"Tunnel Spiders Are Large Spiders Resembling Tarantulas."

"Giant spiders are most commonly found underground, making their lairs on ceilings or in dark, web-filled crevices."

This pair of 28mm scale metal arachnids are produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought as part of their five model DEAL 290 Tunnel Spiders. Sculpted by Pedro Navarro, the miniatures were originally going to be one of my entries into Angry Piper's "Monster May(hem)" monthly challenge over on the "Dead Dick's Tavern and Temporary Lodging" blog. But as that particular event concluded several weeks ago, I've simply finished painting them for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games".

The models were primed using a couple of layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The duo were then absolutely drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and had their numerous eyes/spots 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. As a final touch I dotted all of the spiders' pupils with a little dab of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion.

"So in August 1813, Austria formally declared war on France."

In addition these creepy crawlies I have also completed another 28mm scale Napoleonic Austrian by "Wargames Foundry". This metal model can be found inside blister AN038 Jaegers 1805-15 Running, and is the third of eight identical Napoleonic marksmen which can be found inside. Sculpted by Michael and Alan Perry, the sharpshooter comes in two separate pieces - the actual Austrian Light Infantryman with an open right hand, and his firearm, and was initially undercoated using plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

The miniature was then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, and had all its numerous straps 'picked out' using plenty of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I next began tackling the Austrian's rifle, backpack, moustache and hair with a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and subsequently shaded these areas in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Big Head Chibis" WIPs - Tomb has been based, primed, and dry-brushed

I also slowly worked my way through the marksman's cuffs, collar, straps, fancy shoulder ribbon and hat plume using a combination of Wyvern Green by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Lastly, I applied a few licks of "Two Thin Coats" Cold Corpse Blue on the Jaeger's sleeping bag, and some well-placed dollops of "Vallejo" Gunmetal upon both his gun barrel and drinking canteen. All of these areas were later washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Despite being nose-deep in cuffs, collars and epaulettes, I have also somewhat surprisingly managed to continue working on my 40mm project for "Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game" (MMRP) by "CoolMiniOrNot", using some of the marvellous STL (Standard Triangle Language) files by "Big Head Chibis". As a result I've managed to print out Tomb, and am busy painting him up to use as both the super-villain Tombstone - whose playable statistics are apparently found inside the MMRPG "Spider-Verse Expansion" - as well as a test-piece for a whole goon squad of mafia-style enforcers/minions...