"Ro-Busters Can Go Into Action!"

 "Get me the Chairman of the North Sea Tunnel Authority - on Red!"

This exclusive resin miniature of "Mr Ten Per Cent himself, Howard Quartz" is produced by “Warlord Games”, and arrived as part of the Nottingham-based company's A.B.C. Warriors: Increase The Peace Starter Game. "At one time human", the billionaire Chief Executive Officer of Quartz Industries was created by Pat Mills and Carlos Pino for the comic book series "Ro-Busters", and made his debut appearance in the May 1978 issue of "Starlord".

Having lost ninety percent of his body during "a terrorist incident involving a rogue Hammerstein", the industrialist was originally primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. He was then treated to a layer of Sir Coates Silver from "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" and an enthusiastic sploshing of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"The Sea-Devils plan to conquer the Earth and enslave humanity."

The model's reconstructed robot-cyborg torso was also given a thorough dry-brush of (more) Sir Coates Silver, and treated to the odd coat of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to darken down various armour plates as per the 'official' paint-job. With the basics done I subsequently turned my attention to the various telephones and wires looped around Quartz, using "Citadel" Abaddon Black for the phone cable itself and a variety of bright(ish) colours taken from my collection of "Two Thin Coats" pots. 

Finally, I tackled the sculpt's visible brain dome - which perhaps somewhat disappointingly relies solely upon the skill of the painter to depict as its entirely smooth to the touch. There was no way I was going to do to be able to replicate the astonishingly good job produced by "Warlord Games" resident miniaturist, so instead I opted for my usual approach of pigmenting a clear hemisphere using a combination of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, "Vallejo" Pale Grey and a delicate dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star. 

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Early days on these Sons of Horus Space Marines

In addition to completing the first of my 'A.B.C. Warriors', I have also continued working through my "Black Tree Design" backlog, with another 28mm metal figure found inside their DW1015 Sea Devils boxed set. As with all the other bipedal marine monsters I've slapped a brush-tip upon, this miniature was painted using "Vallejo" Verdigris, "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, "Two Thin Coats" White Star, "Vallejo" Pale Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I've also managed to make a small dent in my latest ten-man squad of Sons Of Horus space marines by "Games Workshop" too, by cleaning up the armour of three tactical traitor figures from where my "Vallejo" Gold dry-brushing went a bit nuts. Hopefully, this trio can now be quickly finished after a dousing in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and a careful dry-brush of Sons Of Horus Green.

"Move The M-16 Or I'll Make You Eat It."

"You make it back safely and I'll tell you the story of my life."

This 28mm metal model is manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be purchased either as part of the four-figure SKU: DEAL 339 Resistance Fighters, or separately as SKU: MINI 1191. A former CIA operative who "went on specially requested missions for the U.S. government into other countries", this miniature has clearly inspired by Michael Ironside's character, Ham Tyler, in Brian Taggert and Peggy Goldman's 1984 teleplay for "V: The Final Battle".

Helping to form the W.L.F. (World Liberation Front), as well as "develop the ammo that could cut through the Visitor armour", Tyler was originally primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being layered in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, enthusiastically dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then gave the figure's pants a lick of "Two Thin Coats" Marine Blue and darkened it down with (more) "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Volgan Yaks have been dry-brushed and then shaded with a Speed Paint

I did actually consider dry-brushing Ham's trousers with some Marine Blue by "Two Thin Coats so as to act as a 'quick and dirty' highlight. However, I actually thought they looked suitably dark (for night-time raids upon the alien's facilities) as they were so ultimately left them well enough alone. In addition, this short-cut allowed me to spend a little more time on the mercenary's watch-face, firearm and hair, so these different areas were appropriately given a coat of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, "Vallejo" Gunmetal and Heavy Sienna, and then later washed with either "Citadel" Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade as needed.

With my latest entry into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, I have turned my attention back to two 28mm resin Volgan Yaks I pre-ordered from "Warlord Games" late last year. This pair of killer robots have now been dry-brushed with (more) "Two Thin Coast" Sir Coates Silver, and sploshed in Algae Green by "The Army Painter".

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - Three Sea Devils at various stages of completion

I'm actually hoping to use this particular Speed Paint as the central colour for all my Volgan forces, and have been pretty happy with the metallic effect it creates when applied over the top of a predominantly silver-looking miniature. There is however, clearly a skill yet to be mastered in getting the "highly saturated and specially designed paint" precisely where it needs to go within a short time limit. But I'm hoping to be able to cover any mistakes with some weathering whenever the need arises.

Alongside these "war droids with [a] powerful flight capability", I've also made some considerable progress on five classic Sea Devils from the "Doctor Who" range by "Black Tree Design". I still need to finish all the maritime monsters' hand guns, 'dot their eyes' and tidy up the creatures' fish-net clothing. But hopefully they'll soon be table-top ready, and allow me to move on to seven more Aquatic Silurians - who will form a force of shock troops for my ever-expanding force of Reptilia sapiens...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

"You Can't Win A War If You're Extinct!"

"We're not fighting the same war anymore."

This 28mm metal model is manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be purchased either as part of the four-figure SKU: DEAL 339 Resistance Fighters, or separately as SKU: MINI 1192. A "fourth-year medical student and protégé of Doctor Rudolph Metz", this miniature has clearly inspired by Faye Grant's character, Juliet Parrish, in Kenneth Johnson's 1983 American science-fiction television miniseries "V".

The founder of the Resistance in Los Angeles, Parrish was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being layered in "Citadel" Abaddon Black and enthusiastically dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. I then applied plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil to her jumper, before re-applying some lines of "Citadel" Abaddon Black to her gun holster and shoulder-strap so as to slightly contrast them with her slightly shadowed clothing.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Volgan Yaks have been shaded with "Two Thin Coats" Oblivion Black Wash

In addition I simply 'picked out' Juliet's trousers using a combination of Cold Corpse Blue by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. To try and capture a likeness of actress Faye Grant's hair colour I also used some Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats" on her locks, and darkened them down with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. Finally, I gave them a quick dry-brush with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow.

With my latest entry into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, I have turned my attention back to the two 28mm resin Volgan Yaks I recently received from "Warlord Games". My plan for these fearsome flyers is to utilise their silver paint-job as a zenithal highlight and then splosh them in Algae Green speed paint by "The Army Painter".

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - A Victorian Policeman and two different Sea Devils

I haven't used any of these "revolutionary all-in-one" pigments before personally. But saw a Sonic Sledgehammer Studio video on "You Tube" where he used them, and thought the colour was spot-on for that of the comic book "fascist Russian government" robots. Unfortunately, what I have also noticed though is that I've super-glued the legs on my PPRK Burp Gun carrier the wrong-way round - and they aren't going to budge any time soon sadly, even with the sharpest of modelling knives.

Alongside my "A.B.C. Warriors" (or rather their hated opponents), I've also been progressing some more "Doctor Who" figures by "Black Tree Design". I'm planning on bringing this current sojourn into my backlog of the Penzance-based company's science-fiction sculpts to a end soon, so I can focus on other piles of potential. However, I still have a good score of miniatures I aim to complete now I've started putting my brush to them...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

"My Father Gave Me A Small Loan Of A Million Dollars."

"It has not been easy for me."

This 28mm scale resin model of 'Donald Trump plummeting to a thermonuclear death' was produced by "Red Star Coven" and could be purchased as Donald Loves the Bomb from their Masters Of War range. Sculpted by Darren Edwards, I picked up this two-piece kit of the former President of the United States just over three years ago, and am sad to report that it is now Out Of Production (OOP).

Despite coming with a plastic flying stand, this figure was always destined to be a statue of the controversial politician in my mind, so I also purchased a resin plinth from an "eBay" seller to use as a pedestal, and super-glued the podium to a plastic 65mm circular base. The stone plinth was then primed using a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - A Sea Devil, Ben Jackson and a Victorian Policeman

Once the basics were finished I took the opportunity to 'pick out' rostrum's metal plate with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal" and (another) dose of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Finally, I finished off the plinth with some strategically placed trickles of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Biel-Tan Green, before giving it a last, light dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

With the pedestal finished, I super-glued the "media personality" to the bomb (which was much easier said than done, as the businessman didn't fit at all snuggly upon his ride), and applied two layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to the ensemble. I then layered him with "Vallejo" Bronze. washed the model with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, before giving the Republican a dry-brush using (more) “Vallejo” Bronze.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Volgan Yaks has been primed and base-coated

To help weather the statue, I subsequently applied various amounts of “Citadel” Nihilakh Oxide in between the sculpt's joints and ridges. These areas were later roughly blended back in with the rest of Donald and the bomb using a (third) dry-brush of “Vallejo” Bronze. Lastly, I drilled a deep hole in my podium and used a piece of an old broken plastic spear shaft (taken from an old "Wild West Exodus" Viridian Alpha figure) to attach the ex-President to it.

With my latest contribution to the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, including an additional bonus 20-points for tying my entry in with the Challenge Library's Famous Person section, I have continued working on some more miniatures bought from the "Doctor Who" range of "Black Tree Design". In addition, I have put together and based a pair of Volgan Yaks by "Warlord Games", which I luckily got sent for free when I purchased the Nottingham-based company's "A.B.C. Warriors" All In Launch Collection...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

"I'm Afraid The Myrka Takes Quite A Lot To Impress."

"The creature's in, sir, and our weapons are useless against it."

This 46mm long metal miniature of a "large species of reptile used by the Silurians for heavy backup in times of war" is produced by “Black Tree Design", and can be bought as Code DW509 Myrka from the manufacturer's "Doctor Who" miniatures range. A 'modified descendant of a unique species of dinosaur', the deep-sea creature first appeared in Johnny Byrne's January 1984 BBC Television story "Warriors Of The Deep" and was only finished "about an hour before it was scheduled to be used" by its two puppeteers on set.

The Myrka was first super-glued onto a "Citadel" 75 x 42mm oval base, primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, and drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. It was then heavily dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green, so as to bring out the detail of its thick, rubbery skin and "large webbed feet", before being washed with plenty of "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - These Sea Devils are slowly having their flesh 'picked out'

Described by very unhappy Byrne as a "four-legged beast on loan from Panto-Horses-Are-Us", the hefty model was treated to a second (and final) dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before having its "wide, pale eyes" 'picked out' using a combination of White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, the reptiles' base was gritted with fine modelling sand, undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, dry-brushed in Doombull Brown and Rakarth Flesh, and subsequently washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

With my latest contribution to the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, including an additional bonus 20-points for tying my entry in with the Challenge Library's Maritime section - despite my minions doubts as to its eligibility, I've also managed to 'crack on' with five "Black Tree Design" Sea Devils. These figures come in two poses, and are just a few of many Reptillia Sapiens I have discovered which I aim to get pigmented before the AHPC concludes in March.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Howard Quartz has been primed, base-coated, shaded and dry-brushed

Furthermore, I'm rather pleased to have finally got my hands on "Warlord Games" All In Launch Collection of their "A.B.C. Warriors" tabletop game. To be perfectly honest I'd ordinarily rip such a delivery wide open, assemble a load of its miniatures, and then frustratingly shelve the entire undertaking as I increasingly became overwhelmed by the magnitude of the unpainted figures before me. This time round though, I aim to do things a little differently, by simply working on a lone figure or two in between my other planned projects.

To that end I have just based the deal's Howard Quartz 'Mr Ten per cent' special sculpt, and intend to complete Ro-Busters' owner before opening another blister or box. Of course, the Nottingham-based company have just announced the pre-order for this range's second wave, so I might have to push myself to get the likes of Mongrol, Blackblood and Hammerstein finished within the next couple of months, simply so I can justify to myself the purchase of these upcoming additional models...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

“Sssss! You Have Done Well, Soldiers.”

“No-one expects General Blackblood and his Straw Dogs!”

This 28mm scale metal model of General Blackblood was produced by “Mongoose Publishing” and formed part of my rewards from the company’s 2012 “Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War” Kickstarter. The now long out of production (OOP) figure was originally part of the company’s A.B.C. [Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical] Warriors release, but was later also made available by “Warlord Games”.

Taken straight from the pages of the British comic book “2000 A.D.”, “the most feared of the Volgans' war robots” colour scheme was predominantly green according to most of the cover illustrations which he graced. However, having recently used "Scalecolor" Emerald Alchemy on my Ro-Jaws figure, I decided to adopt the metallic silver palette used when artist Bryan Talbot was pencilling the character within the pages of “Nemesis The Warlock: Book Four”.

"The poor weather had lulled the defenders into a false sense of security."

Resultantly, the “sadistic killer with a penchant for drinking the oil of the robots he killed” was therefore undercoated using “Citadel” Abaddon Black before being layered with "Vallejo" Gunmetal, shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo” Gunmetal. The treacherous automaton's knee-pads and epaulettes were picked out with Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, whilst his braid was treated to a combination of “Vallejo” Gold and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. Finally, I applied some “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green to his firearm and officer’s cap.

Alongside my latest entry to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), I have also submitted four more plastic 15mm miniatures sold by “Battlefront Miniatures”.  These figures will provide my German Beach Defence Company’s second Panzergrenadier Platoon an additional MG34 and K98 Rifle team, and exclusively used models found within the company’s “Hit The Beach” starter set for “Flames Of War”.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - This Mounted Commander is slowly having all his details 'picked out'

As with all my other “FoW” German soldiers, the sculpts were initially super-glued onto wooden strips, before being primed in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, shaded using “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Their details were then ‘picked out’ predominantly using “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal, Buff, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Brown and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

Lastly, I’ve temporarily stuck the 15mm plastic Mounted Commander which came free with Issue 393 of the magazine "Wargames Illustrated", onto a painting stick, so as to practice my painting technique on the American Civil War officer before I settle down to paint some Epic scale Napoleonic British cavalry miniatures by “Warlord Games”. These American Civil War models are proving tremendously helpful in allowing me to figure out just how it’s best to apply my ‘black line’ method to such diminutive models…

“Meet Morrigun…”

“…The seventh warrior.”

This 28mm scale metal model of Morrigun was produced by “Wargames Foundry” and could be bought as code AD13 from their now long out of production (OOP) “2000 A.D.” range. Happily, the Nottingham-based manufacturer gave some advanced notice as to this particular line’s demise, so I managed to purchase the figure just before the sculpt was withdrawn from sale.

“The only female robot member the A.B.C. [Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical] Warriors have ever had ", the waitress on Hekate was undercoated using Grey Surface Primer by "Vallejo", before being layered with "Scalecolor" Blue Alchemy, shaded in Drakenhof Nightshade, and dry-brushed with (more) "Scalecolor" Blue Alchemy. I then picked out all of the automaton's armour and dreadlock-styled hair with "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Mongoose Publishing" WIPs - Blackblood is slowly having his details 'picked out'

Morrigun’s formidable looking hand-weapon was predominantly pigmented with “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. However, the axe-headed flail’s handle was treated to a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and some “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. I also applied some “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson to the female android’s disappointingly misaligned lips.

Sticking with the comic book “2000 A.D.” and its A.B.C. Warriors, but moving across to a model originally produced by “Mongoose Publishing”, I have started work on a miniature of General Blackblood. This “most feared of the Volgans' war robots” was actually painted predominantly metallic green in his ‘official’ colour scheme. However, having recently used "Scalecolor" Emerald Alchemy on my Ro-Jaws figure, I decided to adopt the metallic silver palette used when artist Bryan Talbot was pencilling the character within the pages of “Nemesis The Warlock: Book Four”.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - This Royalist Pikeman has been glued upon a "Citadel" 25mm circular base

In addition, over the next week or so I aim to complete the first four 28mm plastic Pikemen by “Warlord Games” I’ve bought for my slow-burning English Civil War (ECW) project. Despite sticking to my initial plan of just painting a handful of models a month, I have changed my idea to simply stick each quartet of figures on to a single square base.

Instead, I’ve glued them upon “Citadel” 28mm circular stands with the intention of forming them up in blocks of ten using some MDF movement trays by “Warbases”. This system should help me with both the storage and transport of the soldiers, as well as allow me to use some of them for skirmish games (such as Smooth & Rifled by “Dadi & Piombo”)…

“We Don’t Stand A Chance!”

“We’re surrounded!”

This 28mm scale metal model of Ro-Jaws was produced by “Wargames Foundry” and could be bought as code AD69 from their now long out of production (OOP) “2000 A.D.” range. Luckily, the Nottingham-based manufacturer gave some advanced notice as to this particular line’s demise, so I managed to purchase the figure just before the sculpt was withdrawn from sale.

“Originally named Federal Recycling & Environmental Droid 2-L", the robot was undercoated in "Vallejo" Grey Surface Primer before receiving a double-helping of "Scalecolor" Emerald Alchemy. The ex-municipal sewage droid was then shaded using "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, Agrax Earthshade and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, before being subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Scalecolor" Emerald Alchemy, as well as a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Morrigun has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Ro-Jaws’ large uni-wheel was initially treated to a layer of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, followed by a dry-brush of “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and a generous splash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Lastly, his teeth were ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil, whilst his ‘Tax badge’ was simply given a splodge of “Vallejo” Heavy Red and dash of “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.

Alongside my latest entry into both the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) and Dave Stone’s Paint What You’ve Got Challenge, I have also been making some strong progress on another A.B.C. Warrior previously produced by “Wargames Foundry”. Like Ro-Jaws, I have decided to use the figure of Morrigun as an opportunity to test out another paint in the “Scalecolor” range; albeit I have used some small amounts of Blue Alchemy on three Paladin Annihilator by “Privateer Press” in the past.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These ACW Confederates have had their shoes and trousers finished

Moving across to the smaller scale of 15mm I am still finding myself thoroughly enthused by the (hopefully) imminent arrival of my Epic Battles: Waterloo pre-order from “Warlord Games”. This fervour has been maintained through a healthy mixture of watching plenty of YouTube previews by various wargamers who have been fortunate enough to have been sent some advance sprues and listening to “The Waterloo Collection” by “Pen and Sword Books Ltd”.

As a result I have been continuing with my experiment on a line of similarly-sized plastic American Civil War infantry to establish how I can best paint numerous rows of troops. My intention, having blocked in all the base colours previously was to work my way around the strip picking out all its details, but I have already reverted back to my usual method of working from foot to bottom on the models – hence both the figures’ shoes and trousers being finished first…