(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Strontium Dog" August 2018

The Stix Brothers WIPs - The "ice-hearted killers" have been primed and are slowly having their details painted

This month's themed attempt to try and reduce my sadly, ever-growing collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures will focus upon a selection of recently arrived figures manufactured by "Warlord Games" as part of their "Strontium Dog" range. "Defined by legendary comic creators John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra" within the pages of the British anthology comic "2000 A.D.", this "skirmish tabletop battle game for two or more players" focuses upon mutated Search/Destroy agents and their "dangerous universe full of outlaws, pirates and corruption."

Fortunately, I was able to have a good preview the rulebook a few weeks before the "Strontium Dog: The Good the Bad and the Mutie" starter game was released, and was therefore rather 'encouraged' to purchase both "the classic confrontation between... Johnny Alpha & Wulf Sternhammer and the infamous Max Bubba’s gang", as well as my favourite Search/ Destroy agents, the Stix Brothers. Resultantly, I thought I actually paint up the comic strip's two main protagonists, alongside arguably their most memorable mutant nemesis' from the town called Stixville on the planet Freedonia.

Neophyte Hybrid Kill Team WIPs - The Genestealer cultists have been assembled and undercoated

For now I've simply managed to prime the first three of the "ice-hearted killers who affect the look of gunfighters from Earth’s Old West", and begin 'picking out' their boots, holsters, straps, gloved hands and firearms. Because "nobody is sure how many Stixes there are" there is always the potential to purchase more of these hopefully straightforward-to-paint figures, but with the Nottingham-based company already offering so many other of the comic's characters, from the Weerdz to Darkus' Howlers, I doubt I'll be tempted to do so for some time yet...

In addition, "Games Workshop" have released their latest incarnation of "Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team", which contains an assortment of their hard plastic multi-part miniatures, including a posse of Devoted Sons. I've loved the look of these Neophyte Hybrids ever since the possibility of a Genestealer Cult was first raised within the pages of "White Dwarf", so simply couldn't resist the opportunity to own a handful of the figures without the need (or expense) of buying a battleforce or bundle.

Boromite Work Ganger WIPs - The alien just needs some of his rocky skin to be shaded

The boxed set comes with enough models for a complete Kill Team, so I have set to work assembling and undercoating my merciless band's leader, Yorl Krauss, and a cult icon carrier already. I'm really hoping to get the makings of these faithfuls ones finished rather quickly, as the Writhing Shadow Tyranid starter set has already been announced and that means potentially building a second team of "multi-limbed monstrosities... armed with rending claws and scything talons" in the near future.

Of course, so many new projects means I've been desperately attempting to finish off some of my older ones, such as my 500-point Boromite Scouting Force for “Beyond The Gates Of Antares”. This final extra-terrestrial miner still needs a portion of his stony skin shaded and his facial features 'highlighted', but should soon bring to an end a somewhat grinding, oft-times frustratingly slow, year-long challenge.

"After Long Years Of Peace, Something Slithered Into the Jade Paradise Of Ghyran..."

"Disease blossomed everywhere."

This 28mm "loathsome Lesser Daemon" is just one of the plastic multi-part models which can be created using the sprues found within the “Games Workshop” Plaguebearers of Nurgle boxed set. Painted as an additional daemonic minion for my fledgling Befouling Host of Nurgle, this plaguesword-wielding invader of the Jade Kingdoms will not only help swell the size of my Plaguebearer unit for “Age Of Sigmar”, but also provide me with another specialist for my "Warhammer 40K" Nurgle "Kill Team" as well.

In fact, the stomach-churning warrior's accompanying Nurgling was specifically positioned onto his base in order to suggest the model is being haplessly pulled forward by his exposed intestines, and therefore is in no position to "be cowed by anyone or anything." Such an "Indomitable" specialist can choose from a variety of rules in the 41st Millennium, like Fearless, Feel No Pain, Relentless or Stubborn, and should make for quite a pitiable sight on the battlefield as he is persistently lead towards his next opponent...

Blightlord WIP - This large Blightking is slowly being painted from the boots up

In order to ensure the Tallyman of Nurgle matched the rest of my Plaguebearers I initially gave the miniature an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki and washed him with “Citadel” Thrakka Green. The figure was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki before I ‘picked out’ details such as his horns, open sores and teeth with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. In order to 'highlight' the sore-infested soldier's Nurgle’s Rot I coated various parts of his grotesque anatomy with either “Vallejo” Heavy Red or Heavy Warmgrey, and subsequently washed these areas with a combination of “Citadel” Thrakka Green, Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson. Finally, all of the creature’s numerous boils and zits were 'picked out' with a dollop of “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and treated to a coat of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

With an eye on re-fighting the Shimmerfall Campaign, "a single example of the attacks unleashed by the minions of Nurgle upon the countless Jade Kingdoms that make up the Realm of Ghyran", I have simultaneously starting painting a unit of five Putrid Blightkings. Foremost of these "huge, plague-bloated warriors" is their Blightlord, a mortal servant who has truly been blessed with all manner of boils, stomach-teeth and tentacles.

"Doctor Who" WIPs - The Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones

Lastly, I have managed to find some time to progress a couple more miniatures from the Tenth Doctor and Companions (boxed) Set by "Warlord Games". Having previously painted three Judoon, I thought it would be fun to finish both David Tennant's incarnation of the time traveller, as well as Martha Jones, and then 'field' them in a game of "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" in order to re-imagine the March 2007 BBC "Doctor Who" television story "Smith And Jones".

Despite her petite size, and subsequent diminutive detail, I've managed to find the patience to almost finish the Doctor's travelling companion, so may well be able to submit her as my final "Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge" entry of the year. But if I can, I may well try and get the medical student's extra-terrestrial mentor completed in time to submit the unlikely pair together.

"The Mindless Ones! They've Broken Through!"

"Brainless creatures of almost incalculable power."

These seven brutish-looking 40mm tall plastic “Wizkids” models of a Mindless One can be purchased as miniature number 05 from the Marvel “Heroclix” Giant Size X-Men range. Summoned via magic to do the bidding of others, for they have no will of their own, these extra-dimensional beings have a rocky hide and no face except for "a single glowing eye". Utilised by the likes of Doctor Doom and Dormammu”, the roughly humanoid-shaped monstrosities were created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and made their first comic book appearance within the pages of Issue One Hundred and Twenty Seven of “Strange Tales” in December 1964.

Due to these figures each requiring an incredibly simple paint-job, and having previously painted two of the behemoths before for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, this particular project was rather straightforward. However, it did once again give me the opportunity to try out the combination of “Vallejo” USA Olive Drab and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. The Mindless Ones' cyclopean eyes were then subsequently ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Red and the “Citadel” glaze, Bloodletter.

Plaguebearer WIPs - These daemons currently need all their sores and wounds painted

With the latest of my Seventh Analogue hobbies Painting Challenge miniatures completed, I have been progressing on another three Plaguebearers for my "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle Host. Rather than simply just stick with the lesser daemons this time round, I've added a couple of cheeky-faced Nurglings to a couple of bases, so as to make the puss-covered fiends a bit more interesting to both look at and paint.

Cunningly a couple of these mini-vignettes will additionally be able to act as my ‘elite’ Plaguebearers for the “Warhammer 40,000” skirmish game “Kill Team”. Admittedly, I already own enough finished Nurgle models with which to field a 200 point force for this “standalone two-player game” by "Games Workshop". But as a small number of my squad will have special abilities bestowed upon them, such as "Relentless" and "Poisoned Weapons", I wanted to use the Nurglings to ‘mark them out' on the tabletop more easily.

Google Chat "Zombicide" - Captain America and Howard The Duck are literally swamped

Lastly, one of my biggest motivators to painting is gaming, so when Dave from "One Man And His Brushes" recently introduced me to Google Chat I was somewhat struck by the potential it had to allow me to have some tabletop fun with those who live a considerable distance away from myself. Obviously, just such an idea needed to be trialled, so having chatted through the possibility of using my "Battle Systems" scenery to create a three-dimensional "Zombicide" board, Martin of "28mm Heroes" fame, delightfully agreed to have a game...

The result was a two and a half hour mad-cap fun-fest which saw Captain America and a deranged Howard the Duck (armed with a chainsaw) fending off not only low-life criminals and thugs, but Doctor Doom and his Doombots, the Awesome Android, Stilt-Man and Nightmare, as well as Mindless Ones, Nimon, Voord and Terminator robots. Ultimately, we had to call it an honourable draw, but the 'shaky' camera action and inability on behalf of the player to see the entire tabletop certainly lead to some highly suspenseful moments as doors were smashed opened, rooms looted and corners turned...

“I Give You The Mausoleum Of All Hope And Desire…”

"The final and funniest folly of the rich."

This excellent 28mm scale resin model of a Mausoleum is made by "Wargames Terrain Workshop" and can be purchased from their Graveyard Scenery range. Shipped as a single cast piece “with hollowed out core”, the building is 100mm long, 80mm wide and 58mm in height, and will provide me with an impressive central scenic piece for when I want to re-enact The Mausoleum scenario from the “Frostgrave” rule-book by “Osprey Publishing”.

Initially undercoated with “Vallejo” Dark Grey and washed with both Nuln Oil and (patchily) "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, I tried to bring out the rectangular structure’s grainy-bricked detail with a heavy dry-brush of more “Vallejo” Dark Grey, as well as a subsequent lighter highlight of Heavy Bluegrey. As a final touch I then picked out the crypt’s wooden door using a combination of Heavy Sienna washed with Strong Tone Quickshade, and “Citadel” Ironbreaker shaded with Nuln Oil.

Apprentice WIPs - The amateur Wizard 's numerous tools and pouches are slowly being 'picked out'

With Mo'Vember now well underway I have continued to apply myself to the third of my four submissions and the physically intimidating “Frostgrave” Apprentice (Enchanter) cast by “North Star Military Figures”. This wonderfully detailed magic user had somewhat ‘lulled’ me into a false sense of security by sporting a rather bare-looking front-facing upper apron. However, the detail sculpted onto the Transmuter’s back more than makes up for this, and is absolutely packed full of water bottles, pouches, blankets and metal-work. Indeed, if anything this figure is even more complicated than the Imbuer’s fur-clad master.

Equally as difficult and time-consuming to paint will doubtless be the first of my ten multi-part plastic “Games Workshop” Space Marines which I have assembled in order to play the company’s latest version of “Kill Team”. These three “Warhammer 40,000” models are comprised of parts taken from the boxed game’s Tactical Squad sprue and the Ultramarines Upgrade Pack, and will provide my force with a Veteran Sergeant (armed with Powerfist and Bolt Pistol) as Team Leader, as well as my Guerilla and Indomitable specialists.

Ultramarines "Kill Team" WIPs - The first of ten space marines destined to battle Nurgle

Admittedly the last thing I currently need is to be lured into the dark embrace of Rick Priestley’s “dystopian science fiction universe.” But the requirement to simply field just 200 points worth of miniatures, along with the skirmish feel to this “stand-a-lone two-player game”, has really swept me up; especially as my current “Age Of Sigmar” Nurgle Host already boasts enough models to create a legitimate Plaguebearer warband.

In addition, I love the idea of fitting out each model with lots of extra kit and details in order to personalise them on the battlefield. This is particularly true of my "shrewd and experienced commander", and the three 'uniquely talented' specialists I must employ as part of my Tactical Squad. As a result, my bare-headed but heavily decorated Guerilla specialist is adorned with all manner of honours such as a laurel and parchments, as well as numerous purity seals. Whilst my Indomitable plasma-gun carrying Adeptus Astartes proudly wears an Iron Halo upon his right shoulder pad; a “special honour badge given to a Space Marine who has shown exceptional initiative or bravery on the battlefield.”

“A Mortal Who Resists The Ravages Of Nurgle’s Rot…”

"These larger, more powerful Plaguebearers often lead armies of their kind..."

This impressive-looking 28mm multi-part plastic Herald of Nurgle model is made by “Games Workshop” and can be bought either as an individual miniature or as part of the company’s “Age Of Sigmar” Daemons of Nurgle “Start Collecting!” boxed set. “Wiry and muscular, with a massively deformed leg and entrails so exposed that they touch the floor”, the mortal hero is ‘blessed’ with being “Disgustingly Resilient” on the tabletop; an ability which allows the Plaguebearer to ignore “a wound or mortal wounds” on a roll of a 5 or more. Furthermore, he also ‘enjoys’ the rather useful “In Death There Is Life”, which permits the chaos daemon to heal a wound “each time a unit is wiped out within 7” of him.”

Having super-glued the Herald of Nurgle together and placed him upon a "Citadel" 40mm circular base, the seven-piece figure was given a double undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki, washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green and dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki.  I then ‘picked out’ his numerous festering wounds, “repulsive Balesword”, gory innards and “spindly arm” with “Citadel” Abaddon Black.

Bloodletter WIPs - These Khorne Daemons now need to have their Hellblades painted "Vallejo" Gold

Once all this base layering was finished I painted his guts, exposed spine, organs, “ribbed tongue” and “lesions” with either “Vallejo” Heavy Red, Dead White or Heavy Warmgrey, and subsequently heavily washed these areas with “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. In addition, I applied some shading to the Plaguebearer’s “rancid flesh” and complementary Nurgling, using a combination of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, “Citadel” Thrakka Green, and (more) Carroburg Crimson. As a final touch, all the creature’s zits were ‘pimped out’ with “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and treated to a coat of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

With most the daemonic hero now complete I turned my attention to the numerous bells which adorned the miniature’s body and horns. These were painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Brass, "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and "Citadel" Nihilakh Oxide. Lastly, the herald’s formidable-looking Balesword, which “weeps vile toxins”, was dry-brushed with “Vallejo” German Grey.

Having now settled upon a colour scheme for a unit of Bloodletters to accompany my “Age Of Sigmar” Host of Nurgle, I have been busy washing, dry-brushing and progressing my daemons of Khorne. Despite being predominantly red and black, the “Slaughter-kin” are proving somewhat time-consuming due to their wonderfully over-sized Hellblades; which I am planning on painting using a combination of “Vallejo” Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

"Kill Team" WIPs - Once finished these Plaguebearer Specialists can also be used for "Age Of Sigmar"

Sticking with all-things “Games Workshop” I have recently succumbed to the call of “Warhammer 40,000” and purchased the genre’s “Kill Team” boxed starter set. This “standalone two-player game”, which focuses upon “brutal close-quarters combat in the 41st Millennium”, has really caught my imagination, especially as it only requires 200 point forces, and, as a result, has led to me assembling some more of the company’s repulsive Plaguebearer figures to use with the rules.

In fact, having also bought the fantastically illustrated Codex: Chaos Daemons I have realised that I already own enough Nurgle-related miniatures with which to field a suitable force for the game. However, as the “32-page softback Kill Team book” bestows special abilities upon certain members of your squad, I wanted to use some Nurglings to ‘mark out’ my ‘elite’ Plaguebearers on the tabletop. Delightfully, the added bonus to this endeavour is that the additional miniatures can also be used to bolster my current unit of Tallyman of Nurgle for “Age Of Sigmar”.