"Well This Is Not A Boat Accident!"

"It wasn't any propeller! It wasn't any coral reef! And it wasn't Jack the Ripper! It was a shark."

This 28mm scale resin model of a Shark Maw is manufactured by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought as code FGA415 from their “Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago" range. "Rightly feared by sailors everywhere", this playing piece is sold along with a metal sculpt of a shark's fin dramatically cutting through the surface of the water.

The miniature was primed using "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, layered with Heavy Bluegrey, doused in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey. I then applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Red to its mouth and gums, and gave it a serious sploshing with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Finally, I applied some "Two Thin Coats" White Star to the big fish's triangular teeth and dirtied them up with some dashes of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Wargames Foundry" - These French Fusiliers have nearly had all of their details 'picked out'

With the actual painting completed, I subsequently turned my attention to the sculpt's base, which contained a few breaking waves swirling around its head. Unfortunately, these details weren't wide enough to completely fill out the plastic 40mm circular lipped stand I had super-glued the shark to, so I added some green-stuff and used the flat blade of a modelling knife to replicate the rest of the water's numerous crests,

Once the modelling putty had cured, I painted it with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, washed it with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I then increasingly added a little "Vallejo" White to my Heavy Blue, and lightly drew this combination over the surface's raised details. Eventually, I applied a final 'highlight' of pure "Vallejo" White to the waves' crests.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Three primed Panzer 38(t) tanks awaiting a base-coat, shade and dry-brush

Alongside this impressive specimen of Carcharodon carcharias, I have made more progress on the trio of 28mm metal "Wargames Foundry" Fusiliers I am planning to use as the start of a Napoleonic French army. I really feel I've now got my painting approach right on these little fellows, and resultantly have been able to carefully 'pick out' all their greatcoats with reasonable ease - especially as my technique goes completely against the much-lauded 'inside out' method.

Lastly. motivated by all the 10mm World War Two models I bought from "Pendraken Miniatures" at the recent Colours 2023, as well as the need to field some Axis opposition to compete against my recently finished Crusader III tanks, I have assembled and primed three Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) models. Originally, these Czechoslovakian light armoured vehicles were simply going to be another addition to my Operation Sea Lion German invasion force. But having discovered they were fielded by the dictator Ion Antonescu too, I may well now apply some of the slightly greener “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII to them instead, as well as a few Romanian crosses...