(Lead) Mountain Musings - Monster May(hem) 2025

"In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the term monster refers to a variety of creatures."

Having taken a few weeks sabbatical from my hobby table, I thought I would step back into my painting and wargaming 'guns a blazing', and take up Angry Piper's invitation to join his annual "Monster May(hem)" monthly challenge over on the "Dead Dick's Tavern and Temporary Lodging" blog. Resultantly, I have dusted down a few intimidatingly large models which have been unceremoniously side-lined over the years, as well as selected a few (semi-new) miniatures I may well assemble/paint alongside them.

In addition, I fully intend to crack on with a number of partially-pigmented Napoleonic figures I was toying with just last month. Indeed, whilst I aim to get a few "big and mean" monsters completed for the aforementioned non-competitive contest, my main aim over the next four or so weeks is to at least get a couple more (tiny) units tabletop ready for my "Black Powder" Coalition forces. This should then encourage me to work on a similar number of the Emperor Bonaparte's soldiers throughout June (and maybe July too).

"Terrorist! Kill him!"

Speaking of long-running projects, I have completed another 28mm metal figure by "Athena Miniatures" from their Apocalypse Survivors range. This particular sculpt is from the company's AS12 Russian NBC four-figure set, and is the eleventh such soldier I've got tabletop ready since first encountering the Swindon-based manufacturer at "Warfare" 2024. 

As with all the other Soviet Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence troopers, the model was initially undercoated using a couple of layers of “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, and shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The 'invader' was then dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII so as to bring out all the folds/creases in his rubber suit, and subsequently had his buttons/rifle butt 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

April 2025 - A less than productive time has caused little change in my favourite manufacturers

Despite a fairly encouraging start last month, my productivity completely dried up by the end of April, leaving me with a semi-successful output when compared to what I usually achieve annually at this time of the year. However, I did finish enough Moscow Militiamen by "Wargames Foundry" for a four-man unit, and 'chewed' through a fair few 10mm Xenomorphs by "Pendraken Miniatures".

This dalliance with the smaller scales probably won't stop any time soon either, as I'm really enjoying the simplicity of such figures when compared to the complexity of Napoleonic uniforms. Together, I think they make a good combination to help me push through some time-consuming paint-jobs, and should also help me maintain my enthusiasm whilst tackling the "big jobs" I have planned for "Monster May(hem)" too...