"This Is A Public Announcement."

"Flash Gordon is to be executed."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be brought either individually as SKU: MINI 1293 Uranian Royal Guard B, or as part of the four-figure set SKU: DEAL 367. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly influenced by one of Emperor Ming's guards who escort a certain Earthling to his execution in Mike Hodges' 1980 science-fiction movie "Flash Gordon"

Primed using a double-helping of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, the legionnaire was drenched in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I then 'picked out' the trooper's footwear and belts using some pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before pigmenting his hand-weapon in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes awaiting their flesh to be applied

Originally, I had planned to keep all of the guard's costume the same colour. But I then noticed in the film that their gloves were a slightly different shade, so gave them a lick of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion (and splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson) instead. Finally, I dabbed some "Vallejo" Gold across the model's belt buckle and death mask, and later shaded these areas with a dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Alongside this latest addition to my "Flash Gordon" project I have also managed to make a little more progress on the Lincolnshire-based company's four resin Magma Apes. In the past I've usually drowned my fur-based figures with an appropriate shade once the base layer has dried, and subsequently dry-brushed it so as to provide some rough highlights. However, for this quartet of (not) Mugato, I don't plan on applying this technique until after all their claws and areas of bare flesh are properly painted.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - A trio of Sea Devils at various stages of completion

Furthermore, I've made some slight 'in-roads' with a few more 28mm Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". I must confess to finding these classic "Doctor Who" monsters somewhat hard-going these days, with my enthusiasm for the BBC Television series waning in favour of other science fiction franchises - such as "Flash Gordon".

However, that hasn't stopped me trying to break up the monotony of the similarly-sculpted aquatic Silurians, by adding a few samurai-looking warriors of Elite Group One into the mix. Despite recently leaving the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) early, I'm still quite keen on painting enough miniatures to 'attain' my annual 500-point tally, and hope that these figures will help carry me over that personal threshold before the event's deadline in the middle of March...