"Sauron Was A Brilliant Argentinian Hypnotherapist."

"He also became a human-pteranodon hybrid and would-be-conqueror of the "Savage Land"

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Sauron was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 029 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Wolverine & The X-Men range. After being bitten by mutant pterodactyls, physician Doctor Karl Lykos was transformed into a humanoid Pteranodon, who was "able to absorb the life force of others through touch." Created by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, the Savage Lands mutate made its first appearance in the September 1969 issue of "The X-Men by "Marvel Comics".

Clipped from the figure's 'clicky' base and super-glued upon a plastic 25mm circular base, the super-villain was treated to a double-coat of Ethereal Green from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" paint range so as to cover up its previous paint-job, shaded in Battle Mud Wash, and thoroughly dry-brushed with (more) Ethereal Green. I then 'picked out' his tongue using a combination of Sanguine Scarlet and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before dotting in the energy vampire's mesmerising eyes with a smidgeon of "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow over a "Citadel" Abaddon Black base layer.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - The Afrika Korps have been primed with "Vallejo" Desert Yellow

Finally, I applied two layers of Sorceror's Cloak from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" over Lykos' torn loin-cloth and shaded it with "Citadel" Druchii Violet. To be honest I had originally intended to pigment the garment in yellow, as per the miniature's 'official' paint scheme. But having recently played quite a bit of the computer game "Marvel Snap", I decided to go with the colour he wears on his digital card instead.

Along with my latest offering for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), I have also assembled and primed half a dozen 28mm plastic German soldiers by "Warlord Games" to use with their "Bolt Action" World War Two (Second Edition) rule-set. Admittedly, the last thing I currently need is another project, but to begin with I'll only be using a single figure to represent a unit of infantrymen, so the temporary distraction shouldn't be too severe.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - The Afrika Korps have been shaded with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade

As I already own a sizeable German Eastern Front Army (in 10mm) and a burgeoning D-Day Defence Force (in 15mm), I thought I'd move to a much hotter theatre of battle by building a contingent of Afrika Korps. However, I can't say I'm particularly impressed by the poses offered by the Nottingham-based manufacturer's thirty-figure Infantry boxed set, as most of them seem to be stumbling forward with their heads down, or lying on the ground.

Admittedly, this probably makes a lot of sense in real life, as you'd want to keep yourself low to the sand dunes with all those bullets and bombs whizzing about. However, from a painting perspective it means I'm going to have to reach my brush-tip up into some quite confined areas, which will probably never see the light of day once on the battlefield. As a result, I wish a few of the plastic models were actually stood upright, and may well stand them on the odd rock in future, simply so their faces are more accessible...