Wednesday 28 December 2016

"Put Me Down... So I Can Reform Myself..."

"And I'm ready for those power blasts of yours too..."
This 28mm pre-painted plastic model of Charcoal is by “Wizkids” and can be bought as number 089 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Sinister range. Created to be a "Marvel Worldwide" comic book antagonist by Wallace and Kroja Frost, as part of a Wizard magazine "Create-A-Villain" contest, Charcoal would actually go on and join the Thunderbolts super-team, having initially been their enemy. The Burning Man made his first appearance in the November 1998 issue of "Thunderbolts", and was subsequently "killed in battle with Graviton" after the competition winner attempted to legally claim the copyright of the character from Marvel.

Initially undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal so as to eradicate the 44mm tall figure's disagreeable pre-paint, Charles Burlingame's alter-ego was washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and subsequently dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. I then 'picked out his rock-hard diamond growths using a combination of "Vallejo" White and "Citadel" Asurmen Blue. Finally his eyes were painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.
Doctor Doom WIPs - Victor Von Doom, a Doombot and a Servo-bot
The submission deadline for the first Bonus Round of the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge is still a couple of weeks away, and having already begun painting three "Heroclix" robots for it, I had thought I had the matter well-in-hand. However, as the theme is 'Armour' I have suddenly found myself thinking that perhaps a Latverian robotic force, led by their all-powerful armoured monarch Doctor Victor Von Doom, might be a bit more fun to assemble.

As a result I have continued to press on painting my "Wizkids" figure of the Fantastic Four's archenemy and begun priming a large number of the "Marvel Worldwide" super-villain's henchmen; most notably a few Doombots (armed robots who actually wear the face of the real Doctor Doom) and Servo-Guards (sentry robots that are programmed to attack their master's enemies). It's doubtful that I'll manage to get all of these models finished within so tight a target date, especially when I've based twelve of the 41mm tall Servo-Guards alone. But the opportunity to potentially 'field' the genius inventor's court, as once envisaged by co-creator's Stan Lee and Jack "King" Kirby seems too good an impetus to ignore...
Deep Sea Diver WIPs - The figure has been primed, 'black-lined' and had his helmet and boots layered
Similarly, I have found myself mulling over a small(ish) collection of metal models by "Reaper Miniatures". I have previously painted several of these characterful sculpts in an attempt to own enough with which to hold a game set within the "Gamma World" universe owned by "Wizards Of The Coast"; albeit I actually plan to use "7TV" by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" as my rule-set.

In fact, during last year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge I furiously managed to complete sixteen Terminator-like looking Cyber-Reavers as opposition. However, I never managed to then paint enough 'heroic' models with which to thwart them. This time round I hope to correct that oversight, and have subsequently started painting a Deep Sea Diver to represent the (time/universe displaced) Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.  

34 comments:

  1. Great work on all of these, Simon. Charcoal has turned out exceptionally well and for once, I think your gloss varnish enhances the figure.

    I look forward to seeing Doc Doom and his army of Doombots. An ambitious project, to be sure, but a worthy one, too.

    As for your Jacques Cousteau deep sea diver - what a good find. Funnily enough, as soon as I saw him I had a flashback to my childhood when my brother got an Action Man deep sea diver suit for a Christmas present. I got the Action Man astronaut suit at the same time. We ended up with lots of Action Men and so many different suits and uniforms for them.

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    1. Many thanks Bryan. I do think the Charcoal sculpt was rather nice to paint, if a little underwhelming compared to its comic book counterpart.

      As usual with my side-projects I think the Doctor Doom one is probably a little overly ambitious, but if I can even get half the minis I want painted for the AHPC then it'll be a force worthy of the tabletop.

      As for "Action Man", well if its the one I recall then my suit will be a little darker than the white(ish) one he wore. Spookily though I'll be reviewing the new "IDW Publishing" "Action Man" comic book over on my "Brown Bag" blog soon ;-)

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  2. I shall certainly look forward to your Gamma World/7TV games!

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    1. So will I, Gordon. Still a few minis needed to be painted first :-)

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  3. Some interesting stuff going on. I am most intrigued by the Diver as I can imagine several games with him involved.

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    1. Cheers Clint. "Reaper Miniatures" do some very interesting stuff, all of which can be cobbled together into the lore of "Gamma World" imho.

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    2. I did try playing the TSR RPG Gamma world a couple of times but struggled as everything was so inconsistent!

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    3. I've not tried that version Clint, my one (and the two expansions) is by "Wizards Of The Coast" and reads very well imho; although I've yet to play the actual game. It does appear very simple to 'convert' to "7TV" though, as I hope my BatReps will show.

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  4. Nice finish on Charcoal, like the idea of Doctor dooms court and with the speed your knocking these out I have faith you will get it completed in time. The deep sea diver is cool and reminds me I need to make a Megladon for a customer request, always liked underwater settings

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    1. Thanks very much Dave. I don't think its the pace that'll hurt my momentum, its the distractions :-) A Carcharodon Megalodon sounds awesome!!!

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    2. I'll try to keep distractions to a minimum on my part ! Truth be known I'm not very good at that though.

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    3. Indeed, I'm certainly looking forward to getting my hands on one of your spectacularly-large hairy hominids :-)

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  5. Charcoal certainly looks the biz now he's finished off and Doc Doom (another unkown to me) loks very interesting, but the servo bot just reminds me of thetin-man from Wizard of Oz!
    Love the diver too,

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    1. Cheers Joe. Glad there's some stuff there which takes your fancy. Doc Doom is one of the most famous comic book super-villains out there, so I'll try and whet your appetite to know more about him when I post up the finished mini. There's a good twenty-five years between "Oz" and the Servo-bots so maybe Jack Kirby was inspired by that movie when he drew them; they're are rather colourful robots as my paint-job will hopefully attest :-)

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  6. Love the black paintwork on Charcoal Simon, a shade I constantly struggle with! Of the others my fave has to be the diver, just fab! There are some lovely underwater monsters that are starting to tempt me into some oceanic gaming and just wait till you see some of the upcoming Aquatic horrors I've got for my Jung Pirate Bushido faction...

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    1. Thanks Andy. Perhaps I could ask for your New Year's Resolution to be that you won't be posting any highly tempting "Aquatic horrors" on your blog? You wouldn't want me to lose focus would you!?! ;-)

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    2. Just saying Crab/ashigaru and Sharkman....... I'll leave that there......

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    3. Uh yeah... thanks. In no way will I be researching a Sharkman you rotter!!!

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    4. Yup. Found it, and a load of other "Bushido" minis I like. Just need to clear some space and then it'll be "Bushido" month :-)

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  7. Nice work on Charcoal. :)

    As mentioned previously, a character for whom I have a soft spot. :)

    Excellent stuff mate. :)

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    1. Cheers Leon. I quite like the sculpt now he's finished, and what better way to start the Analogue hobbies Painting Challenge than with a "Heroclix" mini :-)

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  8. Charcoal is nice but Doom looks like he's going to be great!!

    Will you have him finished by the end of the year?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. This'll be the last of my 2016 painted minis, so Doctor Doom won't be posted until next year - probably late January the way my articles are currently looking. I'm sure you'll be pleased though, as that'll mean no more last minute entries (unlike last year's Top Ten ;-) ).

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  9. Jolly Good should have the Top Ten to you later tonight then, Doc Doom has been thwarted again!!

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. I'm looking forward to it immensely. This year has been my busiest yet article-wise, so even setting aside the BatReps and WIP postings, there should be at least a hundred minis for you to pick from ;-)

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  10. Whilst Doctor Doom is an iconic villain from the Marvel Universe, he hasn't bern well-served in recent years. The movie versions of him were rubbish and i think i've been scarred by 'Twisted Toyfare Theatre', which always cast him as slightly ineffectual, with his failures always being blamed on "Richards!!!". I'd be curious to see how Marvel Studios could integrate both him and the FF into the MCU.
    Nice work on all the figures so far, Simon. I really ought to finish my Doom off...

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    1. Cheers Jez. Hopefully my own Victor Von Doom will be finished in a couple of days time, and then I can get cracking on my Doombots and Servo-robots.

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  11. So if detectives were hunting for Charcoal and they came across signs that he'd left a mark when walking across an area, would that be called his carbon footprint?

    I'll get my coat, as with poor jokes like that I doubt "I'll be here all week".

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    1. "I'll get my coat" - No need Roy, I've already got it for you ;-)

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    1. Love to Dave, but my New Year's Resolution is to try and whittle down my lead mountain by only buying minis at shows... we'll see how long that lasts ;-)

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  13. Charcoal looks the biz! Right out of the Wikipedia page that I had to search for after seeing your mini. XD

    I do love me some Doom and his robo-cronies. Was always fun trying to figure out if the heroes in question were dealing with Doom, or an android caricature.

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    1. Thanks Dai. Charcoal isn't that well known though, outside of "Thunderbolts". Doctor Doom is already finished, but won't be posted until after the AHPC East bonus round; as that's what I'll be entering him for.

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