"An Unusual Mutant..."

 "...Whose simian physique was apparent at birth."

This 40mm scale model of Beast is made by "CoolMiniOrNot” and is one of six super-heroes found inside the Marvel United: X-Men Starter Box. Based upon the comic book character Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy created by Stan Lee and Jack "King" Kirby in September 1963, the figure is produced in a light(ish) blue hard plastic, and was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and Heavy Blue.

The founding member of the X-Men was then layered in pure "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, before being drenched in plenty of "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I next carefully 'picked out' the hairy mutant's belt with a couple of coats of Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats", and ensured that any flat areas still allowing some of the "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to show through were subsequently given a lick of "Two Thin Coats" White Star.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Iron Man has been layered, shaded and dry-brushed

The belt was later given a second coat of Skulker Yellow or two, a serious splosh of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and finally highlighted with some thin lines of (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow. I also considered trying to somehow plonk a litle "Vallejo" Heavy Red onto the Beast's belt buckle. But in the end thought it was wisest (and certainly easiest) to simply pigment the fastener with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Having completed the majority of Hank McCoy's colours, I began picking out his piercing eyes and pointed teeth with some careful spots of White Star by "Two Thin Coats", as well as his tongue in "Vallejo" Heavy Red. These wonderfully sculpted details were ultimately shaded in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade or Carroburg Crimson as appropriate.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Beast is now ready for his tiny details to be 'picked out' 

Moving over to a super-hero model found inside the Marvel United Core Box, I've made some significant in-roads on my 'stripped' Iron Man. This figure has been increasingly problematic for me in the past, as I never found myself happy with whatever red paint I pigmented Tony Stark's armour with. However, I'm now pretty happy with a thinned down layer of "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red over some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, so am finally focusing on 'cutting in' all the Avenger's gold panels now.

In addition, I didn't want to fully turn my back on my massive Zombicide backlog either, so thought I might as well slap some colours on my Beast miniature for that co-operative boardgame by "CoolMiniOrNot" too. The palette is slightly different to Hank McCoy's 'bigger brother' and the sculpt is obviously in an entirely different scale as well, so working on this particular X-Man hasn't thankfully felt too similar to working on his completed Marvel United incarnation...