"Miles Morales’ Spider Powers..."

 "...are significantly different from his counterparts in other dimensions."

This 40mm scale model of Miles Gonzalo Morales was produced by "CoolMiniOrNot", and was released during the company's highly successful February 2020 Kickstarter for "Marvel United" when it achieved a whopping $2,866,168 in funding. Based upon  Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli's "modern reimagining of the popular character" Spider-Man for "Marvel Comics", the figure can be found inside the boardgame's "Enter The Spider-Verse" expansion set.

"Hailing from an alternate world in which Peter Parker sacrificed his life to protect the city", the figure was primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black and then had all of the webbing covering his costume (very) patiently picked out with a line of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. In addition, the Afro–Puerto Rican teenager's fingers and chest emblem were also treated to a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, before the entire miniature was given a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"During the Crusades, a heretical band of Templars dared defy the Almighty, unleashing the forces of Hell upon the Earth."

Spider-Man's eyes were carefully base-coated with "Two Thin Coats" White Star, shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and subsequently highlighted back up with (more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats". The model's rubble-strewn base was largely treated to a combination "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst the dislodged drain was pigmented with "Vallejo" Gunmetal, "Citadel" Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade.

Alongside Miles Morales, I have also finished working on a second Concrete Defence Wall which was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer. Produced by "Saucermen Studios" as part of their "Beyond The Trenches Of Despair" Kickstarter, the scenic piece was undercoated using "Vallejo" Neutral Grey, base layered with a coat of the somewhat darker Sombre Grey and covered in of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - This Frenchman is close to completion

I then dry-brushed all the concrete with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, before giving both the numerous spikes and crosses a base-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. These areas were later 'picked out' with a little "Vallejo" Gold, and a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Finally, I am pushing on with a sixth 28mm scale metal model from the “Wargames Foundry" pack FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing. I've got every intention of getting eight of these Napoleonic French skirmishers tabletop ready by the end of the month - if not sooner - as I fully intend to work on some cavalry units by the Newark-based manufacturer for the majority of this year...

"Of All Of The Small Winged-Fairies..."

"...Pixies are the most frequently encountered."

This 28mm scale metal miniature of a Pixie is sold by “North Star Military Figures", and is one of the five models which can be found inside their blister TSB022 - Pixies for The Silver Bayonet. I recently picked this set up whilst at "Warfare 2025", as they feature in the original rulebook's bestiary, and I'm rather keen to own figures (in some fashion or another) for all the monsters it covers.

The tiny, mischievous sprite was primed using "Vallejo" Beasty Brown, and had its leggings shaded with a little "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The little prankster's top was then treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Both the trousers and top were subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Beasty Brown or Heavy Red as appropriate.

"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue."

The miniature's flesh was patiently picked out in "Vallejo" Escorpena Green and sploshed with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. Whilst its gnome-like hat was simply given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, washed in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and carefully dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. At this stage I was also "umming and ahing" as to whether to give the wee fellow a white beard, eyebrows and hair curl as per the 'official' paint-job, or simply leave these details with just a covering of "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

The model's wings actually gave me a bit of a pause for thought, as originally I was thinking about using one of my Scale Color Metallic pigments by "Scale75" on them. However, in the end I decided that I'd just give them a coat of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, douse them in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and later dry-brush the areas with (more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats". This very straightforward approach appears to have turned out rather well, and gave me an excuse to keep the Pixie's facial hair plain black so it didn't clash with its supposedly gossamer wings.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - These Power Armoured Troopers have been base-layered and shaded

In addition to the first of my unhelpful fairies I have also completed a fifth 28mm scale metal model from the “Wargames Foundry" pack FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing. This Napoleonic Frenchmen was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and some heavily watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and is hopefully the first of four identical sculpts I plan to use so as to double my French force's skirmisher line.

Lastly, I've made a bit more progress on my five freshly 3D printed Power Armoured Troopers by "Big Mr Tong". These somewhat upscaled STL (Standard Triangle Language) files have been based-coated in "Scale75" Thrash Metal and shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil in order to help me better see all the details of the sculpts - as well as remove the odd support I missed having removed them from my resin vat. And stand approximately 42mm tall so they 'fit in' with the official figures produced by "Modiphius Entertainment" for "Fallout: Wasteland Warfare"...

"Bah! Everywhere It Is The Same!"

"I live in a world too small for me!"

This 40mm scale model of Benjamin Jacob "Ben" Grimm was produced by "CoolMiniOrNot", and was released during the company's highly successful April 2021 Kickstarter for "Marvel United: X-Men" when it achieved an incredible $5,988,089 in funding. Based upon Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's human mutate for "Marvel Comics", the figure can be found inside the boardgame's "Fantastic Four" expansion set.

Produced in a light blue hard plastic, the Thing was primed using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. His "flexible, rock-like hide" was then patiently dry-brushed using a little "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone in order to really pick out all of the super-hero's chitinous plates.

"Saucerman Studios" WIPs - This Concrete Defence Wall is almost finished

Admittedly, this didn't make Ben look as orange as he has been depicted in the comic books. However, having previously pigmented a 28mm plastic "Heroclix" model of Aunt Petunia's favourite nephew almost twelve years ago - predominantly using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Orange and some rather uncontrollable Umber Shade, I wanted Grimm to look much more earth-coloured on this occasion.

As a penultimate step I applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to the miniature's shorts, shaded this area with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and later carefully dry-brushed the clothing with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. Lastly, I 'picked out' the exceptionally skilled pilot's eyes and mouth with some White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and applied a little "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to help better show his individual teeth.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - These three Power Armoured Troopers have been primed and base-coated

With my latest "CoolMiniOrNot" figure finished, and now ready for some games of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game, I have also found the time to make some progress on a second, and significantly longer, Concrete Defence Wall by "Saucermen Studios" for my Trench Crusade tabletop. I've actually now produced a few barricades from this set using "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on my A1 Mini 3D Printer, so hope to work my way through them all as the weeks go by.

I've also found the time to upscale five Power Armoured Troopers by "Big Mr Tong" on "Citubox" Basic in order to sate a sudden interest in "Fallout" - which has largely been caused by the PC Game "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7" currently running an event to tie-in with the American post-apocalyptic drama television series. Created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 5 3D Printer, these models are now 42mm in height, so as to match the size of the 'official' Brotherhood of Steel models produced by "Modiphius Entertainment" for "Fallout: Wasteland Warfare"...

"Dwarfs Tend To Use A Running Game..."

"...Grinding their opponents into the ground as they go."

"Salutations Blood Bowl fans, and welcome to this year's first exciting edition of Friday Night Football. I'm Jim Maddenberg and along with my pointy-eared co-commentator Thom Grassyglade, I’ll be bringing you all the latest news featuring our favourite amateur incarnation of Fantasy Football.”

“By far the biggest Blood Bowl Sevens' story is that Bluebeard's Bombardiers have managed to make two more signings for their squad, with Bazzel Merrygut being paid 85,000 copper pieces and Undig Stronghood receiving 70,000 copper bits for his time. Both second edition Dwarves will join team captain Reuben Redboots on the pitch, and are a clear example of the money gold miner-turned-club owner Bruldrin Bluebeard the Third is willing to pay so as to field a competitive side."

"Most Dwarf teams believe that have a lasting right to alter the laws as they choose."

“Indeed they are, Jim. The two 28mm scale second-hand metal miniatures were primed with a double layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue, before having their trousers, padded shirts and helmets shaded in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. The Dwarves' boots were then base-coated using either a combination of "Vallejo" Beasty Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, or Abaddon Black and Nuln Oil."

"I understand that the duo's steel toe-caps and other metal adornments, such as Stronghood's spiked shoulder-pads, were 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, Thom..? That should really put a glint in the eyes of their opponents on a sunny day."

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three more Dwarf players have been primed and had their details 'boxed in'

"Correct, Jim. Furthermore, both Merrygut and Stronghood's gloves and shoulder-pads were treated to plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, a good dousing in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, and finally a patient highlight of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. If nothing else Bluebeard's Bombardiers should look pretty colourful on the pitch - whether it be grass-covered turf or the far less physically forgiving Astrogranite." 

"Thanks, Thom. Now just before we leave you I understand that the club have also announced their intention to add even more Dwarf Blocker Linemen to their ranks in the near future. So expect an exciting update when we see you next on Friday Night Football..."

"The Negh'Var Was Intended To Represent The Most Powerful Ship..."

"...In the Klingon fleet as Gowron's flagship."

This Kurgun C3-A Heavy Cruiser was created using some "Bambu Lab" Matt White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on an A1 Mini 3D Printer, and can be purchased as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file by "Fat Dragon Games" as part of the company's "Battlefront Valkyrie" Starter Set. The two-piece spacecraft has been printed using a 0.2mm nozzle, with a 0.1mm layer height in order to minimise any striation lines on the finished model, and measures an impressive 80mm in length.

The spacecraft was primed with plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I then enthusiastically dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before 'picking out' its warp nacelle and (forward-facing) antimatter-based photon torpedo launcher with a combination of "Scale 75" White Alchemy and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red.

"Target Games" WIPs - A pair of Cybertronic Machinators

In addition to bulking out my Kurgun Fleet, I have dusted down a pair of old metal Cybertronic Machinators by "Target Games". I actually began pigmenting this duo over five years ago, but believe I actually bought them at the turn of the Third Millennium - meaning they've been sat in my Pile of Potential for approximately twenty five years old. I know very little about the Cybertronic Corporation to be honest, apart from these particular robots essentially being pretty much fodder on the battlefield.

At the time I bought them I was infinitely more invested in the now out-of-print Collectible Card Game "Doomtrooper" - which was also based upon the Mutant Chronicles franchise, rather than the Swedish company's Warzone figures. However, having had a good rummage through my backlog, I've found I own quite a sizeable number of models from the range - so thought I might see if I can quickly produce a handful of combatants aside for a little homebrew skirmish game.

"Loot Studios" WIPs - This multi-part 3D print of a Megalodon has been assembled and primed

I am also clearly still in something of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey mood, having recently chosen the Game Color Paint for all my "Beyond The Trenches Of Despair" concrete barricades by "Saucermen Studios", so have started slapping some of it onto my Megalodon by "Loot Studios". This absolute monster of a multi-part predator was rather embarrassingly all 3D-printed around this time last year, and sadly lead to the demise of my poor "Elegoo" Mars 3 Pro whilst I was producing the giant fish's middle torso.

I had intended to use the prehistoric shark for a simple set of homebrew rules featuring deep-sea divers battling it across a sea-themed tabletop populated with small islands. Indeed, I actually finished both its separately based fin and tail. However, despite visiting a couple of wargaming shows last year, I simply couldn't find anyone selling the tiny land masses I had in mind for the 'seascape'. Now though, I can easily produce my own on my "Bambu Labs" A1 Mini, so the project is very much on again...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge” [II/IV] January 2026

Last month's output ranged from spacecraft to spacemen, and even a small bit of terrain

Having already completed a quarter of my latest Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge (PPPP) I thought I'd spend the next four or so weeks focusing upon a number of 28mm plastic soldiers produced by "Warlord Games" - which frankly have been gathering dust on my shelves for far too many months. The majority of these figures will be World War Two Italians, as having bought the Nottingham-based company's "Bolt Action" Third Edition rulebook, as well downloaded their Italy Army List [dated September 2024], I thought I might finally finish a force of Benito Mussolini's fascists I've previously assembled, based and undercoated.

In addition, I couldn't resist recently picking up a copy of Issue 454 of "Wargames Illustrated" as it had a sprue of US Firefly Jump Infantry 'cello-taped' to its front cover. In the past I've experimented with "Konflikt '47" using my quite considerably-sized collection of "Secrets Third Reich" miniatures by "West Wind Productions". But never got on with that range's Jet Soldiers - finding the sculpts significantly smaller than the rest of my models. So thought I might try the 'official' figures for a change, and maybe even pick up half-a-dozen Axis Stahltruppen Heavy Infantry as opposition if the mood takes me.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Three of the six US Firefly Jump Infantry I've assembled for "Konflikt '47"

I'm also eager to continue working on the brood of Zeek Scuttlers by "Artisan Guild" I have produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer. With my unit of Burrowers now finished and ready to represent a Tidal Swarm for the Trident Realm Of Neritica in "Kings Of War", I plan to get both my army's leader and a couple of basic infantry units completed 'toot sweet.'

Lastly, I haven't forgotten how badly my Napoleonic project has started floundering in recent times. I was fully expecting to have doubled the number of French skirmishers and Russian militia I could field over the past few weeks. However, disappointingly I haven't finished a single one, and now enter a year in which I had planned to solely focus upon cavalry units rather than (more) infantry. As a result I hope to get the eight outstanding soldiers finished as soon as I can, and then potentially look at only doing a handful of horsemen before plunging back to more muskets and bayonets.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - This Napoleonic French skirmisher is now close to competition

There can be little doubt that my productivity over the past few months has been somewhat low when compared to my output of previous years. To be fair a lot of this has been down to the sheer variety of miniatures currently available to me - something which has caused me to leap from one manufacturer to another with little rhyme or reason. The number of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files I now own in embarrassingly high and means I now spend a lot of my hobby time tinkering with my 3D printers rather than actually putting a brush-tip on a model.

Somewhat disconcertingly I don't see that changing any time soon either, as I have now started printing and painting scenery too - something I've always tried to avoid in the past. Of particular note has to be the numerous pieces of scenery I just acquired from "Saucermen Studios" via their "Beyond The Trenches Of Despair" Kickstarter. Whether it be ruined walls, trench systems, bunkers, towers or concrete barricades, I am currently slowly producing as much of this stuff as my "Bambu Lab" A1 Mini can cope with - and then I'll be moving onto another terrain project concerning various sewers, dungeons and pyramids following the success of "Death x Tiles: The Lost Temple" campaign by "Cast N Play"...