Saturday, 14 September 2019

"The Reign Of Biological Life Forms Is Coming To An End."

"I need you to help me build a future for the Borg."
This 32mm scale resin miniature of Lore is manufactured by “Modiphius Entertainment” and can be found inside the London-based company's eight-figure strong Iconic Villains boxed set. Based upon the "Soong-type android constructed by Doctor Noonian Soong and Juliana Soong at the Omicron Theta colony", this killer robot has been sculpted to show Data's maniacal brother as he appeared in the June 1993 "Star Trek: The Next Generation" television serial "Descent".

The positronic brained figure was initially undercoated with two coats of “Citadel” Abaddon Black and had his limbs heavily dry-brushed using some “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal”. I then 'picked out' the automaton's 'yellowish' flesh with a combination of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, before painting his phaser using a little “Citadel” Ironbreaker, and his hair with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.
The British and Americans line-up against the Germans and the Cologne Clown
Both of these areas, as well as Lore's arms and legs were later washed in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Lastly, I tried to 'dab in' the murderous automaton's eyes with "Vallejo" White and provide his face with a few Iraqi Sand highlights. However, these additions actually proved far more time-consuming than they were arguably worth as my brush-tip repeatedly failed to find the precise spots I wanted, and the Soong-type android's featureless face was far too smooth for my usual 'eye-bags, cheeks and chin' technique.

One of the biggest problems I'm encountering with these "Star Trek Adventures" figures though are their eyes, which whilst too large to simply wash over with a dark shade or pigment pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black (so as to claim they're 'in shadow'), are frustratingly not quite large enough for me to proficiently apply two "Vallejo" White dots either side of each iris either. As a result I'm simply trying to imply the outside 'white of their eyes' can be seen, without making them look too boss-eyed. 
The Vancouver Canuck leads a charge against the German Undead
I have also paid another visit to the LVL Up Gaming Store in Bournemouth so as to spend a few hours Weird War Two war-gaming using my homemade rule-set "M.I.S.S." This visit saw me setting up a distinctly trench-filled tabletop, over which the Allies strongly contested a desperately needed "Wargames Terrain Workshop" out-house stuck squarely in the centre of the battlefield.

Disappointingly for the British/American forces, the gas-mask wearing Germans ultimately proved the victors across our three hard-fought games, with their zombies and heavy assault firearms helping them to win the day. However, the confrontation also allowed us to field the despicable Cologne Clown and brave, baseball bat-wielding Vancouver Canuck from "Kitbash Games" as super-heroes; which led to a couple of stand-out moments, such as when Canuck leapt into a trench full of goose-stepping swine and swiftly bludgeoned them into submission... 

14 comments:

  1. Great work on Lore Simon, if your having trouble with eyes have you tried doing them when you basecoat the flesh ? any mistakes can then be corrected with your highlight skin tones. I find it easiest to do the white first then a simple black dot.
    The game looks fun, what on Earth could be so valuable in the outhouse ! Or was it they were all in desperate need to relieve themselves ! LOL

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    1. Thanks very much, Dave. I've tried several eye techniques but I think the issue is my ability with the size of the eyeballs on the figures. Normal 28mm are usually just a tad larger, and that's what gives me the room to work. I'll just crack on with the single dot on the "Star Trek" minis for now.

      The Weird War Two games were great with the Out-house being the centre of attention for all three!! Desperate times clearly!! LOL!!

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  2. Woot! A WWW2 batrep. I just wish you'd have included more photos of the set up, game board and action. Still, kudos for showing us a brief glimpse of your game. More please!

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    1. Thanks Bryan. Sadly it was hard enough to grab just a few pics during our three-hour session - hence a humble AAR. But I'll try and do a Weird War Two BatRep in the near future as the games undoubtedly whetted my appetite for some more.

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  3. Eyes are tricky and bravery is often needed when you do them! I often find myself feeling them to get the look right and sometimes give up out of frustration so I feel your pain. No more weird ww2 please as I don't need to be distracted from my current mini painting plans! I really love the K47 range and have resisted starting the few minis i have from that range which you kindly got me while at Warlord HQ I recall! So no more awesome weird ww2!!

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    1. "Feeling should be repainting! Autocorrect I hate you!" - LOL!! Cheers Undercoat. I'm sticking with the one white side dot per eye look for the "Star Trek Adbentures" stuff and will see how that goes. Fingers crossed it'll work out alright in the end.

      Sadly, I've just re-based a few more Weird War Two minis for my "West Wind" forces, and hope to have a BatRep or two up in the next few weeks as both the Allies and Axis grow...

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    2. What about the horizontal white stripe and vertical black stripe method?

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    3. Thanks Phil. I have tried that too. But I just don't have the room to apply that method either - my skill (or lack of) with a brush doesn't allow me too with these figs.

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  4. Lore (whom I've have never herd of, of course), looks quite the villain, as well he should and getting a game in is always a bonus. The pics make the game look veyr interesting, enough that I'd have a game despite it's genre!

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    1. Cheers Joe. Three games in three hours was a lot of fun, and I'm already re-basing some British reinforcements for our next games.

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