"A Race Of Beings Who Live Under The Surface..."

"...Plan to destroy the Surface World!"

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately as Nautican Warrior C, or as part of their DEAL 415 Nautican Warriors four-figure set. Sculpted by Iain Colwell and Ian Mountain, this miniature would appear to have been somewhat inspired by Gerry Anderson's Aquaphibians for his 1964 television series "Stingray".

However, having previously developed a palette to give the first of these water-breathers a distinctly blue, almost Atlantis vibe, I primed the fellow with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and subsequently gave him a good lick of "Vallejo" Gunmetal afterwards. I then sloshed the entire fishy fiend with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil to his vest, before dry-bushing the garment with a little (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Attention all guards."

I next applied some "Vallejo" Deep Sky Blue to the model's bare arms, legs and head, and washed these areas using some significantly watered-down "Citadel" Drakehnof Nightshade. As a final step I later returned to certain parts of the figure, such as his fingers, forehands, eye-ridges, nose and head-tips and high-lighted them with an extra lick of "Vallejo" Deep Sky Blue.

Alongside this villainous minion I have also found the time to finish another model by "Beast In The Broch" too. This 32mm scale pewter cast miniature of Systemic Security Two can be brought either individually as SKU: ALI04 or as part of the six-figure Systemic Units set SKU: PAK 07. Digitally sculpted by Carl Stoelzel, I've painted the model up to resemble one of the System's guards as seen in the 1979 television episode of "Blake's Seven" entitled "Redemption".

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three of the several X-Commandos currently on my painting table

The guard was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and later shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then used plenty of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on the chap's visor and chest area (front and back), before tackling some of his finer details - like pigmenting the communications bracelet in "Scale 75" Decayed Metal and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, his hand-weapon in "Vallejo" Dead White and Pale Grey, and the minion's front-facing tubing in "Two Thin Coats" Ethereal Green and a smidgeon of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

Lastly, I have picked up a load of models by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" I've not touched - except to place in another drawer from time to time - for a good five years. These X-Commandos from Department X will hopefully now start to regularly 'pop up' on this blog as I want to get a good half-dozen or so of them tabletop ready before the year is out...