"...Kneel Before Zod!"

"Our damnation became our salvation." 

This 35mm metal model of General Zod is made by "Knight Models" and comes from the company's "DC Universe Miniature Game" range. Taken from the 2013 superhero film "Man Of Steel", the sculpt captures the likeness of Superman's arch-nemesis and the head of Krypton's Military Guild, as played by actor Michael Shannon.

Sold as a two-piece "white metal kit", along with two Guild Warriors, the sprue actually comes with both the super-villain's rather recognisable bearded bare head, as well as one wearing his protective helmet. Both of these 'bitz' seemed to easily fit in place inside the top of the megalomaniacal Kryptonian's elaborate neck armour, but as I always like to see the face of my models where possible, I went with the uncovered version and simply super-glued it in place.

General Zod WIPs - The 35mm scale miniature's armour was layered, washed and dry-brushed

Having attached Robert Bernstein and George Papp's comic book creation upon a 30mm lipped circular base, as opposed to the pre-moulded stand which comes inside the plastic blister, I primed Zod with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and then painted all of his "extremely durable Kryptonian alloy" armour with "Vallejo"" Gunmetal Grey. "Scavenged... from one of the many abandoned Kryptonian colonies scattered throughout the universe" the General's protective covering is described as being "silver in colour", yet appears in all the pictures I've referenced to be rather muted and dark nonetheless. Resultantly, I washed the armour with two layers of "Citadel" Nuln Oil in order to try and capture that effect and only then, very lightly dry-brushed it with more "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey.

With the criminal's armour completed, I 'picked out' all the exposed areas of the Phantom Zone prisoner's Male Kryptonian Suit with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and heavily dry-brushed his cloak, hair and beard with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. These areas were subsequently shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil before I finished his face using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

Time War Cybermen WIPs - The silver giants have been layered and washed

I've yet to field General Zod in the "DC Universe Miniature Game", but the Kryptonian's apparent resistance to both Physical and Energy damage, as well as his Superpunch, Heat Vision, Superattack and "Martial Pride", would appear to make him an aggressive piece on the tabletop. In addition, coupled with Faora and Nam-Ek, "these villainous reinforcements" seemingly produce 50 Levels of "brute force, mobility, and lots and lots of stamina" that "are the best option for taking on the powerful Son of Krypton."

Alongside one of Superman's "greatest enemies", I have also made some healthy progress on the last of my plastic Cybermen from my "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" starter box, as well as the metal Time War version found within the "Warlord Games" Cybermen Collector's Set 1966-2013. Not only have these miniatures been undercoated and subsequently painted "Citadel" Ironbreaker, but all four models have been washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil...

"Keep Calm And Carry On."

"By this stage of the war the British army had gained considerable experience of modern warfare..."

This 28mm metal model is from the "West Wind Productions" "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR05 British Commando Carbines. However, rather than use the miniature for Andy Cooper's "Weird WWII game", this Tommy will actually form part of a minimum strength (Regular) Infantry Section for "Konflikt '47" by "Warlord Games". Indeed, my completion of the rifleman now means I can actually field the simplest of reinforced platoons for Great Britain and the Commonwealth using figures taken from my painted "SotTR" collection.

Unfortunately, painting a model in order to match the colour scheme for a force assembled some years ago has not proved an easy task as I have had to partially step away from many of the now 'out of production' "Games Wokrshop" Foundation paints and washes I originally used for my British Commando Carbines, and instead replace them with alternatives from other manufacturers such as "Vallejo".

The Silence WIPs - As soon as the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge starts these aliens will get some attention

As a result the model was initially primed using "Citadel" Doombull Brown (as opposed to Dark Flesh) and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade (instead of "Citadel" Devlan Mud). Once dry the rifleman's weapon was painted using "Vallejo" Charred Brown, Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Ironbreaker, and these areas were then appropriately washed with either more Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Because I still own a pot of Calthan Brown, I was able to paint the soldier's bullet proof vest with its 'original' colour, and also 'pick out' the infantryman's gas mask filter with a long-forgotten pot of "Citadel" Knarloc Green too. A rummage through my collection of pigments even located an unopened tub of Devlan Mud, making it possible to darken both the Tommy's piece of personal armour and his breathing apparatus with the OOP wash. 

Trinity WIPs - These sculpts of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are fantastically detailed

With the commencement of the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge fast approaching I have additionally been spending a portion of my hobby-time basing and preparing a number of other models. The vast percentage of these figures have unintentionally turned out to be produced by "Warlord Games" and none have proved quite so tantalising to finish before the start of the three-month long competition than the company's latest "Doctor Who" release, The Silence. These "genetically engineered 7 foot tall mouthless creatures" should be reasonably straightforward to complete on account of their predominantly grey/black colour scheme, and somewhat tower over the other figures currently found within the "Into the Time Vortex" range.

Far less simple to paint, or even assemble for that matter, are these three "Knight Models" sculpts from the Batman Verses Superman: Trinity DC Universe Miniature Game Starter Set. These models are certainly taller than your average 'heroic scale' figure, but due to their 'realistic' anatomical proportions they've needed a bit of pinning and realigning in order to come together...