"Bears Are Typically Peaceful Creatures."

"But they can become unstoppable behemoths if aggravated or threatened."

This 28mm scale resin model of a Bear is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be purchased as SKU: MINI 1062 from their Fantasy range. The animal, which was painted in just a single hobby session, is actually an impressive 55mm in length, and resultantly was super-glued onto a plastic "Citadel" 50mm circular base.

The miniature was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being heartily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. It was then drowned in plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and treated to a second, much more delicate, dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. Lastly, I finished the  beast's basics off by applying some "Two Thin Coats" White Star to its claws and dirtied them up with a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"The war began when Ludovico Sforza, then Regent of Milan, encouraged Charles VIII of France to invade Italy,"

The model's snout and eyebrows were given a careful lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. These areas were then 'feathered-in' alongside the surrounding darker fur with a little bit of "Citadel" Abaddon Black being stippled along their edges. The bear's mouth and tongue were 'picked out' using "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey and Heavy Red respectively. Both of these areas were later sploshed with plenty of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Finally, the figure's teeth were dotted in "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Alongside my first completed "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" model of the year, I have also got another 28mm metal Foot Knight by "Steel Fist Miniatures" tabletop ready. As with my other combatants of the Italian Wars 1494-1538, the armoured warrior can be purchased from either the company's Code REN 20 - Foot Knights Deal, or as Code REN 03 - Foot Knights, and is by far my least favourite of Oliver James' sculpts due to its bare helmet, and oddly posed gigantic sword.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - This Tiger II tank has been assembled, primed and shaded

As with some of my other Renaissance Frenchmen, the miniature was primed using "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently layered in Sir Coates Silver by "Two Thin Coats". It was then treated to a dousing in Duncan Rhodes' Oblivion Black, before the armour and blade were given a thorough dry-brush of (more) Sir Coates Silver. To mark the Knight out as being one of the King of France's fighters, I carefully applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and Drakenhof Nightshade to his pants (which are partially visible from the rear).

Lastly, understandably inspired by the bag full of 10mm World War Two tanks I bought from "Pendraken Miniatures" at the recent Colours 2023 wargaming show, I have assembled, base-coated and washed a pair of metal Tiger II armoured vehicles for my Battle of the Bulge campaign. I actually purchased these rather heavy models at Salute 2023, and are just one of several of the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer's blisters I currently have simultaneously being progressed on my painting table...