Friday 7 April 2017

"Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!"

"My Terminators are watching you!"
This 28mm pre-painted plastic “Wizkids” model of Tomás de Torquemada is miniature number 107 from the Indy “Heroclix” range. Originally created as simply the leader of Termight's Tube Police "in the British comic anthology 2000 A.D.", the arch-villain would quickly rise to become the "dictator of the entire human race" and was created by Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill for the 1980 serial "Nemesis The Warlock".

This miniature was initially undercoated with "Citadel" Abaddon Black before having both his armour and axe painted using a combination of Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. The Grand Master of Terra was then dry-brushed with more Ironbreaker and subsequently had his belt 'picked out' with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, his axe-handle layered with Iraqi Sand and finally his chest emblem emboldened with Gold. All of these areas were treated to a wash of either "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.
Crusader II WIPs - The tank has had a green "cloud-shaped patches" camouflage pattern applied to it
Torquemada's sweeping purple cape was first given a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Violet, then washed with the "Citadel" Shade, Druchii Violet, and carefully dry-brushed with some additional "Vallejo" Heavy Violet. As a last touch, I dabbed a little "Citadel" Chaos Black into the sculpt's eye sockets and then tidied them up by using pure Ironbreaker.

Having recently played my "First Game" of the "Battle Of El Alamein - War In The Desert", using the simple scenario presented within the "Battlefront Miniatures" Battle Box starter booklet, I have started applying some green camouflage to my British Crusader II plastic tank. To be honest this vehicle was far from impressive during its debut on the tabletop. Not only did it seem incapable of actually hitting a German Panzer with its 2 pounder gun, but it similarly appeared unable to survive being struck on its front armour; supposedly the thickest and best protected part of the tank.
Boromite Ganger WIPs - The extra-terrestrial tunneller has had all his weaponry 'picked out' and washed 
As a result I thought some "cloud-shaped patches", as found in the recently released "Desert Rats" "Flames Of War" hard-backed rule-book, might help matters somewhat. Certainly the camouflage will help make the vehicle 'stand out' as part of my Crusader Armoured Squadron HQ.

  Finally, I have been persevering on the first of my Boromite Gangers for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares". The sheer amount of detail on this miniature, such as its numerous plates of reflex armour and plasma carbine, is quite breath-taking, and I now realise it's going to take a lot of patience in order to finish even just my three-man Overseer Squad during the next few days.

36 comments:

  1. What a wonderfully eclectic mis today Simon, fabulous stuff.

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    1. Thanks Michael. I do try and keep things fresh with my genres :-)

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  2. Nice finish on Torquemada, the addition of the green on the tank adds interest, and your perseverance on the Boromite is paying off

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    1. Cheers Dave. I've still got quite a bit to do on the Crusader II, but the first of my Boromites is now finished, and should hopefully be posted up in the next few days.

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  3. Nice work on Torquemada, Simon.

    I can only attribute the Matilda's poor performance in your game to the fact that it must have been crewed by Nurglings! LOL!

    I'm really liking how your Boromites are shaping up. I look forward to seeing your finished figures.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. I'm trying to acquire a second version of the Torquemada mini so I can paint him all red, as per his famous Tube Police days. I may well pick up the "Wargames Foundry" version whilst at "Salute" if they have him there.

      The British "FOW" tanks certainly don't pack the punch of their German counterparts. Though I thought it was because Gunner Webb was staffing the sights ;-)

      The Boromites have definitely become a bit of a chore already as a result of their incredible detail, so I hope the finished version will prove an acceptable compromise between look and time. My next posting, with a finished Ganger will tell...

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  4. Fantastic Boromite, think I'm going to have to get some now *Shakes Fist*

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  5. I think Tomás de Torquemada scores high on my all time top ten favourite converted Heroclix miniatures list. What a nice custom piece of conversion. Damn I wish I still had mine, I`d be tempted and inspired now to have a go at this figure as well.

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    1. Thanks Hils. Tbh though the only thing I've done with the mini is re-base it. Everything else is as it was when it was a "Heroclix" model; albeit I have slightly altered its paint scheme. If you do find a UK source for the mini please let me know, as I do fancy doing a second :-)

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    2. Will do Simon, I just tried Bluerat games, but they didn't have one. I couldn't even find one on eBay uk for that matter. But Ill keep trying.

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    3. Thanks Hils. Sadly he's out of stock even with my usually reliable American store "Troll And Trade". If they get any in, then I'll pick up a couple and see if you still want it.

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  6. The cool grey/warm brown scheme on the Boromite looks terrific. Nice combo.

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    1. Cheers Finch. I was going to give the Boromite a dry-brush and maybe a brown wash on his 'bumps', but in the end the minis are so detailed that I've left their 'hide' as is.

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  7. A great display of painting as usual. I'm not keen on the sculpting of the Boromite figure from the back it looks like it is wearing some of those German leather shorts you see from years gone by.

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    1. I wish you hadn't said that, Phil, because now I can't that image of Lederhosen-wearing Boromites out of my head. LOL!

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    2. Thanks Phil. Yes... I'm afraid the Boromite 'nappy' look isn't great is it. I think they've gone for a futuristic version of Ben Grimm's attire during his "Fantastic Four" days. But...

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    3. The Boromites also seem to have some sort of television screen/read-out display at the front of their shorts, so I'm not really too sure what sort of 'look' the designer was aiming for..?

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    4. Teletubbies, perhaps! :-)

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  8. Torque looks really good Simon, v nice. The WiPs are coming on well too

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    1. Cheers Andy. Plenty of stuff on the table currently, and the Boromite is already finished I'm pleased to say.

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  9. Nice work on Torquemada Simon. :)

    Funnily, the version of Nemesis which resonates most strongly in my memory is the Bryan Talbot era (book 3?), so other than the Diceman stuff I tend to think of Talbot first even though I know O'Neil was the primary artist. :)

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    1. Thanks Leon. I too really liked Talbot's work, and as a result somewhat strangely think of O'Neill's Torquemada but Talbot's Nemesis (and ABC Warriors too).

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  10. Nice paintwork on Torquemada, though the sculpt looks slightly off to me, his eyes look to low down on his face of his head isn't far enough up from his shoulders not sure quite what it is but there something off with it to my eye.

    The crusader looks like it'll come out really nice in the end, and sorry but though I would have loved the Boromites (with the Grimm connection and all) I just can't take to them at all, though your painting of their rocky hides is first rate.

    Sorry to be so negative, but none of my jibes are aimed your way at least :-)

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Cheers Roger. I too am not wholly convinced as to Torquemada's sculpt. I actually think he looks a little 'dwarfish' for some reason, perhaps because his legs are too short!?! Obviously though as a master of the green-stuff I like your explanation far better.

      I am sadly somewhat quickly quickly falling out of love with the Boromites on account of their bumps/detail. However, I aim to persevere due to the number of blisters/boxes of them which I now own.

      I've no problem with people not liking the figures I paint, nor when constructive, the way I paint them. It would certainly be a bit of a boring hobby if we all enjoyed the same thing, my friend :-)

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  11. Nice job dude. The Crusader is progressing nicely.

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    1. Thanks Simon. I'm hoping to base and finish the tank within the next few days.

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  12. This is a great post! Loads to look at and pore over.

    Torquemada definitely looks the part! Love the colour choices and am excited to see what minions you have planned for him look like! (Frostgrave cultists aside.)

    The Boromite is likewise coming along very nicely. The combo of the yellow and grey work really well together.

    Is interesting to read about the camo schemes on desert tanks. Some sources claim they were indeed green markings, others say brown or black. I like where you're going with your tank so far.

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    1. Cheers Dai. Very much appreciated - I do like to mix my mini postings up, as well you know. The first of the Terminators for Torquemada are now finished and should be posted soon... and I've also completed both Boromite Gangers for my Overseer.

      I've taken the camo from the latest "FOW" desert rule-book, and used the colour recommended on the "Battlefront Miniatures" website, so hopefully its as accurate as can be ;-)

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  13. Torquemada has turned out really nicely! Superb fig!!

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    1. Thanks Gordon. Nice and simple tbh, but hopefully effective.

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  14. **sings*

    "Oh happy day, oh happy dayyyyy**

    Jumps up and down in excitement<<>> Hey Simon, looking through the Clix box pile just now, looking for something completely different from the thing I was hoping to find (to add to the new simian Planet of the Apes theme were messing with) guess what? I came across a lone (yellow dial base) Tomás de Torquemada. I had one all along woohoo.

    Okay he goes RIGHT into the Frostgrave project pile, mmmmmmm, oh life is so wonderful.

    Happy Easter Simon, and to everyone.

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    1. Great news, Hils :-) I look forward to you posting him up - perhaps in a "Frostgrave" BatRep? Happy Easter!!

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