"We Just Gotta Peel Back The Candy Coating..."

"...And the tender morsels are inside!!"

This 32mm scale plastic model of a Zombie Silver Surfer is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” and can be found inside the "Marvel Zombies: Galactus The Devourer" expansion set. Originally created by artist Jack Kirby, the character had his head bitten clean off by an undead Hulk and was then partially consumed by Spider-Man and Iron Man during Robert Kirkman's 2005 "Marvel Worldwide" mini-series - "Marvel Zombies",

Just as I did whilst pigmenting the boxed set's uninfected figure, the entire model was treated to a double coat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Grey, before being given two layers of Mythril Blade from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" range. The zombified superhuman and his cosmic board was subsequently shaded using some heavily watered-down Oblivion Black Wash and patiently dry-brushed with (more) Mythril Blade.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - These Crusader II tanks just need some tidying up

I then 'picked out' the Silver Surfer's numerous flesh wounds with a spot of "Citadel" Abaddon Black", a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and a dash of "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red. Furthermore, I decided to gunge up his rancid flesh with a generous dousing of both "Citadel" Carroburg Red and Biel-Tan Green. These areas were later 'blended together' with a patient dry-brush of (even more) Mythril Blade from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" range.

As a final step I painted all the skulls on the sculpt's base with my tried and trusted combination of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Eventually, all these decapitated heads were treated to a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and a lighter dusting of White. Lastly, I splodged plenty of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson over them to suggest the catastrophic carnage which had caused such a gruesome massacre.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - Three Autons ready for a dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue

Moving across to Second World War tanks I have also made some considerable progress on the final three of six Crusader II tanks I inadvertently bought from "Pendraken Miniatures" booth at Salute 50. These British armoured vehicles were originally intended for my Battle Of The Bulge project, but as I have since discovered the the "cruiser" predominantly saw action during the Allies' North African campaign, I'll be simply adding them to my (non-Winter) Early War project instead - which essentially just means using green flock not white on their bases.

Furthermore, I have stumbled upon four Autons from my backlog of "Black Tree Design" figures, which I thought might be worth a quick hobby session or two. This "Doctor Who" detour will doubtless come as no surprise to some, considering just how much I enjoyed recently working on the company's old 28mm Ice Lord miniature. However, I'm actually hoping the project will help re-energise my mojo, having found it to be flagging after so many 10mm armoured vehicles...

"Delegate Izlyr From Mars."

"Negotiations are only possible in a peaceful atmosphere."

This 28mm metal miniature of "the Ice Warrior delegate to Peladon when it applied for membership in the Galactic Federation" is produced by “Black Tree Design", and can be bought as Code DW326 Ice Lord Izlyer from the manufacturer's "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Correctly spelt "Izlyr", the Martian delegate was played by Alan Bennion and appeared in Brian Hayle's January 1972 BBC Television story "The Curse of Peladon".

Having sat in a drawer gathering dust for more years than I care to remember, I discovered that the figure had already been primed in "Citadel" Chaos Black, so simply needed its helmet, gloves, boots and cape to be layered in "Vallejo" Dark Green. These areas were then shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green before being enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Dark Green.

"The Churchill VII was one of the most important British tanks of World War Two."

The reptilian humanoid's partially-visible face and body-suit were 'blocked in' using "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and plenty of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. Whilst Izlyr's eyes were 'picked out' with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and a splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Interestingly, this sculpt isn't as accurate as it first appears with the Ice Lord's famous clamp-like hands being replaced with human-looking five-fingered ones.

Alongside my classic villainous "Doctor Who" monster, I have also finished two more 10mm metal British infantry tanks sold by “Pendraken Miniatures” as Code BRV41 - Churchill VII, 75mm. These armoured vehicles were given a generous covering of "Vallejo" Leather Brown primer before being treated to a double helping of Russian Uniform WW2. The tanks were then sploshed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and highlighted back up with (more) "Vallejo" Russian Uniform WW2.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - These three Sons of Horus space marines are almost finished

I finished painting the Churchill VIIs by 'picking out' their front-facing skirts with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before applying a combination of of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to their largely covered tracks. As a final step I applied a pair of historically incorrect Union Jacks by "Decal Details" to the tanks' turrets, and some brigade/regiment markings by "Scale Specialties". I was actually planning on using a few more of the 1/160th scale British Armoured Division NW Europe 1944-45 transfers "printed by Microscale". However, some proved prone to disintegrating with minimal handling, whilst others required a blank white background decal to be placed prior to the actual number/insignia - something which caused me many a mad moment.

Finally, I'm desperately trying to complete the last of the Mark VI armoured Space Marines by "Games Workshop" which I've had lurking around my hobby desk for the past several months. I've managed to get all the main colours now blocked in on these three Sons of Horus tactical traitors, so just need to apply some washes and highlights on them before tidying them up prior to decals/varnishing/flocking...

"A Streak Of Silver Crosses The Sky..."

"...Heralding the Devourer Of Worlds."

This 32mm scale plastic model of the Silver Surfer is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” and can be found inside the "Marvel Zombies: Galactus The Devourer" expansion set. Created by artist Jack Kirby, the "humanoid alien with metallic skin who can travel through space with the aid of his surfboard-like craft" made his first comic book appearance in the March 1966 issue of "Fantastic Four" by "Marvel Comics".

The entire model was initially treated to a double coat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Grey, before being given two layers of Mythril Blade from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" range. The founding member of the "Titans Three" and his indestructible cosmic board was then shaded using some heavily watered-down Oblivion Black Wash and patiently dry-brushed with (more) Mythril Blade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This zombie Silver Surfer is awaiting various washes

I did momentarily consider 'picking out' the Silver Surfer's eyes with a little White Star. Yet in the end decided to leave the pupils well enough alone. I also pondered doing something with the sculpt's slightly swirling base, rather than simply give it a couple of licks of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. However, once again I felt anything other than a plain colour might distract the eye from the actual miniature itself.

Alongside this "powerful herald" though, I have been busy additionally pigmenting the expansion's Zombie Silver Surfer figure. This model was initially painted in precisely the same manner as Norrin Radd's uninfected incarnation. But will subsequently be 'rotted up' with various green, brown and red shades, as well as a few dollops of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red.

"Wargames Atlantic" WIPs - These N'Glonhgk Infantry have been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Furthermore I have successfully 3D printed, assembled and primed half a dozen N’Glonhgk Infantry by "Wargames Atlantic". These frog-headed extra-terrestrials form part of the company's Death Fields range, and took a couple of evenings to produce on account of the heads, bodies, weapons and arms all being separate STL (Standard Triangle Language) files.

Luckily, being composed of "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin each alien was assembled without much difficulty using a small amount of super-glue. I aim to give the 'Frog Men' a rather straightforward colour scheme so as to get them on the tabletop quite quickly, and hope to use them as the start of a much larger "Xenos Rampant" campaign where the bipedal carnivorous amphibians attempt to invade the Earth during the Second World War in an effort to turn the planet's population into a giant source of food...

Top Ten Manufacturers Of 2022 - A "Fantorical" Viewpoint

Without a doubt the biggest change to my hobby during these twelve months has undoubtedly been the arrival of an "Elegoo" Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer and my subsequent subscription to various “Patreon” service memberships. Indeed, my desire to print/paint the increasingly numerous STL (Standard Triangle Language) files which I own has completely changed my attitude towards both online buying from non-digital manufacturers and those selling their wares (whether it be plastic, resin or metal) at wargaming shows.

However, whilst this somewhat alarming transformation to my hobby habits has undoubtedly caused a few ripples to the companies I ordinarily turn to for my tabletop goodness, the relative lateness of my introduction to the likes of “Big Mr Tong” and “C27 Studio” haven’t been anywhere near as impactive as I feel they are going to be in 2023. Furthermore, I still have a number of painting projects ‘on the go’ which very much rely upon the sculpts of “Games Workshop”, “Battlefront Miniatures” and “North Star Military Figures” to keep them going. So, I’m pretty confident that the future will not become entirely obsessed with "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin produced models…

No. 10 - "Catalyst Game Labs" - "Battletech"

Whilst I disappointingly pigmented many more infantrymen than mechs from this vast range than I had intended, as well as failed to start the Weird War Two campaign I had planned using some homemade card-based rules, I was still somewhat pleased to at least make a small dent in my embarrassingly large collection of these 1:285 scale plastic models. Furthermore, alongside my French, German and Polish walkers, I also managed to rebase, if not prime and shade, some of the other giant armoured vehicles I own, which should hopefully encourage me to maintain an interest in this project for many moons to come.

No. 9 – “North Star Military Figures” – “Gaslands”

Despite me having no actual interest in playing Mike Hutchinson’s popular ruleset “Gaslands” or even his subsequent “ultimate Director’s Cut”, I did quite suddenly develop an unhealthy interest in “car-on-car destruction in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.” Admittedly, much of this enthusiasm was actually based upon a highly disquieting and somewhat short-lived obsession with the “Hot Wheels” toy vehicle range by “Mattel”. But it did cause me to build (and even convert) four 20mm plastic Motorcyclist kits from the Implements of Carnage One sprue by “North Star Military Figures”.

No. 8 – “Alternative Armies” – “The Ion Age”

Fuelled by playing more battles within a two-day period than I can fully recollect, this range of 15mm science-fiction figures was arguably always going to receive some attention during the year. However, it actually wasn’t until I got hold of some "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green paint that I finally started working on some ‘reinforcements’, and then I didn’t just stop at pigmenting Retained Knights. But also, a hefty resin Battle Taxi, even heavier metal Havelock Type 57 Battlesuit and a special edition Witch Knight.

No. 7 – “Twisted Pinnacle 3D” – “Sentry Robots”

With Walt Disney’s 1979 science fiction film “The Black Hole” being one of my favourite movies of all-time, there probably was little doubt I was going to pick up a bag of these awesome resin robots when I first saw them on “Etsy”. However, having received them a little worse for wear from their postal journey, and identified that their sculptor, Mike Tongue, ran his own Patreon subscription service, I used these terrific figures as motivation to help spur me on to purchasing my own 3D printer.

No. 6 – “Big Mr Tong” – “Cybermen”

By far my most popular supplier of STL files on Patreon for this particular period by tapping into my love of all things “Doctor Who”, this range of 28mm scale resin miniatures kept my 3D printer incredibly busy during its first few months, and also helped me to better understand the usefulness of supporting models using “Chitubox” Basic. Disappointingly, my plans for a large campaign featuring many of the different factions Mike Tongue has sculpted never disappointingly materialised, despite my completing a sizeable squad of Cybermen.

No. 5 – “Battlefront Miniatures” – “Flames Of War”

Despite not actually finishing my planned 50-point strong German D-Day I did end up pigmenting an impressive number of “Battlefront Miniatures” 15mm infantrymen – whether they be part of several MG34 and K98 Rifle Teams or a quartet of sMG34 Machine-Gun Teams. To be honest though I badly underestimated just how many figures I needed to finish in order to field two full-strength Panzergrenadier Platoons, and over time this fatigue caused my enthusiasm for the project to trail off quite dramatically.

No. 4 – “Encounter Terrain/Splunjohnny” – “Doctor Who”

Initially, these cartoon-like sculpts by Splunjohnny looked set to snap me out of a “Doctor Who” funk which had somewhat plagued me since “Warlord Games” seemingly stopped caring about releasing any new miniatures for their officially licenced tabletop game “Exterminate!” Sure, I had to reply upon “Encounter Terrain” to 3D print my models in 40mm scale and at a tenner a piece this was making my quite sizeable forces of Zygons and Cybermen a tad expensive. But I thought they looked incredible and were definitely enjoyable to put a brush-tip to – At least until I bought my own printer and discovered how devilishly difficult it was going to be to produce the marvellous figures at precisely the same size as Jo Levin’s company did.

No.3 – “Warlord Games” – “Black Powder Epic Battles: American Civil War”

Having previously only dabbled with the American Civil War thanks to an ill-advised impulse purchase of some 15mm metal Union figures by “Peter Pig”, I genuinely saw this plastic product by “Warlord Games” as an easily accessible entry into some seriously large-scale battles featuring rifles, horse and cannon. Disappointingly though, I soon realised that my painting technique/style simply did not work well on the ten-man strips of miniatures. Indeed, I repeatedly found myself yearning for the ‘tiny terrors’ to be individual infantrymen, as I felt that would help alleviate some of the inaccessibility issues I was having with the soldiers’ fine detail, and resultantly speed up my entire process.

No.2 – “Games Workshop” – “The Horus Heresy” and “Epic”

Quite possibly one of my most consistent manufacturing mainstays, I initially thought that the majority of my “Games Workshop” models for this period were going to come from the Nottingham-based company’s long Out of Production (OOP) Epic range, as opposed to any of their newer lines. But that mentality eventually changed when I acquired their Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness boxed set and began ‘grinding out’ a plethora of Sons of Horus tactical space marines. Sprinkle in some old school Blood Bowl dwarves, as well as a couple of characters from their Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game, and I was clearly greatly enamoured with the former “bedroom mail-order company” all year round.

No.1 – “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” – “7TV Second Edition”

Featuring a veritable mishmash of post-apocalyptic creatures, space age androids and future assassins, I repeatedly dipped into my backlog of Karl Perrotton’s marvellous metal figures throughout the past twelve months. Initially, I seemed set to finally polish off a number of Simian Minions I’ve had lurking around my hobby table for more years than I care to remember. Yet, having then been distracted by some the company’s large resin miniatures for a couple of months, I eventually started slowly working my way through the numerous late Jim Bowen sculpts “Crooked Dice” re-released (via a highly successful Kickstarter) as part of their classic Near Future and Cyberpunk Corporate Wars range.

"When The Mk VI Was First Produced In 1936..."

"...The Imperial General Staff considered the tank to be superior to any light tank produced by other nations."

These three 10mm metal British light tanks were bought together in a single clamshell from “Pendraken Miniatures” at Salute 50 and were simply labelled as Vickers VIc (armoured vehicles). Due to my ignorance when it comes to which British forces fought during the Ardennes Offensive in 1944, I had initially planned to add them to my ever-expanding winter-based, Allied contingent. However, having done a bit of research post-purchase I discovered that "the sixth in the line of light tanks built by Vickers-Armstrongs for the British Army during the interwar period" was disappointingly "given up for good" by 1942.

Happily however, having encountered a similar situation with some Matilda II and Crusader II tanks I recently pigmented, I now own a sizeable non-winter Early Second World War Allied force - within which these "superior" vehicles should fit quite nicely. Resultantly, the trio were individually super-glued to plastic 30mm x 40mm rectangular stands and undercoated using "Vallejo" Leather Brown primer. They were then layered with a double-helping of "Vallejo" Russian Uniform WW2, and enthusiastically drowned in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Two Churchill VIIs just needing their tracks to be 'picked out'

In order to bring out each tanks' detail, the Vickers VIc's were dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Russian Uniform WW2, and had their tracks 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Lastly, I slapped a Union Jack decal on to the rear of their hulls to proudly proclaim them as being British. This step will doubtless infuriate the odd 'rivet counting historian', as the vehicles appear to have no carried no such insignia whilst in service. Nevertheless, I wanted to have them stand out from their American allies with something a bit more obvious than a 'greener' colour scheme.

Sticking with 10mm British tanks produced by "Pendraken Miniatures", I have also been working on a pair of Heavy Churchills armed with 75mm guns. I also bought these weighty models from the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer's stall at Salute 50, as welcome additions to my Battle Of The Bulge Allied force. In addition though, I have used them as a good excuse to revisit the two Churchill VIIs I previously pigmented in late April 2023.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Two Panther Gs awaiting some finer detail work

Back then I was perfectly happy to have the redesigned armoured vehicles be predominantly "Vallejo" Russian Uniform WW2 with just a hint of their metallic tracks showing. However, I have since seen that the Churchill Mk VII Crocodile Flame Thrower Tank at Bovington Tank Museum has black skirts at the front, so thought I'd retrospectively apply some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to these areas on my 'finished' models, as well as upon the new ones - simply to help break up the monotony a bit.

Finally, I'm making some fine progress on a couple of German Panther G tanks I want to add to my Ardennes Offensive project. I actually recently took stock of a variety of 10mm Late War anti-tank vehicles, so these 'counters to the Soviet T-34' will probably be the last actual tank I'll be painting for some time - at least for the Third Reich. Furthermore, I've bought/located a fair few infantry figures, including some British Policemen with rifles, which may well divert my attention towards adding plenty of foot elements to my armies - most notably a What If Operation Sealion campaign, where Hitler's goosestepping goons successfully cross the Channel.

"The Panzerkampfwagen I Was A Light Tank Produced In Germany In The 1930s."

"The Panzer I's performance... was limited by its thin armour and light armament of two machine guns,"

This 10mm metal German Panzerkampfwagen I tank used to sold by “Pendraken Miniatures” as Code GR186 - Panzer Ib. But nowadays appears to have been superseded by a much more detailed product under Code GRV3 - Panzer I, Ausf. B. Rather embarrassingly, I probably bought this tiny model as part of a huge 'Battle Of Moscow" project some twelve years ago to use with an old version of "Blitzkrieg Commander", and only recently discovered it whilst searching through my collection for any Early World War Two units.

Originally, I did consider just adding it to my previously painted Panzer I contingent. However, having recently started a 10mm non-Winter WW2 project using various British armoured vehicles like the Matilda II and Crusader II tanks, I eventually decided on simply adding it to the German forces I plan to field as opposition. The move also meant I wouldn't need to drop my brush into my sole surviving pot of "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey - which I have been saving simply to pigment all my German cold weather forces in order for them to 'precisely' match the forces I finished over a decade ago.

"The legendary Tiger had a reputation way above its real statistics."

As a result, the armoured vehicle was treated to a couple of coats "Vallejo" Neutral Grey - which 'near as damn it' matches the Out Of Production (OOP) "Citadel" Foundation paint anyway, and washed with the new formula "Citadel" Nuln Oil. It was then dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Neutral Grey, before having the tank's wheels/tracks treated to a combination of Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Finally, I added a single German cross onto the hull using a transfer taken from the WWII German Insignia and Swastika sheet by "Decal Details".

Sticking with 10mm German armoured vehicles produced by "Pendraken Miniatures", I have also completed a second of Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H models for my Battle of the Bulge campaign. This was one of two models bought together as a pair within a single clamshell from the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer's stall at Salute 50, and was simply labelled as a Tiger I.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - These three Panzerjagers are at different stages of completion.

Due to wanting the tank to fit in with the rest of my increasingly old Third Reich forces, it was primed using some "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey and shaded using plenty of Nuln Oil. The hefty metal miniature was then dry-brushed with more "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey, before its tracks were 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, base-coated in "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and finally drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. It too was then 'peppered' with transfers from the WWII German Insignia and Swastika sheet by "Decal Details", as well as their RU-108 Russian 10/12mm armour numbers set.

Finally, with the arrival of my latest 'reinforcements' from "Pendraken Miniatures" I have been able to add some crew members to a trio of old Panzerjagers I discovered alongside my Panzer Ib. In the past, for my Battle Of Moscow project, I've just based these self-propelled anti-tank artillery pieces unattended, despite never really liking the empty hull. This time round though, I thought I'd plonk a crewman into each vehicle, to at least give the impression that the gun is actually manned...

"The Tiger Was A German Heavy Tank Of World War Two..."

"...That operated beginning in 1942 in Africa and the Soviet Union, usually in independent heavy tank battalions."

This 10mm metal German Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H tank is one of two models bought together as a pair within a single clamshell from “Pendraken Miniatures” at Salute 50, and was simply labelled as a Tiger I. Intended for my current Battle of the Bulge campaign, the hefty model consisted of a separate hull, turret, gun and pair of tracks, as well as a curiously unlabelled piece which eventually turned out to be the "over-engineered" vehicle's air filters.

Due to wanting the tank to fit in with the rest of my Third Reich forces, all of which had been pigmented a good decade ago, I managed to locate an old pot of "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey from my dust-covered collection of Out of Production (OOP) paints, and applied a double layer over the entire Tiger. I then gave it a healthy splash of Nuln Oil, before dry-brushing it with more "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Three Vickers VI C tanks awaiting some final 'touch-ups' and decals

The armoured vehicle's tracks were later 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, base-coated using "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and finally shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I'm still impatiently waiting for some WWII German Insignia and Swastika transfers by "Decal Details" to arrive through the post so I can add a couple of Balkenkreuz to the sides of the tank. But I have managed to apply some red turret digits to it from an old sheet of RU-108 Russian 10/12mm armour numbers.

Alongside my Tiger I have also managed to make some progress on three metal 10mm Vickers VI C models I also picked up from "Pendraken Miniatures" whilst at "Europe’s largest independent wargaming event." These rather tiny British light tanks, withdrawn from service by mid-1942, are now destined for my Early Second World War tabletop, having originally been erroneously bought by myself as Allied reinforcements for the much later Ardennes Offensive in wintry Belgium/Luxemburg.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - These Aquaphibians just need to have their fins and weapons 'picked out'

Lastly, I've been working on some more 28mm scale Aquaphibians sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" as something of a palate cleanser, having almost lost all my enthusiasm for 10mm tank combat due to my latest order with the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer being delayed. Now this 'hold up' has been entirely due to UK Customs taking an eternity to process a decal restock as opposed to anything the company has created, with Leon providing me with some first-rate updates as to the situation.

But perhaps due to my own impatience or restlessness, my inability to properly 'finish' a number of German tanks and armour-hunters as planned has definitely caused a noticeable drop in productivity. Thus, I figured a sudden sojourn back to 1964 and the science-fiction television show "Stingray" might help galvanise me whilst I testily await the arrival of my transfers, extra tanks and their crew...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Pendraken Miniatures” June 2023

"In 1939, most tanks had a maximum armour of 30 mm or less, with guns no heavier than 37–47 mm."

Due to my current enthusiasm for 10mm World War Two tanks, and the anticipated arrival of some 'reinforcements' from "Pendraken Miniatures", I thought it would probably be best this month to continue chipping away at my backlog of the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer's models. This should help me clear a little space within my metal 'pinnacle of potential', as well as encourage me to play some games involving both my Battle of the Bulge and (non-Winter) Early War campaigns.

Furthermore, I'm actually awaiting some passengers, seated drivers and tank commanders within my latest order, so intend to potentially add some of these little chaps to my existing fully-painted collection too. This shouldn't hopefully be too much of a distraction, as I'm genuinely only looking at half a dozen or so armoured vehicles. But I've always been a little 'irked' by the likes of the German Panzerjager simply being sat on the battlefield with no-one actually being visible inside firing the destroyer's anti-tank gun.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three Sons of Horus tactical space marines

Alongside this long list of 10mm tanks I am also planning on trialling a new batch-painting challenge where I'll pigment ten German Great War soldiers by "Wargames Atlantic" over the course of four consecutive three-hour hobby sessions. My intention is to use these dedicated sessions to help me quickly pigment a core unit for a game (in this case "Xenos Rampant" by "Osprey Games"), as opposed to my usual method of just working on a couple of figures before some new (or old) shiny comes along to completely distract me from my cause.

Finally, I aim to finish the last of the Mark VI armoured Space Marines by "Games Workshop" which I've had lurking around my hobby desk for the past several months. Once completed these Sons of Horus tactical traitors will form a third of my force for "The Horus Heresy" and lead me into the penultimate phase of my initial 500-point project - assembling/painting a ten-man squad of Horus Lupercal's former Luna Wolves all wearing Mark IV armour.

May 2023 - "Pendraken Miniatures" continues to climb up my Top Five table

Happily, my productivity appears to be on the rise once again, following my partial burnout at the end of the Thirteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). True, I'm still not finishing quite as many miniatures every four weeks as I would like. But I am slowly getting my mojo back - thanks largely to the simplicity of the 10mm scale and "Pendraken Miniatures" incredibly broad range of World War Two armoured vehicles, such as Matilda IIs, M5 Stuarts, Panzer IIs, and Crusader IIs.

Indeed, I fully expect to churn out even more tanks in the near future as I finally finish enough Early War vehicles to actually start that project's series of battles, as well as add to both the Allied and Axis forces present during the Ardennes Offensive. I've also got some seriously hefty German Panzerkampfwagens planned for the painting queue, which should also help motivate my output, as the Later War sculpts truly dwarf those of the likes of the Panzer IIs and Panzerjagers I've previously pigmented...