"Trained With Australian S.A.S. And French Foreign Legion."

"Wanted for crimes in Zimbabwe and Libya."

This 28mm metal miniature of Major Sebastian Bludd is from a private collection and thus not commercially available. Fortunately though, I was lucky enough to be able to acquire a spare casting of the "mercenary working for the Cobra Organization" and have painted him in a palette similar to how the military advisor's carded action figure appeared in 1983.

Initially undercoated with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, the tactical-minded terrorist's uniform was painted using some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna" and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The bad poet's knee-pads, torso armour, and helmet were then dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, whilst his pistol was treated to a layer of Gunmetal Grey. Both of these areas were then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and Bludd's "Snidely Whiplash-style moustache" was 'picked out' with more Abaddon Black.

"Lord Oren has retrieved treasures from ancient ruins before..."

Alongside the fourth of my "G.I. Joe" figures, I have also managed to finish work on an old "Wizkids" plastic "Mage Knight" piece which I have turned into an objective marker. The doorway itself comes from the long out of production Dungeons Builders Kit, and was simply super-glued to one of the thin-lipped 40mm circular bases I often use as a stand for my scenery.

The model was originally primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and then had its wooden door layered with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. All of the metal bolts, padlock and hinges, as well as its skull decorations were subsequently 'picked out' with "Citadel" Ironbreaker and shaded with Nuln Oil. Finally, the entrance's archway was painted with "Vallejo" Dark Grey, washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Dark Grey.

Plague Guard WIPs - The Chaos Space Marine has been primed, layered and washed

Sadly, despite making a little inroad into the horde of miniatures currently littering my painting table, I have yet to be able to resist the call of Nurgle when the Plague God's gaze falls upon me, and resultantly, I have added to my already overcrowded queue another Heretic Astartes from the "Dark Imperium" boxed set by "Games Workshop". This particular plastic Plague Guard proved particularly 'attractive' to me because he is carrying arguably my favourite "Warhammer 40k" hand-weapon of all-time, the plasma gun...

"Cybermen Do Not Promise."

"Now, that really is the end of the Cybermen, isn't it?"

This 36mm tall metal Cyberman miniature is sold by “Warlord Games” and can be bought as part of their "Nightmares In Silver" Cybermen Collector's Set 1966-2013. Sculpted to replicate one of the survivors of Mondas following the removal of their "bulky chest units and head lamps", this model is based upon how "the fictional race of cyborgs" appeared the 1967 television stories "The Moonbase" and "The Tomb Of The Cybermen".

Kit Pedler's co-creation was originally primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before receiving two layers of Ironbreaker and a wash of Nuln Oil. It was then dry-brushed with more Ironbreaker, and the Cyberman's eyes, mouth-slit and somewhat torturous body-tubing were 'picked out' with Abaddon Black. As a final touch the figure's chest-piece light was painted "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, shaded with some "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and then lightened with a tiny spot of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre.

Major Bludd WIPs - The mercenary working for the Cobra Organisation is almost finished

The completion of the penultimate model from my "Nightmares In Silver" box really has come at a good time, as "Warlord Games" have just teased its "Into The Time Vortex" fans with pictures of both Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and Companion set (which includes Rory in his nurse outfit, Amy in her Police costume and a second version of Clara Oswald), as well as some sculpts of Odin and the Mire from the October 2015 episode "The Girl Who Died".

As a result, in order to clear some much needed space on my painting table, I have managed to spend a little hobby-time working on a privately commissioned miniature of Major Bludd from the "G.I. Joe" action figure series. To be honest, I had been considering colouring the Australian mercenary using the dark scarlet/blue palette depicted in his printed "Marvel Comics" exploits, but eventually decided to stick to the brown/black palette used for his original 1983 action figure.

"Mage Knight" Door WIPs - The doorway should make for an interesting objective marker

Whilst these days I undoubtedly have more than enough objective markers with which to populate a modern day or futuristic tabletop, I do still feel that I'm lacking a few fantasy-based ones. With this in mind, I thought it would be fun to dig out another of my old "Wizkids" plastic scenic pieces and turn it into a 'prized' location of some kind.

Just why a partially open door would be a situated in the middle of a battlefield is admittedly anyone's guess, but I like the idea of it possibly being all that remains of a long-destroyed structure, or perhaps some doorway akin to that Lucy stumbled upon in C.S. Lewis' novel "The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe"...

"The Very Definition Of Corporate Control."

"A terminal virus within the body corporate."

This 28mm plastic “Wizkids” model of (the) Ghost can be bought as miniature number 28 from the Marvel “Heroclix” Armour Wars range. The super-villain turned "anti-hero figure" was originally created by David Michelinie and Bob Layton to be "one of Iron Man's foes", and made his first comic book appearance in the June 1987 issue of "Iron Man". An "anti-capitalist saboteur who seeks to destroy various political and economic institutions he views as oppressive", the Ghost wears "a battlesuit of his own design" which "enables him to turn himself and any objects he touches invisible or intangible."

Primed with “Vallejo” White in order to 'cover up' its initial pre-paint, the former IT researcher was washed with Pale Grey and then dry-brushed with more White. His eyes were then 'picked out' with the careful application of some watered-down "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"After ten seconds, the blood pillar will recede and in its place will be the devil..."

In addition to completing my member of Thunderbolts, I have also finished re-working an old "Wizkids" plastic column into a grisly objective marker/piece of scenery. This particular 48mm tall model is from the out of production "Mage Knight" Dungeons Miniatures Game Artifacts Set 1, and could arguably have simply been super-glued to a base and varnished; it's pre-paint was so good. However, I quite fancied dry-brushing its multiple-faced column, and felt if I was going to do that, then it only seemed reasonable to start from scratch...

As a result, I undercoated the entire figure with "Citadel" Chaos Black, applied a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Red to the gory pillar, and washed this area with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Once dry, the column was highlighted with more "Vallejo" Heavy Red, and I completed the '3D dungeon accessory' by painting its stone base and capital with a combination of Dark Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Brass Bull WIPs - The "Menaian Bull" has been primed and layered

Finally, I have started preparing a number of "Reaper Miniatures" I plan to use for my forthcoming "Metamorphosis Alpha" and "Expedition to the Barrier Peaks" campaigns. The models are all from the company's various "Bones" ranges, and whilst I'm not admittedly a fan of the "unpainted polymer" they're cast in, I really don't think you can quibble about their price; especially for some of their larger monsters.

This Brass Bull is a good case in point, and measures an impressive 90mm from tail-tip to horn-point. Admittedly, I'm not quite sure how I'll utilise quite such a formidable-looking adversary when Level One of Gary Gygax's "Dungeons & Dragons" module consists of just the Officials, Officers and Technicians Quarters. But I'm pretty sure I'll come up with some reason as to why the adventurers encounter a "Menaian Bull" amongst the crashed spaceship's maze of corridors, compartments and automatons. 

A Twig Blight Is An Awakened Plant..."

"Its branches twist together to form a humanoid-looking body with a head and limbs."

These three 22mm tall metal models of some Twig Blights were produced by “Wizards Of The Coast” as part of their “Dungeons & Dragons” range and, before they went ‘out of production’, could be bought as Code WOC40049. Described as “a small, evil plant creature that looks like a woody shrub when rooted in soil” the diminutive monster with “a thirst for blood” first appeared in the Third Edition of Gary Gygax’s fantasy role-playing game, in the 2000 adventure “The Sunless Citadel”.

Originally undercoated with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, the Twig Blights were all subsequently washed with “The Army Painter” Heavy Strong Tone Quickshade, before being dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. As a final step, in order to try and bring out even more of their ‘wooden’ detail, all three of the figures were highlighted with Heavy Brown.

"Mage Knight" Column WIPs - The bloody piece of scenery has been primed, washed and dry-brushed"

As I actually plan to use these miniatures to play "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks" using the rule-set "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" by "Ganesha Games", I have been busily pouring over the Plant Physical Mutation Table for some suitable traits. In "Dungeons & Dragons" the tiny tree-like creatures are armed with a poisonous piercing attack so in addition to having Short movement, the Forester, Dim-Witted and Photosynthesis characteristics, as well as being "immune to poison and unaffected by drugs" themselves, the small plants will also potentially inflict a poisonous wound upon an opponent "every time" they win "a Combat roll."

Sticking with "Dungeons & Dragons" I have also based and started re-painting some fantasy-themed objective markers. This column comes from the "Mage Knight" Dungeons Artifacts Set 1, and possesses "unique powers you can use in your game to create new and exciting adventures." It's actually been sat in my painting queue for a couple of years now, but I've finally found the hobby-time necessary with which to prime, wash and dry-brush it.

Hoagy WIPs - Sam Slade's assistant has been primed, washed, dry-brushed and had his eyes 'picked out'

In addition, I've found myself becoming increasingly drawn to the world of the British comic book "2000 A.D." and the miniatures I own that are based upon its characters. I actually bought this "Wargames Foundry" model of Hoagy at "Salute" 2016, and, despite undercoating it, soon 'packed' the badly over-sized metal figure away in a drawer with a load of other long-forgotten purchases.

Initially I had thought about using the robot as one of the worker automatons my adventurers would initially face upon entering the crashed spacecraft in "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks". But soon set such a notion aside due to Sam Slade's "idiot understudy" being too recognisable and woefully out of scale with all the 'officially licensed' "Dungeons & Dragons" miniatures I wanted to use.

This change of plan hasn't however, made me rethink painting Hoagy up, and having re-primed him, on account of the original undercoat peeling away from the figure over time, I am now in the position where the robot simply needs his eyes and chest plate to be 'picked out' before being finished. Hmmm... Perhaps I should paint up my accompanying miniature of Robo-Hunter and have the pair of them travel the the ravaged "mid-25th century" landscape of "Gamma World"..?  

The "Warlord Games" website - Featuring someone's "Awesome battle report..."

Recently I have had a little trouble with a couple of the plastic Daleks produced by "Warlord Games" for the excellent miniatures game "Doctor Who: Exterminate!". Ordinarily, I would have chalked such assembly issues down to bad luck, but on this occasion I followed the sage advice of Hils (of "The Game Cupboard" fame) and contacted the company's customer services department.

The result is that I now own a nice new sprue of Daleks, and, having been put in contact with the brains behind their promotion for the Doctor Who Miniatures Game, have even had my recent "Doctor Who: Exterminate! Battle Report: The Daleks Verses The Cybermen" featured on the "Warlord Games" website as a tweet. I genuinely don't think you can beat that for service and free publicity...