"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"...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Games Workshop” March 2024

"The Horus Heresy is a dark, far future military space opera."

Following my early departure from the Fourteenth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), I figured this month may well provide an ideal opportunity to finish the last ten Sons Of Horus tactical Space Marines I need to fill out for my Traitor Legion's 500-point core force. I've actually got a few other partially-pigmented "Games Workshop" plastic figures to polish off too, including the army's Praetor and Esoterist Consul. But my main mission will be to get my (old) Mark IV armoured warriors completed and finally on the battlefield ready for some games.

To do this I'm planning on stepping away from my tried and trusted method of 'base layer/shade/dry-brush' in favour of leaving the final wash and rough highlights until the very end. This cunning notion should save me some significant time whenever I make a mistake by catching my brush tip on an armoured leg or arm, as in the past its resulted in my painstakingly redoing all of the above stages again - repairs which never quite look right despite my best efforts to blend the re-painted area back in with its surroundings.

"But they kill for survival, food, self-defence."

In addition though, I do still aim to finish off many of the miniatures I had set aside for the AHPC and its Challenge Library bonus points. One such potential entry (for the Science Fiction section) were five more 15mm alien models by "Ground Zero Games". Available as code SG15-X01 Xenomorphs, the six-figure pack contains two similar(ish) poses, and are clearly based upon H.R. Giger's famous extra-terrestrial killers from Ridley Scott's 1979 science fiction horror flick "Alien".

Ordinarily, I usually tackle 15mm miniatures individually on wooden sticks. However, on this occasion they were all permanently placed upon a "Battlefront Miniatures" large plastic base, before being primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. The deadly creatures were then enthusiastically dry-brushed "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, and darkened back down with a positive drowning in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

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

There's probably little doubt that the last four weeks have not seen me at my most productive - largely due to my disenchantment with the AHPC and subsequent decision to take some time away from the painting table once I'd left the event. But I did still manage to rattle off a good few figures from my "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" backlog, as well as some more "Doctor Who" models by "Black Tree Design".

Looking to the imminent future, I aim to get many more science-fiction figures finished from both these manufacturers, as I've finally managed to start playing the latest incarnation of "7TV" and want to set several campaigns in the worlds of "Flash Gordon", "V", Planet Of The Apes" and "Doctor Who". Add this to my primary goal of getting another Space Marine squad completed, and all this enthusiasm bodes well for a busy time to be had...