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| "The song is ending. But the story never ends." |
This 28mm metal
miniature of Ood Sigma was essentially built using one of the models from the
now OOP Unarmed Minions ‘blister’ by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and one
of the company’s Squid Man heads from Code SKU: Head 02 Alien Minions
Heads. The translator orb was created by threading a piece of thin metal wire
through a small jewelry bead and into the extraterrestrial’s facial tentacles. This
personal assistant to Klineman Halpen, the Manager of Ood Operations, first
appeared in the April 2008 television episode of “Doctor Who” entitled “Planet
Of The Ood”.
At the time I
started painting this patient Ood, I was also painting several other blue overalled
minions, so despite Sigma’s small screen counterpart wearing dark blue attire,
I decided to undercoat him with an old pot of “Citadel” Astronomican Grey” and
wash it with the Badab Black. The alien’s translator orb was simply painted
with “Vallejo” White and Pale Grey. Whilst I used my usual flesh combination of
Heavy Fleshtone and watered-down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade for his head.
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| Yeti WIPs - Plenty of dry-brushing yet to be done |
Interestingly “Ainsty
Castings” now sell this unconverted miniature, complete with three alien heads
as Code AM1008 Technician Crew, Alien Heads. So I’ve ordered some more to
create a simple (and worryingly armed) pack of angry red-eyed Ood…
Sticking with
the “Doctor Who” theme I have finally finished undercoating and washing six Yeti produced by “Black Tree Design” which I originally started some time
ago. I’ve actually decided to paint two of the Great Intelligence’s robots a
somewhat darker brown, simply to help break up the somewhat monotonous colour
scheme of the group once they’re finished and added to my other hairy horde.
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| Sci-Fi WIPs - A bit of gold paint on 'Starbuck' and 'Boomer' should see them almost finished |
Finally I’ve
pretty much finished both of my remaining D-Rangers by “Nexus Miniatures” and
started to see how well “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre works by experimenting with it on
one of the manufacturer’s retro sci-fi miniatures, a Psychic Hero F.O.N.
Operative.
Smashing work all round Simon, that Ood could easily be used as a somewhat dubious member of the clientele at a certain desert cantina, "my friend doesn't like you!".
ReplyDeleteThe colours you've used on you BSG figs is spot on, and these are turning out really nice. I did go and have a look at the Nexus web-site, god it's awful to navigate!! nice figs though.
Yeti's are like trees, you can never have too many, but remember you've got to clear all this stuff before Mo'vember.
Cheers Roger.
Many thanks Roger. Ood Sigma has been on the table for a couple of years, so good to see him finally finished. I hadn't thought about the "Star Wars" cantina but "Crooked Dice" do so many different alien heads that it'd be very easy to replicate that scene. Nice Cornelius Evazan quote btw ;-)
DeleteI'm desperately trying to clear the decks for Zom'tober - let alone Mo'vember my friend :-) But once I've got the Yeti done, it'll be on to a load of "Black Tree" "Invasion" Cybermen and that should give me some room... for a while at least ;-)
Lovely Ood dude! Sorry couldn't resist. Loving the yeti's and your BSG boys are looking very good sir.
ReplyDeleteCheers Bob. I've just finished Starbuck, and once their gold buttons etc are added these "Nexus" BSG minis really come alive. Which is why I've bought some more :-o
DeleteCracking good job on Ood Sigma, Simon. I do like your conversion and paint job.
ReplyDeleteThose Yeti are so good and I'm glad you're adding them to your "hairy horde".
I look forward to seeing you complete your Nexus trio. Sooner rather than later, I hope.
Many thanks Bryan, much appreciated. I wanted enough Yeti to use them as a single skirmish force (rather than rely upon the Cybermen ;-) ), and these different sculpts and colours will help break them up a bit as well. Starbuck is finished and Boomer should be today, so that'll leave Cyclops, Mulder & Scully along with some Cylons...
DeleteThe old Crooked Dice minions are actually still in productions, but now by Ainsty Castings, as "technicians".
ReplyDeleteCheers. I have mentioned that above. But I've now turned their code into a link straight to the "Ainsty Castings" website :-)
DeleteDo love me some Ood and yours fits the bill perfectly mate.
ReplyDeleteI've been eyeing those yetis for some time, though have yet to find a valid gaming reason to buy them. (I've enough silly impulse buys sat around waiting for paint as it is!)
Those Colonial boys look splendid. Did I mention that before? :)
Many thanks Dai. Its an oldie but a goodie ;-) And now he's done I have an idea for a whole horde to threaten the Doctor with. The Yetis are without a doubt one of the best "Black Tree Design" sculpts. Though I do hope that "Warlord Games" (now they own the licence) will do some of the web-gun carrying Yeti from "Web Of Fear". The Battlestar minis are very nice and I'm rather pleased I managed to pick up one of "Nexus Miniatures" 'By Your Command' deals last week ;-)
DeleteHow big is your painting table, Simon? Nice to see some more Doctor Who figures and I am jealous of the number of yet is you have. I only have the one, same sculpt, but it is a cool figure! Brilliant work.
ReplyDeleteCheers Jez. My painting table is a 5' x 3', and absolutely covered in half-forgotten projects and semi-painted miniatures. I think this is the last of mine. but if I spot some more in my lead pile then I'll put them aside for you (fair exchange for that dino I still haven't contacted you about) :-)
DeleteNo rush, Simon. Just let me know when you want them and I'll send them over. If we hadn't already planned another event, we could have had Dinovember!
Delete:D
Thanks Jez. I think Michael Awdry does a Dinovember over on his blog: http://28mmvictorianwarfare.blogspot.co.uk :-)
DeleteAh, that's where I'd heard it before! I have been following Michael since his Gotham Zoo post, but have not yet delved into his back catalogue.
DeleteGlad to be of help. I did try and paint a "Heroclix" Devil Dinosaur last year in honour of Michael's themed month, but found I had too much on the go to get him finished - he's rather large. However this year I plan to get him finished so I can at least show some support!!! He did some cracking dinos last year.
DeleteMy favourite version of Devil Dinosaur isfrom Next Wave, who's wearing a smoking jacket and cravat and sporting a glass of champagne and a lralarge calibre revolver. Would make a great pulp hero (or villain). And now I want one. Hmm, need to find a suitably sized t-rex...
DeleteJez, the "Heroclix" version is rather nice though a tad expensive, and Moon Boy is completely out of scale with the 'normal' sized humans I use - though I appreciate he's meant to be somewhat smaller anyway. I look forward to seeing your cravat-wearing dino :-)
DeleteNot only do I believe I've found the ideal base figure for the Next Wave version of Devil Dinosaur, I also think I've worked out how to make a suitably scaled champagne flute for him to hold. Should I decide to unleash this monstrosity upon my unsuspecting readers (which we both know is bound to happen), I will be holding you entirely responsible...
DeleteThat is splendid news indeed, my friend, and I'm looking forward to seeing both the WIPs and finished product on your blog. Let me know when you're thinking of doing it and I'll start painting up "Devil Dinosaur" :-)
DeletePerhaps we could have a future shared project between myself, you and Roger where we all pick a diffetent obscure comic book character that doesn't currently have a figure and then try and create it? You know, the weird ones like Hellcow, Big Wheel or the Heckler.
DeleteSpookily I've just bought a figure to greystuff into... an Ace - The Bat-hound ;-)
DeleteCool. Well, I spent a whole £1 in Wilko and now have my Devil Dinosaur proxy. As I'm further ahead than I thought I'd be on He-Month 2, I may have a crack at him this month after all. I will let you know if I decide to, as I wouldn't want you to think I'd started without you. ;-)
DeleteThanks Jez :-)
DeleteSorry Simon, couldn't resist. My Devil Dinosaur conversion has begun. So far, all this consists of is repositioning the arms, arming him with a suitably sized revolver, making a champagne flute and giving him some thumbs. Sounds more than it actually is. Best move your Devil a bit further up the queue! ;-)
DeleteRight, he's on my painting table at the front of my queue, Jez. Looking forward to seeing your WIP posting :-)
DeleteOod looks great, BK. Nice bit of conversion work on the translator orb.
ReplyDeleteThanks Finch. Simple stuff well within my ability :-)
DeleteI've never quite managed to figure out how Ainsty sell some of Crooked Dice's miniatures (presumably licensed?) at a much cheaper price than the originals. Do they have smaller casting costs, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, alien-headed minions and boiler-suited apes suddenly seem very appealing, damn it!
In the beginning the two companies seemed rather close, with "Ainsty Castings" selling the entire "Crooked Dice" range at some shows. I recall a few of the resin vehicles "Ainsty" made being promoted by "CD" as well. I presume they bought the old sculpts when "CD" went all 'conversion-orientated' with their minions and started to produce a variety of new poses, hand weapons and heads. Very tempting though as you say, and don't be surprised if a few pig-headed servants don't materialize at some point ;-)
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