"The Ned Kelly Gang Were Bushrangers..."

"...Who terrorised the population of the north-eastern district of Victoria, Australia, from 1878 to 1880."

These three 28mm scale metal models are sold by “Great Escape Games", and form part of their DMHG-NED - Kelly Gang five-figure set for Dead Man's Hand. Sculpted by Mark Evans, this box actually contains one more member of the gang than historically existed, and doesn't seemingly identify any specific miniature as representing either Joe Byrne or Steve Hart.

Having been bought a "Salute" 2019, and partially-pigmented around that time, my biggest hurdle with these outlaws was whether I could identify (and match) the colours I originally used on their long coats. In the end I just gave their base layers a good soaking in "Citadel" Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade (as appropriate" and then went with whatever "Vallejo" paint I felt would work so as to bring out all the creases, pockets and buttons.

"The Kelly Gang members were declared outlaws, liable to be shot on sight."

As a result, one jacket received a dry-brush of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, another of Charred Brown, and the third with Desert Yellow. I next painted either their shoes or trousers with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and left the remaining boots and pants pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I also took this opportunity to carefully 'pick out' the criminals' hands with some "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and a highlight of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

Lastly, I treated all of the bushranger's infamous 6mm thick iron armour and firearms with a lick of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and shaded it using "Citadel" Nuln Oil. As with the group's other members, I felt the re-shaped plough mouldboards would look better without any actual highlights, so simply left them all be. Though I did decide to 'catch' all the pistol butts with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPS - The last of my Soviet NBC Troopers are on the painting table

With the entire Kelly Gang now completed, I have found the time to continue working on my third plastic bag of 28mm Russian NBC troopers by "Athena Miniatures". Due to already painting eight of these gas-mask wearing Soviet invaders, I thought I'd take the opportunity with this quartet to see if I can speed up my process by not bothering to 'line' around their rubber gloves and boots until after I've base-layered and washed those areas.

I probably now own enough British Squaddies, Spetsnaz, and various Apocalypse Survivors to keep me going until the end of the year, so don't plan on adding anything new to this project until everything - including a Landrover Mark III - is tabletop ready. However, having been in regular contact with company owner John Caboche, and heard of his future plans for this range, I've got my eye on "Colours" 2025 as a particularly optimistic deadline...