"The Ogrons Are Mercenaries."

"Other life forms use them to do their dirty work."

These 35mm tall "pewter" models of three Ogrons are produced by “Warlord Games” as part of their "Into The Time Vortex" range. Employed for their services by likes of the Daleks and the Master, these "ape-like hominids" attempted to help start a war between Draconia and Earth in the February 1973 BBC television story “Frontier In Space”, and have much more recently appeared in the "Big Finish" audio dramas "Return of the Daleks" and "The Romance Of Crime".

Initially primed with two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, these miniatures were all heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and had their trousers layered using some Heavy Brown. The 22nd Century "police officers" then had their shirt sleeves painted with Iraqi Sand and their belts, straps and wrist bands layered with Heavy Sienna. All of these areas were subsequently washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Sea Devils WIPs - Jon Pertwee's famous foes still need a little work on their faces and tunics

With the larger areas of the Ogrons completed I applied a combination of "Vallejo" Charred Brown and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to their hair and arms. I also dry-brushed some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna across each brute's furry face and hands, but later washed these facial areas with "Citadel" Nuln Oil in order to darken them quite considerably. Finally, the super-strong extra-terrestrials had their disintegrator guns 'picked out' with Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

Staying with the Nottingham-based manufacturer and their "Doctor Who: Exterminate" miniatures game, I have made plenty of progress on the last three Sea Devils that I own. These relatives to the Silurians have been sat on my painting desk unfinished for the past three months, but now that the Recruitment Cards for their faction have been teased (featuring Sea Devil Ancients and an Overlord), I have been galvanised into action.

Darkseid WIPs - Jack Kirby's creation still needs his face finishing before being varnished and having his base flocked

Likewise, my "Wizkids" figure of Darkseid has been patiently stood waiting on my panting table for exactly a year, having been started during the first few weeks for last year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. I was absolutely aghast at the cost of "the tyrannical ruler of the planet Apokolips" when "Knight Models" released his "white metal kit" in April 2017, as despite his formidable size, a £40 price tag for a single miniature is arguably extortionate.

The Spanish company have now admittedly released the self-same model in "high quality resin" for half the money as part of them "switching over to Pre-Coloured Plastic/Restic/Resin for their DC & Batman range". But as I already own this, admittedly less impressive-looking, "Heroclix" sculpt of Darkseid I thought I'd stick to what I've got and get him ready for the tabletop instead.