"I'll Tell You What's Wrong With It."

 "It's dead, that's what's wrong with it."

This 32mm scale plastic model of a stuffed Norwegian Blue parrot is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” as part of their Monty Python's Flying Circus expansion for "Zombicide", and was sculpted by "Big Child Creatives". Described in the boxed game's pre-order advertisement as an "undead parrot" who on "an unlucky roll" can "quickly make you an unlucky survivor", the lifeless figure clearly represents John Cleese's famous dead pet from the British comedy series' most famous sketch.  

Mistakenly seen as having "passed on, ceased to be, expired and gone to meet its maker", the undead playing piece was simply undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being layered with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. The large, prone bird was then shaded using "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to bring out all of its fantastic feathers.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - The Spanish Inquisition have been shaded with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson

I next applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the parrot's feet, and beak, as well as some White Star by "Two Thin Coats" to its exposed rib-cage, and facial plumage. The bones were later treated to a couple of splodges of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and a smidgeon of heavily watered-down Flesh Tearers Red. To add some 'shading' to the white feathers - albeit these too would later be 'bloodied up' with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson - I carefully gave them a lick of strongly diluted "Two Thin Coats" Carchardon Grey, and subsequently 'picked out' the dead bird's throat area using a combination of Skulker Yellow and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

Lastly, I dotted the miniature's eyes with (more) Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats" and subsequently made them a bit more gory by splodging them, alongside a few other parts of the parrot, with both "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Flesh Tearers Red. The model's base was then treated to my usual colour combination of "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Knight with a Raw Chicken is slowly having his details 'picked out'. 

In addition to this deceased pet bird, I have also made a little more progress on my three members of the Spanish Inquisition by giving Cardinal Ximénez, Cardinal Biggles and Cardinal Fang a generous shading of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. I'm actually hoping that this wash, alongside a future dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, will do most of the heavy-lifting on these figures, and let me just 'pick out' a few fine details before they're tabletop ready.

Furthermore, I've started paying attention to the boxed set's survivors and finished working on the suit of armour adorning the 'Knight with a Raw Chicken'. The "poultry paladin" still needs his gambeson (or arming doublet) to be pigmented, along with a few gold embellishments on his chest plate. But hopefully these can be done in short(ish) order...

"A Terrible Menace Is Afoot."

 "A foot. Get it..?"

This 32mm scale plastic model of 'The Foot' is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” as part of their Monty Python's Flying Circus expansion for "Zombicide". An impressive 80mm in length, and 60mm tall, the miniature was sculpted by "Big Child Creatives" and represents Cupid's Foot from the title sequence of the 1969 "British surreal sketch comedy series." 

"A constant threat hanging over the Survivors' heads", the boardgame piece was primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Skintone, before being completely plastered in (pure) Heavy Skintone. It was then drowned in "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and thoroughly dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

"The robot protects Sheeta from the army and destroys the fortress with its weapons."

The toenails and protruding leg bone were both originally 'picked out' with some White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and darkened down using some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson respectively. Finally, both were slightly lightened back up with a careful dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star, and given a cheeky glaze of heavily watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade or Carroburg Crimson as appropriate.

Alongside the Foot, I have also finished a third 28mm scale Laputian Robot Trooper crafted by "Big Mr Tong" and downloaded for free as part of a five-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the giant mechanical bodyguards depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - The Spanish Inquisition have been primed "Vallejo" Heavy Red

The figure was first undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being coated in Decayed Metal by "Scale 75". It was then drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. Furthermore, its face plate was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst the Laputian royal family crest on its chest was singled out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Lastly, I have started priming the three members of the Spanish Inquisition also found inside the Monty Python’s Flying Circus boxed set. Heavily based upon the likenesses of actors Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, this "dastardly" trio should provide something of a welcome contrast to the predominantly black-coloured quartet of Silly Walkers I've recently started working on...

"When Not Tending To The Needs Of The Laputian Family..."

"...The robots are in charge of maintaining Laputa."

This 28mm scale Laputian Robot Trooper was sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a five-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the giant mechanical bodyguards depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"Constructed out of an extremely strong, dark armour", the 107mm tall figure was primed in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being coated in Decayed Metal by "Scale 75". It was then drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. Furthermore, its face plate was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Foot just needs some washes and a final dry-brush

Lastly, the Heavenly Trooper's crest of the Laputian royal family was patiently picked out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and shaded with a dollop of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. This is actually one of two "Big Mr Tong" 3D prints I started working on for Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" event, so I'm planning on getting the other super-tall automaton finished over the next few days.

Alongside my latest Laputian Robot Trooper I have also 'broken the back' of the giant plastic Foot found inside Monty Python’s Flying Circus for Zombicide 2nd Edition. This rather impressive sculpt by "CoolMiniOrNot" has proved quite a nice, straightforward painting project, and definitely helped me rekindle the flagging flame I've had for the hobby in recent weeks - even if I'd have preferred the top of the miniature to have been slightly hollowed out as opposed to having a piece of the leg-bone sticking out.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - These Silly Walkers have been undercoated and dry-brushed

I've also made a little progress on the expansion box's quartet of suited Silly Walkers. I was initially contemplating working on these wonderfully humorous figures as a single batch. But have since changed my mind, and will instead simply tackle them one at a time - using the first model as a test piece for the predominantly black palette I've chosen.

This option will also provide me with an opportunity to throw something else 'into the mix' should the urge take me, and resultantly keep my enthusiasm for the project fresh. Indeed, I've already gritted the bases on several more of the models from the Monty Python’s Flying Circus expansion, including a certain dead pet bird with a curved beak and clawed feet...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "CoolMiniOrNot" June 2024

"There’s a zombie plague spreading throughout the populace."

After the utterly lack-lustre past four weeks, it seems clear that my current hobby mojo is still at one of its all-time lows. Happily however, I've recently received my pre-ordered copy of Monty Python’s Flying Circus for Zombicide 2nd Edition by "CoolMiniOrNot", complete with its exclusive Gumby Pack. These "nonsensical creations from the classic television show" have really helped re-enthuse me to once again pick up the painting brush, so for the next month I thought I'd simply plod through the two boxes of figures, and see what it leads to.

Starting with something hopefully rather straightforward, I thought I'd tackle the large plastic Foot which apparently acts as a persistent threat to the survivors in the boardgame. Sculpted by "Big Child Creatives", I've actually super-glued the model to a plastic oval "Citadel" base, to better protect its paint-job, and given it a prime using a combination of "Vallejo" Leather Brown Surface Primer and Heavy Skintone.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Foot has been primed, base-layered and washed

In addition, I've gritted the bases and undercoated the expansion's quartet of suited Silly Walkers. Again, these predominantly black-coloured miniatures should be quite easy to get tabletop ready, and help me regain some momentum as I get back into the hobby. I was thinking about possibly pigmenting each fellow's briefcase a different colour to slightly mark them out - albeit having seen the 'official' paintjobs online I'll probably just stick to them all being brown.

Lastly, I haven't completely forgotten about the pair of 28mm scale Laputian Robot Troopers by "Big Mr Tong" I started working on for Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" event. Obviously, these super-tall automatons are a little late in getting finished. But I'm still determined to get them ready for varnishing as quickly as I can, and maybe even produce another couple of models once I start using my Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer again.

May 2024 - No change at the top considering I only painted a single figure all month long

Obviously, having experienced my second least productive month ever, my painting area is still awash with all sorts of half-started or barely begun projects. With my current goal just to potter through the Monty Python’s Flying Circus box, I strongly doubt any of these will see much if any attention soon, and in all likelihood, quite a few may well find themselves back in one of 'drawers of doom' - destined not to see daylight for a good month or more.

I am though pretty confident I can polish off a few of these "CoolMiniOrNot" miniatures, and am already eyeing a few of the Marvel Zombicide models I undercoated at the start of the year. These might make a welcome break from the comedic sculpts I'm currently facing, and maybe even me convince me to get the cooperative boardgame out for a spin - something which ordinarily always helps motivate me to slap some figures with a paint-brush...