"You Haven't Got A House Anymore, Savage!"

 "A stray shell from a tank blew it apart."

This 28mm metal single-cast model is produced by "Athena Miniatures" as part of their Apocalypse Survivors range, and comes as part of their AS04 Survivors Set 4. Bought as part of a much larger impulse buy whilst I was wandering around the stalls at "Warfare" 2024, this assortment of four-figures are based upon the perturbing premise that Russia has suddenly invaded the United Kingdom following some great calamity - whether that be a nuclear strike, zombie incursion or some deadly extra-terrestrial attack.

The young boy was undercoated with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and had his trousers pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. I then layered the child's hooded jacket with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, shaded the garment with plenty of "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and very carefully dry-brushed it with a little (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to help pick out all its truly tiny details.

"Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest."

The final steps consisted of me painting the figure's rather large backpack in "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade - which is almost the size of the nipper himself - as well as patiently applying a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshtone over his face and hands. To be honest I did consider giving the kid some gloves. But I thought the sculpt's pose better suggested he had slightly frost-bitten bare hands.

Alongside my diminutive Apocalypse Survivor I have (perhaps unsurprisingly) completed two more 28mm scale metal models made by “Wargames Foundry". Sold these days as FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing, the pair of Napoleonic Frenchman were primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and then had their uniform/cuffs covered in a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - These Guard Lancers have been primed in the main colour of their horses

The soldiers' numerous (and genuinely terrifying) leather straps were treated to some White Star by "Two Thin Coats", before being 'muddied' up with a bit of watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Lastly, I worked my way through all of the skirmishers' various details, using colours such as as "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green on their epaulettes and sabre-briquet ribbons, "Vallejo" Sombre Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on their bedrolls, and "Two Thin Coats" White, Skulker Yellow, and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade on the miniatures' helmet plumes.

With just a final Chasseur to finish in order to create a small unit of smoothbore musket-carrying Frenchmen, I have also (finally) made a start on this year's phase of my Napoleonic "Black Powder" project by assembling (and priming) a pair of cavalrymen from the Newark-based company's old FN275 French Imperial Guard Lancers In Campaign Dress. For the next twelve months I'm aiming to get at least a handful of tiny horse (two models) units completed, alongside a handful of cannon, so plan to get the duo tabletop ready in quick order...