"Wollipeds Are Large, Docile Herd Animals..."

"...Found in the snowy foothills of large mountains."

This 28mm scale plastic model of a Wolliped is produced by "Wizkids" and can be found as Product Code DDMTROW31 from their Pathfinder Miniatures Reign of Winter range. The eight legged animal was bought as part of an order from "Tritex Games" way back in February 2020, and has sat on my painting area untouched since I initially gave it a cursory lick of paint in May last year.

Known for growing "thick, warm fleece as protection against the elements", the figure was cut from its thin-lipped stand and super-glued onto a "Citadel" 50mm circular base instead. It's pre-paint job was then covered over with a few lashings of "Vallejo" White, before I shaded the entire creature using some heavily watered-down Carcharodon Grey by “Two Thin Coats”. As a final touch, the brute was heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" White.

"Lost Heresy Miniatures" WIPs - These three Vulgorn Guards are almost finished

Having finished the majority of the model, I subsequently went in with a much finer brush to 'pick out' some of the Wolliped's details - such as using a combination of "Vallejo" German Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil on its incredibly hard to reach hooves, and face. I also applied some additional "Vallejo" White to the miniature's tusks and later 'weathered' these formidable pieces of ivory with a little "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Lastly, the figure's multiple eyes were all dotted with "Vallejo" Heavy Red and dabbed with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. I was originally going to base the gentle, docile herd animal with snow as seems entirely fitting for something which requires "sure footing even in icy terrain." Indeed, I'm pretty sure I might have purchased the figure to be used in "Frostgrave" by "Osprey Games". However, I also felt that this might make the creature become lost to the eye, so promptly surrounded it with green flock so as to help my paintjob stand out all the more.

"Athena Miniatures" WIPs - Four of the eight British NBC troopers planned for my unit

Alongside my arctic beast I have been working on three more slightly upscaled 28mm Vulgorn Guards by "Lost Heresy Miniatures". This trio were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin back when I had a problem with the FEP on my Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, so there's a fair few printing flaws on them - one of which even required some sculpting with Green Stuff to fix. Happily though, I still think they're all good enough to sit on the tabletop once fully pigmented, with many of their faults obscured by their predominantly dark palette.

I've also got a little bit more work done on the British NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) models I recently acquired from "Athena Miniatures". All eight of the troopers' boots and bases are now completed, so I'll simply need to 'pick out' their L98 A2 rifles and gas masks, before tackling their camouflaged ammunition pouches.

"There Have Been Reports Of A Well..."

"...Somewhere in the city, that grants visions of the future."

This 28mm scale plastic Well is produced by "Wizkids" as part of their "Deep Cuts Miniatures high-definitions collection" and came both assembled, as well as already primed. The scenic piece is supposed to be used with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game by "Paizo Incorporated". But I bought it so as to play the opening scenario in Joseph A. McCullough's second edition of "Frostgrave", entitled "The Well Of Dreams And Sorrows".

The model was initially attached to a "Citadel" 50mm circular base, undercoated with a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and enthusiastically splashed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I then dry-brushed the stonework with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, before adding some sporadic splotches of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Biel-Tan Green as a straightforward weathering technique. These areas were later given another, much lighter dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - Two dry-brushed Panzer IV tanks and a Panzer II tank

For the well's water I first applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and shaded it with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. I next carefully dry-brushed the surface with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and then slowly added some White Star from "Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats" range to my mixture, before patiently dry-brushing that over the water. Eventually, I gave the pool a super-light dry-brush of pure White Star.

The wooden beams and bucket were simply plastered in "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and dry=brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. I did something similar with the rope, using "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally, for the well's metal pieces I applied some "Vallejo" Gunmetal over a "Citadel" Abaddon Black basecoat, and then gave them a splosh of Nuln Oil.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Confederate soldiers just need some flesh and hats to be 'picked out'

In addition to my "Frostgrave" scenery, I've managed to make some further progress on a trio of long-forgotten 10mm German tanks by "Pendraken Miniatures" for my Early World War Two project. Due to my painting techniques for such 'small' armoured vehicles being reasonably straightforward these Panzers should be finished quite soon, and finally give me enough Axis firepower for a small battle.

I have also managed to continue working on a strip of 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers produced by “Warlord Games” I recently returned to after some months delay. I'm definitely starting to work out how best to pigment these little fellows in the future, and may well now employ a "Vallejo" Sombre Grey undercoat on future infantry lines as this appears to be the most prevalent colour. Furthermore, as I have to always tidy up my brushwork on the trooper's grey jackets with "Citadel" Abaddon Black anyway due to catching my tip on their straps and rifles, I can hopefully save some time by just having to do this during the early stages when there's less already painted areas to potentially partially ruin...

"Groot Was One Of The Thor Corps Members..."

"...Dispatched to the Kingdom of Manhattan."

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Groot Thor was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 051 from their Marvel “Heroclix” The Mighty Thor range. This hammer-wielding incarnation of the “sentient tree-like creature” was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley for the May 2015 issue of "Ultimate End" by "Marvel Comics".

Unceremoniously chopped from the "super rare" figure's 'clicky' base and super-glued upon a plastic 50mm circular base, the Flora colossus was treated to a double-coat of “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats” Cuirass Leather and shaded in Battle Mud Wash. He was then heavily dry-brushed with (more) Cuirass Leather, before having his intricate branch detail further highlighted with a light dusting of Ancient Forest.

"Wizkids" WIPs - This Wolliped has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

I next 'picked out' the 59mm tall model's eye slits with a smidgeon of Skulker Yellow and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade (over a White Star basecoat), before working my way through a progression of Wyvern Green, Necrosis Green Wash, (more) Wyvern Green, Emerald Green and Ethereal Green over Groot Thor's leafy cape. Finally, the character from Doctor Doom's Battleworld had his hammer's head pigmented with "Vallejo" Gunmetal" and Oblivion Black Wash. Whilst the hand-weapon's shaft and wrist-strap were layered in Dust Bowl, Ancient Forest and a dash of Battle Mud Wash.

With the first of my entries for Angry Piper's annual Monster Mayhem Challenge completed, I have begun working on a second submission which probably better suits the event's distinctive "Dungeons & Dragons" theme. I originally dug out this Wolliped from my backlog of pre-painted "Pathfinder Battles" miniatures for the recently finished Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. But never got any further than re-basing the quirky-looking "Reign of Winter" model by "Wizkids".

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three Sons of Horus Space Marines slowly having their details 'picked out'

This time round though I've been using the large, eight-legged animal as a test-piece for a heavily watered-down solution of Carcharodon Grey by “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats” which I intend to regularly utilise as a replacement for the awful "Vallejo" Pale Grey wash. My first thoughts on this substitution are highly favourable, and the only reason the "gentle creature" hasn't already been finished is the fiendish difficulty I'm facing getting my brush-tip between its numerous limbs.   

Lastly, I have found the time to pay some 'passing attention' to my ongoing "The Horus Heresy" project and applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna basecoats to three 28mm plastic Space Marines by "Games Workshop". These areas of MK VI armour are now ready for some "Vallejo" Gold, and should help make each member of my second ten-man "Sons Of Horus" tactical squad really stand out on the tabletop...

"This Viscous Heap Slides Like An Inky Spill."

"It's the colour of a starless night sky, and a thick odour permeates the air around it."

This 45mm tall pre-painted plastic model of some Rolling Oil is produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 029 from their Ruins of Lastwall range of "Pathfinder Battles" figures. "A magical compound of pitch and alchemist’s fire", the "volatile and dangerous ooze... hunts in subterranean tunnels and even city sewer systems and waterways for animal and vegetable material to consume."

"Thick, viscous, and resembling a glistening spread of black wax" the mutable creature was re-based upon a "Games Workshop" 50mm circular base and primed using a double layer of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. The Rolling Oil was then enthusiastically dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, before being drenched with "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Otherworld Miniatures" WIPs - This Barrow Guardian has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

With my latest ooze completed, I have been rummaging around for more models by "Otherworld Miniatures" to use with a possible "Warlock Of Firetop Mountain" flavoured tabletop campaign I have in mind. Russ Nicholson's excellent illustrations for this particular "Fighting Fantasy" gaming novel by "Puffin Books" made a lasting impact upon me when I was a young hobbyist, so ideally I have been scouring through my "Dungeons & Dragons" backlog to see what figures captured the look of the Glasgow-born artist's pencilling.

One such model is a Barrow Guardian from Greg Gillespie’s ‘Barrowmaze’ RPG setting. This particular sculpt would appear to be 'out of production' these days, and I only managed to 'bag one' myself because "Otherworld Miniatures" very kindly sent me for free when I ordered their heavily discounted Barrow Guardian II (Code DM30b). The metal figure was actually a bit of a pain to assemble, as its shield is (understandably) separate, so had to be pinned in place due its minimal surface contact with the monster's wrist.

"Sally 4th" Elite Paint Storage Shelving Unit

I have also spent some time assembling one of three Elite Paint Storage shelves produced by "Sally 4th" to try and help 'tidy up' my painting area. I'm very much aware that I've not played anywhere near as many games as I had hoped to by this stage of the year, and a large part of this is because my considerable painting queue, along with my numerous paints, brushes, glues and varnishes have significantly encroached upon my table space.

Assembled using copious amounts of Titebond Original Wood Glue by "Franklin International", this multi-piece MDF painting accessory can accommodate fifteen "Vallejo"-sized dropper bottles of paint and comes with two clear fronted drawers as well. The wooden kit also comes supplied with some "ultra strong rare earth magnets" with which to securely hold any adjoining shelves in place. I won't be attaching mine yet until I've built the other two storage units, to ensure their polarity matches the next rack...

"And Until The Day When Our Demands Are Recognised..."

"...We refuse to touch the soil or breathe the air of this fallen world."

These four 28mm U-Men figures are produced by “Wizkids” and can (still) be bought as miniature number 002 from their “Heroclix” Marvel Mutant Mayhem range. Members of an "organization of fanatical humans" who believed "that using stealing and grafting mutant body parts through surgery" would lead them to become "physically superior", this movement first appeared in the 2001 "New X-Men" Annual and were created by Grant Morrison and Leinil Francis Yu.

Having pried each model off of its 'clicky-base' and super-glued them onto plastic 25mm circular stands, the "humans empowered with mutant abilities" were primed using some "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I then 'picked out' all of their environmental suits' pipes, apparatus and breathing masks, as well as their carbines, with "Citadel" Ironbreaker. Each miniature was later shaded using some "Citadel" Nuln Oil and 'tidied up' with a little more Abaddon Black.

"Heroclix" WIPs - The Bi-Beast, an Abominable Snowman and a Dire Wraith

Sticking with "Heroclix" re-paints, I have made some more progress on the eight Dire Wraiths I plan to add to my ever-expanding Wraithworld invasion force. These figures are reasonably straightforward to pigment, and as a result, I was momentarily tempted to convert a few of them, perhaps by way of a head or arm realignment. In the end though, I've settled to keep them as they are for expediency's sake, and just hope that the New Jersey-based company produce some more inhabitants of the Dark Nebula, such as their Deathwing forms.

I have also managed to get a little further on my Bi-Beast and Abominable Snowman. Working on the 63mm tall Yeti has proved something of a frustration after I discovered I had inadvertently splashed some "Citadel" Nuln oil onto his "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey fur. Unsurprisingly this has meant I have had to infuriatingly go back over those areas first before starting to 'pick out' all this "Vallejo" Dark Grey flesh...

"Wizkids" WIPs - Rolling Oil, a Yochlol and a Bunnyip

"Tritex Games" are continually tempting me with their 'reduced in price' range of plastic "Dungeons & Dragons" and "Pathfinder Battles" models by "Wizkids". I have always been a big fan of the oozes, jellies, slimes and puddings, so simply couldn't resist when I saw they were stocking the large Rolling Oil miniature from the Ruins of Lastwall expansion, and have immediately set to work re-basing, priming and dry-brushing the "inky spill".

Fancying a few other weird dungeon denizens, I have additionally undercoated a trio of Yochlols and Bunnyips. These smaller, yet just as oddly-shaped creatures, are arguably a bit more rubbery in texture than I ordinarily like to put a brush to, and are likely to be far more colourful (once finished). than the Rolling Oil figure I'm working on alongside them.