Monday 25 November 2019

“Kryptonite Vision Is Only A Fraction Of My Power.”

"Now you can feel the rest!!"
This 60mm tall plastic “Wizkids” model of Metallo is miniature number 085 from the DC "Heroclix" Unleashed expansion and depicts John Corben after Professor Vale transplanted the small-time con man’s brain “into a robotic alloy body, which was powered by a two-pound chunk of kryptonite.” Originally depicted as “an unnamed scientist calling himself Metalo who wore a powered suit of steel armour”, the supervillain was created by Robert Bernstein and Al Plastino, and made his first appearance in the May 1959 issue of “Action Comics”.

Initially primed “Citadel” Abaddon Black so as to cover its pre-existing paint-job, the member of the Injustice League was treated to a layer of Ironbreaker before being thoroughly washed with Nuln Oil. The Cyborg was then dry-brushed with (more) “Citadel” Ironbreaker, and had all the numerous thick cables snaking about his body ‘picked out’ with Abaddon Black.
"Heroclix" WIPs - Iron Man, a Skrull Commando and the Blue Beetle
Corben’s kryptonite power source, which quickly replaced his body’s less efficient uranium capsule, was pigmented using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green. This mixture was subsequently used for Metallo’s eyes after I decided against going with the red lenses seen on the official “Heroclix” paint-scheme.

The unexpected recent addition of several more “Wizkids” miniatures to my collection has definitely seen my super-hero batteries get recharged, and as a result I have been somewhat busy removing a range of pre-painted plastics from their ‘clicky bases’ and super-gluing them to an assortment of circular stands instead. Foremost of these has to be the Wild West flavoured Iron Man from the Battleworld: The Valley, whose steam-powered armour suit comes armed with a formidable-looking flame-thrower.
"Field a force of stalwart US Armoured Infantry against the horrors of the Armageddon!"
Alongside this alternative version of Tony Stark I have also primed a rather nice sculpt of Jaime Reyes as the Blue Beetle, and added two more Skrull Commandos to my ever-growing Super Skrull invasion force mini-project. To be honest, I'm not particularly a fan of the Blue Beetle's third incarnation, much preferring Ted Kord's Silver Age version. But I did start to warm to the Teen Titan following the youngster's adventures in the 2008 American animated television series "Batman: The Brave and the Bold".

Momentarily stepping away from painting figures, I have managed to re-base the first of two 50 Cal HMG 'Comanche' U.S. Battle Suits by "Westwind Productions" I want to see return to my tabletop. This hefty metal miniature comes from Andy Cooper's "Secrets Of The Third Reich" range, and is part of a ‘US Armoured Infantry’ starter set I pigmented nine years ago...

16 comments:

  1. Nine years to finish a project. I thought that I was bad. Great jobs though.

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    1. Thanks Phil. To be fair, both my US Battlesuits saw action when I first painted them nine years ago, but they've then laid gathering dust for some considerable time since.

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  2. I thought that was a Terminator miniature at first, love job Simon.

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    1. Cheers Michael. Its probably the best of the Metallo minis "Wizkids" have done, so it was worth spending the time on, imho.

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  3. A great group of figures on display here, Simon. I particularly like the US Battlesuits. I hope you use them in a game soon.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. The US Battlesuits are definitely one of my fave minis by "West Wind Productions". Hopefully I can get my second one re-based soon, and get them both on the tabletop :-)

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  4. Great job on Metallo Simon, more Wizkids to come as well, and the battlesuits look good

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    1. Cheers Dave. Lots more "Wizkids" to come I assure you ;-)

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  5. These Heroclix models are pretty good, they're definitely a very different quality from the Mage knight models I once had.
    That battlesuit is a great model and you did an excellent paintjob on it. I look forward to see the rest of the force.

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    1. Thanks Wouter. I'm glad to see the US Battlesuit's nine year old paint-job is standing the test of time well.

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  6. I think your Metallo is too notch! You can paint metals really well. Looking forward to the steam powered Iron Man as he looks and sounds awesome! I am in a bit of a super hero phase too, painting up the Marvel Crisis Protocol box set. I think it is the strong, bold colours that help. Glad to see the old minis getting a new life.

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. Lots of "Heroclix" to come, and well as some Marvel Crisis Protocol in the New Year :-)

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  7. Looks great Simon. Quite a big chap at 60mm.

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    1. Thanks Simon. Metallo is a tall chap alright :-)

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  8. Metallo looks great, you really have a knack painting metallics- robots etc.
    (Metallo is a bit of a naff name though )
    Good to see a lot of interesting pieces in the pipeline too.
    Can't say I'm overly impressed with the "armoured infantryman", a bit too close to some similar sculpts frpm another manufacturer for my liking ! (paint job is excellent though)

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    1. The name Metallo definitely comes from the simpler times of the Fifties, Joe. You'll have to look away when I post up my next US Armoured Infantry suit then ;-)

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