash Metal, shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and given a second, much lighter dry-brush of (more) "Scale 75" Thrash Metal.

"The Uruk-hai are too many."

Having reasonably replicated the old OOP "Citadel" Tin Bitz colour scheme I used on my decade-old, modestly-sized Forces of Isengard army I attempted something similar with the brutal warrior's flesh by applying a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to his arms, legs, and chin. I also 'picked' out the soldier's loincloth, hair and gloves with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and (more) "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

The Uruk-hai Warrior was painted in a very similar way, albeit I had apparently already painted the Isengarder's armour, sword and shield ten years ago. However, as this particular minion of Saruman was actually going to be a Uruk-hai Scout Captain in my army for the "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game", I free-handed a rough replica of the White Wizard's emblem upon his shield in "Vallejo" White, and then weathered it with a quick dry-brush of "Scale 75" Thrash Metal.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - The Treant is ready for detailing

In addition, it appears that I probably bought this model without its metal tab, and had resultantly propped the figure up on its circular base using the odd piece of plastic sprue and some metal shavings. I therefore pigmented these parts to resemble stone, courtesy of a "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey undercoat, a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

Sticking with J.R.R. Tolkein's Middle Earth, but moving across to "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", I have also found the time to do some groundwork on their recently-released Treant miniature. This multi-part resin kin has been assembled, pinned, primed, shaded and repeatedly dry-brushed in preparation for the 72mm tall model's leafy detail to all be 'picked out'...

"Brain Moles Hunger For Psionic Energy."

'They will attack victims by psionically burrowing into their brains.'

These three 15mm long pewter models of some Brain Moles are produced by "Otherworld Miniatures", and can be bought from their Dungeon Monsters range under Code DM30. Sculpted by Paul Muller, the single-piece castings depict the burrowing animals watching for the approach of their psionic prey.

"Small, furry, and nearly blind", the tiny creatures were attached to 25mm plastic slotta-bases and primed with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Their furry hide was then dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal before being shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Brain moles eat small insects when they can't get psionic energy."

I picked out out their tiny webbed feet, tails and star-shaped noses with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey, and later washed these areas with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. As a final touch I dotted their diminutive eyes with a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and (more) "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

"Zealot Miniatures" WIPs - This Yeti has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Having finished this trio of power leeching dungeon denizens, I have turned my attention to another of my alternative sculpts for "Frostgrave" by "Zealot Miniatures". This Dorset-based manufacturer has really fired my imagination with its incredible range of snow-based monsters, and this particular 40mm Yeti was the first of Boris Woloszyn's figures to catch my eye.

I've only currently purchased a few resin models from the Litchmyre Dungeon Collection, as I wanted to see just how well the company's "quality PU Resin" worked as a modelling medium. But having now assembled and pigmented a couple of figures, my long term-plan is to acquire a fair few more of their wandering monsters, as well as enough heroes with which to form an adventuring warband.

"Privateer Press" WIPs - This Wayfarer is slowly having all of his detail picked out

Fortunately, despite this distraction, I have still found the time to make some healthy progress on the Iron Star Alliance Paladin Weaver I plan to field for my games of Warcaster: Neo-Machinika. This "solo" unit by "Privateer Press" is absolutely covered in intricate detail, but should soon be finished now all its brass-coloured areas have been base-coated with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

"It Remains Unknown If This Sentient Fungus..."

"...Is a native or mutation triggered by hazardous wasters."

This 28mm scale white metal model of an Ambulatory Fungoid is sold by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought alongside a Horned Urz cub as part of their Alien Pets 2 deal. Sculpted by Andrew May, and originally produced as a freebie to all backers of the company's Colony 87 - The Third Wave - 28mm Sci-Fi Civilians Kickstarter, the creature is designed to be used with the company's other "Colony 87" sci-fi civilian miniatures "for any RPGs and tabletop wargames."

"Growing in the vast labyrinth of tunnels, sewers, Maran-Tchi cysts and chambers below the outpost", the alien was initially undercoated using "Vallejo" Sombre Grey before being shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. I then painted the walking mushroom's top with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and sporadically spotted its irregular lumps with some White using a piece of torn foam.

"Privateer Press" WIPs - The Paladin Enforcer is slowly having all his detail 'picked out'

This entire area was subsequently shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and its spots reapplied with more "Vallejo" White over the same bumps as before. This gave the impressive of some dots slowly emerging alongside others which were already fully-visible. As a final step I 'picked out' the Fungoid's numerous eyes with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

With the latest of my "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" alien pets finished I have managed to keep my momentum going with the three Paladin Enforcers I'm currently pigmenting for "Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika". These multi-part metal miniatures by "Privateer Press" were a little fiddly to assemble, but now they've been primed, shaded and dry-brushed I'm hoping to now be on the home straight to getting my Iron Star Alliance Starter Set completed before the end of the month.

"Kitbash Games" WIPs - Lightning Bug has had all his "Vallejo" Brass shaded and dry-brushed

In addition, I have tried to dedicate some hobby-time to getting my Lightning Bug by "Kitbash Games" ready for the tabletop. The somewhat small resin super-hero was actually released as part of the manufacturer's first "Supers Unlimited" Kickstarter. However I have waited until recently to purchase the fellow after some casting failures saw its sculpt get revised to be both "slightly bulkier and approximately 1 or 2mm taller in relative terms."

As with so many of the figures from this range I have also decided to steer well away from both the 'official' character and colour scheme, so as to use my miniature as part of a Weird War Two campaign I have planned using some homemade rules. To this end, I won't be giving the model a predominantly black costume, but rather a red and brass one in order to better represent the Soviet splendour of the Bolshevik Bug...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

First Few Posts Of February 2021 Posted On Wix Website

The first few postings of February 2021 are now up on the new Wix website. These include the last of my "Atomic Mass Games" 40mm super-hero models to use for Marvel Crisis Protocol, as well as the start of a painting push to finished a load of partially-painted figures by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio".

In addition, I've posted up the first of my completed 15mm ACW plastic infantry strips by "Warlord Games", taken from their upcoming "Epic Battles: American Civil War" game for Black Powder. The models came free on the cover of Issue 393 of "Wargames Illustrated".

Lastly, I've finishing porting across both the January and February 2019 postings from this blog over to the new Wix website. Please click the link below to pay me a visit and see all the changes for yourself.

https://www.fantoricalwargaming.com

First Few Posts Of New Year Posted On Wix Website

The first few postings of 2021 are now up on the new Wix website. These include a Top Ten of my most popular painted figures over the past twelve months by Roger 'Dick Garrison' Webb of "Rantings From Under The Wargames Table" fame, and the first couple of "Atomic Mass Games" 40mm super-hero models I've finished to use for Marvel Crisis Protocol.

In addition, I've posted up the first of a series of "Blake's Seven" Battle Reports featuring my "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" miniatures. This ongoing campaign will depict both Roj Blake and the Federation's battle against a mutating alien virus.

Lastly, I've started porting across the January 2019 postings from this blog over to the new Wix website. Please click the link below to pay me a visit and see all the changes for yourself.

https://www.fantoricalwargaming.com

Few More Posts And Projects Section On New Wix Website

Both an Updates and Projects section have been added to the new Wix website

I've put a few more new postings up on the new Wix website, predominantly covering this month's planned Zomtober entries and some "Black Tree Design" Doctor Who finished miniatures.

I've also created a Projects section which can be accessed via the website's title menu. This will lead to a page dedicated to the past six month's painting projects, and record my progress. You can click on a finished miniature and will be taken to the posting covering its completion. I hope to have more projects added as time progresses...

In addition, I've put together a short Updates summary section at the top of the Wix website to also provide updates as to how the new Fantorical is going. My intention is to regularly update that area and then copy over the text to this old blog weekly.

https://www.fantoricalwargaming.com/

Few More Posts And Updates On New Wix Website

More "Alternative Armies" Elementals Have Been Added To The New Wix Website 

With a couple more new postings of finished miniatures having been posted up recently on the new Wix website, I've started the lengthy task of transferring some of my earliest articles across as well - starting with a retitled Monthly Musing from 2010, which focuses upon a 15mm Napoleonic "Black Powder" project I started (and disappointingly never finished).

I have though been somewhat hampered in my efforts by Blogger suddenly reverting to pure HTML whilst I'm looking at my pages' content, randomly realigning my paragraphs and haphazardly changing the fonts of previous postings...

In addition, the top of the website now contains links to this (old) Blogger site and a brief summary of "Fantorical" since its start as a printed 'fanzine' way back 2003. Going forward the plan is to create some more of these additional pages covering subjects such as purchases, "Kickstarters", shows and painting projects.

https://www.fantoricalwargaming.com/