Sunday, 2 October 2016

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Judge Dredd" Zomtober 2016

Judge Dredd WIPs - These living dead have been washed simply in order to bring out their detail
This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures has been rather waylaid by PulpCitizen's recent announcement, over on his brilliant blog "Eclectic Gentleman Tabletop Gamer", that the next few weeks will once again host the annual "Zomtober" Challenge where fellow wargamers "just paint one Zombie or Survivor (or more!) each week, in any scale you like" and post it to their blog by the Sunday.

As a result I have deferred from choosing a haphazard painting subject for October and instead managed to base, flock, prime and wash a small(ish) collection of shambling futuristic undead mailed to me by "Mongoose Publishing" as part of their infamously long October 2012 "Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War" kickstarter; a pledge which I am still waiting to be fulfilled four years later.
Judge Dredd WIPs - The majority of these zombies will be painted in futuristic bright colours
These 28mm miniatures predominantly consist of a mixture of plastic multi-part "Mantic Games" zombies with numerous metal torso, knee-pad, shoulder-pad and head conversion pieces produced by "Mongoose Publishing" in order to supposedly mark them out as Mega-City One citizens. However they also include a very nicely-detailed casting of an undead partially-decomposing Street Judge and an equally impressive-looking Zombie Mistress.

Presumably inspired by the "Judgement Day" comic book story event published with alternating episodes in both "2000 A.D." and the "Judge Dredd Megazine" in 1992, I am hoping to use these shuffling cadavers to partially game the events of World War Four and Sabbat the Necromagus' attempt to conquer the planet using the living dead; especially as I already own a fully-painted division of the Justice Department's finest. However, what does concern me is whether just eight flesh-hungry cadavers (not including their Zombie Mistress) will provide sufficient models for even the smallest scenario of "Zombicide" or "ZombieTV". If it doesn't then I may well be tempted to purchase a few more Zombie Horde Packs from "Warlord Games" in order to convert some of my dormant "Mantic Games" Undead Zombie sprues, as well as a couple more Zombie Judges...
Herald Of Nurgle WIP - The Plaguebearer Daemon has been primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki
This desire to re-enact a conflict which "took the lives of three billion people" means I have had to somewhat curtail my aspirations as to the latest unit I intend painting for my Host of Nurgle for “Age of Sigmar”. Indeed disappointingly, I still need to finish off over a dozen Nurglings to achieve my daemonic "Games Workshop" goal for last month. With this potentially overwhelming commitment in mind I have therefore assembled just a solitary Herald of Nurgle multi-part plastic miniature to add to October's Tallyband of the Plague God.

Admittedly the Plaguebearer Hero appears an extremely well-detailed, busy and therefore time-consuming sculpt, complete with numerous bells, horns, trailing innards, a cheeky Nurgling and severed head. But once washed and dry-brushed I am confident that the Balesword-wielding Daemon will soon be finished. Particularly as I have converted a second one carrying a large scythe and some additional Nurglings using pieces from the Putrid Blightkings boxed set...   
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26 comments:

  1. Dick Garrison2 October 2016 at 05:43

    Interesting stuff simon, I look forward to seeing the megacity undead. As you know I've painted up a few of those mantic Zom's myself in the past so it'll be a treat to see have they differ with the mongoose bits, and of course your distinctive paintwork.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 06:17

      Thanks Roger. Early days yet on the Mega-City Undead, but I should have a couple finished for next weekend's Zomtober posting. I've still a few "Irregular Miniatures" starships to post, as well as some "AoS" Nurgle too, so plenty of hopefully enjoy in the weeks to come.

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  2. Vampifan2 October 2016 at 07:07

    Okay, Simon, you probably know that two subjects guaranteed to grab my attention are "Judge Dredd" and "Zombies". Funnily enough I only recently finished painting the Warlord Games Zombie Mistress and Zombie Judge. Both will be appearing in my upcoming Judge Dredd campaign... with slightly more than eight zombies! :-) With a horde of over 1,000 painted zombies to choose from, I plan on giving the Judges a fight they'll never forget! I better make sure I get my Manta Prowl Tank painted in time!
    I am very much looking forward to seeing your progress on your selected zombies in Zomtober. Best of luck, mate!

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 07:29

      Cheers Bryan. The "Judge Dredd" zeds have been sat on a shelf since they first arrived and I assembled them, so I thought it was high time to give them some attention. I certainly don't plan to paint/buy enough of them to re-fight World War Fourth like I'm sure you could. But hopefully they'll be enough to game a simple Cursed Earth Hot Dog run or some such.

      I'm really looking forward to seeing your Manta Prowl Tank!! I never ordered one myself as so many of the KS followers who did seemed to have huge problems with "Moongoose Publishing" and their casting quality. I presume "Warlord Games" have got it sorted since they took over its production?

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    2. Vampifan2 October 2016 at 08:51

      The Warlord Games Manta Prowl tank is a thing of beauty. Made of resin and metal parts it went together very well. I have always enjoyed good service from Warlord Games and they do seem very friendly folk. I may do a work in progress post for my Judge Dredd vehicles.

      By the way, I really like the picture you're using to advertise Zomtober 2016.

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    3. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 09:53

      I would certainly enjoy some WIPs from yourself concerning the JD vehicles, Bryan. I understand "Warlord Games" specially cast the Manta Prowl Tank only when its ordered.

      As to the Zomtober 2016 picture, its by Tankskullx66 and a larger version can be found on his "DeviantArt" page here: http://tankskullx66.deviantart.com/art/dredd-vs-zombies-321506473

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  3. Clint2 October 2016 at 09:50

    Nice work mate. Judge Dredd and Zombies? well why not I do remember a werewolf story from my youth. So Zombies yeah why not!

    And sorry to hear the kickstarter has not arrived in 4 years. That sucks!

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 09:59

      Thanks Clint. Spookily I have a "Zombicide" "Cry Of The Werewolf" BatRep of Judge Dredd taking on Undercity Werewolves just waiting in the wings at present. As for "Mongoose Publishing" and their kickstarter, it would be fair to say I have received most of my pledge. But was has repeatedly annoyed me is Mongoose Matt's decision to have numerous other JD models sculpted and sold which weren't part of the Kickstarter instead of doing the ones which were.

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  4. pulpcitizen2 October 2016 at 10:20

    Looking forward to seeing how your Zomtober Dredd stuff turns out. :)

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 10:34

      Cheers Leon. Thanks for doing another Zomtober. Next year I'm determined to actually post a finished zed at the start of the month [blush]. But I'm been busy finishing off a few "Irregular Miniatures" starships.

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  5. The Angry Lurker2 October 2016 at 11:07

    4 years!!! You have a lot of patience!Good luck with Zombtober!

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 11:43

      Thanks Fran. To be fair I didn't have any choice in the matter, and it could be worse - I could have backed "Mongoose Publishing" Rogue Trooper KS; I believe that is in an even poorer state of affairs as they're reliant upon "Warlord Games" casting schedule and as I don't believe the models are currently being sold by "Warlord" there's a bit of a delay (with the last KS update being July!).

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  6. Michael Awdry2 October 2016 at 11:34

    Lots to look forward to here Simon, lovely the look of the Judge Dredd miniatures.

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 11:45

      Cheers Michael. I'm already well on the way to having my first "Judge Dredd" zed finished, and I've still got a couple of "Irregular Miniatures" starships to post. Plus lots of "AoS" Nurgle models :-)

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  7. myincubliss2 October 2016 at 12:09

    I look forward to seeing the MegaCity zombies done, I've been long tempted to get some!

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 13:09

      Thanks Myincubliss, perhaps my efforts will convince you into getting some. I know I'm a bit worried I may pick up some more once I'm done ;-)

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    2. Vampifan2 October 2016 at 15:28

      But you say that like it's a bad thing! We all know you can never have too many zombies! :-)

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    3. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 22:25

      "But you say that like it's a bad thing!" - It is when you're trying to use these monthly mini-projects as a means to reduce the old lead mountain, Bryan, not add to its peak!! :-)

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  8. Da Gobbo2 October 2016 at 21:08

    Very nice minis Simon even in their early stages. That KS progress sucks though - 4 years is disgraceful

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    1. Blaxkleric2 October 2016 at 22:28

      Cheers Andy. Its easy to get cross over the "Judge Dredd" KS, Andy, as its been something of a disaster from the start... Being sent the rulebook only to be told a week later than its already out of date as "Warlord Games" are redoing it, seeing models for sale at shows before mine have arrived, seeing new sculpts made and sold before they've finished making the ones for the KS, the list goes on and on. Still at least I've almost got all my minis now... almost.

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  9. Colgar63 October 2016 at 01:45

    You will indeed need more than zombies before it can be called a "horde", I think! This is a good start, nevertheless...

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    1. Blaxkleric3 October 2016 at 06:35

      Thanks Hugh. They're actually painting up rather well tbh, so there's a definite temptation to pick up some more. I think if I get halfway through Zomtober and have this lot finished then I will pick up some more, so it all depends on that. it would certainly be nice to have a few more undead denizens of Mega-City One for my game.

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  10. Mallius Vane3 October 2016 at 03:07

    Despite what seems to be a disappointing Kickstarter the figs look great. I shall look forward to seeing them painted up. I do like seeing everyone's Zomtober figs!

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    1. Blaxkleric3 October 2016 at 06:35

      Cheers Gordon. The first batch will be posted up next weekend, and in the meantime I have the first of my finished Nurgling bases to come :-)

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  11. Dai3 October 2016 at 15:31

    I like the zombies and whilst the pieces that mark them more direct as Mega City One citizens add a nice touch, I don't think they are required by any means. Zombies is zombies is zombies afterall and as long as they aren't wielding or wearing era specific items zombies are typically generic in my mind.

    I like that herald. Don't envy the painting though with all those details - good luck! :)

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    1. Blaxkleric3 October 2016 at 15:40

      Thanks Dai. I rather like the knee-pad and shoulder-pad conversion pieces, as they can provide me with an opportunity to make the Mega-City zeds a bit more colourful. But as you say "zombies is zombies is zombies".

      The Herald is great, but is currently taking a bit of a back seat as I finish off my Nurgling Unit of three stacks. Once they're finished (and my next posting features the first completed base) then he'll be next.

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