"Powerful Enchanters Created An Army Of Granite Golems..."

"...To tear stone from the mountains and shape it into great blocks..."

This 49mm tall model of a Stone Golem is produced by “Reaper Miniatures” and can be bought as Code 77171 from their “Bones” range. A “unique monster” with a deep hatred of Wizards who rampages through the ruins of the Frozen City, the Granite Golem is the focus of the 2015 “Frostgrave” mini-campaign supplement “The Hunt For The Golem” by Jospeh A. McCullough.

"Slowly rendered obsolete by more effective elemental magic that was both less expensive and less time-consuming", the creature was primed using an old out-of-production pot of "Citadel" Charadon Granite, shaded with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed using some (more) Charadon Granite. In order for the construct’s skirt to stand out somewhat from the rest of its body, I subsequently painted the area in "Vallejo" Steel Grey, washed it with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and then dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo" Steel Grey.

"Reaper Miniatures" WIPs - A Clay Golem and (another) Mind-Eater

The Stone Golem's belt-buckle, bracelets and head-piece were pigmented with a combination of “Citadel” Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. Whilst the "lone survivor" had its eyes ‘picked out’ with a dollop of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and a little splash of "Citadel" Glaze Bloodletter. Lastly, the recently thawed out creature had its based flocked with “Citadel” Snow so as to better fit in with the rest of my painted “Frostgrave” collection.

Sticking with "Reaper Miniatures" and their “Bones” range, I have also made some significant progress on two more of the Fort Worth founded company’s Mind Eaters, and a Clay Golem. All three of these polymer plastic models are destined for my “Gamma World” tabletop and have rather motivated me to dig out many more figures from their “Chronoscope”, “Dark Heaven Legends” and “Reich Of The Dead” lines.

Pulp Apes WIPs - These hefty metal models have been undercoated and shaded

In addition, I have taken possession of four 44mm tall metal Pulp Apes from a private commission, which are perfect proxies for the Shadow Beasts depicted on the “He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe” animated television series. Despite being described on the “Wiki Grayskull” website as having dark brown fur, I’ve decided to paint the “fierce nocturnal creatures” in the dark purple palette shown during the episode “Night Of The Shadowbeasts”.

As with my recently returned interest in “Reaper Miniatures”, this latest arrival has also disconcertingly piqued my enthusiasm for all things Eternia and the secrets of Castle Greyskull. So perhaps unsurprisingly I have been rummaging around my substantial backlog looking for a number of figures I have previously purchased relating to Prince Adam’s alter-ego and his endless battle against the evil forces of Skeletor.

"At First Glance, Karsus Doesn’t Seem Like Much."

"He's neither as durable as Garrek nor as deadly as Saek."

This 28mm scale multi-part "push-fit" model of Karsus The Chained is part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set sold by "Games Workshop", and can additionally be used as part of Garrek's Reavers unit for "Age Of Sigmar". "With a ranged attack and the ability to attack multiple fighters at once" this cruel warrior is "one of the warband’s most dangerous fighters" and "a key component to many Khorne Bloodbound strategies."

Primarily undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help mask the model's vivid red plastic, the former slave's trousers, neck collar and leather wrist bracelet were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his thigh armour and shoulder plate, were both treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Karsus' chains, which are made from the shackles he used "to choke his masters to death", as well as the "many-notched axe that has claimed countless skulls for Khorne" were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being shaded with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.

Targor WIPs - The Khorne Bloodreaver just needs his flesh to be shaded and his many scars 'picked out'

The mortal fighter's belt, numerous straps, weapon handles and boots were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Whereas his bare flesh was pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone with a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. As a final touch I used a thin, carefully drawn line of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to 'highlight' the killer's heavily scarred Chaotic Khorne symbol which had at some point been hacked across his torso.

As a last step, and in order to ensure the model matched  my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Disconcertingly, because I steered away from the Nottingham-based company's official red-armoured paint scheme by replacing it with burnished brass, it was only at this point that I realised I hadn't used and "Vallejo" Heavy Red on the miniature at all; a colour which is ordinarily universally seen on all of the Blood God's butchers. However, hopefully such an oversight won't be all that noticeable when Karsus The Chained is on the tabletop with his fellow frenzied devotees...

Flat-Top WIPs - This heroic resin warrior has had all his metallic areas layered, shaded and dry-brushed

With just one of my Garrek's Reavers left to finish, it shouldn't come as any surprise to know that I have made some significant progress on my "Shadespire" miniature of Targor as well. To be honest, I've been avoiding painting this particular model as it's my least favourite of the Khorne Worshippers, on account of the sculpt's pose striking me as being a little too similar to that of Gorebeard himself. However, having persevered with the crazed bezerker's fiddly leather straps, stitches, skull trophy and leg armour, I am now in a position where he simply needs his mutilated flesh to be shaded/highlighted before being ready for a gloss varnish...

Having recently started re-watching some classic episodes from the animated television series produced by "Filmation" called "He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe", I was rather inspired and pleased to recently locate a copy of this Out Of Production (OOP) sculpt of Flat-Top from a private collector. A good likeness of the Heroic Warrior, Ram-Man, I've set to work trying to replicate the palette "Mattel" used for their action toy of "the human battering ram."