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| 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”.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
Brilliant. Lovely figs. I shall look forward to seeing more!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gordon. They are very nice sculpts and they'll certainly be a whole lot more - I hope ;-)
DeleteI think it's a wise decision to stick with Crooked Dice for heroes and villains. Their figures are superbly sculpted and I've always found them a real pleasure to paint. That first photo of the Krynoids certainly shows how good they look with just the minimum of painting done to them. Once you start adding extra detail work I've no doubt that they'll look amazing.
ReplyDeleteCheers Bryan. In many ways I was tempted just to base the Krynoids after the first dry-brush, for as you say the detail upon them is so good that they'd be table ready just with minimum effort. I think the 'Jon Pertwee' model is the best Doctor Who sculpt I've seen, so he was an easy choice in many ways. Obviously I own the old "Black Tree Design" Fourth Doctor but I really wanted to clear some of my "Crooked Dice" lead mountain - especially as I've just ordered from them again ;-)
DeleteThe Krynoid looks so good! Love the colours you've gone with. Could use those for a bunch of different settings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dai. You could indeed use those Spawn for all manner of creatures, and I'm already tempted to get some more to paint up as multi-eyed phantoms for some 'Ghost Bustin' or in several shades of red and do a "Claws of Axos" project :-)
DeleteThe Krynoid are going to be really nice when you're done. There's a lot of room for creativity with all those eyes.
ReplyDeleteI found time to pop in for a short bit today and wanted to see what you'd done.
Cheers Anne. A much appreciated visit. Plenty of stuff you can do with these Spawn imho. I don't plan on painting any proper eyes for these creatures. But I certainly would like to do some as protoplasmic ghosts in the near future. For now though they'll just be squidgy bulges of green, brown and red.
DeleteIt's been raining steady since yesterday and I can't get out in the yard to work.
DeleteYa, they wouldn't do with eyes for Krynoids but for another project that would be really cool.
Sorry the weather is bad were you are Anne. They'll certainly be some eyes on my protoplasmic ghosts when I get round to ordering some more of these Spawn minis.
DeleteWhat! You've started already! Oh S#/t!
ReplyDeleteDitto.
DeleteDitto the Ditto!
Delete'Fraid so gents. I have an awful lot of minis I want to paint for this project, and thought it'd take quite a while to nail these eight plant-zombies down. As a result I've been basing and undercoating these fellows most evenings in order to get them ready :-)
DeleteI've loved this episode! I's too bad you don't have a Tom Baker for this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert. It is a corking serial. I may well dig out my partially-painted "Black Tree Design" Fourth Doctor towards the end of this project, if I've the time and finish him off. But he's somewhat out of scale and style to the rest of these "Crooked Dice" sculpts.
DeleteGreat choice on the Krynoids. Terrific sculpts.
ReplyDeleteCheers Finch. They are wonderful sculpts and I'll be ordering more to represent some other 'minsters' for sure.
DeleteWow! You are off to a flying Start Simon and you need to know that I have subsequently ordered up and watched 'Seeds of Doom' - brilliant! I'd forgotten just how good Tom Baker was and surprised at how hands on he was as a Doctor, fists flying everywhere! I can feel a distraction to my distraction coming on! :D
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Michael. This story was definitely set during Tom's golden years, before he seemed to get bored with the role. He is rather punchy in it too, and runs around carrying a pistol too. I'm delighted you enjoyed it and that, for once, I've distracted you ;-)
DeleteSmashing start Simon. shame it's not Tom as he's my Favourite Doctor, but JP is a cracking sculpt. Your monsters are great too.
ReplyDeleteThe real revelation though is Sarah Jane, I think I've fallen head over heels in love with a 28mm figure! (just as I did with the real one thirty odd years ago).
Cheers Roger.
Most kind Roger. The "Crooked Dice" sculpts currently being produced are just top notch, as hopefully all three of my survivors show. I'm hoping to have the Doctor and Sarah Jane finished in a couple of weeks time, as its plant-zombies until then. But I thought some would enjoy seeing them already based and under-coated :-)
DeleteLovely work, Simon. I have to admit to being severely tempted by some of the Crooked Dice figures, especially the paranormal investigators. As my birthday is imminent, I may treat myself! Those "spawn" could also be used as Gel Guards, if painted in orange tones. I shall be watching you progress with interest.
ReplyDeleteRegards Jez
Thanks Jez. I have the Paranormal Investigators and they are great sculpts. A worthy Birthday present imho :-) I did think of these Spawn as Gel Guards as well - though I think I have a couple of the "Black Tree Design" ones somewhere. Hopefully I'll be posting the first of my finished Krynoids tomorrow...
Delete"Seeds of Doom" was a definite highlight of the Tom Baker years. I remember being quite freaked out by the concept of the garden coming alive and the transmutation of man interplant. Fantastic to see you reviving the concept on the tabletop and the figures look great! What have you dont with them in the intervening period? :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers very much Paul. I'm afraid the minis have done little but gather dust. They're all done... I just never finished the MDF "Zombicide" board I planned to play the game on :-(
Delete