Monday 31 August 2020

"Nothing Will Grow Here."

"There's just a trace of hydrocarbons, and most of the nitrogen is locked into nitrates."
This 28mm scale white metal model of an Albion Rocket Corporation Astronaut is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately or as part of their ARC Astronauts three-figure deal. The sculpt comes with a helmet-wearing head, but as I wanted to use him as a proxy for Thomas Dodge from the 1968 movie "Planet Of The Apes" I swapped this part out for a bearded Human Minion Head instead.

"A man of science with a thirst for knowledge of the unknown", the Lieutenant was primed using two coats of "Vallejo" White, shaded in Pale Grey and dry-brushed with (more) White. I then 'boxed off' several of his cosmonaut suit's numerous buttons with a little watered-down "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before applying the combinations of "Vallejo" Heavy Red with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson", "Vallejo" Heavy Blue" with "Citadel" Asurman Blue, and "Vallejo" Heavy Grey with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green onto them.
"Man the guns. Join the Apes."
To slightly contrast with the member of the Icarus' plain white uniform I gave Dodge's data pad a coat of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and washed it in Nuln Oil, rather than leave the electronic device "Vallejo" White as I had originally planned. Finally, Thomas' hands and face were treated to a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and a dash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Momentarily stepping away from painting figures, I have managed to re-base the second of two 50 Cal HMG 'Comanche' U.S. Battle Suits by "West Wind Productions" I aim to re-purpose for "Konflikt '47" by "Warlord Games". 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 first started working on over a decade ago. However, despite being noticeably smaller, I thought the model would make a good temporary substitute for an Allied Coyote Light Walker, and give me a chance to try out the single-crew vehicle's formidable firepower on the battlefield before investing in one of "Warlord Games" resin/metal kits.
"Manufactorum Imperialis" WIPs - The large crane is being painted in sub-assemblies
In addition, I've also been working on some more of my "Games Workshop" Manufactorum Imperialis scenery for "Adeptus Titanicus" in the (ambitious) hope of owning both a fully-painted Legio Mortis force and accompanying terrain by the end of next month. I don't usually paint in sub-assemblies, but the pair of huge industrial cranes which come in the boxed set simply screamed to be pigmented in at least two parts.

Frustratingly, despite having done this the actual crane arms themselves are proving to be something of a nightmare due to all the inaccessible areas created by its metal struts. As a result I've somewhat scaled down my plans for these pieces, and instead now plan to simply have the monstrous machines predominantly painted "Vallejo" Heavy Red, with its various metallic areas only being 'picked out' where I'm easily able to reach them with my brush-tip...

10 comments:

  1. Great work on the astronaut Simon, the rebase looks good, and can see how the scenery could be difficult, I'd have been tempted to spray it silver first, then block in the areas I wanted in colour, but hindsight is a wonderful thing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dave. The problem with the crane is that all the coloured areas are the hard to reach ones, and I'm doubtful even a spray would get into all the nooks and crannies. As it is I've been using watered-down coats so they flow into the areas my brush won't reach, and hopefully alongside a brown wash, that'll cover all the gaps. The pics for this posting have helped too, as I can already see bare grey plastic poking out through my generous priming.

      Delete
  2. Great post with a lovely mix of models. Dodge looks really good and the white space suit is excellent. You are certainly improving my knowledge of the Planet of the Apes film! The mech is a blast from the past and it is great to see older models being used again. The crane looks like a great model. GW models look lovely but sometimes they are so packed with detail and designed to look dynamic and realistic there are bits that are so hard to paint so I feel your pain there mate. I think it is looking splendid so far and will be a great contrast to the grey and metal tower piece you have done. Can't wait to see your Adeptus Titanicus project completed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Undercoat. I always wish Dodge had had more of a role in the original film tbh, though he definitely lasted longer than poor Lieutenant Maryann Stewart. The Battle Suits are definitely showing their age I think, and look very clunky compared to some of the "Warlord Games" armoured suits. But I still think they're one of my fave "SotTR" models. Lots of AT stuff on the go currently, so expect lots of postings during September.

      Delete
  3. Some very nice on show here Simon, another cracking Astronaut, though I only vaguely remember him from the film, good progress on your crane, but the star is definitely that wonderful robot battle suit!!

    Good mix of genre's there mate, but no 15mm? stop leaving me in suspenders! what army are you doing!

    Cheers Roger.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Roger. Sadly Dodge dies at the start of "PotA", albeit his corpse does make an appearance later. The old "West Wind" Battlesuits are great, but goodness me they're heavy. First of my HotT postings will be tomorrow, so I'm sure you'll see there what 15mm Army I'm painting ;-)

      Delete
  4. Dodge didn't make it far in the flick if I remember correctly?

    That Robot looking thing would probably be as heavy as the original Mk1 War Machine warjacks I'd imagine? Hefty pieces of kit for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quite right Dai. Dodge dies when Taylor and Landon are first captured by the apes. The Battlesuit is seriously heavy. Indeed, the reason for the camo was because it broke up after originally being painted and needed some serious pinning to hold it together.

      Delete
  5. The Astronaut, is pretty plain, but the little detailing you've allowed yourself hasn;t half made it into a 'bit special'.
    The Robot suit thing is definetly a wonder to behold and superb eye-candy - methinks you put a little extra effort into this one.
    I don't envy you painting that crane, just looking at it makes me wince - good luck with it !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joe. Hopefully I'll get both the cranes finished over the next few weeks.

      Delete