"So Off You Pop, Old Man."

"You Get A Prize, Honey."

This 28mm scale white metal figure is sold by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" as SKU: MINI 1652 Temporal Traveller 15. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the model is clearly inspired by actor Ncuti Gatwa's fifteenth incarnation of the Doctor, as seen in some of the BBC promotional photographs publicising the upcoming new season of “Doctor Who”.

The miniature was primed using a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and shaded using "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. The Gallifreyan was then dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, before having his jacket buttons, hair, moustache, eyebrows and shoes 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I did strongly consider applying some thin stripes over the suit, and even gave one of the Timelord's sleeves a test run. But such a delicate touch is most definitely not my forte, so in the end I opted for a plainer, yet saner, all-blue costume.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - These Robomen are slowly having their clothing 'picked out'

I did however manage to apply a little "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Vallejo" Pale Grey to the Doctor's shirt, as well as a combination of Amethyst Rayne by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Druchii Violet to his tie. Lastly, I used some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna for the model's face and hands, shaded these in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and applied a few highlights with a smidgeon extra of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

Sticking with the science fiction television programme, I have dusted down seven 28mm metal Robomen, which have been loitering unloved inside a drawer for many a year. Indeed, I believe these particular figures pre-date "Black Tree Design" acquiring the range's licence, and hark back as far as 1996-1997, when I first started playing "Doctor Who: Invasion Earth" by "Harlequin Miniatures". Designed by Daniel Faulconbridge, this tabletop game attempted to recreate various scenarios from Terry Nation's broadcast storyline "The Dalek Invasion of Earth", and resultantly required me to paint several of Davros' Mark III Travel Machines.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - The Second Doctor, Vicki, the Ancient One, and a Dalek, all 'dusted down'

To be honest I still recall the feeling of dread this gave me having to first carefully 'pick out' all the Dalek shell's "hemispherical protrusions" black and then blob them with a light blue colour - so as to match their colour scheme during the First and Second Doctor's tenures. However, in an effort to circumnavigate this issue, I promptly bought these Robomen instead to use as the robotic Masters of Earth's minions and reduce the number of actual Daleks I needed. Sadly though, it would appear I never managed to pigment these figures, so felt it was high time to make amends and simultaneously earn me some much-needed bonus points at the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge's Overdue and Returns Library desk.

With the motley band consisting of just two alternative sculpts/poses, I plan to apply a variety of trouser and jacket colours to the Robomen in the hope of imbuing them with a bit more variety. In addition, their completion after so long, may well finally encourage me to assemble a few of the classic game's three-piece Dalek models, and possibly even hunt around for my copy of the "Doctor Who: Invasion Earth" rule-book...