"I Call It Making An Affray."

"I must ask you to come down the station with me."

This 28mm metal single-cast figure is sold by by "Black Tree Design" and is available as Code DW415 - Victorian Policeman from their "Doctor Who" range. The model is based upon the various constables seen in Robert Holmes' 1977 BBC Television story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang". But I like to think of him as actor Conrad Asquith's character PC Quick, who would go on to many further adventures in the "Big Finish" audio spin-off series "Jago And Litefoot".

Originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the "Peeler" was treated to a couple of layers of "Two Thin Coats" Marine Blue and a good dousing in Oblivion Black Wash. He was then enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) Marine Blue by "Two Thin Coats", before having all of his buttons and belt buckle spotted in "Vallejo" Gold and a smidgeon of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - Sea Devils undercoated in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black & Verdigris

The British Bobby's cape chain and helmet badge were later 'picked out' with a little "Two Thin Coats" Sir Coates Silver and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst the Policeman's wooden truncheon was given a blanket of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I also traced along the lines of the stout fellow's facial mutton chops with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

Due to my close proximity to Portsmouth Central Police Station, which was actually established (in Albert Road) during 1872, I had hoped my Nineteenth Century Policeman would be ideal for the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) and its Challenge Library's Local History section. Frustratingly though, my scoring minion felt otherwise, so having been denied the same twenty bonus points with two different entries, I have subsequently decided to 'bow out' of the AHPC early for my own sanity's sake.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes awaiting base layers and washes

Despite my grumblings with the AHPC, my hobby mojo has remained high enough to continue progressing nine more Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". I had intended to use these figures to trial a new(ish) way of soldiering on through a number of models simultaneously. But disappointingly, my recent visits to the painting table have not been as frequent as planned, and resultantly my cunning plan is already well behind schedule.

Somewhat encouragingly though, I have also managed to base and prime a quartet of resin Magma Apes by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". Originally, I'd been thinking of doing them in a similar palette to the company's much larger 50mm Arena Beast - which I recently started working on too. However, I'm now more inclined to go with the 'official' paint-job, and give them all a white fur look similar to that of a Mugato from the original Sixties "Star Trek" television series...