“Hello, I’m The Angel Of Mercy.”

“I’ve come to give you both a lethal injection.”

This 28mm scale metal miniature of Oola Blint was produced by “Mongoose Publishing” and formed part of my rewards from the company’s 2012 “Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War” Kickstarter. The now long out of production (OOP) figure was sculpted by Gary Morley and later made available by “Warlord Games” as blister Code JD20169.

“A strikingly beautiful woman” who visited “the lonely, the desperate, and the dejected to grant them the sweet release of a dignified death – whether they wanted it or not”, the serial killer was undercoated using two layers of “Abaddon Black”. She was then dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and enthusiastically shaded with “Citadel” Abaddon Black.

"The Dark Ones guard it by night and by day they call out the Slayers."

To be honest, I was actually pretty happy to leave the mass murderer’s attire at that, and simply focus upon her deadly syringe containing the lethal drug zilocaine. However, having seen the ‘official’ paintjob I became more inclined to make Blint’s cuffs and collar stand-out a little bit from her dark dress; albeit not to the point of pigmenting them white, as this seemed to be at odds with the predominantly black clothing she wore within the comic book pages of “2000 A.D.”

As a result, I used a combination of “Vallejo” Dark Grey and “Citadel” Nuln Oil on her cuffs, collar and hat-feathers, before turning to some “Vallejo” Escorpena Green and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green for Oola’s aforementioned hand-weapon. Lastly, I decided to step somewhat aware from the cold-hearted character’s usual palette by ‘picking out’ her hair with “Vallejo” Steel Grey. This area was subsequently darkened with a double-dose of “Citadel” Nuln Oil, but still turned out somewhat bluer than it appears on the printed page so as to better ‘break up’ the figure’s largely black colour scheme.

"Gasosaurus is a genus of tetanuran theropod that lived... during the middle of the Jurassic Period."

Alongside my latest “Judge Dredd” related miniature, I have managed to finish another three 28mm Sorcerous Sentinels by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. These “otherworldly watchers” can be purchased from the company’s ever-expanding fantasy range as SKU: DEAL 304 and are clearly inspired by the “race of aliens that serve The Beast” in Peter Yates’ 1983 film “Krull”.

In addition, I have successfully re-based an old DIN109 Gasosaurus model I bought and painted from “Magister Militum” approximately a decade ago. The dinosaur was slightly damaged during its transition, but luckily a little “Vallejo” USA Olive Drab and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade seemed to fix the problem without any noticeable difference to the figure’s original paint-job.

“Velociraptors Were Actually Feathered Animals.”

“They grew up to 100 pounds, about the size of a wolf.”

These 10mm scale metal miniatures of three Velociraptors are produced by “Magister Militum” as code DIN43 from their Pre Historic Dinosaurs, Animals & Marine Reptiles range, and come in packs of five models. The late Cretaceous creatures are all “sculpted with feathers” and have been sat languishing upon the ends of some wooden painting sticks in a cup, since I first purchased them a few years ago at the Newbury & Reading Wargames Society’s show “Colours”.

Each animal was initially primed with two coats of “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, before being washed in a combination of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. They were then dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, and had their feathered necks ‘picked out’ using a combination of Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These Ape Minions have required some gap-filling with Green-stuff

I wasn’t all that happy with this particular colour scheme, despite some time researching all the different palette possibilities Palaeontologists proposed a feathered Velociraptor could be, so tried blending the neck in with the rest of the dinosaur’s body by giving it a light dry-brush of (even more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown. However, this didn’t seem to work either, so in the end I simply settled upon shading these ‘highlights’ with a little additional “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.

As a final touch I attempted to dab a little “Vallejo” White on to the claws and teeth of each miniature, and later splashed them with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. The three figures were subsequently super-glued to a 30mm x 40mm plastic rectangular base, so as to match my preferred basing style for all my other 10mm miniatures.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Five Sorcerous Sentinels are currently on the painting table

I was originally planning only a couple of these Velociraptors as part of one of my self-imposed weekly challenges. Happily however, the following week’s subject matter, randomly chosen by the turning of a playing card, revealed I needed to pigment another single 10mm model, so I quickly made up my mind to simply populate a single stand with a trio of deadly killers in order to kill two birds with one stone.

Rather frustratingly though, I have realised that I only seem to own two more of the figures, so I’ll need to pick up an extra bag or three of the dinosaurs if I want to make any more bases. This is a tad annoying as I was only stood looking at the entire range in the flesh a little over a week ago, when I visited “Magister Militum” whilst attending “Salute” 2021. Although I have dug out a load of previously painted figures from the range that I am currently in the process of re-basing/touching up…

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Planet Of The Apes" Movember 2021

"Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn."

This month's themed attempt to diminish my mountain of metal, plastic and resin models has been heavily influenced to complete a number of “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” miniatures inspired by Franklin J. Schaffner’s 1968 science fiction movie “Planet Of The Apes”. Rather disappointingly, I actually started this particular project twelve months ago, so am determined this time round that I will get at least enough savage Simian Minions finished to hold a small skirmish or two on my tabletop.

In addition, as Dick Garrison over on the “Rantings From Under The Wargames Table” has kindly agreed to join me in our old Movember Challenge this month, I figured a load of hairy apes and grizzled astronauts would be entirely appropriate subjects to paint. However, I have also ‘dusted down’ a few other eligible models from my ‘bearded’ backlog for consideration, such as the contents of the Apes of Mega-City One set by “Mongoose Publishing”, which was made for their long since OOP “Judge Dredd Miniatures Game”.

"Magister Militum" WIPs - The three 10mm feathered Velociraptors just need some shading

Alongside this modest target, I’ll also be continuing with my weekly challenges chosen upon the turn of a playing card. This time round though I must admit to having been initially a bit flummoxed by the task to work on a pair of 10mm figures. My first reaction was to set about building a small stand for my already quite comprehensively-sized German/Russian Winter War forces by “Pendraken Miniatures”. But considering that I’m currently persevering with a 15mm German Army for “Flames Of War”, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be working on two World War Two armies in differing scales at the same time.

Luckily, I then spied an old “The War That Time Forgot” project from thirteen years ago using 10mm sculpts by “Magister Militum”. I had tried breathing fresh life into this endeavour just a couple of years ago with some new purchases, and whilst that particular effort regrettably failed to reignite my enthusiasm for dinosaur-based battles, it is three of these ‘recently-bought’ (feathered) Velociraptors which I’ve decided to (re)paint over the next several days.

October 2021 - "Battlefront Miniatures" becomes my second favourite manufacturer of the year

Productivity wise, the past month saw me being slightly more prolific than I was this time last year; albeit nowhere near as industrious as I have been in the past. I did though manage to duly submit a miniature a week for Zomtober, and fully-finish the (minimum) strength 12cm Mortar Platoon by “Battlefront Miniatures” I want to field as part of my German beach Defence Force for “Flames Of War”. 

I’m hoping to maintain my momentum for the 15mm “World War Two tabletop miniatures wargame” during the next few weeks by completing both a full-strength Panzergrenadier Infantry Platoon and an accompanying sMG34 Machine-Gun Platoon. Considering all the other painting going on this goal might seem a little overly-optimistic, but will actually just require me to successfully get a brush-tip upon sixteen of the diminutively-sized soldiers in total.

"It's Turning The Eggs."

"What species is this?"

These three 1:160 scale metal miniatures of "egg laden nests of different sizes" are manufactured by “Magister Militum” and can be bought from their "Menacing Monsters" range as Code DIN112 Dinosaur Nests. Sculpted so "you choose what hatches", these models represent any pre-Tertiary period nest and have been super-glued onto the standard 40mm circular bases I use for the vast majority of my objective markers.

Originally primed with two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, the actual nests themselves were treated to a double layer of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, before being generously shaded in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. I then heavily dry-brushed the mud so as to 'highlight' its ridges, and applied a combination of "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey to the eggs. Finally, each shell was carefully dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" White.

Iconic Villains WIPs - Locutus of Borg, the extra-dimensional being known as Q, and the Queen Borg

The rest of each ensemble was given a rough dry-brush of "Citadel" Doombull Brown, followed by a slightly lighter application of Rakarth Flesh. These areas were later drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before being protected with a coat of PVA glue and flocked using some static grass. The nests are supposedly for use with 10mm models, but due to their large size appear entirely appropriate for many other wargaming scales.

With the first of my "Colours" 2019 loot finished, I have managed to make some additional progress on a few of the “Modiphius Entertainment” figures from their "Star Trek Adventures" Iconic Villains boxed set. For now I'm focusing upon those characters who have some association with the Borg, so unsurprisingly have begun work on Locutus, the Borg Queen and the entity responsible for the Federation's first encounter with the cybernetic organisms, the immeasurably powerful Q.

"Warcry" WIPs - These two Iron Golems are slowly having their metalwork 'picked out'

I've also finally gained some momentum pigmenting the first of my Iron Golems for "Warcry" by "Games Workshop", in particular my Ogre Breacher. This particular miniature has had his brass leg armour repeatedly re-painted over the past couple of weeks as I've struggled to get to grips with the Nottingham-based company's "Citadel" Colour Contrast paints.

Initially, I had hoped to 'get away' with creating the warband's infamous metallic red armour with a couple of applications of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson over a "Vallejo" Brass undercoat. But this didn't quite give me the bold colour I was looking for. I then tried some "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red with a similar result. So in the end I've bought some "Citadel" Contrast Medium and watered down my Flesh Tearers Red to the point where at least some of the "Vallejo" Brass underneath is visible... and left it at that.

"Colours" Loot 2019

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIP - The resin Giant Robot has been pinned and assembled

This past Saturday I was once again able to make the trip to Newbury Racecourse and attend the annual Newbury & Reading Wargames Society's show “Colours”. Last year's 'happening' was arguably the best I've attended since it was disappointingly reduced in length to just a single day, and despite not finding any bargains in the event's 'Bring & Buy' sale this time round, I felt the attending traders still put on a worthy gathering. It was certainly nice to once again briefly meet up with fellow blogger Tamsin Piper of the website “Wargaming Girl” fame.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" have always held a special place in my hobby heart ever since I encountered their wares on the eve of them first distributing their "7TV" rule-set, and I have been patiently collecting their substantial range of miniatures ever since. Recently, amongst an Occult Statue, Mushrooms, Dead Forest and trio of Protoplasmic Terrors, they announced the imminent release of a 90mm tall Giant Robot and fortunately I was able to find a pair of these resin models available at their stall.

"Magister Militum" WIPs - A pair of feathered Velociraptors and an egg nest

Sculpted by Andrew May, each kit actually comes with two hands, a fearsome pincer and a death ray, so I've decided to build one as a right-handed maniacal clawed monstrosity, and the other as a laser-gun firing fiend. As the robots are cast in resin, I found them really easy to assemble using a little grey-stuff, some super-glue and pins, and even went so far as to pin my test automaton to its "Citadel" 60mm circular base.

My other purchases were actually motivated by a pang of nostalgia, and a sudden desire to return to one of my favourite vendors and scales. Approximately eleven years ago, back when this blog was hosted on "CoffeeCup", I began work on a 'War That Time Forgot' project using both the 10mm Prehistoric monsters and World War One figures of "Magister Militum". I actually managed to finish a fair few dinosaurs, British, German and French soldiers, and even played a few games using them, but soon found myself put off by some of the Salisbury-based company's military sculpts.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Two British Airborne armed with rifles, and one with a Sten gun

Having more recently spent some considerable time painting both 6mm and 10mm models I figured a re-boot of a 'War That Time Forgot' might be in order, especially as I believe I still know where my antediluvian backlog may well be buried gathering dust. As memory serves I actually already own a fair few of the range's larger flesh-eaters, so with this in mind I bought several blisters of the smaller dinosaurs, such as Protoceratops, Gallimimus, and Velociraptors, as well as three egg nests to use as objective markers.

In addition, I thought I'd inject some extra enthusiasm in the project by turning to "Pendraken Miniatures" for my soldiers, and relocating my 'war' to 1939-1945 instead. As a result, I decided to pick up a British Airborne Army Pack, plus some Bren Carriers and Churchill Tanks, and establish whether from these I could possibly build some semblance of a force with which to triumph over a horde of angry dinosaurs using some homemade rules...

"They Killed Him! Came From The Sea. The Sea. A Sea Devil!"

"We want revenge on the human species!"

These three 38mm tall metal Sea Devil miniatures are manufactured by “Warlord Games” and can be bought from their "Into The Time Vortex" range. Sculpted to replicate the "Sea Silurians" during Malcolm Hulke's 1972 televised six-parter "The Sea Devils", these classic Third Doctor-era creatures were clothed in blue netting by Maggie Fletcher after director Michael Briant felt their original costume design made them look as if they were naked.

All the figures were originally undercoated with "Vallejo" Verdigris, heavily washed with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and dry-brushed with some additional "Vallejo" Verdigris. Their feet were subsequently painted "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and their legs Heavy Green, before both these areas were dry-brushed with Heavy Sienna and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

"We could still destroy their ships before they are out of range."

The Sea Devils' weapon belts were 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey, and their metallic hand-weapons were pigmented using "Citadel" Ironbreaker and a shade of Nuln Oil. The man-in-a-suit monsters' hands and heads were initially treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and their webbing 'slimed' with Heavy Green. Later, as with the reptilian lifeforms' legs, these areas were dry-brushed with Heavy Sienna and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

As a last touch, each homo reptilia's string vest was darkened/dirtied with a random application of both "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. These garments were then re-highlighted in places by slowly drawing some "Vallejo" Verdigris across them.

Nero Narcos WIPs - The robotic crime boss has been primed, washed and dry-brushed

In 2012, alongside 648 other backers, I supported the "Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War" Kickstarter by "Mongoose Publishing". Five years on and I have still yet to receive the entirety of my Sector Chief pledge, nor sadly, do I believe I ever will. However, what I have now been sent "fresh from the forges of Magister Militum" is "one of the last models to be done" for Mongoose Matt's long-winded Kickstarter, Nero Narcos.

To be honest, I stopped reading the comic "2000 A.D." well before this criminal's brain was ever transplanted into the body of "an armoured robotic body", and therefore missed his psychopathic reign over Mega-City One. But having placed the crisply cast "leader of the criminal syndicate the Frendz" onto a 40mm base, as opposed to the woefully undersized 25mm which accompanied him, I must confess to be very impressed with the sculpt's detail...