"I'm Afraid The Myrka Takes Quite A Lot To Impress."

"The creature's in, sir, and our weapons are useless against it."

This 46mm long metal miniature of a "large species of reptile used by the Silurians for heavy backup in times of war" is produced by “Black Tree Design", and can be bought as Code DW509 Myrka from the manufacturer's "Doctor Who" miniatures range. A 'modified descendant of a unique species of dinosaur', the deep-sea creature first appeared in Johnny Byrne's January 1984 BBC Television story "Warriors Of The Deep" and was only finished "about an hour before it was scheduled to be used" by its two puppeteers on set.

The Myrka was first super-glued onto a "Citadel" 75 x 42mm oval base, primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, and drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. It was then heavily dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green, so as to bring out the detail of its thick, rubbery skin and "large webbed feet", before being washed with plenty of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - These Sea Devils are slowly having their flesh 'picked out'

Described by very unhappy Byrne as a "four-legged beast on loan from Panto-Horses-Are-Us", the hefty model was treated to a second (and final) dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before having its "wide, pale eyes" 'picked out' using a combination of White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, the reptiles' base was gritted with fine modelling sand, undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, dry-brushed in Doombull Brown and Rakarth Flesh, and subsequently washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

With my latest contribution to the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, including an additional bonus 20-points for tying my entry in with the Challenge Library's Maritime section - despite my minions doubts as to its eligibility, I've also managed to 'crack on' with five "Black Tree Design" Sea Devils. These figures come in two poses, and are just a few of many Reptillia Sapiens I have discovered which I aim to get pigmented before the AHPC concludes in March.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Howard Quartz has been primed, base-coated, shaded and dry-brushed

Furthermore, I'm rather pleased to have finally got my hands on "Warlord Games" All In Launch Collection of their "A.B.C. Warriors" tabletop game. To be perfectly honest I'd ordinarily rip such a delivery wide open, assemble a load of its miniatures, and then frustratingly shelve the entire undertaking as I increasingly became overwhelmed by the magnitude of the unpainted figures before me. This time round though, I aim to do things a little differently, by simply working on a lone figure or two in between my other planned projects.

To that end I have just based the deal's Howard Quartz 'Mr Ten per cent' special sculpt, and intend to complete Ro-Busters' owner before opening another blister or box. Of course, the Nottingham-based company have just announced the pre-order for this range's second wave, so I might have to push myself to get the likes of Mongrol, Blackblood and Hammerstein finished within the next couple of months, simply so I can justify to myself the purchase of these upcoming additional models...

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