"The Black Major Carries Out Baron Ironblood's Orders Without Question."

"Wipe out the Americans! Raise the Black Flag! No quarter, and no prisoners!"

This 28mm scale metal model of Commander Kuro is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and was sculpted by Ari Níelsson as part of the company's range of figures set in an alternative 1985 where Britain has been "occupied by a communist eastern power bloc." However, the miniature is also a dead likeness of the "Action Force" villain Black Major, so will resultantly portray the "brilliant military commander and tactician" on my "G.I. Joe" tabletop.

Undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the figure was heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and then had his boots layered with "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I next applied a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to his belt pouches so as to break up the dastardly fiend's dark palette and shaded them with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil."

"Stop right there! Sea Devil."

I also applied a dollop of "Vallejo" Gunmetal to the "totally emotionless" evil-doer's belt buckle and cap badge. I was going to additionally use this colour on the Major's twin pistols. But in the end went with some "Scalecolor" Thrash Metal instead. All of these areas, along with the former Royal Marine's uniform, were subsequently well and truly sploshed in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

As a final(ish) touch I 'picked out' the model's shoulder-pads, epaulettes and cap with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before gently giving them a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I must confess the fellow's right eye probably took as long to 'get right' as the rest of the miniature, due to the sculpt's pose. The villain's outstretched arm made it incredibly difficult to get my brush-tip precisely where it needed to be so as to dab in a pupil (and at the right angle), so it took me an eternity before I was semi-satisfied with how he looked.

"Since when do Sea-Devils have a ship --"

Alongside the first in what is bound to become a rather distracting "G.I. Joe" side-project, I have also completed a couple of old "Doctor Who" figures by "Black Tree Design", which I found loitering around one of the wooden drawers which sit upon my painting desk. To be honest, this particular drawer is absolutely packed full of partially-painted models, so whenever I feel the need for some spontaneous inspiration I'm bound to take a peek inside.

The two 28mm Sea Devils form part of the DW1015 Sea Devils boxed set, and were primed in "Vallejo" Verdigris, washed with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and then roughly highlighted back up with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris. Their webbed feet, arms and heads were later given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before their belts received a little "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Vallejo" Pale Grey.

"The Man Known As Blade..."

"...Was born into a world of blood and darkness over seven decades ago."

This 40mm scale model of Eric Brooks was produced by "CoolMiniOrNot", and unlocked during the company's highly successful February 2020 Kickstarter for "Marvel United" when it achieved a whopping $2,866,168 in funding. Based upon Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan's vampire hunter for "Marvel Comics", the figure (and his twelve cards) can be found in the boardgame's Season One Promo Box.

Produced in a bright, light blue hard plastic, the Dhampir was undercoated with a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before having his armoured vest and combat pants painted in "Vallejo" Neutral Grey. This clothing was then shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Neutral Grey, and finally darkened back down with an additional drop or two of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"...Was born into a world of blood and darkness over seven decades ago."

The Daywalker's numerous leg straps, belt, leather trench coat, boots, beard, shades and hair were all given a lick of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. However, it was only his jacket which subsequently received a dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and a positive drowning in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Blade's sword, hand-stake and mini-stakes were all pigmented with "Vallejo" Gunmetal and washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. His blade's cutting edge was also given an enthusiastic dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal to make it a bit brighter.

I used a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade for Brooks' flesh. The forehead, fingers, ears and nose were later highlighted with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. I also considered potentially adding some metallic sheen to Eric's sunglasses as per the official paint-job. But in the end decided to just add some "Vallejo" Gloss Varnish to them (and the blade of his sword).

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Commander Kuro is having his details 'picked out'

With my latest Marvel United super-hero completed, I've perhaps unsurprisingly started work on another one - Captain America. I actually thought I'd lost this figure from the core starter box as it wasn't with my previously partially-painted Iron Man model when I stumbled upon that recently, and I knew I had been working on the pair together in the past. Luckily, it was simply hidden away in another container, so it's been dusted down and placed at the front of my "CoolMiniOrNot" hobby queue.

I have also been reading a few issues of "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" by "Image Comics" lately, so on a whim picked up Commander Kuro by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and decided to get the 28mm multi-part metal miniature tabletop ready. I'm not really sure where this particular project will take me to be honest. However, I do own a fair few of the company's other "Action Force" inspired sculpts, so perhaps I'll start a force of Red Shadows with Black Major leading them...