"The Space Marines Are Humanity's Finest Warriors."

"The Adeptus Astartes are genetically modified superhuman warrior-monks

This 28mm scale plastic model of an Adeptus Astartes was produced by “Games Workshop” way back in 1988, and could be created from the numerous parts found within the (original) RTB-01 Imperial Space Marines boxed set. Produced by Jes Goodwin, Aly Morrison and Bob Naismith, this particular iconic miniature has been assembled so as to carry a missile launcher, and was originally going to join my recently completed Black Templar tactical squad as an additional heavy weapons option.

However, having dusted the old sculpt down and determined just how disconcertingly thick its "Citadel" Chaos Black undercoat was, I felt it would probably better serve the Emperor as a bronze statue placed atop a square-shaped resin plinth sold by "Telfer Model Design". Resultantly, the miniature was treated to a double layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, before being treated to two coats of Brass.

Interceptor Justicar WIPs - The Grey Knight has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

The Mk VI Corvus suited Space Marine was then heavily washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and heavily dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Brass. Later I applied some generous dabs of the "Citadel" Technical paint Nihilakh Oxide to the vast majority of the figure's numerous nooks and crannies, such as his riveted shoulder-pad, in order to denote the statue's great age, and subsequently blended this in with a second dry-brush of "Vallejo" Brass.

The model's plinth was initially pigmented using a few applications of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, and then enthusiastically shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Finally, the detail in the stonework was 'highlighted' courtesy of a "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey dry-brush.

Wrath-axe WIPs - The Judgement of Khorne has had its flames finally finished

Sticking with the futuristic universe of "Warhammer 40K", I have made some progress on the leader of my Grey Knight Interceptor unit. The Justicar has had a couple of additional adornments glued in place, and then been primed, washed and dry-brushed in line with his silver-coloured brethren.

Lastly, I have almost completed the last of my Judgements of Khorne for "Age Of Sigmar", the formidable Wrath-axe. This multi-part plastic model was unfortunately super-glued together before I realised just how difficult it was going to be to get my paint-brush to reach into certain areas of the ensemble. However, having rethought my palette for the "supernatural blade that cleaves through enemy units" I believe it should still look rather imposing as part of my Blades of Khorne warhost...

“Do You Want Him Killed Now?”

"No. He might yet prove useful. Well Doctor? Shall we go?"

This 38mm tall metal miniature of an amphibious cousin to the Silurians is manufactured by “Warlord Games” and can be bought as part of their “Sea Devils” three-model boxed from the "Into The Time Vortex" range. Sculpted to replicate the "prehistoric race which went into hibernation millions of years ago" during Malcolm Hulke's 1972 televised six-parter "The Sea Devils", these classic Third Doctor-era creatures were ultimately clothed in netting by Maggie Fletcher after director Michael Briant felt their original costume design made them look as if they were naked.

Despite the Sea Devils themselves actually being dressed in blue on the broadcast programme, I wanted this particular figure to stand out as the faction’s Overlord, so initially undercoated him "Vallejo" Heavy Green, before heavily washing the miniature’s raiment with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade, and dry-brushing it with some additional "Vallejo" Heavy Green. The leader’s feet were subsequently painted Heavy Sienna and his legs Heavy Green. Both these areas were then dry-brushed with Heavy Sienna and washed with (more) Strong Tone Quickshade by “The Army Painter”.

Grey Knight WIPs - The space marines have all been primed with "Citadel" Ironbreaker

The Overlord’s weapon belt was 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey, and his metallic energy hand-weapon was pigmented using "Citadel" Ironbreaker and a shade of Nuln Oil. The English Channel colonist’s hands and head were originally treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, then 'slimed' with Heavy Green. Later, as with the reptilian life-form’s legs, these areas were dry-brushed with Heavy Sienna and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Moving over to another Nottingham-based producer of miniatures, I have continued to make some progress on a small(ish) “Games Workshop” based project to finally paint-up a squad of five Grey Knights for “Warhammer 40K”. I must confess to having been significantly sidelined by my sudden enthusiasm for wargaming “in grim darkness of the far future” and now intend to devote some considerable hobby time to pigmenting a sizeable force of daemon-hunters and Inquisitors to help fend off the diabolically chaotic machinations of both Khorne and Nurgle.

Bloodletter WIPs - The ten Slaughter-kin have all been primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Red

Resultantly, and in order to ‘kill two birds with one stone’, I have duly assembled and primed (yet) another ten Bloodletters to aid the ambitions of the Blood God. These reinforcements will allow me to field two sizeable Slaughter-kin units for “Warhammer 40K”, as well as utilise a core of thirty of the Blood God’s Chosen as the basis of my ongoing Blades of Khorne “Age Of Sigmar” warhost.

Perhaps somewhat masochistically though, I had even gone so far as to order a “Start Collecting! Daemons Of Khorne” boxed set to provide me with even more Bloodletters in the near future. Not only will these extra models give me the option of commanding two self-sufficient twenty-strong daemonic hordes for both rule-sets, including Icon Bearer and Musician options, but also provide me with the opportunity to have some mounted Bloodcrushers charge into my foes atop their Juggernaut mounts…

"Hexgorger Skulls Exist Purely To Destroy Magic."

"Hexgorger Skulls are the physical manifestation of Khorne's hatred of the arcane arts."

These two multi-part plastic 28mm scale models of Hexgorger Skulls can be bought as part of the Judgements Of Khorne boxed set by "Games Workshop", and "are the physical manifestation of Khorne’s hatred of the arcane arts." 'Summoned' by a "friendly Khorne Priest" during "the start of your Hero Phase" the miniatures are approximately 80mm tall from bottom to dome, and can cause wizards to "subtract 2 from casting rolls... while they are within 12 inches" of either piece.

Initially undercoated with two layers of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, the skulls were heavily shaded using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and then enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. The pair of 'spell-eaters' were then treated to a lighter dry-brush of "Vallejo" White before having their hollow interiors 'stained' with a watered-down 'soup' of "Citadel" Abaddon Black; which was poured in through one of the sockets and carefully swished around.

Bleeding Icon WIPs - The Judgement of Khorne has been spattered with lots of gore

Both pieces' blood streams were simply pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. However, as I wanted to try and suggest that the gore occasionally splashes around the Hexgorgoer Skulls' eyes (and nose), some extra Carroburg Crimson was haphazardly applied over these areas too. Later I went back over these 'spoilt' parts with some more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and White, delicately dry-brushing these colours over the spatter.

For the spiked skull I decided to follow the official paint-scheme by 'picking' the projections out with a little "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. But preferred to simply apply a heavier dry-brush of "Vallejo" White to the tips of the horned skull. In addition, I used some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna as a base layer on both of the Khorne Judgements' foreheads, before carefully applying Gold, then later, "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, to the emblem of their Blood God.

Grey Knights WIPs - The space marines has been repaired (where bare plastic is showing)

Having had so much fun painting these Hexgorger Skulls, I have perhaps unsurprisingly quickly moved on to painting the next of the models from this "Age Of Sigmar" kit. The Bleeding Icon was somewhat easier to assemble than the skulls, predominantly due to it the two-part ensemble not resting its entire weight upon a couple of somewhat tiny water spurts, and resultantly has been able to withstand some far heavier dry-brushes (which usually provides a quicker finish).

Finally, inspired by some recent "Warhammer 40K" gaming, and the promise of much more to come, I have dug out five plastic Grey Knight space marines I once bought second-hand from a wargaming store for fifteen quid. Sadly, time has not been kind to a couple of the figures, as I have subsequently had to replace some broken weapons, and being pre-built I am stuck with them being an Interceptor Squad rather than my preferred Strike Squad. But I am still highly enthused by the team fighting off the indefinite advances of Bloodletters alongside my Tactical Squad of Black Templars...