"You Have Only Seen The Autons."

"Crude weapons with a single offensive function."

This 28mm scale metal model is sold by “Black Tree Design", and can be purchased as part of the DW1013 - Autons boxed set from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. "Animated by the Nestene Consciousness as soldiers", the artificial beings first appeared in Robert Holmes' January 1970 BBC Television story "Spearhead From Space".

The life-sized plastic dummy was undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, drenched in "Citadel" Drakehnof Nightshade and subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. The Auton's belt-buckle and hand-gun barrel were then 'picked out' using some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and its neckerchief with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey. Both of these areas were later shaded using a little "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Two Panzer IV tanks and a Panzer II tank

The sliver of Nestene intelligence's hands and face were treated to a layer or two of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone before being washed with some quite heavily watered-down "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. Finally, its fingers, ears, nose, mouth and eye ridges were 'highlighted' with some additional lines of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

Alongside my Auton, I've managed to make some progress on a trio of 10mm German tanks by "Pendraken Miniatures" for my Early World War Two project. These quite sizeable metal models were found whilst I was recently clearing out my loft, and are somewhat old sculpts now as they date back to the company's 2011 catalogue - having been the leftovers from my decade-old Operation Barbarossa project.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Confederate soldiers have had their shoes and trousers 'picked out'

The Panzer III E/F 37mm gun, Panzer IV F2 and Panzer IVD short 75mm have all been undercoated using "Vallejo" Black Surface Primer and given a couple of licks of the water-based acrylic paint company's Neutral Grey. Despite being few in number, at least until I purchase some of newer models, they should still provide the Axis Forces with some reasonably effective firepower for the campaign's first few battles, especially once supported with a contingent of Panzerjager I tank hunters.

Finally, I have dabbled on a second long-abandoned strip of 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers produced by “Warlord Games” which came free on a sprue accompanying Issue 393 of "Wargames Illustrated". Due to the "Epic Battles: American Civil War" game basing two infantry lines per base, I thought I'd try to pigment a pair simultaneously and am slowly 'getting there' with the troopers' various shoe and trouser colours...