"This Whole Thing Was A Trap."

"Besides it looks like the bones were bent straight out."

This rather large 40mm pre-painted plastic "Wizkids" model of an Alien is from the "Horrorclix" AVP Alien Verses Predator: Aliens Collector's Set. The sculpt is based upon the extra-terrestrials which attacked Charles Bishop's doomed expedition to Antarctica in the 2004 science-fiction horror film "Alien Verses Predator", and like the vast majority of my "Horrorclix" collection was generously gifted to me by Bryan from the "Vampifan's World Of The Undead" website.

The miniature originally came complete with a hapless scientist as part of a small vignette. But as I initially planned on just using the Alien I removed it from the model's 'clicky base' and set about trying to work out whether I could also detach the "serpent" as well. After a bit of head-scratching it became evident that the creature would be hard to place upon an essentially flat-surfaced stand without it's pose looking especially odd. So I eventually decided to leave the monster attached to his ornately carved Inca-inspired stone column and simply superglue the assemble onto a thin-lipped circular 40mm bases in order for me to use it as an Alien spawn marker.

"The hunters would battle with these great serpents to prove themselves worthy to carry the mark."

Having decided how I was going to use the model on the tabletop I gave the vicious monster an undercoat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently dry-brushed the model with "Vallejo" German Grey. Once I was satisfied I had 'highlighted' all of the Alien's well-sculpted detail I washed the figure with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and then applied a second, significantly lighter dry-brush of "Vallejo" German Grey over its more prominently raised surfaces. The Alien's mouth was painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst its head's carapace was given a coat of Abaddon Black.

Finally I painted the Alien's stone column using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. This piece of scenery was then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown.

In addition to my Alien spawn marker I have also painted three more of the Xenomorph drones which Weyland and his team encountered deep beneath Bouvet Island. These Aliens were all painted in exactly the same way as all my other "Horrorclix" models of the endoparasitoid extraterrestrial arthropodal species.

Daughter Of S.H.I.V.A. WIPs - These masters of unarmed combat will all be dressed in purple with grey fur

With the Sixth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge now heading towards its home straight I have started to turn my attention towards the last of the miniatures I want to submit as entries into one of the event's side-challenges, namely the Pulp Challenge. This four-way 'fist-fight' will determine who can paint the most points in Pulp adventure figures, with the competition's winner receiving a painted figure from each of the vanquished.

To begin with I'll actually be starting with three models I only purchased recently, on account of "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" finally (and fleetingly) making their Daughter of S.H.I.V.A. (classic) sculpts available again. Ultimately, when I can purchase some additional models, I plan to use these "lithe, beautiful, agile and extremely deadly... female assassins" as minions for my "Heroclix" Lady Shiva. But for now they'll simply suffice as some of the more colourfully-costumed pulp goons for my Evil Mastermind.