Sunday 3 December 2017

"Great Big Space Rhinos, With Guns, On The Moon!"

"Did I mention the rhinos?"
These two "finely-sculpted" metal models of the "mercenary intergalactic police force" known as the Judoon are produced by “Warlord Games” and can be bought as part of the Nottingham-based company's "officially approved" "Doctor Who: Into The Time Vortex" range. First seen in the 2007 BBC television story "Smith And Jones", I ended up purchasing a couple of boxes of these "black armoured Rhinoceroid bipeds" in order to field a pair of this particular pose on the table-top, and use them as Judoon Enforcers in the "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" miniatures game.

Initially primed with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, the "logical but stupid" mercenaries were subsequently dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and heavily washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Their collars and toecaps were then 'picked out' using a combination of Ironbreaker and more Nuln Oil, whilst their equipment (energy-weapons, scanners and translator devices) were painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.
"Victrix Limited" Napoleonic French - These two miniatures are approximately two-thirds finished
Having finished the last of my "Judoon on the Moon" I have now turned even more of my hobby-time towards completing the outstanding Napoleonic French fusiliers I want to field using Bob Cordery's "The Portable Wargame" rule-set. These 28mm multi-pose plastic soldiers are slowly becoming increasingly familiar to my brush-tip, and as a result I am making faster and faster headway with them each day.

However, I am still somewhat infuriated with my (six year) younger-self for deciding to 'pick out' all the white straps on the soldiers' backpacks and stowage, when simply leaving them in their respective brown and greys would probably have provided adequate pigmentation for a 'rank' model. Indeed, as I clearly (and quite sensibly) chose not to 'pick out' each and every button on the complicated uniform, I'm struggling to rationalise why I then went on to make such a time-consuming, and patience-testing, resolution; albeit the final effect seems ultimately to be well worth the extra effort.
Brightshield WIPs - The Stormcast Eternal is slowly having her detail 'picked out'
Only slightly less cumbersome and detailed to paint is the first of my Stormcast Eternal figures for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". I've previously taken a little break from this "action-packed combat" game's supposedly "easy To build" miniatures, having almost gone blind whilst painting Garrek Gorebeard, but now feel ready to tackle the numerous challenges of Angharad Brightshield.

As I've still yet to actually "explore the secrets of the Mirrored City" myself, on account of wanting to wait until I can play it using fully-painted figures, I don't actually know how powerful this Liberatess of the Steelheart's Champions is when stalking the "ever-changing labyrinth of endless stairs, cramped streets and soaring archways" of the "mercantile metropolis." But rather embarrassingly, that hasn't stopped me from previously adding to my "Games Workshop" plastic pile by purchasing Ironskull’s Boyz and the Sepulchral Guard...

24 comments:

  1. Looking good. The Judoon especially so. Stormcast very effective as well.

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    1. Thanks Phil. The Stormcast are going to take quite a bit of time to paint I fear.

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  2. Great stuff Simon, and for what it's worth, I'm glad you made the "time-consuming, and patience-testing, resolution" because it IS going to look absolutely awesome! :-)

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  3. Now there is a title and a half! Cracking job Simon.

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    1. Thanks Michael. I do like my quotes, as you know :-)

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  4. Nice job on the Judoon, good progress on the naps and interesting start on the eternal, for a quickshade on all that gold try Agrax earthshade, or if you want a warmer brown try reikland fleshshade Simon

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    1. Cheers Dave. I tend to rely upon "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade for my gold, and for the Stormcast will simply give them a bit of a dry-brush in some places towards the end :-)

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  5. More Judoons can't be a bad thing, can it?

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    1. I don't think so, Bryan. But I don't plan on doing any more Judoon now I've got three Recruitment cards worth - plus one spare ;-)

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  6. A nice post to read as I sit here with my lemsip coughing and spluttering, cheered me up no end. I like the Judoon as always. The French soldiers are coming along nicely and I think the attention to detail will look glorious when they are done and based in groups of 4. Can't wait. The Storm cast looks good and I am glad you are painting the female one. Now there are lady "sigmarines" I wonder if GW will be brave enough to do lady space marines? Who knows. As I have some Stormcasts myself I can't wait to see her done. As my painting is on hold with my coughing too much to risk blobbing paint everywhere this was a lovely way to spend some time and also keep my flagging motivation going. Top notch as always, #hobbyhero.

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. I'm certainly hoping to have the Stormcast finished for "Shadespire" this month if I can - there's only three minis, even if they are detailed etc.

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  7. Great stuff Simon! Great colors on your Stormcast :) And I'm right there with you on the straps!

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    1. Cheers Ivor. Those straps are insane imho :-)

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  8. Very nice work dude. Love the pose on the AoS Chappie.

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    1. Thanks Simon. All the "Shadespire" minis are top sculpts imho.

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  9. Nice space rhinos, I like the storm cast (but don't really know what's going on! ) and of course I like your French man, I intend painting some during the challenge and have decided to be a little more impressionistic than you! IE less detailed!
    Best Iain

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    1. Cheers Iain. I look forward to seeing your Naps an your "more impressionistic" approach :-)

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  10. The Juddoon look great and I'm looking forward to seein ghow they fare in a game now.
    Past painting Napolenics though is a fallacy that will ultimatrly lead to madness (I warned you before about this), but the igures are looking good!
    The Eternal figure is quite spectacular and looking good too, though the whole fantasy thing still leaves me bewildered!

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    1. Thanks Joe. The Judoon are in an imminent BatRep. Hopefully some finished Naps will lead my next posting, and there should be plenty of "Shadespire" on show over the next few weeks too.

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  11. Judoon are excellent, as are the French! I'm not a fan of GW's latest fantasy stuff, though - over complex and too stylised for my taste.

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    1. Cheers Hugh. Glad you like the Judoon and French. I too don't enjoy painting the "GW" minis like I used to, due to their complexity; though once finished, they do look a joy on the tabletop.

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  12. Nice work on the latest Judoon mate; the look nice and crisply done. :)

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    1. Thanks Leon. I don't plan on getting any more now. Not unless "Warlord Games" plan on expanding their Shadow Proclamation range, and there's no sign of that happening in 2018.

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