"Soon The Krynoids Will Dominate Everywhere..."

"You must die. All plant eaters must die."

This 28mm metal model of United Radionics Chairman Lancelot Cray is code SKU: MINI 112 by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and makes for a wonderful proxy of Harrison Chase, the millionaire botanist from the 1976 British Science Fiction television program “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom”.

The Andrew May sculpt was initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue before being washed with “Citadel” Badab Black. I then simply painted the murderous tycoon’s overcoat with Abaddon Black and lightly dry-brushed the garment with some “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal. Finally, in order to blend in these highlights I applied a layer of the “Citadel” Shade Nuln Black to the raiment. Chase’s shirt was painted using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Warmgrey and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. Whilst his tie was quickly ‘picked out’ with some more “Vallejo” Heavy Blue and a touch of “Citadel” Asurmen Blue”. Lastly I completed my model of the eccentric Englishman by giving his hair a layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and a wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

"The Krynoid's still lurking around outside the house somewhere."

This 28mm metal model of a Failed Experiment Minion is from code SKU: 26 and is also made by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. Having first pinned and superglued a Human ‘Hard Hat’ Minion Head to the torso, as well as a spare plastic “Games Workshop” mutated hand, I gave the hapless Chase Manor Security Guard an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue. I then picked out the ‘infected’ plant-zombie’s zipper and name badge clipper with “Citadel” Iron Breaker before washing both these metallic areas and the chap’s headwear and jumpsuit with Nuln Oil. The goon’s spine-like appendage was painted using a combination of Vallejo “Heavy Grey”, “Citadel” Thrakka Green and Carroburg Crimson, and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. This formidable vegetable growth was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey. The former human’s flesh was painted using Heavy Skintone and some watered down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

Sarah Jane Smith WIP - Once inked and highlighted the Doctor's assistant should be finished

Despite Zomtober 2015 now coming to an end I still plan to continue working on a few more “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” miniatures so I can use them as part of my “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” re-enactment using the “Zombicide” rule-set. As a result I hope to have this sensational sculpt of Sarah Jane Smith finished soon, as well as another 'infected' Security Guard and poor Arnold Keeler, a loyal botanist who was ultimately betrayed to the Krynoid by the diabolical Harrison Chase. 

"The Krynoid Is An Uncontrollable Carnivore..."

"You mean you have a homicidal maniac on the loose?"

These two 28mm plastic “Wizards Of The Coast” models of a Gutsoup Golem are miniature number 23 from their “Dream Blade” Chrysotic Plague range, and will be used as Krynoid ‘Fatties’ for my Zomtober 2015 project “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom”.

"There's been an accident. One of the men has been infected."

The 50mm tall plant-zombies were initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey in order to ‘mask’ their grisly raw meat coloured pre-paint, and were then haphazardly washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Once finished each of the monsters was dry-brushed with some more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and then had their eyes, as well as some pollen sacs and roots, painted using either Heavy Kakhi, Heavy Sienna or Heavy Red. All of these areas were then given an appropriate “Citadel” coloured wash such as Carroburg Crimson or Thrakka Green, before receiving a final dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey.

Harrison Chase WIP - Once the face and hair have been painted, this villain should be almost finished.

As I have just one or two more posts left to my Zomtober 2015 project I have been pressing on with a few models I really need to finish before I play my end-of-month “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” inspired “Zombicide” game. In particular I've been concentrating on these few remaining “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” miniatures I want to use as ‘Runners’ and the main villain of the piece himself, Harrison Chase. As a result I'm already dry-brushing some of these 'infected' security guards' tendrils and thorns, as well as putting the final touches to the millionaire botanist's face, shirt, tie and buttons.

"Think Of It, A Marvellous New Species Of Plant."

"I shall need some equipment to monitor this experiment."

This 28mm plastic “Wizards Of The Coast” model of a Gutsoup Golem is miniature number 23 from their “Dream Blade” Chrysotic Plague range, and is the first of three such figures I’ve bought to use as Krynoid ‘Fatties’ for my Zomtober 2015 project “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom”.

The 50mm tall carnivorous extra-terrestrial was originally given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey in order to ‘mask’ its pinkish pre-paint, and was then indiscriminately washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Once finished I dry-brushed the Krynoid with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and then painted its eye, as well as some of its vegetable growths and tendrils using either Heavy Kakhi, Heavy Sienna or Heavy Red. All of these areas were then treated to an appropriate “Citadel” coloured wash such as Carroburg Crimson or Thrakka Green, before I applied a final dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey over the majority of the model.

Harrison Chase WIP - The well-dressed maniac essentially just needs his head and shirt finishing

With just under a week left to Zomtober 2015 (in my books at least) I have been beavering away at some of the other models I want to have painted before I play my end-of-month “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” inspired “Zombicide” game. As a result I’ve continued to make some progress on the remaining “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” miniatures I want to use as ‘Runners’, as well as a couple of ‘Survivor’ personalities – Harrison Chase and Sarah Jane Smith.

Sarah Jane Smith WIP - Plenty of work left to do on this delicate but delightful miniature

The millionaire botanist is already well on his way to being finished on account of his predominantly blue/black colour scheme and straightforward sculpt. However the Doctor’s ever-faithful assistant has taken some considerable patience just to get as far as she has on account of the model’s staggering detail, such as the laces on her shoes. Hopefully though, now I’ve almost completed this painstakingly difficult area (to me at least), I should be able to get my painting of the feisty reporter back on schedule. 

"Something's Happening To That Pod!"

"Would you go to the annex, please?"

This 28mm metal model of a Failed Experiment Scientist is from code SKU: 25 by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and is one of several miniatures I’m currently painting up to represent some of the hapless staff of botanist Harrison Chase, who have been partially infected by the Krynoid virus.

This particular figure has been assembled and painted in order to represent the millionaire's butler Hargreaves. Strangled to death by a bunch of killer vines during the 1976 British Science Fiction television program, my version of the dutiful manservant has risen from the dead as a partially-transformed plant-zombie. To represent this extra-terrestrial infection I've not only pinned and glued a set of the company's Failed Experiment Heads and Arms to the torso. But added an overly large "Games Workshop" mutated hand to the hapless attendant as well.

Krynoid 'Fatty' WIPs - These 50mm tall monsters have had a number of their spore growths 'picked out'

 The model was initially given an undercoat of Citadel” Abaddon Black before being roughly dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal in order to bring out the detail of the sculpt and frankly better enable me to see the retainer's shirt and name badge; which were subsequently painted with White. I then washed Hargreaves' collar with a mixture of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson.

The figure's Krynoid-influenced malformations were all undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Grey before being haphazardly washed with "Citadel" Thrakka Green, Carroburg Crimson and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. These areas were then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Grey. Finally I completed the model by giving the elderly butler's hair an initial coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and then finished it off with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Krynoid 'Fatty' WIPs - As with my smaller aliens, these plant-zombies will be inked and dry-brushed

As a result of Hargreaves' predominantly black colour scheme I have also found the time to make some considerable headway painting my three Gutsoup Golems by “Wizards Of The Coast”. These bulky 50mm tall monsters will act as Krynoid ‘Fatties’ for my 'end of the month' re-enactment of the television programme using the “Zombicide” rule-set and now I've started to 'pick out' the odd growth of vegetable matter on them, should all fit in very well with the "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" Spawn models I recently finished...

"Why Couldn't You Let Me Die!?!"

"You've used me, forced me to be what you wanted me to be."

This 28mm plastic “Wizkids” model of Cyborg is miniature number 54 from the DC Comics “Heroclix” Unleashed range. The son of scientists Silas and Elinore Stone, this cybernetically-enhanced member of the Teen Titans first appeared in the October 1980 issue of “DC Comics Presents” and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez.

Having removed this 38mm figure and superglued him to a 40mm round base, I covered up Vic Stone’s pre-paint by applying an undercoat of “Citadel” Ironbreaker before giving the miniature a wash of Nuln Oil. The former test subject for various intelligence enhancement projects was then dry-brushed with Ironbreaker and finally Mithril Silver. Having finished the superhero’s experimental prosthetics I painted his flesh using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and  “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.

The Joker's Gang WIPs - Plenty of problems with the Yama have caused this project to stall

In addition to finishing this modern-day member of the Justice League I have continued working on the four minion models I plan to use as gang members for my “Heroclix” Joker. I had hoped to try and paint the yellow Yama clown’s ball blue with white dots. But having battled to try and repeatedly pick out the roundels on the sphere, I’ve finally accepted my brush skills aren’t up to the task and have instead gone with a disappointingly simple dark blue colour scheme. As a result the model hasn’t really progressed from where it was a couple of weeks ago. Equally as tricky, but a bit further forward is the first of my two “Horrorclix” Mime Monsters. The detail on this pale-skinned miniature is rather soft, but I still hope to pick out his braces in red. Lastly my Vampire Roustabout now needs only his flesh and hammer painted, as I've finished his leather belt, dark blue jacket and crucifix(!?!).

Thing WIPs - Having been washed with green ink, these anti-heroes now need an application of brown ink

Whilst waiting for some of these figures to dry, and having undercoated more miniatures with “Vallejo” Heavy Grey than I care to think about over the past few weeks, I have started work on two more “Heroclix” models; Swamp Thing and Man-Thing. Both of these monstrosities will be primarily a greeny-brown so simply need to be appropriately washed and then dry-brushed in order to be predominantly finished.

"That'll Be Too Late. He's Dying, Isn't He, Doctor?"

"Have you any idea what it can be, Doctor?"

This 28mm metal model of a Failed Experiment Minion is from code SKU: 26 by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and is the first of several miniatures I’m currently painting up to represent some of the hapless staff of botanist Harrison Chase, who have been partially infected by the Krynoid virus. As a result the figure is shown slowly ‘turning’ into one of the alien invader’s plant-zombies, and is my latest entry for Zomtober 2015 and my “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” project. The security guard not only comprises of the company’s “supersize mutated” body but also uses their wonderfully sculpted Failed Experiment Heads and Arms.

The model was initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue before I picked out his zipper and name badge clipper with “Citadel” Iron Breaker. Both his jumpsuit and these metallic areas were then washed with Nuln Oil. The lackey’s tendril and fungus-covered face were painted using a combination of Vallejo “Heavy Grey”, “Citadel” Thrakka Green and Carroburg Crimson, and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. These ‘infections’ were then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey. The plant-zombie’s human flesh was painted using Heavy Skintone and some watered down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. I left his one remaining eye vacantly white so as to better tie the model into my theme that the person is actually dead and that his cadaver is being animated (as well as eaten) by the extra-terrestrial plant.

'Fattie' Krynoid WIPs - Plenty of detail yet to be picked out on these three walking plant-monsters

Thanks entirely to Jez over on “Carrion Crow’s Buffet” I have bought and starting painting three Gutsoup Golems by “Wizards Of The Coast”. These formidably sized 50mm tall monsters will act as Krynoid ‘Fatties’ when I try and replay the 1976 British Science Fiction television program using the “Zombicide” rule-set at the end of the month. For now I’ve simply used a sharp knife to remove them from their “Dreamblade” stands, re-based them upon 40mm round bases and begun undercoating, washing and dry-brushing them. Despite their somewhat soft sculpting, there is still plenty of raised detail to pick out on the models so as to better tie-them in with the way I’ve painted my (smaller) “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” Spawn miniatures.

Parent Krynoid WIP - It'll take some time to get round to washing and dry-brushing this resin monstrosity

Finally, I have based the tremendously impressive 90mm tall resin model I plan to use to represent the fully-matured parent Krynoid. Also by “Crooked Dice” I hope to use The Weed as an Abomination in my games of “Zombicide” but strongly doubt I’ll be able to get him finished in time for the end of Zomtober 2015. However he should prove a real show-stopper once on the tabletop…   

"It's More Serious Than Death... He's Changing Form."

"What you have done could result in the total destruction of all life on this planet."

These four 28mm metal models by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” are from their code SKU: Deal 87 Spawn and have been painted up as the last of my Krynoid plant-zombies for Zomtober 2015. The models were all initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey before being indiscriminately washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Once finished I dry-brushed the extra-terrestrials with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and then painted their ‘eyes’, bulges, crab-like claws and blisters using either Heavy Kakhi, Heavy Sienna, Heavy Brown or Heavy Red. All of these areas were then treated to an appropriate “Citadel” coloured wash such as Carroburg Crimson, before I applied a final dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey.

"The travel in pairs, like policemen." 

Having finished all the ‘Walkers’ I plan to use for my end-of-month “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” inspired “Zombicide” game, I have now started to paint up seven ‘Runners’ using some of the company’s Failed Experiment miniatures.  For now I’m simply concentrating upon one of their Minion models who will represent the first of Harrison Chase’s infected security guards and uses one of their Failed Experiment Heads and Arms. There’s actually a surprising amount of detail on this sculpt, besides the conversion pieces, such as the hapless fellow’s jumpsuit zip and identity badge. So this chap has actually taken a bit longer to paint than I anticipated.

Experiment WIPs - Plenty of work yet to done on 'Hargreaves' and one of Chase's infected minions

I have also started painting the first of two (Failed Experiment) Scientist models. This one will hopefully represent Chase’s seemingly always unhappy, yet loyal, manservant Hargreaves. The butler actually met a decidedly dodgy death in the 1976 British Science Fiction television program as he was strangled by some of his master’s killer vines in the conservatory. Such a fate won’t befall my version of the black-suited servant however. Instead I’ve given the infected ‘silverware cleaner’ a nice tentacle and a ‘swollen’ large plastic “Games Workshop” hand.

Finally I’ve pushed this cracking sculpt of Chase’s mercenary ‘Scorby’ to the top of my painting queue and managed to get a good portion of the murderous fiend’s grey suit and black polo-neck sweater finished. Considering this character eventually ‘swapped sides’ and aided the Doctor in his battle against the Krynoid invasion, I now plan to use this villain as a gun-toting 'Survivor'. 

"...It Might Have Originated In Outer Space."

"Remember, no touch pod. Could be dangerous."

These three 28mm metal models by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” are a mixture of the two well-detailed sculpts which make up the Lincolnshire-based company’s code SKU: Deal 87 Spawn. They have all been painted up as part of my growing horde of Krynoid plant-zombies for Zomtober 2015.

Fashioned by George Fairlamb each model was initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey before being arbitrarily washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Having finished this rather fun, albeit messy phase, I then dry-brushed the meat-eating space invaders with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and then painted all of their eye-balls, bulges, crustacean-like pincers and bloated blisters using either Heavy Kakhi, Heavy Sienna, Heavy Brown or Heavy Red. Afterwards all of these areas were treated to an appropriate “Citadel” coloured wash of Carroburg Crimson, Thrakka Green or “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Lastly I applied a final dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey over each model, making sure to miss all the ‘detailed’ work I had done on them.

I still have another four of these ‘Walkers’ to finish before I have enough for my “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” inspired game of “Zombicide” at the end of Zomtober. But they should be finished within the next few days. In the meantime I have been pottering around with some of the scenery I want to use to represent the scenario’s location – the somewhat dilapidated grounds of Chase Manor. I’ve purchased a Scenery Upgrade Pack from the “Mars Attacks – The Miniatures Game” by “Mantic Games” for just this purpose and have so far managed to finish painting a couple of pieces of wooden fencing, two piles of rubble and a small ruined corner.

The plant-zombies of the Krynoid slowly shuffle their way across the ruins of Chase Manor 

Unsurprisingly for someone who dislikes painting scenery, their paint-jobs have been extraordinarily simple. The fencing has literally been undercoated “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, washed with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade and then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. Whilst the brick piles and wall were all painted using “Vallejo” Heavy Red, more Strong Tone Quickshade, and a dry-brush of more “Vallejo” Heavy Red. Everything was then treated to a coat of undiluted PVA glue, as I find this really helps hold together my scenery and give it a rubbery protective layer; very useful for protecting my speedy work as I tend to treat terrain rather roughly both on and off the tabletop.

Lastly I have been pinning and gluing together a number of “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” miniatures to use as ‘Runners’. These infected minions are great little castings which are asking to be converted into ghastly-looking semi-human nightmares. I’ve somewhat splurged and actually ended up making seven of these hapless staff members in the end, including the tragic botanist Arnold Keeler and a second laboratory assistant. But in the main the models represent some of Harrison Chase’s blue-suited security guards.

Infected WIPS - Plenty of malformations to paint on these hapless minions of Harrison Chase

 “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” sell a cracking separate malformed head. But I didn’t want all of my minions to have the same face, so in the end I decided to give a couple of them a normal helmeted head and will simply paint their faces partially green. In the 1976 British Science Fiction television program Chase’s men actually wore blue baseball-cap type headwear, similar to that seen on “Captain Scarlet”; which “Crooked Dice” actually do sell. However as I have a ‘Battle The Mysterons’ project in the works I didn’t want another ‘force’ using those rather identifiable selfsame heads. In the end I therefore went with the rather generic ‘mining helmet’ look which I thought looked fantastic on Blofeld’s goons in the James Bond motion picture “Diamonds Are Forever”. As I don’t want my grounds staff to contain too much blue though, I’ll be painting my guards’ hats a light(ish) grey instead.

In addition I also disliked the idea of having all of my minions wandering around with just a crab-claw or tentacle, so having pinned a couple of these in place, I visited my local second-hand gaming store and managed to pick up a couple of “Games Workshop” plastic malformed arms (presumably from some Chaos sprue) which hopefully are plant-like enough to do the trick…

Doctor Who - "The Seeds Of Doom" - WIP - Part Two

Krynoid WIPs - These plant-zombies have all had their lumps and bumps 'coloured in'

With ‘Zomtober 2015’ fast approaching its second weekend I’ve spent the majority of my time over the past few days plodding away on a horde of Spawn miniatures by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” so I have plenty of figures to represent the Krynoid from the 1976 British Science Fiction television serial “Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom”. Although the models themselves haven’t been too difficult to paint as their sculpts are just great, these miniatures have proved somewhat tedious to finish on account of my plan to ‘pick out’ their seemingly never ending amount of blobs, lumps and bumps with a variety of greens, browns and a somewhat gory dark red.

Krynoid WIPs - Having finished painting the aliens, I have started applying some washes to them

Having now finished this stage of the process for the seven plant-zombies, and tidied up around the edges of several of the carnivorous creatures’ ‘eyes’ with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey, I’ve now started applying a three-stage wash approach to each of the monsters. Not only have these inks helped blend in some of my ‘touch-ups’ but hopefully they’ll make these infected creatures look all the more gruesome prior to their final green dry-brush.

Krynoid WIPs - I've finally started working on the first of Harrison Chase's infected security guards

I have also started work on painting the pilot piece for the six Failed Experiment miniatures I plan to use as Runners (when I try to replicate the Timelord’s six-parter using the “Zombicide” rule set at the end of the month). This particular figure is of one of Harrison Chase’s estate security guards, who has been contaminated by the alien Krynoid and is ‘turning’ into one of the extra-terrestrial’s plant-zombies.

"You Will Die One Day!!"

"But Being Dead Again Is Just The First Step In The Process!"

This 28mm plastic “Wizkids” model of a Hand Ninja is miniature number 6 from the Marvel “Heroclix” Xplosion range. This evil mystical assassin first appeared in the September 1981 issue of “Daredevil” and was created by Frank Miller.

To cover the model’s fairly ghastly pre-painted colour scheme the figure was initially given an undercoat of “Citadel” Abaddon Black and was then dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Red in order to create some red highlights to the occult practitioner’s dark garb. The Tengugui was then re-painted with more “Citadel” Abaddon Black. The mercenary’s sword was painted using a combination of Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. Finally his flesh areas were first given a layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone and then washed with some watered down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. Finally the fingers, and cheekbones were highlighted with some more “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone.

The Hand WIPs - Plenty of fiddly areas of flesh yet to paint

Having finally finished this ‘test piece’ from the end of last year, I have based up and started work on another five of these deadly mercenaries. Once finished I actually plan to use these nicely generic-looking figures to represent both the Hand and the minions of Lady Shiva, a martial arts expert from “DC Comics” who I plan to use as one of the crime bosses for my ‘Gotham City High-Rise’ campaign.

The Joker's Gang WIPs - Early days yet but these models have plenty of character to encourage painting them

Lastly, I’ve been slowly pottering away on four minions to accompany my “Heroclix” Joker. All of these miniatures are actually from “Wizkids” “Horrorclix” range and are either Undead zombies or, in the case of the big chap with the hammer, a Vampire Roustabout. The original yellow Yama actually only had half a head with his brains showing, so I have used some Green Stuff to sculpt him a more appropriate-looking clown wig.

"Pod Carries Infection."

"Winlett seriously ill. Medicaid needed urgently."

This 28mm metal model by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” is one of two miniatures from the company's code SKU: Deal 87 Spawn and has been painted up as the first of my Krynoid plant-zombies for Zomtober 2015. The model was initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey before being haphazardly washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Having finished this somewhat ‘mucky’ task I dry-brushed the carnivorous alien with more “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and then painted its ‘eyes’, bulges, crab-like claw and blisters using either Heavy Kakhi, Heavy Sienna, Heavy Brown or Heavy Red. All of these areas were treated to an appropriate “Citadel” coloured wash including Carroburg Crimson, before I applied a final dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey.

Plant-Zombie WIPs - Plenty of puss-filled bulges and tentacles yet to still paint...

Having used this figure as my test-piece, I have now started to paint up the remaining seven Spawn miniatures I want to use as ‘Walkers’ for a “Doctor Who And The Seeds of Doom” inspired game of “Zombicide” at the end of Zomtober. These models are at various stages of my painting process but should all be finished within the next seven days.

Supporting Cast WIPs -  Keeler will be the first of my 'Runner' Krynoid-infected zombies

In the meantime, and in order to keep my sanity having ‘picked out’ little more than numerous ‘lumps, bumps and blobs’ this week with my paint brush, I have also based and undercoated some more wonderful miniatures by “Crooked Dice” which I paint during Zomtober. These figures will be used to represent the hapless scientist Arnold Keeler, the mercenary Scorby and the main villain of the piece Harrison Chase. 

Doctor Who - "The Seeds Of Doom" - WIP - Part One

Krynoid WIPs - These plant-zombies have all been under-coated, washed and dry-brushed

With ‘Zomtober2015’ starting this week I have packed away most of my side-projects in order to predominantly concentrate upon this month’s undead-related challenge. As I wanted my entries to have a single theme I’ve decided to glue together, base and start painting a number of models by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” in order to try and replicate the 1976 British Science Fiction television serial “Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom”.

Stages 2 to 4 - Green wash, brown wash and then a dry-brush of more green paint 

This six-parter was essentially about an alien plant monster, the Krynoid, infecting humans and essentially turning them into leaf-covered zombies. As a result for my first couple of submissions I plan to paint up eight of the company’s Spawn miniatures as the ‘humanoid’ variant of the carnivorous alien plants. Currently “Crooked Dice” sell two different models of their “single-celled organisms” so I’ve already undercoated them all green and having haphazardly splattered them with various inks, given them all a dry-brush in order to bring out their wonderfully sculpted detail.

Stages 5 to 7 - Black outline, various blobs, growths and splotches 'picked out' and then more washes

 As I usually do when I approach painting a group of the same (or similar figures), I have concentrated on a test model first and foremost, and have thus managed to work out which areas of the plant-zombies I plan to ‘pick out’ with a variety of greens, browns and dark red. Hopefully I’ll be able to make each of my murderous creatures unique-looking as a result.

In addition to painting up my ‘roamers’ I have also started work undercoating my three main protagonists for this project. As my ultimate aim at the end of Zomtober 2015 is to use these models as Survivors for a game of “Zombicide” by “Guillotine Games” I’ve gone with three of the programme’s most memorable characters of the period, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Sarah Jane Smith and of course, the Doctor.

Doctor Who WIPs - Early days yet for these undercoated "Zombicide" Survivors

Admittedly the leader of U.N.I.T. wasn’t actually in “The Seeds of Doom”, as he was temporarily replaced by Major Beresford, and by this stage of the show Tom Baker was playing the Timelord, not (the Third Doctor) Jon Pertwee. But these terrific sculpts of General Gordon and Hugo Solomon are the only miniatures “Crooked Dice” currently sell which bare any sort of resemblance to the period I’m trying to recreate, so I have gone with them.