"To The Batmobile!"

"This could be the break we've been looking for!"

"Greetings Speed Freaks, and welcome to our latest broadcast of Cars, Crashes and Carnage, which will be providing more insights into some of the vehicles racing across our fuel-scarce, post-apocalyptic landscape. I'm Rex Wonkers, and alongside veteran crude oil seeker Lance Sourdough, I'll be taking a closer look at two more recently announced competitors in the Juice Cup."

"First up is the formidable-looking Dark Knight, which has predominantly been fashioned using the Batman Batmobile 1989 Movie Die-cast Vehicle by "Mattel". The metal "Hot Wheels" model was picked up loose for just a pound at a Vintage Toy & Train Collectors Fair outside the Ashington Community Centre, West Sussex, and was subsequently super-glued to a "Citadel" plastic 90x52mm oval base."

"Hot Wheels" WIPs - The Batmobile was given various plastic armaments

"It was definitely a bargain find, Rex, and once 'tooled up' using some accessories taken from the plastic Implements of Carnage One sprue by "North Star Military Figures", was soon undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. It was then give a hearty dry-brush with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, before being doused in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The car's wheel trims, side exhausts, bulldozer blade and passenger-side mounted Gatling gun were all later hit with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

With the main paint scheme applied, the ride's flamer had its fuel-bottle 'picked out' with a smidgeon of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow, and its rear-firing flares were given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Finally, to weather everything up, the entire ensemble was sporadically given a coat of "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash and dry-brushed in whatever the area's base colour was."

"Hot Wheels" WIPs - Solar Eagle III has been primed, base-layered and shaded

"Thanks, Lancey Boy. Alongside this 'Dark Knight' there's also word of an astonishing battery-powered potential participant who'll be using the chassis of a Solar Eagle III (in red livery). This incredibly low-profiled automobile largely consists of a lengthy solar panel. However, its owners have fitted a couple of forward-facing machineguns close to its cockpit."

"And let's not forget that the vehicle will also carry a rather exposed gunman at the rear, Rex. This guy is going to be precariously positioned just south of the car's Kevlar cog belt-driven rear wheel. So let's hope he can hold on tight to something should the 'Solar Rider' ever need to make a quick turn."

"Too right, Lance. And with that we've come to the end of yet another transmission. So, it's goodbye from the pair of us, and we'll hopefully speak to all you irradiated couch potatoes again in the next instalment of our humble sports programme..."

"The Infantry Of Prussia In 1806..."

"...Was 'a museum piece' reflecting the great days of (King) Frederick the Great."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by “Wargames Foundry", and can be purchased as part of the identical eight-figure PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching blister. Sculpted by Alan Perry, this Napoleonic miniature has been patiently waiting its turn in my painting queue since I bought him in July 2023, and is hopefully destined to be part of a small Prussian force I can bolster either my French or Coalition army with as a scenario dictates.

The soldier was initially undercoated using a couple of licks of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and then essentially painted from the ground up following the colour scheme shown on the Nottingham-based company's website. Resultantly, I applied "Vallejo" Stormy Blue to the tunic and sleeves, and later darkened it down with a splosh of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Pull. Pull. Pull."

I used a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson for the figure's cuffs, collar, cap band, and gun strap, as well as "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna with plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade on to his rifle and backpack. I subsequently squeezed in some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil onto the model's metallic areas, such as his gun barrel, its bayonet, and the fellow's water bottle.

Lastly, I applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the infantryman's boots, extra baggage, leather straps and epaulettes. To be honest I wasn't entirely convinced by this choice as the vast majority of illustrations I saw had the Prussians wearing white straps, and none sporting black shoulder pieces. However, I did read that the colour was used to designate Fusiliers within the army, albeit this 'title was honorific rather than implying a specialist or elite unit.'

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Three more Prussian Infantrymen at various stages of completion

In addition to my latest Napoleonic figure I have also managed to pigment another 28mm metal Roboman by "Black Tree Design". Available as Code DW127 Roboman from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range, this sculpt is based upon the Daleks' mindless minions from Terry Nation's November 1964 BBC Television six-episode story "The Dalek Invasion of Earth".

Primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the miniature was heavily dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. His trousers were then base layered in "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, shaded using some "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and roughly highlighted using a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo Sombre Grey. As a final touch, I 'picked out' the Roboman's clunky headset and machine-gun with "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"I Have Spoken With The Nimon."

"I need no one to bring the sacrifices to me."

This 28mm metal model of a Nimon is produced by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW428 from their "Doctor Who" range. "A parasitic race who travel via artificial black holes between planets", these aliens were created by the writer Anthony Read and appeared in the December 1979 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Horns Of Nimon".

Promising "the Skonnan leader Soldeed the power he would need to make Skonnos a great empire again", the figure was primed with "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Charred Brown. I then applied a wash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade over the bull-headed extra-terrestrial, and was a bit disappointed (though perhaps not entirely unsurprised) that it didn't have the same impact upon the miniature's skin tone as "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade did way back in 2017, when I previously pigmented a number of Nimon.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - This Roboman is having all his layers 'picked out'

As a result I gave the evil destroyer of planets a second coat of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and whilst this was still wet, decided to apply some Nuln Oil over the brute as well. This still didn't darken down the brown as much as it had been on the other figures finished seven years ago, and with hindsight I might have got a bit carried away with its earlier "Vallejo" Charred Brown dry-brush. However, this particular sculpt could easily stand out as the race's leader, so I didn't let the slight inconsistency in colour demotivate me too much.

I next applied a double coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to the Nimon's loincloth, and then followed this up with a layer of Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. This area was subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gold, whilst the life-draining extra-terrestrial's eyes were simply 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Finally, I painted the creature's horns with "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, shaded them with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and dry-brushed the deadly energy-blasting weapons with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Alien Legionnaries

Sticking with "Doctor Who" and polishing off spare models I thought I had finished working my way through, I have found another Roboman in my "Black Tree Design" logjam. Resultantly, the mind-controlled minion of the Daleks was plonked onto a base, undercoated, and slowly had his trousers, shirt and hands base-coated.

Furthermore, I've managed to make a little more progress on three Alien Legionnaries by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". These science fiction troopers are cleared inspired by Emperor Ming's red-robed palace guards from the 1980 movie "Flash Gordon", and to be honest I was soon cursing both the film's costume designer Danilo Donati for all the detail he created for their gas masked heads, as well as the miniatures' sculptor for taking the time to so precisely replicate all the black trim on the models themselves - most of which need careful, precise tracing in "Citadel" Abaddon Black...

"Early In The Thirty-First Millennium..."

"...The Galaxy is in the throes of the Great Crusade."

This 28mm plastic Space Marine is by "Games Workshop" and comes from the OOP (Out Of Production) Betrayal At Calth stand-alone boxed game. The multi-part model has been assembled wearing MK IV armour, and is another one of the ten figures I need to field my third Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for "Warhammer: The Horus Heresy."

The miniature was initially undercoated with "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before I used a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold, and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade on its shoulder-pads and anywhere else which I intended to be gold. I then picked out the sharpest edges and numerous rivets in (more) "Vallejo" Gold, before applying some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to all the knee-joints and elbow-joints, as well parts of their backpacks and Bolters.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Four Napoleonic Prussian Infantrymen

I next treated the model’s power tubes and firearm to a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. as well as plonked some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red into each Space Marine's eye slit. Only once all this work was finished did I shade all of the MK IV armour with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brush it with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. Lastly, I attached a couple of the numerous decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto the shoulder-pad and lower-leg.

With almost half of my latest Sons of Horus infantry squad now 'varnished and flocked', I've decided to tackle four figures taken from the blister PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching by "Wargames Foundry" in order to bolster my burgeoning collection of 28mm painted Napoleonic soldiers. This quartet of Prussians were admittedly predominantly bought due to their 'official' paintjob showing their uniform as having black straps (as opposed to white) - so I thought they might be a bit easier to pigment than normal.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - This Nimon has had all its details base-layered

To be honest though, I'm still in two minds as to whether to stick with the black leather belts as I've not seen that many illustrations of Prussian infantrymen wearing them - albeit my limited "Google-Fu" research has suggested the colour was actually worn by the army's Fusiliers; all twenty-four battalions of them in1806. Regardless of any future decision, I've primed two in "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and another pair using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, to help establish which provides the best (and by that I mean quickest) base-layer to work up from.

I also can't seem to shake my infatuation with "Black Tree Design" and their "Doctor Who" range, despite recently completing some decidedly ill-defined sculpts of their Cybermen and Mechanoids. This Nimon though is a great model, and emerged from amidst my significant backlog whilst I was hunting around for some 'quick-win' projects. I had thought I'd powered through all these extra-terrestrial parasites way back in 2017. But clearly I missed one...

"A Number Of Cyber-Scouts That Patrolled The London Underground..."

"...Were painted black, making them nearly invisible in the dark tunnels."

This 28mm metal model is sold by "Black Tree Design" as DW533 - Cyberman Firing from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Responsible for killing at least two workmen who were inspecting a London sewer, this figure is based upon the reconnaissance cyborg seen in Paula Moore's 1985 television story "Attack Of The Cybermen".

Undercoated using my usual mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the Stealth Cyberman or Cybertrooper was subsequently given a dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then, having sought some inspiration from the paint scheme used on the cyber-gun for the 1:16 scale figurine by "Eaglemoss", pigmented the miniature's hand-weapon using a combination of "Vallejo" Bromze and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, as well as "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red for its energy ring.

"The infantry during the Napoleonic era..." 

With so straightforward a project, I have perhaps unsurprisingly also finished another of my Napoleonic Frenchmen by “Wargames Foundry". One of eight identical 28mm metal models found inside FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing, the soldier was undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before his uniform/cuffs were given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, a fine drowning in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue.

The light infantryman's various (and genuinely formidable-looking) were carefully trace out in "Two Thin Coats" White Star and weathered with some watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst his epaulettes and sabre-briquet ribbon were treated to a dollop of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. In addition, I managed to carefully manoeuvre a brush-tip of "Vallejo" Gold over parts of the trooper's sword and "Citadel" Abbadon Black to his cartridge pouch.

"...Provided the majority of the fighting force while on campaign."

Next up was the miniature's back-pack and bedroll. Both these pieces of equipment are covered in white leather straps, which to be fair, probably wouldn't be terribly difficult to patiently cover; albeit time-consuming. Resultantly, I always like to 'cheat' on this area by simply giving the areas a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Sombre Grey, along with a sploshing in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil as appropriate. Such a move will doubtless have many a dedicated Napoleonic wargamer frothing at the mouth. However, my goal is to get as many Nineteenth-Century colourfully-costumed combatants on the tabletop as I can with my sanity still intact.

Finally, I gave the miniature's shako covering a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown, doused it with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and then plonked plenty of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow on its pom pom. The military cap was subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Brown, and the plume hit with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow.

"The French Imperial Army..."

"...was the land force branch of the French imperial military during the Napoleonic era."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by “Wargames Foundry", and these days can be purchased as part of the identical eight-figure FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing blister. However, I actually found this miniature last year in a loft-enshrined blister of ten Perry Twin sculpts labelled Chasseurs In Campaign Dress Advancing - a packet which was embarrassingly bought over two decades ago.

The Frenchman was initially primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and then rather roughly had his uniform/cuffs base-layered using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. I next tackled the soldier's numerous (and genuinely terrifying) leather straps using a few of layers of  White Star by "Two Thin Coats", before 'muddying' them up a bit with some watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - This Sons Of Horus space marine is having its details slowly 'picked out'

Having arguably overcome the Chasseur's biggest hurdle, I patiently started applying a little "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green to his epaulettes and sabre-briquet ribbon, "Vallejo" Gold to parts of the trooper's sword and pure "Citadel" Abbadon Black to his cartridge pouch. In addition, I painted the miniature's back-pack and gun-stock with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and his bedroll in "Vallejo" Sombre Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

With the official paint scheme from the Newark-based company's website well in mind, I gave model's shako covering a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and sploshed it with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Before dolloping the figure's plume with "Two Thin Coats" White, Skulker Yellow, "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade and a second dry-brush/dollop hybrid of (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow. Lastly, I patiently dry-brushed the main uniform with some extra "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to help bring out some of the sculpt's details.

"Papsikels Miniatures" WIPs - Three primed Pap C Guy - A miniatures

Somewhat doggedly returning to last month's main goal, I have managed to work my brush-tip across another 28mm plastic space marine by "Games Workshop". I'm still developing the fastest approach I can to painting my Sons of Horus tactical traitors - as I seem to need so many of them, simply to field a basic 500-point force - so I decided to complete all the "Vallejo" Gold shoulder-pads and kneepads on this particular piece first, before moving on to the "Citadel" Abaddon Black and "Vallejo" Gunmetal stages.

Furthermore, I've finally breathed a little life into my "Elegoo" Mars 3 Pro 3D printer by producing three 28mm Pap C Guy - A multi-piece figures by "Papsikels Miniatures". These guys are clearly inspired by the Gundam MSM-04 Acguy, and have been primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna as a result. Perhaps with hindsight I should have upscaled these models quite significantly - as the mass production amphibious mobile suits are manoeuvred by a human pilot in Anime. However, I think they're rather cute so will probably just add them to my Earth Resistance Force (verses Aliens, Predators & Terminators) as friendly robots.

"Issued Toward The Closing Centuries Of The Great Crusade..."

"...Maximus-pattern armor was still being deployed to Space Marines..."

These three 28mm plastic Space Marines are by "Games Workshop" and come from the now sadly OOP (Out Of Production) Betrayal At Calth boxed game. The multi-piece miniatures have been assembled wearing MK IV armour, and are some of the ten figures I need to field my third Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for "Warhammer: The Horus Heresy."

The trio of figures were initially undercoated with "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before I 'picked out' all the ridges on their shoulder-pads, and any knee-pads which I intended to be gold in "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. These areas were then (unsurprisingly) given a layer of "Vallejo" Gold and a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to darken them down a bit. They were later all highlighted back up with a little dry-brush and some additional smidgeons of "Vallejo" Gold on the sharpest edges and rivets.

"...When Horus led half the Legions into heresy and revolt."

I next applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to all the surrounding areas of their shoulder-pads, so as to separate the "Vallejo" Gold from the "Citadel" Sons of Horus Green, and provide some simple (but hopefully effective) shadows around the limbs. This colour was also carefully brushed onto their unarmoured knee and elbow joints, as well parts of their backpacks and Bolters.

All of the models’ power tubes and firearms were subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst I plonked some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal into each Space Marine's eye slits, and a single layer of the "Citadel" Contrast colour Flesh Tearers Red. Only once all this work was finished did I then heavily wash all of the MK IV armour with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brush it with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. Finally I attached some of the many decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto the odd shoulder-pads and piece of lower-leg armour.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Napoleonic French Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing 

With approximately a third of my latest Sons of Horus infantry squad now completed, I have spent some time working on a pair of 28mm figures from an old FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing blister by "Wargames Foundry". I actually completed one of these Nineteenth Century Frenchmen as a test piece back in November 2023, so have slowly been plodding through the recipe I created then.

In addition, I've been busy prepping a few more miniatures for this month's push into the Napoleonic era, with an eye on bolstering up my Allies. I've dusted four Russian Infantrymen I want to add to the quarter I pigmented last year - essentially giving me an eight-figure foot unit, and a pair of Prussian soldiers, who frankly look pretty straightforward to complete when compared to the Chasseurs and Russians...

"Oh, Monsters Are Scared."

"That's why they're monsters."

This 90mm tall model is made out of bisqueware and was pre-made by one of the staff at the Ashbury Manor craft shop in Devon. Produced via slip-casting (which uses plaster moulds and a clay/water mixture), the lovable-looking monster is one of over a thousand various sculpts someone visiting the resort can purchase, and was specifically picked so as to let me trying using an assortment of decorative acrylic paints (deco) by "Pebeo" - a range I'd never even heard of before visiting the centre.

The rather rotund figure was initially covered in a couple of coats of Blue Sky, which was described on the label as being an opaque gloss. To be entirely honest I was never seriously considering using these paints for 28mm wargaming figures, as I figured their pigmentation particles would be too big. But I was curious to see whether they could be utilised with large scenic pieces, and having provided a strong coverage with just a couple of coats, I was pretty convinced that certainly this particular colour could be so used.

"Ashbury Manor" WIPs - The bisqueware monster has been base-layered in Blue Sky and Turquoise

Having seen that my nightmarish creature had an unhealthy covering of large, circular spots, I then decided to see how well one of the "Pebeo" metallic colours worked. In keeping with my not-so-friendly faced fiend's cool palette, I opted for Turquoise and was immediately taken with how well it worked. The formula for this 'Pearl' paint was pretty much spot on as far as coverage was concerned, and whilst a tad grainy - as so many metallics arguably seem to be - I felt it had a nice sparkle to its finish.

Indeed, it was at this point that I started to cast my mind back to all the untouched "Games Workshop" plastic scenery I own for "Kill Team", and how this acrylic would probably work well as a basecoat for all the space hulk corridors and metal flooring. Furthermore, where-ever my less than brilliant brush-tip went astray, the aforementioned Blue Sky seemed perfectly capable of covering up my error with a single touch-up. This also proved true for any errant Dark Blue, which I unsuccessfully tried to keep solely upon the bulbous beast's lips.

"Ashbury Manor" WIPs - The ceramic creature slowly has its details 'picked out'

Next up I thought I'd tried one of the lighter colours, so picked up some Light Lilac and gave my monster's bumpy spine and tail a good coat. As expected, the pigment was fine for covering the bare bisqueware, but not so good when it came to any parts previously hit with the Blue Sky. Only after a few more layers did the acrylic finally look reasonable, and even then I feel you can still see some of the Blue Sky leaking through.

Finally, I gave the model's feet a good licking in Violet, and was pleased to see that worked very well with just a single coat - whether it was applied over bisqueware or Blue Sky. With this in mind, I then went on to finish off the somewhat sickeningly cute creature, and considered whether any of the other pottery pieces for sale would be of experimental value for a return trip. A hulking head of Tutankhamen is definitely on the cards, as I rather fancy seeing whether I can turn it into a sandstone centre-piece for an Egyptian tabletop...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Wargames Foundry" April 2024

"Napoleonic tactics are characterized by intense drilling of the soldiers."

With the Fourteenth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) thankfully now well and truly behind me, I thought it was high time to return to the mass of partially-pigmented Napoleonic figures by "Wargames Foundry" that I've had encircling my hobby desk for the past few months. Ideally, I'd like to double my current tabletop-ready collection of these colourful combatants over the next four weeks. But in all reality I think I'll have to settle for finishing just half a dozen or so more of the time-consuming, heavily-detailed miniatures instead.

With this in mind I've picked out a few more Russian Infantry (in Oilskin Covered 1812 Shako Marching) to bolster up my Allies force, along with a couple of identically-sculpted Prussian soldiers (in Peaked Cap Marching) - which hopefully I can somewhat switch between both the French and Allied contingents as a scenario requires. For Napoleon's La Grande Armée itself, I've plucked out some more Light Infantry Chasseurs (Advancing) from my backlog, alongside an old Grenadier In Full Dress And Bearskin (Advancing), which I disconcertingly bought last century.

"The thrilling peak of the Pertwee era as the Doctor and Jo team up with the Navy against sea reptiles."

I've also still got a few "Doctor Who" figures by "Black Tree Design" loitering around, which I intend to complete as and when I can. One such model is another of the 28mm metal monsters found inside the Penzance-based company's DW1015 Sea Devils boxed set. The Aquatic Silurian's string vest was basecoated in "Vallejo" Verdigris and washed with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and then roughly highlighted back up with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris.

I next tackled the ocean demon's webbed feet, arms and heads using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before patiently tracing along its belt with a line of "Two Thin Coats" White Star. This area was later shaded in "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Lastly, the Earth reptile's hand-gun was given a smidegon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a dousing of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

March 2024 - "Black Tree Design" has increased its early lead due to my continuing interest in "Doctor Who"

Despite deciding to completely walk away from the hobby for a good seven or so days during the last month to help recoup my mojo, I still managed to finish a satisfyingly high number of models from my backlog. Many of these were admittedly some rather unimpressive sculpts sold by the aforementioned "Black Tree Design" as part of their poorly-aging "Doctor Who" line. But I did also achieve some minor in-roads with my "Flash Gordon" project by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio." 

Both of these manufacturers will doubtless still feature quite heavily throughout April too, as I 'pick away' at several of their miniatures which are reasonably close to requiring a good varnishing and base flocking. In addition, I'm badly lagging behind on my 'final push' to complete 500-points of Sons of Horus space marines for "The Horus Heresy" by "Games Workshop", so intend to knuckle down with the remnants of my third, ten-man tactical squad whenever the opportunity presents itself...

"Ro-Busters Can Go Into Action!"

 "Get me the Chairman of the North Sea Tunnel Authority - on Red!"

This exclusive resin miniature of "Mr Ten Per Cent himself, Howard Quartz" is produced by “Warlord Games”, and arrived as part of the Nottingham-based company's A.B.C. Warriors: Increase The Peace Starter Game. "At one time human", the billionaire Chief Executive Officer of Quartz Industries was created by Pat Mills and Carlos Pino for the comic book series "Ro-Busters", and made his debut appearance in the May 1978 issue of "Starlord".

Having lost ninety percent of his body during "a terrorist incident involving a rogue Hammerstein", the industrialist was originally primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. He was then treated to a layer of Sir Coates Silver from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" and an enthusiastic sploshing of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"The Sea-Devils plan to conquer the Earth and enslave humanity."

The model's reconstructed robot-cyborg torso was also given a thorough dry-brush of (more) Sir Coates Silver, and treated to the odd coat of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to darken down various armour plates as per the 'official' paint-job. With the basics done I subsequently turned my attention to the various telephones and wires looped around Quartz, using "Citadel" Abaddon Black for the phone cable itself and a variety of bright(ish) colours taken from my collection of "Two Thin Coats" pots. 

Finally, I tackled the sculpt's visible brain dome - which perhaps somewhat disappointingly relies solely upon the skill of the painter to depict as its entirely smooth to the touch. There was no way I was going to do to be able to replicate the astonishingly good job produced by "Warlord Games" resident miniaturist, so instead I opted for my usual approach of pigmenting a clear hemisphere using a combination of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, "Vallejo" Pale Grey and a delicate dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star. 

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Early days on these Sons of Horus Space Marines

In addition to completing the first of my 'A.B.C. Warriors', I have also continued working through my "Black Tree Design" backlog, with another 28mm metal figure found inside their DW1015 Sea Devils boxed set. As with all the other bipedal marine monsters I've slapped a brush-tip upon, this miniature was painted using "Vallejo" Verdigris, "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, "Two Thin Coats" White Star, "Vallejo" Pale Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I've also managed to make a small dent in my latest ten-man squad of Sons Of Horus space marines by "Games Workshop" too, by cleaning up the armour of three tactical traitor figures from where my "Vallejo" Gold dry-brushing went a bit nuts. Hopefully, this trio can now be quickly finished after a dousing in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and a careful dry-brush of Sons Of Horus Green.

"Inform Moonbase Our Signals Are Being Detected."

"They must increase the distortion."

These four 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and are available as DW533 - Cyberman Firing from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Hoping "to change history by sending Halley's Comet crashing into Earth", these figures are clearly based upon the silver giants seen in Paula Moore's 1985 television story "Attack Of The Cybermen".

Undercoated using my usual mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the "cybernetically augmented humanoids" were later given a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"The authorities refuse to believe that the Sea-Devils are not a figment of the Doctor’s imagination."

I then 'picked out' all of the Cybermen's central chest pieces with a little drop of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, as well as one of the models' 'head-handles' to mark it out as a Cyberleader. I also applied a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red to the energy rings of their hand-blasters. Lastly, I attempted to contrast the firearms from the cyborgs by giving them a (second) coat of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, so as to help darken the hand-weapons down.

Continuing my headlong plunge into my "Black Tree Design" backlog, I have finished another of the figures found inside their DW1015 Sea Devils boxed set. This miniature's string vest was layered in "Vallejo" Verdigris and shaded in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, before being brusquely highlighted with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Early days on these Sons of Horus Space Marines

The classic Jon Pertwee monster subsequently had its webbed feet, arms and heads painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst its belt was carefully 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded in "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, the ocean demon's hand-gun was given a lick of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a splosh of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Alongside my dalliance with "Doctor Who", I'm striving to work my way through my latest ten-man squad of Sons Of Horus space marines by "Games Workshop". I'm continually looking for 'quick wins' with these plastic multi-part figures as I have an incredible number more to paint, so have been experimenting on these three to see whether completing the traitors' "Vallejo" Gold shoulder-pads, knee-pads and belt buckles first will makes things quicker in the long run...

"The Cyber Controller Can Decide Their Fate."

"Alert the guard. They must not enter Cyber Control alive."

These 28mm metal model is manufactured by "Black Tree Design" and is available as DW517 - Cyberleader from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. "Evolved so that he looked and operated like the current army of Cybermen", this single-cast figure is mislabelled as it clearly resembles the Telos Cyber Controller from Paula Moore's 1985 television story "Attack Of The Cybermen".

Undercoated using my now usual mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the unemotional cyborgs' "ultimate mastermind" was subsequently treated to a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Threat. Stop."

I then set to work on simply 'picking out' the Cyber Controller's central chest piece with a tiny dollop of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and the energy ring of his hand-blaster using a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red. Furthermore, I attempted to contrast the firearm's metal from that of the silver Cyberman himself by giving it a (second) coat of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, so as to help darken it down.

With my latest (somewhat underwhelmingly sized) "Doctor Who" figure finished, I have also managed to 'polish off' a pair of the Penzance-based company's 28mm metal spherical robots as well. Available as DW120 - Mechanoid, these "match for the Daleks" made their first appearance in Terry Nation's 1965 six-parter "The Chase", and were largely pigmented in much the same way as the Cyberman.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Early days yet on these two Mounted Simians

Moving across to "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", following my recent re-watching of Franklin J. Schaffner's 1968 science fiction film "Planet Of The Apes", I've additionally started working on a few Simian Minions for "7TV". One of the most frustrating aspects of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) has always been that any entries (understandably) need to be both started and finished during the event's time span, so I've been frustrated from properly working on these particular miniatures for a few months.

Now the AHPC is finished, at least for me, I've collected quite a few of these partially-painted Gorillas from my backlog, dusted them down, and begun progressing them. I actually own a frightening number of these classic looking post-apocalypse soldiers. But thought I'd start with a couple of horse riders, whose sculpts appear to have been taken straight from one of the earliest scenes of the $20,825,000-making motion picture...

"Stop. Follow. Follow."

"English. Enter. Enter. Zero. Stop."

These three 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and are available as DW120 - Mechanoid from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. "Originally built by humans to help colonise worlds", the spherical robots made their first appearance in Terry Nation's 1965 six-parter "The Chase".

As the automatons came in two separate pieces, they first had their rather delicate flame guns super-glued in place, before receiving an undercoat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. They were then treated to a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - This Cyber-scout has been primed, layered, dry-brushed and shaded

At this stage the Mechanoids could easily have be called 'done' to be honest. But I always remember the "match for the Daleks" as looking a bit more imposing and interesting - especially as their appearances within the colourful comic book pages of "TV Century 21" are forever etched upon my memory. Resultantly, I decided to at least add a little bit of extra detail to the rather roughly-hewn castings, by 'picking out' all their forward-facing vents and those around their antenna, with some extra "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Disappointingly though, the "Games Workshop" Shade didn't really darken down the various triangular-shaped panels much at all. So in the end I gave the grills a splosh of the "Citadel" Contrast paint Black Templar - which seemed to at least somewhat replicate the look of the Mechanoids from the colourised photographs I'd seen taken during the story's filming; albeit they also appear to give the robots a blue-tint.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - A trio of Sea Devils which are close to completion

Staying with both "Doctor Who" and "Black Tree Design", I've taken one of the Cybermen models I had been planning on simply pigmenting "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and instead attempted to 'mark it out' as one of the Cyber-Controller's dark-hued Scouts from the Sixth Doctor serial "Attack Of The Cybermen". This single figure has proved quite a fun little project, as the predominantly black cyborg's hand-blaster was an entirely different colour to his silver giant brethren too.

Lastly, I'm finally close to getting three more of the company's classic Sea Devil sculpts ready for the table-top. I'm especially keen to complete these Jon Pertwee monsters as it'll mean I've (once again) attained 500-points worth of finished figures for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge AHPC) - on paper at least - and can resultantly start focusing upon the models which I only managed to get half-done late last year before the AHPC started.

"l'm Sure We Can Reason With Them."

"Want to bet on it?"

These three 28mm scale Uranian Royal Guards are produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be brought either individually or as part of the four-figure set SKU: DEAL 367. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniatures are clearly inspired by the mask-wearing minions who escort a certain American football star to his execution in Mike Hodges' 1980 science-fiction movie "Flash Gordon"

Undercoated using plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, the legionnaires were drowned in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I then 'picked out' the troopers' footwear and belts using some pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before applying a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to their firearms.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - These Mechanoids have been primed, base-layered and shaded

As with the squad's previously-pigmented leader, I later gave all the soldiers' gloves a layer of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion and shade of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Lastly, I dabbed some "Vallejo" Gold across each model's belt buckle and death mask, and subsequently darkened these areas down with a splash or two of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

With my latest "Flash Gordon" models made tabletop ready, I have turned my attention to five Mechanoids I ordered directly from "Black Tree Design" way back in August 2020. Originally, I had planned on buying quite a few of these classic "Doctor Who" monsters, as they were initially 'sold' to the British Broadcasting Corporation's viewing public as a serious rival for the hugely-popular Daleks. But upon arrival I found the multi-piece castings to be disappointingly small when compared to their television and comic book appearances during the mid-Sixties.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - These Space Marines are having their metallic areas 'picked out'

Resultantly, I've simply powered through them so I might attain my annual 500-point target for this year's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) - on paper at least, seeing as I decided to depart the event early. Once completed I might still pick up a few more of the somewhat rough-looking models, as I'd rather like to paint them in the predominantly red and blue colour schemes some of the modern-day fan art seems to favour, and at least then field a semi-reasonable size of them.

Finally, I'm about halfway to finishing all the metallics on three plastic Sons Of Horus space marines by "Games Workshop", which I plan to complete within the next few days. I've yet to dry-brush the traitors' "Vallejo" Gold shoulder-pads, knee-pads and belt buckles - always the messiest part of my technique for painting them - but once done I can then focus on simply cleaning the miniatures up whilst simultaneously picking out the odd breathing tube or power cable...

"This Ming Is A Psycho."

 "Halt Lizardman. Escape Is Impossible. Surrender."

This 28mm scale metal Major Domo Drone is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be brought as part of the company's SKU: DEAL 243 Maguffin Objective Markers Two. Intended to be used as a scenic objective marker for the "7TV" rules, I felt the miniature would be put to better use as an actual tabletop model instead. Indeed, the floating metal sycophant's sculpt is clearly influenced by Emperor Ming's mechanical bodyguard as seen in Mike Hodges' 1980 science-fiction movie "Flash Gordon".

The robot was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being base-layered in Gold. It was then treated to a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gold, and later highlighted even further with a little Silver. The deadly machine's four eyes were simply dotted with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and a splodge of "Vallejo" Heavy Red.

 "Black Tree Design" WIPs - This Cyberleader has been primed, base-coated, shaded and dry-brushed

As a result of viewing some film footage of the Drone I decided to pick out its base using a combination of "Vallejo" Bronze and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, I applied a few coats of White Star by "Two Thin Coats" to its flying stem, shaded it with "Vallejo" Pale Grey, and lastly gave it a rough dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star.

With the latest of my "Flash Gordon" figures finished, I've turned my attention back to some additional old "Doctor Who" castings by "Black Tree Design". Despite having left the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) early, I'm still really keen to attain my annual 500-point tally - even if it is only on paper this year. Resultantly, I've identified a number of potential 'quick wins' which should prove reasonably straightforward to pigment, and this Cyberleader is one such miniature.

 "Games Workshop" WIPs - Early days on these Sons of Horus Space Marines

Unfortunately though, it isn't the greatest of sculpts by any means, and actually supposedly portrays the physically formidable Cyber-Controller from the January 1985 television story "Attack Of The Cybermen". The detail is disconcertingly squishy with the Telosian cyborg arguably only being two-thirds the height of its fellow Cybermen - which I've been painting alongside it.

In addition, I have begun working on the first three of ten Sons Of Horus Space Marines I aim to get finished this month. Having already painted approximately twenty of this traitorous fellows in the past my technique for getting them tabletop ready is pretty solid, so I'm hopeful I'll be able to plough through the entire squad without too many hurdles or mishaps...

"It Had The General Shape Of A Man."

"Yet it's body was covered in green scales, and its face was that of a snout-nosed reptile."

This pair of 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and are available as part of the 'exclusive' seven-figure strong box DW1015 Sea Devils from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Responsible for the destruction of the S.S. Pevensey Castle, the "Sea Lizards" made their first appearance in Malcolm Hulke's 1972 six-parter "The Sea Devils".

Both models were originally treated to a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before having their string vests layered in "Vallejo" Verdigris. The clothing was then drenched in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and brusquely highlighted, courtesy of a rough dry-brush with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - This Cyberman is slowly being transformed into a Cyberleader

The Sea Devils' webbed feet, arms and heads were later painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst their belts were carefully 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded in "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Lastly, the two classic monsters' hand-guns were treated to a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a splosh of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Originally, I had considered submitting these creatures from the BBC Television programme's Ninth Season into the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as another attempt to 'qualify' for its Challenge Library's Local History bonus - due to the Jon Pertwee six-parter being largely filmed locally around Portsmouth, H.M. Naval Base Portsmouth, and No Man's Land Fort. However, having now left the AHPC, I've instead simply added them to my increasingly large Silurian/Sea Devil force, with another nine of the partially-pigmented sculpts waiting in the wings.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Early days on three Alien Legionnaires

Sticking with both "Doctor Who" and "Black Tree Design", a recent re-watching of probably my favourite Sixth Doctor serial "Attack Of The Cybermen" has caused me to start working on a handful of Cyberman Firing sculpts. The detail on these cyborgs is rather soft. But as I would still like to achieve my 500-point tally for the AHPC, at least on paper, I feel the figures should prove a quick, straightforward project.

In addition though, I have made a little progress on some Alien Legionnaires by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". These "gas-masked goons" are part of a much larger "Flash Gordon" flavoured backlog I fully intend to chip away at over the next several months, and should give my recently finished Ruthless Lieutenant (General Kala) some additional Villainous Extras to field for some future games of "7TV"...