"The Tiger II Is A German Heavy Tank Of The Second World War."

"The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, often shortened to Tiger B."

These two 10mm metal German Königstiger tanks were bought together as a pair within a single clamshell from “Pendraken Miniatures” at Salute 50, and were simply labelled as Tiger II (armoured vehicles). Destined for my Battle of the Bulge campaign, the weighty models each consisted of a separate Henschel hull, turret, gun and pair of tracks.

First used in combat by the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion during the Allied invasion of Normandy, the King Tigers were treated to a double coat of "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey, a generous dousing in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and an enthusiastic dry-brush of (more) Adeptus Battlegrey. The models' tracks were 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, base-coated using "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Games Workshop" WIPS - A very roughly layered MK IV Space Marine Sergeant

Due to the sheer size of the sculpts, I also felt able to easily 'pick out' the odd visible shovel and tow cable using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, or "Vallejo Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade as appropriate. The large tanks were finished courtesy of some transfers taken from both "Decal Details" DEC-GR-100 WWII German Insignia and Swastika, and RU-108 Russian 10/12mm armour numbers sheets.

Along with my two Königstiger tanks I have also made some progress on the first of my ten MK IV Space Marines by "Games Workshop". This 28mm hard plastic figure will be the sergeant of my third Sons of Horus tactical squad for "The Horus Heresy", and is being used as a test piece to pilot a change in my painting technique where I don't apply a shade to their armour until I've finished 'picking out' all their detail.

"Steel Fist Miniatures" WIPs - Three Foot Knights awaiting their details to be 'picked out'

Ordinarily, I perform this phase straight after base-coating the "towering, transhuman warrior" and then follow it up with a rough dry-brush. However, with such highly-detailed sculpts I repeatedly find myself having to later tidy up the armour because my brush-tip has inadvertently strayed - or in the case of "Vallejo" Gold, tiny metallic flakes have attached themselves to other areas of the model despite me being super-careful whenever I use the acrylic colour.

Lastly, I have managed to advance a few more of my Foot Knights by "Steel Fist Miniatures" for my meagre-sized Italian Wars project. I must confess my drive for this Fifteenth-Century endeavour has been badly knocked by Simon Chick's decision to (temporarily) close the company, as I did have some plans to extend my forces beyond the heavily armoured infantrymen I currently own, and tend to find a constant stream of new releases/purchases a cracking motivator to main my hobby momentum...