Friday 21 August 2020

"Beware The Beast Man, For He Is The Devil's Pawn."

 "Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport, or lust, or greed."
This 28mm scale white metal model of a Simian is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately or as part of their Simian Minions II four-figure collection. However, I was fortunate enough to obtain mine through the company's successful 7TV:Apocalypse "Kickstarter" as I thought the 'passive chimp' would make an excellent proxy for Doctor Cornelius from Franklin J. Schaffner's 1968 science fiction film "Planet Of The Apes".

"A chimpanzee archaeologist and historian", the figure was initially primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, washed with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green and subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo Heavy Green. His sleeves were then painted in "Vallejo" USA Olive Drab, and both his fur and leather chest covering with Heavy Sienna. All three of these areas were later shaded using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.
"West Wind Productions" WIPs - Three Commandos, two armed with Carbines and the other with an SMG
Finally I applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade to Cornelius' flesh, and simply pigmented his furry head in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Initially I did try 'picking out' the simian's fingers and facial details using a touch more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown, but quickly abandoned this idea as I thought the contrast was a bit too much.

Having recently found myself playing some "Konflikt '47" by "Warlord Games" I have perhaps unsurprisingly started work on a few more models to help expand my British and Commonwealth Army up to 500 points. Although at some point I plan to incorporate some of the Nottingham-based manufacturer's official miniatures into my force, I'm currently only using my old "Secrets Of The Third Reich" collection by "West Wind Productions", and so resultantly have simply assembled three more of their excellent British Commandos.
"Adeptus Titanicus" WIPs - The Warhound Titan legs have been layered, shaded and weathered
Two of these figures, both armed with a Carbine rifle, will simply help me better pad out a squad of regular infantry and, in the case of the red beret-wearing soldier, an Airborne Infantry Section. However, the third model will enable me to better identify my NCOs on the tabletop as he's replaced his rifle with an SMG (for an additional 3 points).

I've also not been slacking on making some visible progress on the first of two Warhound Titans I want to field for "Adeptus Titanicus" by "Games Workshop". Indeed, I've now finished the legs to the mechanical brute, and simply now need to complete its gun-laden hull before the heavily-armed monster is ready for some action during the Emperor's "brutal civil war".

12 comments:

  1. Cornelius looks fab mate!

    Are you going to give the Warhounds any livery or markings?

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    1. Thanks very much Dai. I've actually gone back and spotted his eyes though. I was planning on keeping all the Simian eyes pure black but it made them look a little unfinished to me.

      The Warhounds do indeed come with decals, as do all the mechs in the "Adeptus Mechanicus" starter box, so they will be all marked up once finished and varnished.

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  2. Just love Doctor Cornelius, great job Simon.

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    1. Cheers Michael. Love these Simian sculpts, they really capture the movie/TV series' likenesses.

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  3. Lovely work on Roddy (sorry I mean Cornelius), and good start on the Tommie's and Titans too (that sounds like a game, "Tommies and Titans", perhaps I should trademark that for my retirement!).

    By the way my 15mm fig's have now arrived so are we still up for Hott'ember?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks Roger. Hoping to get the Tommies finished this weekend and then do a series of BatReps covering the "Konflikt '47" rules as I slowly increase the size of the forces etc.

      Definitely on for Hott'ember. Going to try and do another 24-hour dedicated project for it, and hopefully clear out all my HoTT minis as a result.

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    2. Just got to find a couple of hours somewhere to base the figures as I didn't like the resin bases they were supplied with. Much prefer plastic.

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  4. The picture of the ape doesn't do it justice, as it is much better in the flesh so to speak. Nice model well painted, great job. Glad to see you finally making some progress on your titans. They seem to be coming along very nicely. What Legio are they from by the way?

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. I've dotted in the eyes on Cornelius and Kira too since you saw them. The Titans are from Legio Mortis - had to be Nurgle, and for the first Warhound I'm going for the green, black and silver of their Post-Heresy palette.

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  5. Great job on the Cornelius stand-in though I don't think his eyes look very chimp-like (it's probably just me).
    Conflict 47 is a game I never reallyunderstood, but the figures are great, even if it did take me a while to realise they were wearing gas-masks !
    I loved playing older computer games of gans robots, but the physics of walking robots always put me off plating with models.
    Love what you've done with this model, great constrast with the metal and painted bits - it'll be stunning when finished imho.

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    1. Thanks Joe. I did go for all-black eyes to begin with on Cornelius. But then went back to dot them in after it was clear you could see the whites of the actors' eyes in the "PotA" films.

      Most of the "Secrets Of Third Reich" minis "West Wind" do seem to be wearing gas-masks - which is fine by me as it means less eyes to paint in. LOL!!!

      Hoping to get the entire "Adeptus Titanicus" box finished over the next few weeks, along with the scenery, as I think the minis are stunning and am looking forward to the finding out how they game plays.

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