"The Humble Vexilla Displays The Heraldry Of A Particular Squad..."

"...Proclaiming not only its designation in the Legion but also its proud legacy in the annals of the Great Crusade."

This 28mm plastic Space Marine is produced by "Games Workshop" and comes from the now OOP (Out Of Production) Burning Of Prospero boxed game. The multi-part figure has been assembled wearing MK III armour and is carrying a Legion Vexilla (Legion Standard) which will allow its unit to add +1 "to the Wounds score used to determine if they win a Combat in the Assault Phase."

Due to the miniature forming part of my first Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for the Horus Heresy, it was undercoated with "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before being heavily washed with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. I then applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to his shoulder-pads, as well parts of his backpack and Bolter.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Four more Slicks from their Corporate Wars range

The model's power tubes and firearm were subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst I 'picked out' all the ridges on his shoulder-pads, helmet brow and Legion Vexilla with a little "Vallejo" Gold. These areas were later given a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and highlighted with some additional touches of "Vallejo" Gold on the sharpest edges and rivets.

As a final touch I applied some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal to the Space Marine's eye slits, and then a single layer of the "Citadel" Contrast colour Flesh Tearers Red. I also fixed a couple of the many decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto his right shoulder-pad and on the central emblem of his standard.

"Wizkids" WIPs - This Eidolon Possessed Sacred Statue has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

In addition to finishing the last of my currently planned MK III armoured Sons of Horus traitors, I have started working on another four of the Corporate Wars Slicks I received from the most recent "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" Kickstarter. These bald-headed hitmen will be painted up in the same colour scheme as the trio I've previously painted. However, as I couldn't resist taking advantage of the Lincolnshire-based manufacturer's decision to put the figures up for general sale individually on their webstore, I have now ordered another three miniatures to help 'fill out' their criminal crew to an even ten members - and might have done something similar with the other gangs too.

Lastly, a recent trip to "A Fistful Of Dice" saw me get super-excited about "Dungeons & Dragons" as the large store had fiendishly dedicated an entire wall to all the different models, scenic pieces and gaming accessories a Dungeon Master could ever wish for. As a result I now plan to reacquaint myself with the Fifth Edition rule-set and walked away with an awesome plastic miniature of an Eidolon Possessed Sacred Statue by "Wizkids" to keep my enthusiasm for the project going...

"Whatever Ammo They're Using, I've Never Seen It Before!"

"Tattoos, scars, any other identifying marks?"

These two 28mm scale "white metal" Slick Gang members are manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and were bought as part of my Three Set pledge from their recent "Corporate Wars" Kickstarter. Part of a seven-man strong, trench-coat wearing crew, the models were sculpted by the late Jim Bowen and previously sold by the now sadly defunct "East Ridings Miniatures".

Each miniature comes with a fairly hefty integral stand, so before I could apply two coats of “Vallejo” German Grey to them, these areas were cut away with a pair of pliers and the figures super-glued onto 25mm circular plastic bases. The pair were then shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" German Grey.

“So I fight for a Father who I never loved, against a brother that I did."

The near future mobsters' firearms were given a layer of "Citadel" Ababbon Black, and had their barrels, as well as their shades, 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Finally, the Slicks' various jacket buttons were treated to some "Vallejo" Brass, a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and a highlight of (more) "Vallejo" Brass.

Along with the latest of my "Corporate Wars" miniatures completed, I have also finished another 28mm plastic Space Marines by "Games Workshop". The MK III armoured Sons of Horus comes from the now sadly OOP (Out Of Production) Burning Of Prospero boxed game and is the ninth of ten figures I require to field my first traitor Tactical Squad for the Horus Heresy. Like all my other members of the Warmaster's Legion, the figure was undercoated with "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, washed with Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) Sons Of Horus Green.

"Encounter Terrain" WIPs - This Cyberman has been primed, layered, shaded and dry-brushed

I then applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to his shoulder-pads, as well parts of the space marine's backpack and Bolters. All of the model's power tubes and firearm were subsequently treated to an amalgamation of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Lastly, I 'picked out' all the ridges on the shoulder-pads and helmet with a layer of "Vallejo" Gold, splashed them with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and highlighted the sharpest edges and rivets using (more) "Vallejo" Gold on the sharpest edges and rivets.

With this year's Zomtober already a week old, I also thought it was about time I cracked on with the first of five 40mm Cybermen models I recently had 3D printed by "Encounter Terrain" specifically for the challenge. Sculpted by Nikola Stankovic these zombie-like automatons are apparently based upon the alien invaders seen in the 1982 "Doctor Who" story "Earthshock", so are being pigmented accordingly...

"Look At This Mess."

"No point in taking out the rest. Silver's penetrated his organs. Regeneration's impossible at this point."

This 28mm scale "white metal" miniature of a Slick Gang member is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and was bought as part of my Three Set pledge for their recent "Corporate Wars" Kickstarter. One of seven bald, trench-coat wearing killers, the model was sculpted by the late Jim Bowen and previously sold by the now sadly defunct "East Ridings Miniatures".

The figure comes stood upon a fairly hefty integral stand, so before I could apply two coats of “Vallejo” German Grey to him, this area was snipped away just enough to super-glue the near future mobster onto a 25mm circular plastic base. He was then shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and ferociously dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" German Grey.

"Hot Wheels" WIPs - The armed truck is slowly having its tyres, exhaust, weapons and burger picked out

The criminal's two pistols were given a lick of "Citadel" Ababbon Black, and had both barrels, as well as his shades, 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Lastly, the Slick's jacket buttons were treated to some "Vallejo" Brass, a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and a highlight of (more) "Vallejo" Brass.

With the latest of my "Corporate Wars" miniatures completed, I have spent some additional time working on my opening contribution to Dave Stone's "Apocalypse Me" challenge. In the past I've restricted my "Mad Max" needs to Mark Copplestone's 28mm Future Wars range. But currently seem to what to do nothing else except fit 1:64 scale "Hot Wheels" vehicles with all manner of weapons and then 'distress the hell out of them' with some weathering.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - A Sons of Horus Space Marine with Legion Vexilla awaiting some shading

To begin with I had settled upon simply rusting up Fast Eddie's "Buns Of Steel" food truck after equipping it with a pair of machine-guns. However, since "the Force is strong with this one", I've also been busy adding some missiles and other automatic weapons to some other cars, as well as assembled a plastic motorcyclist using the plastic parts found on the Implements of Carnage One sprue sold by "North Star Military Figures".

Finally, I am putting some of the final touches onto the Legion Vexilla-carrying Sons of Horus Space Marine I need for my traitor legion's MK III power-armoured tactical squad. Pigmenting this particular 28mm plastic model by "Games Workshop" has taken quite a bit of careful patience to ensure that the delicately attacked piece of wargear doesn't inadvertently snap off whilst I'm applying a brush-tip to it...

“He's A Cyborg, You Idiot!”

“You're gonna have to kill it.”

This 28mm scale "white metal" miniature of a Cyborg Killer is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and can be bought alongside a second (differently-posed) model as SKU: DEAL 356. The figure was sculpted by the late Jim Bowen, and was originally previously produced by East Ridings Miniatures as part of their Corporate Wars range,

Prior to priming the figure with two coats of “Vallejo” Heavy Red, its somewhat thick integral stand was trimmed/filed down enough so it could be super-glued onto a 25mm circular plastic base. It was then shaded with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three base-layered Slicks

The stone-cold killer’s pistol and head were base-layered with some “Citadel” Abaddon Black, before they were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The robot’s face-covering was later delicately dry-brushed using a little (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal, whilst its eyes were spotted with "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

Alongside the Cyborg Killer I have also been progressing a trio of Corporate Wars “Slicks” too. These bald-headed gang-members initially reminded me of the Navigator's Guild from Frank Herbert's "Dune" novels. But having now spent some time working on them I’m also getting a distinct vampire vibe from the “Underworld” movie series – so much so in fact, that I may well paint up a second gang at some point with red leather long-coats and deathly white flesh.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - A Sons of Horus Space Marine awaiting some shading

In the meantime though, I have been pigmenting my three test-pieces in a manner similar to that seen in the Slick Gang’s official “Kickstarter” photographs; albeit I didn’t want (yet) another predominantly all-black band of miniatures, so decided to use some “Vallejo” German Grey for their shin-length jackets as opposed to “Citadel” Abaddon Black. I’ve also decided to go with brass for the gun-toting goons’ fastenings.

Lastly, I am still having a lot of fun working on more 28mm plastic Space Marines by "Games Workshop". I’m planning to soon move on from these multi-part figures wearing MK III power armour and apply my brush to some MK VI Sons of Horus infantrymen instead. Hopefully this change of subject matter will help me maintain my motivation for my initial, five-hundred point, thirty-one figure strong Horus Heresy project…

"It Is Unknown If These Masked Assassins Are Man Or Machine."

"But rest assured they will not stop until their target has been eliminated."

This 28mm scale "white metal" miniature of a Cyborg Killer is manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and can be bought alongside a second (differently-posed) model as SKU: DEAL 356. The figure was sculpted by the late Jim Bowen, and was originally previously produced by East Ridings Miniatures as part of their Corporate Wars range,

Unfortunately, unlike the vast majority of Crooked Dice's other miniatures, the android comes with its own integrated base, which is surprisingly thick and deep. This meant I would either have to carefully snip the figure from its stand and then patiently file its feet flat, or just quickly trim its edges enough so I could super-glue it to a 25mm circular plastic base. In the end I decided upon the far less time-consuming option, even if it meant the model would stand somewhat taller than most of the company's other figures.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - A Slick, a Cyborg Killer and Max Konigstiger

Once fastened, the Cyborg Killer was primed using two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, shaded with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson", and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. It then had its sword, pistol, head and spare ammunition 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The blade and face-covering were subsequently dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal. Finally, its eyes were dabbed with a little "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

Besides my basing decision debatably consigning the entire Corporate Wars range to a self-contained painting project - as I had originally hoped to mix in some Crooked Dice Killbots - I have been rather impressed with the quality of the "retro classics", and can easily see why "133 backers pledged £9,488 to help bring this project to life" on Kickstarter in August 2022. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I quickly wilted and not only bought the Slick Gang, Corporate Hit Squad and Interpol Troopers, but also a few Add-ons too.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Ray & Finny, a Slick and an Interpol Trooper

The "Slicks" are my favourite of the figures as Jim Bowen's sculpts seem to be a mix between science fiction author Frank Herbert's Navigator's Guild from his "Dune" novels, and the hired assassins depicted in "Bullfrog Productions" old computer game "Syndicate Wars". Furthermore, their predominantly dark attire means that they should prove reasonably straightforward and fast to paint.

In addition to the Kickstarter's free Stretch Goal of Max Konigstiger, who for some reason reminds me of the hapless vigilante Kirk Matunas from Russell Mulcahy's 1986 movie "Highlander", the range also appears to include the likenesses of gun sharks Finnigan "Finny" Sinister and Ramone "Ray" Dexter from the British anthology comic "2000 A.D." I actually aim to split up the Corporate Hit Squad into small groups of player-run hitmen for some homemade rules, so this infamous gun-toting duo will doubtless be two of the first miniatures painted from this group...