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| "The results of my experiment indicate that they are puny beings..." |
This 28mm metal Sontaran model is produced by “Black Tree Design", and can be bought from their "Doctor Who" range as code DW475 Sontaran Warrior. A "race of belligerent and militaristic clones from the planet Sontar", the "humanoids with large, bulbous heads" were created by Robert Holmes and made their BBC Television debut in the 1973 story "The Time Warrior".
The miniature was initially undercoated with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The figure was then shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before having its knee-pads, belt and helmet layered with "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. These areas were also subsequently washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst the alien's rheon carbine was 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Dead White and Pale Grey.
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| "Black Tree Design" "Doctor Who" WIPS - A Cyber-Leader, the Master and a Mandrel |
Having completed my Sontaran, I have started to recommence work on another three of the Penzance-based company's partially-painted models which have lurked unloved for far too long within one of my hobby drawers. As I want to use these figures for some large scale tabletop battles using a set of homemade rules, I thought it would make sense to have the 'forces of evil' marshalled by none other than the Doctor's arch-nemesis, the Master.
I've actually already completed a mobile version of the renegade Time Lord's TARDIS, known as the Melkur, so thought having the decayed incarnation of that time machine's Gallifreyan owner would make sense; especially when the "Black Tree Design" version of the model appears such a nice little straightforward sculpt. As a result I've tidied up and finished the dying criminal's base, as well as put down a couple of thinned base-coats of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand in preparation to paint his rancid flesh.
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| Putrid Blightking WIPs - The warrior has yet to have his bronze hand-weapon weathered and shield finished |
In addition to my putrefying Master, I have also made some progress on a couple of pilot pieces for a horde of Mandrels and a party of ("The Invasion") Cybermen. The "large, dangerous predator" from the planet Eden should prove somewhat simple to paint, despite his rather colourful appearance, whilst the Late Sixties silver giant is actually a Cyber-Leader taken from an old boxed set which I have repeatedly tried (and failed) to finish over the past decade...
Lastly, I am now on the 'home straight' as far as completing my minimum-sized "Games Workshop" Putrid Blightkings unit is concerned. I have been plugging away at these infuriatingly well-detailed plastic warriors for some months now, and just need to paint this "favoured" mortal servant of Nurgle to field a five-strong figure force for my Chaos Host in "Age Of Sigmar".
Nice work on the Sontoran Warrior. The BT stuff still has some nice gems amongst its ranges.
ReplyDeleteNice progress on the rest of your figures on your home stretch with the Blight king regiment.
Thanks Simon. I do like this particular sculpt of a Sontaran by "Black Tree Design". I rather like the Mandrel model too. The Putrid Blightkings have been a bit of a slog tbh, but I'm getting there :-)
DeleteGreat to see you sticking with the Dr. Who theme and another winning here. Tremendous job Simon.
ReplyDeleteCheers Michael. I've found "Doctor Who" to always be a mojo-maker imho, and as I've found a box of them I thought I'd try and plough through as many as I can whilst its flavour of the month :-)
DeleteGreat work on the finished Sontaran Simon, the wip shots look promising, and great the you've reached the last hurdle with blightking's
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave. I've dug out the other "Black Tree Design" Sontaran figures and think this one is the best. I'm hoping to have the Putrid Blightking finished soon, and then it'll be on to my next "Age Of Sigmar" unit ;-)
DeleteThe Doctor Who figures are okay, but I much prefer the ones that Warlord Games are now producing. As for the Master, I agree he would make a perfect leader villain, but why aren't you using one from the new WG Master set? They are absolutely cracking sculpts, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think "Okay" is probably a good description of the ageing "Harlequin Miniatures" range, Bryan, albeit there are some which I still think stand the test of time - this Sontaran Warrior arguably being one of them.
DeleteThe new "Warlord Games" Master set does indeed have some very nice sculpts in it, but they're not compatible in scale with the "Black Tree Design" casts. As I've uncovered so many of the older models, both painted and otherwise, I want to get some use out of them, hence I'm painting a few more of them so I've got some 'decent' forces for the tabletop.
You're turning plenty of lead into gold as you continue pulling out these old unpainted mini's and getting them ready for the tabletop Simon :-)
ReplyDeleteYet more Dr Who gems and if the Blightkings are nearly done, what next for the Nurgle host?
Most kind, my good Sir! I've some Khorne Hounds next in my sights for my "Chaos " forces, along with a Bloodletter Herald . They'll then allow me to have some Nurgle vs Khorne skirmishes :-)
DeleteThe Sontaran lives up to my expectations and is brilliant. The cybermen are painted to your usual high standard but the sculpts, oh dear.
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil. The Cybermen are not easy silver and wash and dry-brush paint-jobs. So I'm hoping to rattle through the entire squad quite quickly. The sculpts though as you say are... awful ;-)
DeleteSmashing finnish on the Sontaran! another iconic character in the bag. I do still like many of the Black tree figures, (I think the monsters were better than the humans in general), these three are all pretty good, though the Cyberman looks a little on the "slight" side.
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to see the back of a unit, make the finishing of an army seem that bit closer. they should look the business once they are all done.
Cheers Roger.
Cheers Roger. As a fan of Classic Who, I thought the "Black Tree Design" Sontaran might delight :-) Lots more coming too as I try and work my way through the drawer (and a wee "BTD" sale has only added to my burden)!!
DeleteLooking forward to finishing off this incredibly time-consuming Putrid Bligtking unit and getting on with something else less detailed.
Great post. I think these old Dr Who sculpt are so cute and although not up to modern standards they still look pretty good! Great work and lovely to see these old minis. Keep plugging away with those Blightkings as they are great models and I can't wait to see them as a unit. Great stuff as always and looking forward to the Dr Who preview on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThanks Undercoat. There's definitely a few of the "Black tree Design" minis which sadly haven't stood the test of time too well. But I don't think the Sontaran Warrior is one of them. Should soon have the Putrid Blightking finished, and then on to completing my Boromites :-)
DeleteThe Sontaran looks pretty good to me and your painting has enhanced it although I think you might have your work cut out on the other Black Tree figures but I quite like the cyberman, he's very quirky.
ReplyDeleteCheers Vagabond. I think the Cyber-Leader is a nicely posed sculpt but definitely lacks some of today's crispness. Still a group of such similarly-sculpted models should looks good on the tabletop.
DeleteGreat Sontaran, a Dr. Who monster I recognise! Along with the former, the mAster and a Cyberman, both of whom I also have a little knowledge about, the nostalgia of watching Dr. Who in black and white came streaming back!
ReplyDeleteThe Blightkings do look like a lot of work, but will be worth the effort imo.
(Didn't recognise the Mandrel)
Thanks Joe. Glad you've recognised a few of the minis. Hoping to get the fifth and final Blightking finished just after Salute.
DeleteThose Black Tree sculpts have a simple charm to them for sure. Older style sculpting perhaps? Lack of an overabundance of detail that so many current manufacturers seem to feel is required? Regardless, I like the charm of the offerings in this post very much.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dai. I’m a big fan of the simplicity of older sculpts. As you touch upon, some of the newer manufacturers simply pack their minis with so much detail these days they’re hard and time-consuming to paint. The Putrid Blightkings leap to mind ;-)
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