"Across The Entire Prydian Precinct There Are Planetary Militias..."

"...Otherwise known as Planetary Defence Forces."

These two 15mm miniatures come from the "The Ion Age" code IAF022 Muster First Patrol (Pose One Muster Patrol Officer, Moth Type 8 Pistol) and code IAF021 Muster First Patrol Command (Pose Four Muster Patrol Trooper, Standard Bearer), and have rather embarrassingly been sat upon my painting table since they were first ordered in March 2014. The figures are actually designed to be used with the company’s “Patrol Angis” rule-set, but I’ve based them together in order to form a small Command base for a home-made set of rules loosely based within the early “Rogue Trader” era of the “Warhammer 40,000” Universe.

As a result, both figures were originally undercoated with two layers of “Vallejo” Black and had their uniforms ‘picked out’ with Heavy Bluegrey, as well as shaded with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, in order to try and replicate the palette of the Imperial Guard, back when Mark Copplestone was sculpting them. I then applied a little “Vallejo” Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to their epaulettes, ribbed body armour and cap badges, as well as the top of the standard so as to make their status ‘pop’ that little bit more on the tabletop.

"The Ion Age" WIPs - These Muster Patrol Troopers have had all their base colours blocked in

I picked out the trooper’s bare hands using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade, whilst treating the officer’s gloves, the standard’s pole, and both soldiers’ backpacks to a coat of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. Finally, I applied a base layer of “Citadel” Ironbreaker to their firearms and heavily washed them in Nuln Oil so as to dull the weapons down somewhat.

Sticking with “The Ion Age” and my Muster First Patrol miniatures, I have also managed to make some substantial progress on three more figures from their 15mm range. I intend at some point to greatly add to the number of regular Guardsmen carrying Moth Type 6 Rifles my ‘Imperial Guard’ company can field, but for now am solely focusing upon models I already own such as a Heavy Weapons Team carrying the awesomely-named Anvil 888 (mortar).

"Heroclix" WIPs - Black Widow, Hit-Monkey and Dum Dum Dugan

In addition, I’ve been busy pursuing a 'few' S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements for my tabletop campaign involving the fictional espionage, special law-enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency defending the Earth from an invasion of Dire Wraiths. "Wizkids" don't seemingly do a Rom - Space Knight "Heroclix" model currently, so I've instead started working on arguably the next best thing - his childhood friend known as Firefall.

I’ve also taken receipt of an additional box of models from my favourite “Wizkids” Second-hand emporium from across the Pond, “Troll And Toad”, which included Hit-Monkey; a gun-totting primate who formed part of Dum Dum Dugan’s “Howling Commandos Of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Considering the “Heroclix” figure’s diminutive size and predominantly black colour-scheme, the “World’s greatest assassin” shouldn’t take too long to paint, so I’ve added a couple of extra super-heroes to the mix such as the Japanese macaque’s boss, and the Black Widow.