 |
| "Now, that really is the end of the Cybermen, isn't it?" |
This 36mm tall metal Cyberman miniature is sold by “Warlord Games” and can be bought as part of their "Nightmares In Silver" Cybermen Collector's Set 1966-2013. Sculpted to replicate one of the survivors of Mondas following the removal of their "bulky chest units and head lamps", this model is based upon how "the fictional race of cyborgs" appeared the 1967 television stories "The Moonbase" and "The Tomb Of The Cybermen".
Kit Pedler's co-creation was originally primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before receiving two layers of Ironbreaker and a wash of Nuln Oil. It was then dry-brushed with more Ironbreaker, and the Cyberman's eyes, mouth-slit and somewhat torturous body-tubing were 'picked out' with Abaddon Black. As a final touch the figure's chest-piece light was painted "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, shaded with some "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and then lightened with a tiny spot of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre.
 |
| Major Bludd WIPs - The mercenary working for the Cobra Organisation is almost finished |
The completion of the penultimate model from my "Nightmares In Silver" box really has come at a good time, as "Warlord Games" have just teased its "Into The Time Vortex" fans with pictures of both Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and Companion set (which includes Rory in his nurse outfit, Amy in her Police costume and a second version of Clara Oswald), as well as some sculpts of Odin and the Mire from the October 2015 episode "The Girl Who Died".
As a result, in order to clear some much needed space on my painting table, I have managed to spend a little hobby-time working on a privately commissioned miniature of Major Bludd from the "G.I. Joe" action figure series. To be honest, I had been considering colouring the Australian mercenary using the dark scarlet/blue palette depicted in his printed "Marvel Comics" exploits, but eventually decided to stick to the brown/black palette used for his original 1983 action figure.
 |
| "Mage Knight" Door WIPs - The doorway should make for an interesting objective marker |
Whilst these days I undoubtedly have more than enough objective markers with which to populate a modern day or futuristic tabletop, I do still feel that I'm lacking a few fantasy-based ones. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun to dig out another of my old "Wizkids" plastic scenic pieces and turn it into a 'prized' location of some kind.
Just why a partially open door would be a situated in the middle of a battlefield is admittedly anyone's guess, but I like the idea of it possibly being all that remains of a long-destroyed structure, or perhaps some doorway akin to that Lucy stumbled upon in C.S. Lewis' novel "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe"...
Good stuff, Simon. For me the imminent release of the 11th Doctor and his companions (a second Clara Oswald - WOOT!) is exciting news. I can hardly wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bryan. The upcoming sets for "Doctor Who" by "Warlord Games" do indeed look rather good imho. They're building up a corking range imho.
DeleteMore great stuff
ReplyDeleteCheers Martin.
DeleteI remember those Mage Knight doors. Hmmmm I may even have a couple hanging about somewhere, now I think about it. I gave all my Mage Knight to a club (which catered to under privileged kids) long long now... over 1000 figures: but I`m sure I kept some of the doors (which I discovered when I found them out later)... gave away the whole dungeon that went with it mind lol.
ReplyDeleteI think I have some more somewhere, Steve, and have the dungeon myself too. What a cracking gesture though, to give them away, I'm sure whoever got to play with them would have thoroughly enjoyed them. I know I did when "Mage Knight" first came out :-)
Deletemeh, not really. I cant stand seeing hording. If you know you will never use something which others would love and appreciate more, rather than sitting on a miser pile and going "mmmm my collection, mine, mine, all mine" surely better to let others more needy have what you really don`t need anyway. Satisfyingly, many years on... and the club (in Limerick) STILL plays with that MK stuff every week.
Delete"the club (in Limerick) STILL plays with that MK stuff every week." - As I hope you do with your Predator "Indyclix" collection ;-)
DeleteI still think that's a tip top thing you did, especially as hording is one of my weaknesses - though these days I am trying to kerb the spending and paint what I own... "trying" being the operative word obviously :-)
hehehem dont worry, the Indy Predators (AND my precious Aliens) get played with every month... sometimes weekly. Sadly we only get to write up AAR`s for only a fraction of the games we actually play, probably only about 1 in 20 :(
DeleteAs for the other thing. hmmmm well you see I`m a socialist (left wing). When I was young we were indescribably poor. The series Benefit Street on TV, those guys are actually somewhat better off than we were.. my parents HAD no benefit lol. My Nana bought me a diary one Christmas (my sole present that year), and in it... written in pencil for me to see even today, is an entry telling myself in the future, if I ever got rich one day, never to forget where I came from. I`d be a poor socialist if I only gave a conscience vote, without making physical efforts to follow through and remember that childhood pledge I make myself so long go now. Simple really my friend.
I`m struggling here Simon. I really want to love these, but those tiny tiny eyes are just bothering me. I`m so sorry. Otherwise I really like them. I`d be highly tempted to take a .3 precision drill bit and a magnifying glass and carefully bore a fraction wider eye socket.
ReplyDeleteNo worries, Hils. The sculpting is superb on these models, but some of the facial detail is a little soft. I'm afraid I won't be drilling them though, as that is more than I care to risk on my only casting. I'm not sure if this pose will be part of "The Tomb Of The Cybermen" boxed set, but if so, then I might be a little bolder :-)
DeleteI completely understand your reticence Simon, it takes courage to fiddle with faces. However, your Cybers still look fine. All figures look fine on a table anyway. When you think, we all used to play with Airfix unpainted plastic and shiny Timpo Indians and Cowboys, not to far back either: eyes too small, too big, not defined enough, does it really matter anyway. Really, getting it all to the table and playing games is the thing, after all. Stevie still chooses to play with most him Army Men in their unpainted state anyway, says somehow they just look better lol. Most he does is a quick shiny coat of base paint, and gun metal or black to accentuate guns and things.
ReplyDeleteForeign Legion vs Arabs was always my fave, with the French coming in an awesomely deep, vivid blue plastic. Still have them somewhere, I think the Arabs were a pale cream/yellow. Great memories and well worth playing/posting even today :-)
DeleteCheck out anything written by Terrance Wise. I think he made the lowly Airfix figure shine back in the 60`s and 70s. introduction to Battle Gaming, comes to mind as the most classic of his books.
DeleteThanks for the tip, I've had a trawl through Ebay and Amazon for him. Currently a tad expensive, but I've added him to my list of searches to see if a bargain comes up :-)
DeleteCheck thsi out Samon, it a recent re-release. Same book, but additional stuff added for the new edition. Best buy seems to be £7.80p. THIS book was my game bible growing up.
Deletehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Battle-including-unpublished-wargaming/dp/0557120977/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503923517&sr=1-1-fkmr2&keywords=terence+wise+introduction+to+wargaming
Cheers Steve, that's much more reasonably priced. I'll let you know what I think of it, when I get a copy. Thanks for hunting one down for me :-)
DeletePleasure, its too good a classic to miss up on. I have the original (from my childhood) but I also have this new copy, which I have to say is actually nicer. For me, especially as it contained bits cut from the original 60`s book, so that was a real treat. Bit like finding a whole new missing scene from a favourite film lol.
DeleteGreat job on the cyberman Simon, also great work on Major Bludd, and can you ever have too much scenery ? probably but the door looks cool none the less
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. I certainly don't think you can ever have too much "Wargames Terrain Workshop" scenery ;-)
DeleteThank you mate, made my day !
DeleteGreat work on the Cyberman again you have got these nailed down. The Baron is progressing nicely. I have decided to convert mine slightly so he has been pulled off the paint queue.
ReplyDeleteCheers Simon. Hopefully I'll have Budd finished shortly and get him posted. I look forward to seeing your converted version... I think Leon did a weapon swap as memory serves?
DeleteAh, the Warlord Doctor Who stuff does look good - but it's just too big for me :-( ! All my scenery (buildings, vehicles, objectives...) is for 28mm figures or smaller and I don't feel like starting over.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hugh. "Warlord Games" have hinted at scenery being produced (e.g. a tomb of the Cybermen), but I do get your point about scale and scenery. I actually bought some card "Infinity" scenery to try out, but wasn't a fan of its lack of durability.
DeleteYet another great job on the cyberman - will we be treated to a "group shot" when the last one (of this batch) is finished??, and the Major is coming along nicely.
ReplyDeleteThe Wizkids dungeon had become easier to find than rocking horse droppings by the time I went searching for it... luckily I found a few 'bits' to use in my own modular dungeon.
Cheers Wargame Addict. A group shot will be forthcoming in the near future, once I've finished the entire collection. I miss the early days of "Mage Knight" when it was all dragons, steam tanks, chariots and dungeons :-)
DeleteCyberman look good (as they all do), I imagine that the Warlord stuff is 3D rendered rather than sculpted and you tend to find they have smaller detail rather than the slightly "caricature'ish" faces I prefer myself.
ReplyDeleteBludd, is a nice figure but sadly means nothing to me as a character, and the door has come up a treat.
Cheers Roger.
Thanks Roger. I do wish some of the "Warlord Games" minis were a bit painter friendly, but I understand their BBC licence makes it imperative that each sculpt resembles its TV counter-part as closely as possible. Hopefully my posting regarding Bludd will enlighten you to another "G.I. Joe" character :-)
DeleteMore silver menace. More good painting, more reason to visit a tremendously good blog
ReplyDeleteCheers Clint. That's very much appreciated praise :-)
DeleteAs always the cybermen you show are excellent, I really do appreciate all the variations (I had a friend who painted one of every version of the T34,so I know the draw). Major Blunt on the other hand, despite you excellent brushwork has a poot stance (imo) and to me alittle comical as a Daryh Vader wannabe - but that's just me!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe. I like the different Cybermen variations too, although the eyes on this one (and definitely the Mondasian) are really hard to paint properly imho.
DeleteMajor Bludd is an interesting character, and actually seems to wear a fairly typical Cobra helmet, so perhaps George Lucas' Sith creation was the inspiration behind the entire Cobra Command look?
I think this might be my favourite yet, it actually looks like a man in a silver suit. :)
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael. It was certainly the hardest one yet to paint, imho.
DeleteI agree with Michael - probably my favourite Cyberman to date. The pose and painting make it look like it's just stepped off the screen.
ReplyDeleteMajor Bludd is also progressing nicely. Not one of my favourite Cobra characters, but this sculpt does make him look better than his action figure.
Thanks very much indeed, Jez. I'm just basing Major Bludd, and think he's turned out reasonably well for such a limited palette.
DeleteSo happy you stuck with the standard major blood scheme. The blue n red looked rubbish to my young eyes and looks worse now. :)
ReplyDeleteThat cyberman is appropriately creepy looking! Nice effort!
Cheers Dai. I rather like the "Marvel Comics" colour scheme, but in the end thought I'd follow the action figure as closely as possible. One more cyberman to go... and its the hardest one of the lot imho.
DeleteExcellent work on your latest Cyberman Blaxkleric. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd great progress on Major Bludd. :)
Thanks Leon. Just one more Cyberman to go... And another excellent "G.I. Joe" mini soon to be in the bag too.
Delete