Saturday 24 August 2019

"I Was Never Out There."

"I was never in danger, hunted, terrorised by those things."
This 28mm scale model of Axel is produced by “Mantic Games” and can be found inside "The Walking Dead: Call To Arms" Prisoner Booster Pack. Sculpted to represent the armed robber found by Rick Grimes in the cafeteria of the Meriwether County Correctional Facility, "the old biker" died defending the prison during the Governor's attempt to take it for himself in Issue 47 of "The Walking Dead" comic book.

Originally primed with a double application of "Vallejo" Heavy Orange, the "gentle" character's prison overalls were shaded with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade and his thick leather belt ‘picked out’ using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. I then applied some "Citadel" Ironbreaker to both his belt buckle and holstered pistol, before shading these areas with Nuln Oil.
"Your life as it has been is over."
A "trusted member" of Rick's group, the man's "grizzly" beard was initially pigmented with a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and subsequently repeatedly washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Ordinarily, I usually then later return to such areas and dry-brush them, but the detail on the prisoner's hair was so soft that I didn't feel such a technique would work particularly well. Resultantly, I simply applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to Axel's flesh and splashed it with a little "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade before calling him done...

In addition to my "Mantic Games" model, I have also completed another pair of 32mm scale resin female Borg drones from the Borg Collective boxed set by “Modiphius Entertainment”. Undercoated with “Citadel” Abaddon Black, the cyborgs were enthusiastically dry-brushed using some “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal” and then much more lightly dry-brushed with “Citadel” Ironbreaker.
Deadzone WIP - The cube has been assembled and partially primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black
Finally I added some “Citadel” Ironbreaker to their multi-purpose prosthesis, as well as to their facial implants and odd cable, before drowning them both with Nuln Oil. To recreate the Borg’s necrotic-looking flesh I applied a little “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey to their face and elbows, and washed these areas with “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

With half my box of Borg completed, I have set to work trying to build some appropriate-looking scenery for them to place on my tabletop. Fortunately, I have found a few sprues of unused "Deadzone" science fiction buildings which I bought as part of that board game's first ever "Kickstarter" in 2013, so intend to build half a dozen cubes before painting them in an almost identical palette to that of the drones.

20 comments:

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    1. Thanks Simon. I should have Andrew posted up next, and that'll be the end of another Wargame Hobby Bingo square by painting up the Prisoners faction starter box for "The Walking Dead: Call To Arms" :-)

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  2. You are always producing really nice work, relentless

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    1. Cheers Martin. Definitely in the zone currently with a real enthusiasm for both "The Walking Dead" and "Star Trek Adventures".

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  3. Awesome work on all your output for this post, Simon. I do like your idea for your cubes.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. I'm currently beavering away on the five Borg male drones for next week, alongside the first of my Borg cubes, so hopefully some of the models will be finished before the end of the month.

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  4. Nice choice for your cube walls. Those Mantic walls fit the job perfectly!

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    1. Cheers Horridperson. I was somewhat surprised to see that "Mantic Games" don't seem to sell much of this range anymore though...

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    2. I'm not really. I found them a bit too blocky and little drab for most applications. That's why I was so impressed with your choice. The blocky geometrics are ideal for the Borg. A perfect choice!

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    3. That makes sense, Horridperson, especially as "Deadzone" seems to have moved away from the simple square formations it started out with.

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  5. Well, I think Axel has turned out really well. The face looks great and really draws you in. Awesome job, my favourite prisoner I think. That scenery looks perfect for the Borg, really great idea. You are certainly motoring at the moment!

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. Tbh I found Axel a bit of a slog, as his detail was the softest of all the prisoners, so I really struggled with his hair and beard. Hopefully I'll have a few more Borg finished before the month's end and then whittle away at my "Star Trek Adventures" backlog behind the scenes...

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    1. Cheers Fran. I think the "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade works well as a wash for it.

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  7. Great work on Axel and the Borg Simon, like the use of the scenery for the Borg as well

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  8. Despite my reservation on these scults, Ael has turned out really well and of course the additional Borg feamles look excelelnt additions to the growing Borg forces.
    Good luck on the cubes, it does sound like an interesting project and I'll be looking forward to seeing the end results.

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    1. Thanks very much Joe. The last of "The Walking Dead" prisoners is now finished and should be posted this week. I've also finished two of the male Borg drones now too, so plenty to keep this painting run going until the end of the month :-)

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