Rasputina And The Cult Of December

Having purchased them from “MCS Miniatures” (mcsminiatures.co.uk) in November 2009, I've only recently completed painting this “Wyrd Miniatures” boxed set of the “Cult Of December”. Originally bought as an introduction to the “Malifaux” rule set, my enthusiasm for this mini-project has remained relatively strong, despite my decision not to actually purchase the rulebook (or gaming card decks). Instead I plan to use these 28mm metal miniatures as a possible alternative as ‘ghosts’ for “Ganesha Games” “Song of Blades and Heroes” horror skirmish rule set “Fear and Faith”.

All three of the “Ice Gamin” were undercoated with Mordian Blue and then generously washed with Asurmen Blue. The single-piece metal models were then ‘dry-brushed’ Mordian Blue and Ultramarines Blue. Their claws, toenails and spines were ‘picked out’ first with Chaos Black, and then Skull White. These areas were then treated to a wash of Devlan Mud. Their eye sockets were first painted Chaos Black, before a tiny ‘dot’ of Skull White was used for their eyes.

“Rasputina” was undercoated Chaos Black and then ‘dry-brushed’ Mordian Blue for her skirt. Her stockings were painted Dheneb Stone and Devlan Mud, whilst her sash was painted Mechrite Red and Baal Red. To make her skin appear icy and cold, it was painted Skull White and Asurmen Blue. Areas such as her nose, cheeks, thighs and fingers were then ‘picked out’ with Skull White, and all of her flesh was again treated to a wash of Asurmen Blue. The Arcanist’s bearskin armour was painted with Fortress Grey and then washed with watered-down Asurmen Blue. However, to make the cuffs, collar and hat stand out they were painted using Codex Grey and Devlan Mud. These areas were then ‘dry-brushed’ Fortress Grey. Ice Blue and Asurmen Blue was used for her hair.

As with the “Ice Gamin”, the “Ice Golem” was undercoated Mordian Blue and then washed with Asurmen Blue. However the four-piece metal construct was then heavily ‘dry-brushed’ with Fortress Grey before being given a light ‘dry-brush’ of Skull White.

The “Hoarcat Pride” was bought separately from the “Rasputina” boxed set and proved fiddly beyond belief, as each model (despite its tiny size) came in two pieces. Each beast was undercoated Codex Grey and then washed with Devlan Mud. The pride were then ‘dry-brushed’ Fortress Grey before and Skull White. Their eyes were ‘picked out’ with Blood Red.

With the exception of the “Ice Golem” and the one of the three “Ice Gamin” models, the “Rasputina” “Cult Of December” set has proved somewhat disappointing. Two of the “Ice Gamin” figures appear to have been ‘squished flat’, whilst painting “Rasputina” herself proved a real test due to the uninspiring nature of the (rather frail and thin-looking) figure. At £4.50 the “Hoarcat Pride” does seem somewhat overpriced for what the blister actually contains but the “Malifaux” range is expensive.

An additional demoralising disappointment was the dour effect simply gluing “Games Workshop” “Citadel Snow” directly on top of “Modelling Sand” had for the miniature’s bases.

"Who You Gonna Call?"

One of my smaller projects for 2010 was a planned set of homemade rules based upon the “Ghostbusters” films and cartoons (using the 1986 Ghostbusters Role-Playing Game” by “West End Games” as a starting point). However my recent exposure to the numerous variants of “Song of Blades and Heroes” has lead to my discovery (and purchase) of the “Fear and Faith” Horror Skirmish miniatures rules by “Ganesha Games”, and as a result I’ve concentrated simply on painting some models for the venture instead. Indeed, one of “Ganesha Games” forthcoming supplements is entitled “Ghost Rangers” and is described as “A full campaign for those guys you’re gonna call when the town is full of spooks. Hunt them, stock them, and remember, never cross the streams.”

I’ve previously seen these “Heresy Miniatures” superbly converted with proton backpacks and ghost traps but I quickly wanted them painted, based and ready for action. The models consist of HSF008 ‘Inspector (with coffee) Bob Jones’, HSF009 ‘Inspector Johnson’, HSF010 ‘Inspector Camille Van Towe’, HSF011 ‘Inspector (with scanner) Kane’, and HSF012 ‘Inspector Knuckles’.

I wanted my ‘Ghostbusters’ to wear their original ‘light brown’ costumes so Venkman, Stantz, Spengler and Zeddemore were all predominantly painted Dheneb Stone and washed with Devlan Mud. The red emblems were simply painted Mechrite Red and Baal Red; and their belt buckles Burnished Gold and “Coat d’arms” Brown Ink. As I thought Melnitz should stand apart from the foursome I painted her uniform with Astronomican Grey and Badab Black.

The stone circle is a resin piece I purchased a couple of years ago whilst at “Colours” in Newbury. As I plan for it to ‘emerge’ within a cityscape (as an objective), it was undercoated Chaos Black, and then dry brushed using Codex Grey and Fortress Grey. The standing stones were painted with Calthan Brown and Devlan Mud, before being dry brushed with more Calthan Brown.