Wednesday 25 September 2019

"Man. But You Can Call Me Ant."

"Pick on someone your own size!"
This 28mm scale plastic “Wizkids” model of Doctor Henry Pym was one of the several miniatures found inside the "Heroclix" Marvel: Ant-Man Boxed Set and depicts the founding member of the Avengers" as the costumed superhero Ant-Man. Debuting during the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, and made his first appearance in the January 1962 issue of "Tales to Astonish" by "Marvel Comics".

Just 16mm in height, the diminutive figure was originally undercoated in "Vallejo" Heavy Red, washed with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. The leading authority in myrmecology research then had his boots, gloves and pants carefully picked out using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakehnof Nightshade.
The Avengers - The Hulk, Black Widow, Captain America, Ant-Man and the Black Panther
I applied a smidgen of "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the cybernetic helmet Pym created for "achieving rudimentary communication with ants and other higher order insects", later pigmented it with a dash of Ironbreaker, shaded it with Nuln Oil and finally dry-brushed the futuristic-looking head-piece with some (more) Ironbreaker. The "Wizkids" pre-paint actually had some pink blobs on the face presumably indicating that part of Henry's skin was visible, but for my sanity's sake I decided to leave well enough alone with just an all-over metallic look.

Interestingly, I did consider treating the dynamically-sculpted miniature's 'visible leap effect' stand with a little "Vallejo" Heavy White and Pale Grey, so as to try and replicate the model's transparent plastic base. However, I didn't think I'd like the look of that, so quickly decided to simply give the area a lick of "Citadel" Doombull Brown, some Rakarth Flesh, and dash of Agrax Earthshade using precisely the same method as I do with all my gritted bases.
"Star Trek Adventures" WIPs - Three Borg from the "Modiphius Entertainment" Collective set
Alongside my latest Avenger, I have started working on the contents of a second Borg Collective boxed set by “Modiphius Entertainment”. Having previously settled upon a reasonably straightforward recipe for the ten 32mm scale resin drones, I have actually taken the unusual step of trying to batch paint them all at once.

Indeed, I've even gone as far as to time how long its going to take me to complete the cybernetically-enhanced reinforcements, so I'll have a vague idea as to whether the 'factory line process' works for me or not. Currently, not counting the models' actual pinning and assembly (which I tend to do in pairs whilst waiting for the paint to dry on other projects) I have spent just ninety minutes on the Borg, and already found myself at the point where I'm 'picking out' their multi-purpose prosthesis...

16 comments:

  1. Brilliant, I was going to ask about scale then spotted him in the group photograph. :)

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    1. Thanks very much Michael. Ant-Man is dinky ;-)

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  2. Great work on ant man Simon, hope the Borg batch painting goes well

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    1. Cheers Dave. This last batch of Borg will be my last for quite a while I'd have thought. But it will mean I have more than enough for most games...

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  3. Pimm in mini form.... I like it! Hope you have the huge version too?

    More Borg - can never have too many for they are the Borg.

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    1. Thanks Dai. I do own a few Pym minis in my "Heroclix" collection. I need to dig them out. I totally agree, you can never have too many Borg!! :-)

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  4. Great work on both Antman and the Borg. I always batch paint and generally have about 20+ figures on the go at once, so I wish you well with your painting. I know it's not for everyone but it certainly works for me.

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    1. Cheers Bryan. I tend to do just the one or two minis at once. But the Borg seemed an ideal opportunity to paint up a load all at once.

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  5. argh..more borgs..i love it.
    love the avengers mini's also. great job

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    1. Thanks Mr Martin. Hopefully the Borg will be finished soon enough.

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  6. Your Ant Man is very cute. Great job on such a small figure, but I have been impressed with your 10 and 15mm painting in the past so no surprise there. More Borg? Perhaps this should have been Star Trek month rather than Warcry month?!?

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. Ant-Man is a corking little mini. The Borg won't be ready until next month, and I have lots of "Warcry" posts to come to show what I've been up to with this month's theme ;-)

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  7. Ant man may be small, but he's perfectly formed and more Borg in the pipeline, what's not to like ?

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