“I Am Definitely A Mad Man With A Box.”

Ex-Department X operative Tweedy Mattison or a time travelling Eleventh Doctor?

This 28mm metal model of Tweedy Mattinson is by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. The mild-mannered academic is from the “Summer Special” “7TV” rule supplement. But also completely coincidentally makes for a superb looking Eleventh Doctor as played by Matt Smith in the British science fiction television programme “Doctor Who”.

Having originally decided to simply give the Timelord black trousers I initially undercoated the entire figure with two layers of “Citadel” Abaddon Black. However I then decided I wanted him to wear black shoes instead, so I painted his pants with an old pot of “Adeptus Battlegrey” and gave it a couple of washes of the Shade Nuln Oil. As I liked the Gallifreyan’s outfit from the 2010 TV serial “The Pandorica Opens” I applied a coat of “Vallejo” Heavy Warmgrey to his shirt and washed it was some “Citadel” Druchii Violet. For the Doctor’s jacket I used “Vallejo” Heavy Brown as the main layer and Heavy Sienna for the garment’s elbow pads. All of these areas were then washed with “The Army Painter” Quickshade Strong Tone. I picked out the time traveller’s “cool” bow-tie with “Vallejo” Heavy Red and some “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. Finally I decided to use some more “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna for his hair, and washed it with “Citadel” Nuln Oil in order to darken it substantially. I simply painted the sonic screwdriver with Ironbreaker and (even more) Nuln Oil.

Yeti WIPs - All the dry-brushing has been completed and the hands and feet painted black

In addition I am close to completing five Yeti miniatures by “Black Tree Designs”. Having dry-brushed their shaggy fur, I have picked out their webbed hands and feet in black, as well as their yellow eyes. I just have to finish off their white claws and basing in order to submit them to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

Abominable WIPS - The first five models have had their eyes undercoated, washed and picked out with yellow 

It is a good thing too as I’ve got another six Yeti models to paint in order to fill out my Abominable Snowmen horde. Fortunately the vast majority of these figures are from code DW209 Yeti Attacking, so once done they should intermingle well with the more sedentary posed robots of the Great Intelligence.

"Look At the Size Of That Whammer!"

"I hate those comic books. They never get the eyes right." 

This 28mm plastic figure of an infant Anung Un Rama (“and upon his brow is set a crown of flame”) is model 007 Hellbaby from the “Wizkids” Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. “Heroclix” Action Pack. The demon was created by writer/artist Mike Mignola and the character’s comic book adventures are published by “Dark Horse Comics”.

Having removed the miniature from its ‘clicky’ stand and super-glued it to a 25mm round base, I undercoated it with two layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Red. I then picked out the little fellow’s hooves with White before washing them with “The Army Painter” Warpaint Quickshade Strong Tone. As the red-skinned creature was discovered by the Allied Army, I painted his trousers with “Vallejo” Heavy grey and his shirt with Heavy Brown.

I then washed his trousers with “Citadel” Thrakka Green before using more of “The Army Painter” Quickshade Strong Tone on his shirt. For his flesh and ‘Right Hand of Doom’ I simply tidied up the “Vallejo” Heavy Red before applying a heavy Shade of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson over the areas. Finally I picked out the eyes of Professor Bruttenholm’s adopted son with “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre.

Ben Grimm WIP - Now his jacket has been washed, there's just the hat and lamp post to finish 

I have been trying out my "Vallejo" washes on these "Heroclix" models of the Gentleman Ghost and Chemo. Now the Pale Grey has dried on Jim Craddock I just need to dry-brush the "DC Comics" phantom super-villain. I was less impressed with how the Green Shade turned out on my walking mass of chemical by-products. So I have since 'blotched' the large plastic model in "Citadel" Thrakka Green. This has really helped bring out all the swirling detail etched upon Chemo's sculpt. Finally I have under-coated the hat of my The Thing objective marker, having had to rewash his overcoat repeatedly due to my inability to paint the inside of his upturned collar as well as I would have liked.

Heroclix WIPs - Just some tidying up to be done and these models will be completed 

In addition I have been progressing these models of Moon Knight and Lobster Johnson, as well as washed and dry-brushed one of the tombstone objectives I'm hoping to visit by this weekend. The stone gargoyle just needs some climbing vines being picked out on its column to be finished.

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2014 - Side Challenge - Part One

Killer Apes WIPs - A combination of black undercoat, charcoal highlights and black shade washes 

With four weeks to go before the conclusion of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge things are starting to get rather serious with a side-challenge I agreed to before the ‘contest’ began. “The Pulp Trio” was agreed as a bit of fun between Anne, Curt and myself to see who could paint the most points in Pulp Adventure figures during the main challenge. The winner will receive a painted miniature from each of the vanquished.

Currently I’m ahead on 40 points (thanks to my “Boy In Blue”), closely followed by Anne on 30 points and Curt on 25 points. With just under a month to go I thought it was time to pull out all the stops, and start concentrating on the handful of Bob Murch “Pulp Figures” I bought before the Challenge started.

Gunsels WIPs - The gangsters attire will range from shadowy brown to bright blue and pink

As a result I have finally managed to spend a little time progressing three gorillas from code PLT10 Killer Apes. To be honest these have been sat on my painting table for a while now, waiting for me to properly wash them with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. They now just need their fingers and toes, chests and palms to be highlighted in charcoal to be ready for basing. I have actually really struggled to paint these models, despite their beautiful sculpts and simple colour scheme, just because it has proved so hard to work with such a sombre dark palette. After just a few minutes highlighting black with charcoal I have found my attention wandering and enthusiasm draining...

Hired Killers WIPs - More brown overcoats, accompanied by light grey and dark blue suits

I’ve also based and undercoated these hired killers from Bob’s “Gangland Justice” range. I’ve actually got all ten miniatures from code PGJ02 Bugs Malarchy’s Mob and code PGJ04 These Guns For Hire based. But thought I’d concentrate on these six first. I have gone for as wide a choice of suitable colours for their suits and jackets as my “Vallejo” collection will allow. The gangsters also come with a nice range of weapons such as pistols, Thompson submachine guns and even a violin case.

Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense - WIP - Part Three

Hellbaby WIP - Red flesh has been tidied up and washed. Johann Kraus WIP - Just needs head finishing

A handful of these “Heroclix” Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense miniatures just need a few touches to be finished ready for this Saturday’s Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge submission slot. Hellbaby simply needs the black areas around his (soon to be) yellow eyes tidying up and he’ll be ready for varnishing. I’m really happy with the way the red wash has pooled around his ‘Right Hand of Doom’. Johann Kraus is also close to completion, as I just need to apply a grey wash to his head, dry-brush it white and then ‘pick-out’ his breathing nozzle. I must say I am really pleased with how brilliantly bright his containment suit’s mask stands out, and I think it makes for a great looking model.

Daimio WIP - Just needs jacket and flesh areas painting. Hellboy WIP - Lot of detail still to be painted

I’m only slowly progressing Captain Ben Daimio as I’ve had some difficulty painting his belt buckle. The round fastener has proved impossibly hard to ‘pick out’ with black, so I’ve now decided to leave it alone, and simply let the detail be brought out through a brown wash. I have though had time to glue the superbly sculpted tombstone which accompanied the “Wizkids” miniature onto a 40mm round base so I can use it as an objective marker. I’m also having a little trouble with Hellboy himself, as the figure contains an awful lot of detail and some of it is both hard to reach with a paintbrush and sadly quite softly sculpted. As a result I have just managed to finish his brown leather boots.

Lobster WIP - Just some washes to go.  Abe & Roger WIPs - Just started on these models

Lobster Johnson on the other hand is nearly ready, despite my not having spent that much time on him at all. His charcoal highlights have been toned down with a black wash, and I’ve already painted his pistol and leather jacket’s chest studs with the “Citadel” layer Ironbreaker. I’ve also picked out his legendary blue lobster motif. In addition I have managed to ‘box off’ the different areas on both Abe Sapien and Roger the Homunculus with black. I am not sure whether I’ll have these two finished by this coming weekend, but both appear reasonably straightforward models to paint.

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2014 - WIP - Week Nine

Yeti WIP - Brown wash over Light Brown undercoat, then black wash and finally a Light Brown wet-brush

This Yeti model by "Black Tree Design" is one of five such figures I've been progressing this weekend. As they are based upon the Great Intelligence's mechanical monsters from the BBC Television "Doctor Who" 1967 story "The Abominable Snowmen" I've gone with a somewhat light brown colour scheme. However I have also washed parts of the 'hairy beastie' with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil in order to darken the area around the eyes, hands and webbed feet.

This particular model is my 'test piece' as I wanted to see how a wet-brush would work for the creatures fur, as the sculpt is very well-detailed. I'm not convinced it has worked at all, to be honest, so expect five dry-brushed Yeti heading on their way to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge next weekend.

Travers WIP - The robotic hand and eye piece have been painted Charcoal and the washed with Black Shade

Another submission close to completion will (finally) be this nicely posed miniature of Stefan Travers accompanied by four more Federated Security Guards. These "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" figures have been sat gathering dust upon my painting table for a few weeks now. But I have finally started picking out the Federation Carbines on the black-clad minions, and applied some black washes to their Commander's model.

"Heroclix" WIP - Flesh and Red washes for Silver Samurai, and Gold for Moon Knight's throwing blade

Finally I've been carrying on 'chipping' away at the mountain of pre-painted "Wizkids" plastic models I own, and hope to have finished painting these rather nice models of the Silver Samurai, Moon Knight and The Thing within the next few days. Apart from a few washes here, and some general tidying up here and there, these three miniatures should be ready for next weekend as well. 

Bureau for Paranormal Research And Defense - WIP - Part Two

Hellbaby WIP - Green trousers and tan shirt are finished. Lobster Johnson WIP - Black highlights done

I have managed to get quite a few of these “Heroclix” Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense miniatures progressed this week, even if it has simply been a case of removing a few more of them from their ‘clicky’ bases and super-gluing them to a 25mm “Games Workshop” one.

I am quite close to finishing Hellbaby having spent more time than I cared too sorting out all the belt straps on his green trousers. Fortunately they’re now finished and just his belt buckle needs correcting and then washing with “Citadel” Badab Black. The brown wash on his shirt has come out a little darker than I’d hoped. But I can live with it. I have also tidied up the red on his tail and ‘Right Hand of Doom’. Having dry-brushed Lobster Johnson charcoal prior to a “Citadel” Nuln Oil wash, I am somewhat tempted to ‘break up’ his all-black attire with a dark brown belt. But such a move would be a break from his ‘official’ look…

Kraus WIP - Bullet-proof vest and containment suit are finished. Daimio WIP - Brown boots done

Johann Kraus is also close to completion as I’ve finished both his brown body armour and tan containment suit. I just need to finish off the experienced medium’s helmet. As I hoped now I don’t plan to submit any of these B.P.R.D. models to the Analogue hobbies Painting Challenge until next weekend I have had the time to repaint Captain Ben Daimio’s boots, and break up his brown leather jacket with a tan holster belt.

B.P.R.D. WIP - The final three members have been re-based and undercoated

Finally, as aforementioned, Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman and Roger the Homunculus have been re-based and undercoated. Both Abe and Roger actually proved somewhat difficult to glue to the smaller 25mm round base as their stance needed to be slightly shortened in order for them to properly fit without their bare feet significantly hanging over the edge. I am also in two minds with the lime green undercoat colour I have chosen for the amphibious agent as his pre-painted model (based upon the motion picture) is much bluer in colour. Yet the comic books portray him as a green-hued humanoid.

"Come To Mondas And You Will Have No Need Of Emotions."

"Feelings? I do not understand that word" - Cloth faces and flesh hands 

These four 28mm metal models are based upon the Cybermen from the British Science Fiction television series “Doctor Who” story "The Tenth Planet". This four-part serial opened Season Four back in October 1966 when William Hartnell was the (original) Doctor. They're made by “Black Tree Design” under code DW117 Mk 1 Cyberman.

All of the Cybermen were first undercoated with “Citadel” Abaddon Black and then given a layer of “Vallejo” Gunmetal Grey. Once dry each was washed with the "Citadel" Shade Nuln Oil. The models were then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Gunmetal Grey, before receiving a light dry-brush of "Citadel" Mithril Silver. Finally I picked out their cloth faces with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and their flesh with Heavy Skintone. Their faces were then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. In order to make their hands 'stand out' they were first washed with the last of my Ogryn Flesh and then the fingers were highlighted with more "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

The MK I Cybermen are rather undersized compared to their other "Black Tree Design" brethren

As these original silver giants pre-date my bright silver “Tomb Of The Cybermen” models I thought the darker paint would give them a less sophisticated appearance. However these are rather disappointing models, both in their pose and size. Their television counterparts were enormous bulky behemoths, which towered over the other actors. These rather softly sculpted figures are dissatisfying smaller and sleeker in build than the other "Black Tree Design" Cyberman models I've previously painted.

"The Invasion" Cybermen WIP - Re-undercoated with the "Citadel" layer Ironbreaker

Having continued to sort through my “Doctor Who” lead mountain I have managed to locate all seven of the cyborg figures which make up the Cornwall-based manufacturer’s Cyberman boxed set. I’m pretty sure these models are meant to represent them during their appearance in 1968 eight-parter “The Invasion”. Unfortunately I had clearly attempted to previously paint these miniatures by heavily dry-brushing silver over a black undercoat. As a result and in order to retain as much of their sculpts detail as possible I have simply applied two watered-down layers of “Citadel” Ironbreaker over them in order to create a nice base for a Nuln Oil wash.

"The Abominable Snowmen" WIP - Light brown undercoatt

In addition I couldn’t help myself but base and undercoat these five ‘hefty’ “Black Tree Design” Yeti models. These are another of my favourite models from the company’s range and should be relatively simple to both paint and submit as an entry into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. 

Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense - WIP - Part One

Hellbaby WIP - First layers of green and olive to represent the uniform of the Allied Forces

As inevitably seems to happen with the vast majority of my painting projects I have extended the scope of my latest endeavour, and as a result will spectacularly fail to finish them within the planned deadline.

Originally I had planned to complete one or two of these “Heroclix” miniatures for this weekend. But having rummaged around my “Wizkids” collection I have discovered I have many more members of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, so have decided to spend the next fortnight working my way through them in order to submit them for Comedic Bonus Themed Round of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge; after all the B.P.R.D. is a fictional organisation charged with protecting America in a comic book.

Kraus WIP - Black boots are finished and trousers inked. Guest-star WIP appearance by Hellboy

As a result I haven’t yet quite finished this model of Hellbaby yet, but I have managed to complete most of the basic layers of his clothing. As the infant demon was discovered by the Allied Forces in 1944 I thought they’d probably dress him in a spare (ill-fitting) American soldier’s uniform, hence the green trousers and cream-brown shirt.

Daimio WIP - Black boots, trousers and jumper could do with being broken up 

Johann Kraus wears a simple brown containment suit for his disembodied ectoplasmic spirit, so in order to break up the all-tan colour scheme I’ll be painting his body armour dark brown. The were-jaguar Captain Ben Daimio should also be reasonably straight forward to paint. Albeit now I’ve given myself more time to finish painting him I may well break up the black boots, trousers and jumper.

In addition I have yet to base and undercoat Roger the Homunculus, Liz Sherman, Abe Sapien and Lobster Johnson.

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2014 - WIP - Week Eight

WIP Terran Federation - The dry-brushed charcoal highlights and red visors are clearly visible 

This Stefan Travers miniature by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” has been sat upon my painting table much unloved, for a good few weeks now. But I’ve finally managed to apply a few more layers to him and so should have him ready as a submission for this Saturday’s Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. I’ve managed to dry-brush his black uniform with some charcoal highlights, as well as tidy up and apply a wash to his flesh. I plan to pick out his cybernetic hand and eye with more charcoal so it slightly stands out from the rest of his attire… And probably paint his hair dark brown just to slightly ‘break up’ his all-black appearance.

It seemed silly not to undercoat another four of these Federated Security models, also by “Crooked Dice Design Game Studio”, at the same time. Now I have something of a systematic painting technique in place for these black-clad minions I’ve managed to progress through their various stages a bit quicker than normal. Their green helmet trims are already finished and I’ve just finished smearing their visors with red, prior to several washes of “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

WIP Moon Knight - The white dry-brushing over the "Vallejo" Pale Grey has turned out rather well

In addition I’ve finished dry-brushing this plastic “Heroclix” model of Moon Knight, and simply need to pick out his crescent moon chest emblem, his throwing blade and baton.

WIP B.P.R.D. - Just some basic undercoats have been completed on these "Heroclix" miniatures

 Finally, with an eye on the Hot Bonus Themed Round of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, I’ve set about painting this tiny “Wizkids” Hellbaby from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. I’ve taken the liberty of undercoating a few other members of the B.P.R.D. as well. Though I’m not sure whether I’ll finish any of the other models in time.