"It Is Fortunate That These Clone Troopers Know No Fear."

"After Geonosis, homing spider droids became common staples of Confederate armies."

This huge 83mm tall plastic model of a Commerce Guild Homing Spider Droid was made by “Wizards Of The Coast” and is model 02 from their Bounty Hunters expansion for the manufacturer’s “Star Wars Miniatures Game”. “Effective against both ground-based and airborne targets”, the OG-9 homing spider droid “was designed to transport a large and devastating weapon throughout the battlefield” and made its first appearance during the Battle of Geonosis in George Lucas’ 2002 American epic space opera film “Attack Of The Clones”.

The anti-vehicular walker was initially ‘hacked’ from its ill-fitting circular base using a modelling knife and permanently repositioned upon a 120mm oval “Games Workshop” stand. It was then treated to a double undercoat of “Vallejo” Gunmetal Grey and heavily washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, in order to ‘cover-up’ the Baktoid Armour Workshop-built robot’s pre-paint scheme.

"Following the execution of the Separatist Council... all droid units used by the Confederacy were deactivated."

With the self-propelled artillery piece’s basic paint-job finished, I subsequently dry-brushed it with (the somewhat brighter metallic paint) “Citadel” Ironbreaker, and then enthusiastically applied some Strong Tone Quickshade by “The Army Painter” over all four of the walker’s all-terrain extendable hydraulic legs, precision homing laser (“mounted atop the droid’s round body) and anti-personnel cannon. These areas were later treated to a further light dry-brush of “Citadel” Ironbreaker.

Having completed work on the first of several science fiction-based vehicles which Phil Curran has very generously gifted me with, I have momentarily turned my attention towards some more partially-painted "North Star Military Figures" which have been sculpted to use with either "Frostgrave" or "Ghost Archipelago". My increasing interest in these two "Osprey Games" has been significantly increased recently by the arrival of some more expansions for the "Conan - Adventures In An Age Undreamed Of" role-playing game by "Modiphius Entertainment", and perhaps unsurprisingly I have 'dug out' Mark Copplestone's Hunter to represent the Cimmerian on my tabletop.

"North Star Military Figures" WIPs - A Minor Demon, a Hunter and a Zombie Snow Troll

Considering that the "Kickstarter" for this series of hard-backed volumes "based on the incredible character of Conan and of the Hyborian age" was actually due to deliver way back in July 2016, I admittedly didn't hold out much hope that I was ever going to receive my full pledge's worth of merchandise. But "Nameless Cults", "Horrors Of The Hyborian Age", Conan The Pirate" and "Conan The Brigand" certainly goes a long way to achieving two thirds of it, with the promise of my remaining books being sent in a third wave...

Alongside my version of Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero, I have also started to try and block out all the decaying innards, hair and bone on a Zombie Snow Troll, whilst simultaneously progressing a Minor Demon I received as a Secret Santa present a couple of years ago. I've rather embarrassingly actually uncovered quite the untouched horde of "Frostgrave" goodies, so intend to 'churn out' quite a few miniatures from the range over the next few weeks in a concerted effort to clear some drawer space.

"The Dead Do Not Rest Easy In Dracula's America..."

 "Refugees from back East begin to flood the West in ever-greater numbers in a bid to escape the Terror."

These three 28mm metal Zombie Gunfighters can be purchased as Code OW010 from "Wargames Foundry", and are my latest submission for this year's Zomtober challenge. "Hard To Kill" and "Fearsome", enemy models who wish to fight these models whilst playing "Osprey Games" Weird Wild West rule-set, must first "pass a 1 Die Nerve Test or suffer a -1 Die Modifier on its Fight Tests" even when the brain-chomping cowboys are "Down!"

The first of these gun-toting zeds seems to bear a strikingly strong resemblance to the "folk hero of the American Old West" known as "Wild Bill" Hickok, and was primed with "Vallejo" White. His trousers and boots were subsequently painted using Heavy Green and Heavy Sienna respectively, and both of these areas were then treated to a coat of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. I 'picked out' his neckerchief with "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and his battered hat with Charred Brown. Again, these areas were later shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

"Foul and hungry creatures follow in their wake." 

For the one-eyed undead marksman, sporting a fabulously impressive moustache, I pigmented his suit using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and highlighted a couple of wriggling maggots found squirming about his head with "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and a dab of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshade. I also darkened some "Vallejo" Heavy Blue with a touch of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and carefully highlighted the ghoul's hair with the mix.

The third pistol-carrying cadaver, who disconcertingly is not actually advertised by "Wargames Foundry" as being part of their Zombie Gunfighters blister and resultantly 'bumps' the code's contents up to seven miniatures, had his vest painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. In addition, this bowler hat was given a coat of "Vallejo" Charred Brown, whilst his shoes and holster were 'picked out' with Heavy Sienna; all these areas were then washed using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Conan WIP - The "Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago" Savage has been primed "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand

I created the vivid green look of all three of the zombies' flesh by initially using a layer of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, and subsequently washing it with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, Carroburg Crimson and a little Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter". In addition, I picked out some of the bullet wounds and gashes with "Vallejo" Heavy Red, and treated these areas to a generous wash of more "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. As a final 'touch' all the living corpses' firearms and ammunition belts were given a coat of Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

Sticking with "Osprey Games" rules, my "Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago" Nickstarter pledge by "North Star Military Figures" has arrived. Amongst the plastic crewmen, large lizard and snapping turtle I bought, I also received the tabletop game's incredible sculpt of a Savage; a barbarian clearly ready "to tread the jewelled thrones of the Earth under his sandaled feet.”