Sunday 22 March 2015

"The Explosion Of The Entity Known As Chemo Will Have A Lasting Impact In Bludhaven For Years To Come."

The super-villain Chemo was created by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito in 1962
This 28mm scale plastic pre-painted miniature of Chemo is made by “Wizkids” and is model number 007 from the "Heroclix" DC Comics: Giants Collector Set. The figure, which actually stands an impressive 70mm in height, was first superglued onto a "Citadel" 40mm round base and then undercoated with “Vallejo” Heavy Green. As the super-villain is made out of some sort of oily transparent green plastic it took several coats of paint to finally have an even covering over the entire miniature. He was then thoroughly washed with Green Shade. 

I was not terribly happy with how this "Vallejo" transparent acrylic looked once it had dried out. So afterwards I dabbed a load of “Citadel” Thrakka Green over the towering mass of chemical by-products and this seemed to really help bring out all the swirling detail which was sculpted on the model. I was then going to dry-brush the behemoth with more “Vallejo” Heavy Green. But in the end thought that would ruin or at least cover a lot of model’s 'toxic waste' blotchiness, so I simply picked out the living weapon's eyes with spots of Dark Vermillion.
 Ben Grimm WIP - Just a few wash applications, and a bit of tidying up on the sign-post to be done
One of my disappointments during the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge was that I never managed to just put aside a couple of hours and finally finish this objective marker of The Thing. Over the next few weeks I intend to do my best to correct this and similar oversights, so have finally managed to get both his grey fedora and bending sign-post semi-finished. I now need to just to tidy up the signs, ink the hat and post, and flock the base for rather formidable plastic miniature to be completed...
Awesome Android WIP -  The synthetic being briefly went by the name "Awesome Andy" in the "Marvel Comics"
This 65mm tall "Heroclix" model of the Awesome Android has been sat undercoated "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey upon my painting desk for a few months now. And as this creation of the Mad Thinker is infamous for his run-ins with the Fantastic Four, I thought he'd make an appropriate companion to work on whilst I finish off The Thing. A very simple figure to paint, although his sheer size made handling somewhat difficult, I just need to apply some washes to his indestructible body and loin-cloth and he should be ready for the tabletop.

18 comments:

  1. Lovely painting on chemo and the red eyes really set it off. A great model! Super adaptoid is a model I don't have and am looking forward to seeing the finished model ( with a height comparison shot?)

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    1. Much appreciated CW. I don't know if you own the model but he was a real pain to initially get any paint on. The application of the "Vallejo" Green Shade was pure serendipity as it left the model covered in a slightly dusty covering upon which the Thrakka Green dappling really stuck to. Certainly it'll be my go-to technique for any future toxic waste :-) I'll try and do some height comparison shots for a bit of a big boys beat-em up Batrep I have planned ;-)

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  2. Nice work sir. I think Chemo has turned very interestingly. :)

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    1. Many thanks Pulpcitizen. For such an unimpressive sculpt I think he's turned out rather well.

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  3. Yep really nice work on Chemo Simon , and I can't wait to see the finished BJ Grimm, Awesome Andy looks interesting though I don't remember him having the inset line around his head and nose bump last time I saw him, back in She Hulk "Single green female" are these new additions he's acquired in the comics recently?

    Cheers Roger,

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    1. Cheers Roger. I don't think the nose bump etc is new on the Awesome Android. But I have certainly seen plenty of versions of him without it. Indeed without any facial features at all except an oblong head. Jack Kirby originally drew him with just a mouth slit, back when he wore purple shorts. But the nose bump version is the one I always think of when I see him in my mind's eye.

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  4. I didn't like to mention the purple shorts! just showing my age I guess.

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    1. Ha! Actually I was very close to painting the Android with purple shorts, as I'm a huge Jack "King" Kirby fan. But I thought that would look too much like the original Hulk. I have actually based two models of the gamma irradiated behemoth so I can do one with greenskin and another grey. Just need to find the time to paint and post them. Plus I've still got those fantastic three super-hero/villain models from your excellent self to finish off :-)

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  5. Great job Bk! Chemo has turned out rather splendidly, the eyes are an excellent contrast. The progress on Ben Grimm is great, can't wait to see him finished. I must admit that I'm not familiar with your final figure but he looks interesting.

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    1. Many thanks Bob. Very happy with Chemo. The Awesome Android has been around almost since the beginning of the FF, with #15. But he isn't one of those villains who comes to light all that often. Should look good on the tabletop though :-)

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  6. Great work, Simon. The phrase "less is more" is often used but it certainly applies to Chemo. You were right to stop painting when you did.

    As a big fan of the fantastic Four I do like this Ben Grimm figure. I was wondering if you'll be adding names to the street signs. If so, Yancy St. is a must.

    I remember Awesome Andy working with She Hulk in her Jennifer Walters lawyer capacity where he was definitely a good guy. You're right he is not that well known and he doesn't appear very often.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. Very much appreciated. I'm certainly glad I stopped when I did with him. He'll certainly stand out on the tabletop I assure you :-) The Ben Grimm did indeed have a Yancy Street sticker on the street sign but I simply couldn't remove it intact, so for now it will simply just be drybrushed white, whilst I hunt around for some decals - my hand is simply not that steady. As you say though Yancy Street is an absolute must. Hopefully I'll find something suitable at Salute. I'm a huge fan of the Awesome Android, mainly because I had an old "Avengers" issue with him in it, when they inadvertently activated him in their base's hold. Great stuff, and another huge "Heroclix" model to add to the painted collection once finished :-)

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  7. Great job on Chemo, Simon. As said in the previous comment, sometimes less is more.

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    1. Thanks Finch. I always like that approach when trying to plough through my great unpainted ;-)

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  8. You've managed to get a very interesting effect on Chemo's skin, it looks almost moving and swirling, then younotice the eyes ! Excellent finish and a comparison figure would be a nice touch sometime in the future.
    The hulk gut needs finishing (obviosly), I've liked this figure and your brushwork on him from the get-go. Your final figure (the "Awesome Android ? - really) leaves me flatt, but then again II know nothing of this genre ! - I'm sure for those that recognise him will be impressed.

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    1. Cheers Zabadak. I'm delighted with Chemo. I'll hopefully post up a rogue's gallery of minis once I've finished the Awesome Android; which I admit is a bit bland, and tbh probably won't look any less so when I've inked him, He's too smooth for dry-brushing, so It'll be a 'wash and go' affair ;-)

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  9. They all look great. I really like the effect you have accomplished with Chemo he looks brilliant well done :) Painted that Herbivore yet?

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    1. Thanks Simon. Much appreciated. I have a fair few of Nexus' miniatures (thanks to your persuasive advertising I stress!!). But I also want to finish that "AtDE" gang I started months ago, and complete the buildings to go with them. Haven't you got some more of those wonderful "Relics" minis to paint, and give me some time to catch you up ;-)

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