"The Origins Of The Robots Employed By The Imperium..."

"...Harken back to the earliest days of Human technology."

This stand of three 15mm miniatures by "Alternative Armies" comes from their "The Ion Age" code IAF081 Taranis Runner Drones, and consists of two Field Repair Drones and a single Transmission Jammer Drone. The sculpts are designed to be used with the company’s “Patrol Angis” rule-set, and provide additional support for the heavily armoured Taranis Tank. However, I’ve both based and painted mine so they can be used as a (proxy) unit of (close combat) Imperial Robots for a home-brew game I've somewhat loosely based within the early Warhammer 30k/40k universe.

Due to wanting this particular trio to form part of my (not) Crimson Fists force, the models were initially primed using a couple of coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and subsequently base-layered in "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I then carefully pigmented their mechanical legs and arms with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal, before absolutely drowning each model in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The figures' limbs were later dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"He is our shield and our protector!"

At this stage I was actually somewhat tempted to leave the basic colour scheme alone. However, as these particular robots were supposed to form part of "a Second Founding Successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists Legion", I thought I'd make that a bit more noticeable by applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson to the Field Repair Drones' claws. This would (hopefully) tie them in with the Crimson Fists, and also mark them out as the deadly hand-to-hand combatants I was planning to use them as.

As a final touch, I decided to patiently 'pick out' all their optic sensors using either Skulker Yellow or Ethereal Green by "Two Thin Coats". These areas were then shaded with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade or Biel-Tan Green as appropriate. I also used a smidgeon of "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Vallejo" Pale Grey to create the illusion that all three mechanical monstrosities had head-lamps.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - (Yet) Another member of the Moscow Militia being progressed

In addition to my current obsession with proxying "The Ion Age" range for my own nefarious designs, I am continuing to work on more 28mm Napoleonic Russians by “Wargames Foundry" - namely from their RN043 Moscow Militia with Muskets blister. Last year I disappointingly fell badly short of my goal to paint at least forty-eight of their Black Powder miniatures (working on the plan of painting just four a month), so am absolutely determined to get back on schedule for a similar roadmap throughout 2025.

Resultantly, on paper I should have at least sixteen new additions battlefield ready by the end of this month, and unfortunately at this present time I can only boast of three. To try and make up this ground, I now intend to focus on just coalition soldiers for the next few weeks, and probably wade through some of the Emperor's Frenchmen in May. I'm also going to focus on four-figure tiny units, so I don't get too bored with repeatedly putting my brush-tip to the same old cuffs and straps - something which quickly drains my enthusiasm for the period full-stop...

"Unlike Regular Army Regiments..."

"...The Opolcheniye was composed of civilian volunteers."

This 28mm scale metal model is sold by “Wargames Foundry", and can be bought as part of their RN043 Moscow Militia with Muskets set. The miniature is one of eight Napoleonic Russian soldiers sculpted by Alan Perry found in the blister, and is based upon the peasant masses who historically would rise up "in response to foreign invasions or internal turmoil."

Initially eager to follow this figure's official paint-job as per the Newark-based manufacturer's website, I primed him with a double dose of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and subsequently applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to his trousers. I then applied plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Green to the fellow's winter jacket, and gave the lower half a splosh or two of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Another member of the Moscow Militia on the painting table

However, I wasn't terribly impressed with how the Shade looked, so after a moment's hesitation, I decided to give the coat a good dose of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade instead. This seemed to work much better, and I finished the garment off with a well-placed dry-brushed of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green to help bring out its folds. I also took the opportunity at this time to carefully trace out the Russian's waist sash with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red, and darkened it down using some "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

For the Militiaman's bedroll I used some "Two Thin Coats" Cold Corpse Blue, and plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst his musket (and bayonet) were treated to either a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna or Gunmetal depending if the part was supposed to be wood or metal. These areas were later drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade or Nuln Oil as appropriate.

"Alternative Armies" WIPs - Early days on a pair of Retained Knights

The biggest issue I had with this figure was working out where the chap's moustache actually was on his face, as at first I thought the model's detail actually showed him to have a beard (despite what "Wargames Foundry) painted photograph showed. In the end though, after a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade over "Vallejo" Heavy Skintome, I finally saw where it was, and thus applied a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to the soldier's "lampshade".

Alongside my 'big' Napoleonic project push this month, I'm also keen to add some reinforcements to my collection of pigmented "Alternative Armies" 15mm miniatures. Taken from their "The Ion Age" range, I've decided to add a character base to my (not) Blood Angels force, using a figure taken from blister IAFL01 Hackett and Tasker, and one from IAF008 Retained Knight Post Charlie. To be honest, this will probably be the first of quite few models to come over the following few weeks, as a quick trip into my garage recently revealed a shoe-sized cardboard box packed full of more vehicles, robots and buildings by the Scotland-based company...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Wargames Foundry" April 2025

"During the Napoleonic era, bears primarily appear in historical contexts as symbols in art and political cartoons."

With my self-imposed Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge (PPPP) now over, and a number of old half-finished figures tabletop ready as a result, I thought I'd spend this month once again ploughing on with my rather large collection of unpainted 28mm metal Napoleonic figures by "Wargames Foundry". To be honest I'm already quite a way behind with my Black Powder goals for this year, as I've only completed two of the twelve miniatures I promised myself I'd have done at this point in 2025, so dedicating at least four weeks worth of hobby-time to some flintlock-bearing fusiliers should be a good way of getting the long-term project back on track.

To begin with I'm planning on pigmenting at least enough Moscow Militia with Muskets to field a small unit of Narodnoe Opolcheniye (four models), and add them to my Coalition forces. I was actually rather naughty this past October on "eBay" as I splurged on a twenty-eight man Russian Infantry battalion auction I spotted, so really need to start making some in-roads into these Alan Perry sculpts sooner rather than later.

"Alternative Armies" WIPs - This trio of Taranis Runner Drones are almost finished

I'm also blatantly aware that apart from a few 95th Rifles and accompanying officer, my consortium of Napoleon Bonaparte's enemies isn't at all flush of British miniatures. Much of this deficit is largely due to how badly intimidated I am by the formidable palette needed for Redcoats, and an aversion to anything tartan. However, I think I may well now have some basic colour schemes which will help 'get me over this hump', and allow me to get a fair few of King George III's men battle ready.

Furthermore, I still hope to tinker with some of the remaining 15mm science fiction figures I didn't quite finish for my PPPP. These all came from The Ion Age range by "Alternative Armies", and shouldn't take too long to add to my already quite significant (not) Rogue Trader armies. Indeed, I'm actually tempted to dig out a few more of these old(ish) models to help fill out some of my different forces' more specialist units - particularly their characters.

March 2025 - Two new entries have stormed up into the leaderboard

Historically, the last four or so weeks have always been one of my most productive times and this year was absolutely no exception. A good deal of this success was undoubtedly due to my sudden descent into the Dead Man's Hand range of Wild West gunslingers by "Great Escape Games", and determination to work through some more Russian NBC Troopers by "Athena Miniatures" - albeit not anywhere near as many as I had intended. The big surprise though was the blister-load of "Pendraken Miniatures" 10mm Falklands British soldiers I patiently picked away at over time, and I'm rather hoping I can do something similar with the rest of the Army Pack for this month too.

What will be interesting is whether or not my productivity will now nosedive, seeing as I didn't participate in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), and so shouldn't be suffering from any gaming fatigue. Annually, this waning interest in 'applying a brush tip to a model' is always a big disappointment to me, so I am keen to avoid such lethargy this time round, and maybe get a few battles in to help fuel my enthusiasm for the various projects I want to progress...