Thursday 23 April 2015

"He Can Defeat An Army! You Haven't A Chance!!"

"They're using the Android as a last resort!!"
This 28mm plastic model of the Awesome Android is made by “Wizkids”. It is model 014 from the Marvel Fantastic Forces “Heroclix” range. Built by the Mad Thinker, he was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963, and first appeared in Issue 15 of the “Fantastic Four” comic book published by “Marvel Comics”.

Because the model stands an impressive 64mm in height, he was first super-glued to a 40mm circular base before I undercoated him with some “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey. I then used some Heavy Sienna to paint his loincloth and washed the entire area with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. As the artificial being is made of unstable molecules I wanted to dry and give his grey coloured flesh a slightly different look to how I ordinarily paint such a bleak skin tone, so applied a watered down ash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil over his torso, head and limbs and tried to let the thinned wash pool within all the excellent sculpt’s recesses.

Once dry I was in something of two minds as to whether to dry-brush move “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey over the Android as the figure’s detail is rather soft and I was also concerned that my heavy-handedness with the brush might ‘rub off’ some of the Shade. In the end I decided to coat the miniature with a layer of “Coat D’arms” Gloss Varnish, and once that had dried, I then delicately and slowly dry-brushed all the detail on the model. 
Assorted WIPs - The Silver Samurai, Robotman and The Men In Black
Having finished this operative of the super-villain group Intelligencia I have been concentrating on finishing a few more “Heroclix” models; many of which I actually started to paint during the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge last year. To be honest the Silver Samurai simply needs a little tidying up work done on his armour and his flesh highlights to be applied and he should be finished. I have a little bit more work to do on Robotman. But having now dry-brushed the “DC Comics” hero with Copper, I just need to ‘pick out’ a few details on his armour for him to be done as well.
Just undercoated - Blade, a U-Man and Cyborg from the Teen Titans
I’ve had a few miniatures arrive from ‘across the Pond’ recently, including these three wonderfully thin Men In Black from “Wizkids” “Horrorclix” range. In addition they were accompanied by some more U-Men models (which I use as minions for the Black Manta), so I have started to rebase and undercoat these sinister scuba-divers. I’ve also taken the opportunity to get some preparation work done on both Blade and Cyborg. I especially like the vampire killer, even if one of his swords is rather bent and the sculpting somewhat soft. But the plasma-drinker’s pose is very well done, and I’m rather glad to have painted over the rather ghastly blue paintjob the plastic model originally came with.

10 comments:

  1. I love awesome android !! Wonderful paint job! The silver samurai is also looking very nice too :) I really like robot man but wonder whether he needs eyes of some sort? I have two or three copies of that blade figure and all of them are a bit wobbly in some way. I have painted one of them and really like the figure even if he leans back a bit too much!! Such is the joy of heroclixs :)

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    1. Most kind CW. It really is a very nice model imho. The Silver Samurai should only take another hour or so to finish. Robotman will have red eyes when finished. I need to pick out his chest talisman and he ordinarily wears black shorts too - presumably to help break up all the copper. The sculpting on blade really is rather soft so I'm hoping most of the colours I use will do the job in just one application. Great figure though.

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  2. I have to agree with Chris. I like Awesome Android as well. Those Men in Black look really sinister and creepy. I also have the figures of Blade and Silver Samurai and both of mine needed their swords straightening. Good work all round, Simon.

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    1. Many thanks Bryan. I'm hoping to have 'Awesome Andy' on the tabletop soon and then his size will really show. I'm very grateful to you for making me aware of the MiB, and hope to do a good job on them. Personally I don't mind bendy swords and think Blade's just looks like some specialist curved weapon. I'm more worried about his soft details than anything.

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  3. Now I just knew Andy was going to be Awesome (pardon the pun!) but seriously that is another cracking paintjob you've done there Simon. the Silver Samurai looks rather nice too. I do like the creepy look to the Mibs never seen those fig's before. But I'm not to sure I about the look of the Cyborg figure, he just looks a little "dumpy" and his detail looks a little soft. Might just be the angle of the photo, I'm sure he'll paint up really nice once you've finished with him.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. I'm rather pleased with how 'Andy' came out too. It may be the picture as he's actually stood upon a 40mm base - he's that big. Once I've given him a wash and dry-brush he should look a lot better. Blade is the model worrying me the most out of this bunch.

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  4. Great work on Awesome Android, BK. The shading is spot on.

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    1. Thanks Finch. Much appreciated. He's turned out better than the pre-paint imho.

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    1. Cheers Bob. Much appreciated. He should look good on the tabletop.

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