"That's A Living Brain Jammed Inside A Cybernetic Body..."

"You are rogue elements. You are incompatible. You will be deleted."

This 40mm tall "exquisitely sculpted pewter" Cyberman figure is sold by “Warlord Games” and is one of the ten miniatures contained within the company's "Nightmares In Silver" Cybermen Collector's Set 1966-2013. Sculpted to replicate the "race of cybernetically augmented humanoids" as they appeared in Tom MacRae's 2006 television story "Rise Of The Cybermen", this particular version of the silver giants arose on a parallel Earth where John Lumic, head of Cybus Industries, attempted to convert the population of London using "emotional inhibitor signals".

The figure was first undercoated with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently given a double layer of Ironbreaker. It was then shaded with Nuln Oil and had its eyes and mouth slit darkened with a small dab of Abaddon Black. The entire model was finally dry-brushed with more "Ironbreaker", and had its waist, inner thighs and elbows washed with Nuln Oil in order to somewhat take the shine off of these particular areas.

Eighties Cybermen WIPs - The silver giants have been washed, in preparation of dry-brushing and detailing

With another of my "Nightmares In Silver" miniatures completed, I have managed to get some "Citadel" Nuln Oil on a couple more of the collector set's contents; namely the two "silverclad villains" representing the BBC programme's serials during the Eighties. I'm actually hoping to finally add a little bit of colour and contrast to these particular "fully armoured soldiers", by way of following the colour schemes used on the "Warlord Games" "Into The Vortex" website.

Up until now, all of the cyborgs I have painted have proved rather one-dimensional palette-wise despite their constant upgrades. But that should change with the "Earthshock" Cyberman and his red-rimmed cybergun, whilst the "Silver Nemesis" version has a far more noticeably silvery-grey torso and limbs than any of its predecessors.

Air Elemental WIP - The "Dungeon And Dragons" monster has been re-based and primed "Vallejo" White

Setting aside my Cybermen momentarily, I have also started work on one of the many plastic "Wizards Of The Coast" miniatures generously gifted to me recently by Steve and Hils from "The Gamers Cupboard". The first of these to hit my painting queue is this rather large Air Elemental, which was originally sculpted for the "Dungeons And Dragons" "randomly sorted monsters and heroes" expansion "Elemental Evil".

"A funnelling cloud of whirling air with a vague semblance of a face", this 49mm tall 'corporeal incarnation of the element' has currently simply been re-based and primed "Vallejo" White. But should shortly be treated to a heavy wash of Pale Grey and some "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade in order to help 'bring out' all the creature's candy-floss clouds and sweeping swirls.