“Justice Is Swift.”

"Scopo Trono Frojo Kofo Todo."

These two 38mm scale "pewter" models of the "mercenary intergalactic police force" known as the Judoon are produced by “Warlord Games”, and are based upon the extra-terrestrial humanoid rhinoceroses first seen in the 2007 BBC “Doctor Who” television story "Smith And Jones". However, having already previously painted three of the “Doctor Who: Exterminate” miniatures before, these two figures have had their right arms cut off and replaced with a pair carrying the aliens’ energy weapons.

Fortunately, these sculpts seem remarkably well disposed towards such straightforward conversion work, and despite their limbs being somewhat ‘slight’ in size, they were easily removed at either the wrist or elbow and subsequently hollowed out with a pin-vice. Indeed, the models’ disassembly went so well that at one stage I was actually considering a head-swap; albeit common sense and sound judgement ultimately prevailed, and I put my junior hacksaw down.

Silents WIPs - The aliens have been primed, dry-brushed and are slowly having their details 'picked out'.

With my ‘chop shop’ antics completed, both miniatures were primed with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. They were then rather heavily washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and had both their equipment and weapons ‘picked out’ using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. As a final touch, the Judoons' collars and toecaps were layered with Ironbreaker and later shaded with more Nuln Oil.

Sticking with “Doctor Who: Exterminate!” momentarily, “Warlord Games” have recently released some fiendishly-painted examples of their range’s upcoming Order of the Headless, and these monks have rather inspired me to begin pigmenting three more Silents to form the bulk of a Papal Mainframe faction. I’ve only managed to get some basic layering done so far on the members of the intergalactic religious order, but spookily this work has coincided with the “Doctor Who News” website publishing my review of the Nottingham-based company’s Silence miniatures…

Grave Digger WIPs - The two versions of the same wrestler are still in their early stages

Way back in 1994, the "World Wrestling Federation" undoubtedly held one of it's most bizarre "SummerSlam" bouts ever, when two versions of the Undertaker fought one another inside Chicago's United Centre. At the time I thought the fight was an absolute hoot, even though it was clear that Ted DiBiase's version of the 'undead' professional wrestler (played by Brian Lee) was clearly a fake, so when I spotted that "TTCombat" had released a special edition of their "Rumbleslam" character Grave Digger, I immediately thought of replicating that somewhat ludicrous event.

Obviously, these two incarnations of the "Rolling Bones superstar" aren't really all that alike, with the 'limited' resin figure not only replicating Mark Calaway's 'Biker' image as opposed to his 'graveyard' one, but the model disconcertingly being significantly shorter in height too. However, I still thought the idea of pairing the duo up within the squared circle would make for an interesting fight and give me the option of 'fielding' the "The Streak" during a couple of different stages in his illustrious career.

"Boo Yeah!"

"The Showiest, flashiest and most charismatic dwarf you are ever going to see..."

This 28mm resin miniature of Ronnie Salvage is produced by "TTCombat" as part of their "Rumbleslam" range, and bears a striking resemblance to the late great American wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage. "One of the superstars hailing from Kaiser’s Palace", this "nimble dwarf" brings high stamina and annihilating special attacks to the squared circle, and is the third of my four weekly submissions for this year’s Mo’Vember Challenge.

Composed of some sort of hard plastic-type resin, I actually had a bit of problem with Ronnie when I initially based him and snapped off one set of his trailing arm ribbons. Mortified by my fat fingered fumbling, as well as being all too aware that the flashy wrestler could never appear in public without his tell-tale tassels, I drilled an appropriately sized rectangular-shaped hole into his arm at the spot where the fashion accessory had broken away, and super-glued it back in place.

Converted Judoon WIPs - These two metal mercenaries just need some inks to be applied to them

Once re-assembled, I primed the model with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, and started to work my way up the portly figure using a combination of Heavy Red and "Citadel" Crimson Carroburg for Salvage's boots, pants and cowboy hat. The dwarf's skin was created by applying a shade of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade over a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone. Ordinarily, I simply leave the "specially formulated" wash to do its job and just highlight areas such as the nose, cheeks, hands and fingers. But on this occasion there was so much flesh on show, especially on the chest and stomach, that I added some additional Heavy Skintone to these areas too.

Finally the 'Atomic Drop' crowd pleaser's "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre leg tassels, hand-wraps and vest were given a wash of (more) "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and Ronnie's pair of flashy shades were 'picked out' using a little Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. For a moment I did consider basing the wrestling superstar differently as to how I ordinarily 'flock' my models, for the sportsman was supposedly going to always be 'fighting' in a ring, and thus having him appear upon a grassy base didn't really make much sense at all. Fortunately though, I then spied that "TTCombat" produces a "Rumbleslam" Grassy Mat and my problem was readily resolved...

"Victrix" French WIPs - The plastic soldiers have a phenomenal amount of detail to 'pick out' 

Having attended "Warfare" in Reading this weekend, and now bought the last of the figures I plan to purchase for the foreseeable future (or at least that's the plan), I have started trying to properly clear up some space on my painting table by finishing the odd project or twelve. Needless to say, what with "Warlord Games" offering a fiendish 'three for two' deal on their "Doctor Who" range at the Rivermead Leisure Complex-based show, I am now rather inundated with "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" models, so plan to polish off a handful more Judoon figures over the next few days for starters...

Similarly, I have quite the gathering of plastic Napoleonic French by "Victrix Limited" stationed within my line-of-sight. These wonderfully moustached unflinching Frenchmen will be getting a lot of attention as a result, and despite all their straps, pouches, bags and cuffs, should still be finished in time to meet my Mo'Vember Challenge deadline at the end of the month.

"Souls Wrenched From The Dead."

"Repeating directions to here, to this spot, over and over."

This "finely-sculpted" 38mm scale "pewter" miniature of a 'black armoured Rhinoceroid biped' is produced by “Warlord Games” and can be found inside the Nottingham-based company's "officially approved" Judoon boxed set. However, unlike the three figures sold as part of the "Doctor Who: Into The Time Vortex" range, this particular model has been significantly converted so as to turn it into one of the two "Incorporeal" ghosts which should accompany the Fisher King on the "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" tabletop.

These deadly grotesques were a highlight of the 2017 televised story "Under the Lake", and having figured that the "outer space" mercenaries would be obvious opponents of the planet Tivoli's towering conqueror, I've subsequently decided to re-purpose one of the Shadow Proclamation enforcers as an early (undead) victim of the Fisher King. However, because the spectres can only seemingly kill their prey using physical weapons on the science fiction programme I decided to replace its right arm with another carrying a quarry scanner, and swapped its incineration blaster for a plastic "Frostgrave" hand-axe.

Judoon WIPs - The alien mercenaries have been assembled, converted, primed and dry-brushed

As one can probably imagine, both of these alterations required a fair amount of drilling and pinning; especially the hand-weapon by "North Star Military Figures", which frustratingly broke in half at one point courtesy of a 'slight' fall. In addition, the intergalactic policeman's eyes were both hollowed out in order to help create the impression of the visual organs atrophying and sinking away inside his head...

Once all this conversion work was finished I set about re-priming the miniature with "Vallejo" White and washed it with Pale Grey. The corporeal Judoon was then shaded with some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, a little Biel-Tan Green and lastly dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" White. To finish the model, I 'picked out' its axe's handle using a combination of Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and painted its blade using some "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Ronnie Salvage WIPs - The dwarf wrestling superstar is getting closer to completion

With a second Judoon ghost eagerly being prepared and the "Doctor Who News" website currently running my review of "Warlord Games" "mercenary intergalactic police force", my enthusiasm for Russell T Davies' "Rhinoceros-headed humanoids" is (hopefully) understandably at an all time high. Perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, I have also assembled, converted, primed and dry-brushed four further Judoon models; with the aspiration to have them quickly painted and ready to battle the Fisher King... 

Such fervour has not however, meant I am any less enthused by the fantasy-sports game "Rumbleslam", and resultantly, I am still working my way up the "charismatic dwarf" Ronnie Salvage. Indeed, just as soon as I have finished the "Kaiser's Palace veteran" I aim to get cracking on half a dozen more "TTCombat" wrestling superstars - "Boo Yeah!"

"We Know That England Is Crying For A Leader..."

"...And that leader has emerged in the person of the greatest Englishman that I have ever known..."

This 28mm metal miniature of Sir Oswald Moseley can be purchased, along with two bodyguards, as Code 403012203 from the "Warlord Games" German Army range, and represents the BUF leader at a time when "Adolf Hitler apparently had plans" for him should Great Britain fall. Described as being "dangerously charismatic", the Anglo-Irish aristocrat appears as a (veteran) Imperial Commander in the "Bolt Action" book "Campaign: Sea Lion", and is the first of my four weekly submissions for this year’s Mo’Vember Challenge.

Primed with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, the Sixth Baronet of Ancoats was roughly highlighted with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and later washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Moseley's trousers were painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Dark Grey" and (more) "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst his arm-band was treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Garrek WIPs - Gorebeard just needs his axe to be shaded and 'ponytail' painted before being finished

Sadly I did subsequently somewhat struggle to 'pick out' the British Union of Fascists emblem on the one-time Conservative politician's sleeve, and having never seen a decal with such an insignia, eventually decided to 'flub' the issue by simply giving it a coat of "Vallejo" Dead White and then shading it with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Admittedly, this 'botch-job' doesn't look anywhere near as impressive as the delicately-lined symbol clearly visible on the advertised "Warlord Games" official figure, but it did help me keep my sanity...

Having finished such a relatively enjoyable and straightforward paint-job, despite the contentious background of the character in question, I have made some significant progress on another of my Mo'Vember Challenge pieces, Garrek Gorebeard. This "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" plastic model really is proving to be a patience tester, on account of all his fiddly chains, armour, belts and less-than-helpful pose.

"Rumbleslam" WIPs - Waaarrrior, an Orc and Ronnie Salvage still need plenty of work

Fortunately, the surprise arrival of the "Rumbleslam" superstar, Waaarrrior, from my regular miniatures store "Dark Sphere" has not only given me something a little easier to paint, but also motivated me to actually finish off both the Orc Brawler and Grappler from the "TTCombat" product's starter box. Indeed, the sports game's "fan favourite", clearly influenced by the late James Brian Hellwig, has already got me thinking about re-enacting the Ultimate Warrior's pay-per-view main event match with "Macho Man" Randy Savage at Summerslam 1992, where the duo fought for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.

I have still have a bit of work to do on my sculpt of the dwarf, Ronnie Salvage, yet hope over time to build up quite the stable of "Rumbleslam" figures who are based upon World Wrestling Federation, and World Championship Wrestling characters. Certainly "TTCombat" don't appear to be too shy in matching a plethora of superstars' likenesses to their miniatures, and that hopefully means in the future that I'll be able to re-play a number of my favourite bouts from the late Eighties and early Nineties...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Napoleonics" Mo'Vember 2017

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

This month's themed attempt to try and reduce my ever-increasing horde of metal, plastic and resin models has been directly influenced by my desire to dedicate part of my hobby time towards miniatures of a 'beardy' nature (in celebration of Mo'Vember), as well as my recent acquisition of Bob Cordery's "The Portable Wargame" and sudden desire to play some Napoleonics. Indeed, my yearning to fill a tabletop with some splendidly coloured 28mm forces from 1803-1815 has led to my purchasing an old hardback copy of "Grand Battery" by Jonathan Sutherland & Diane Canwell and "Song Of Drum And Shakos" by "Gamesha Games".

Fortunately, I am not about to embark upon such a time-consuming adventure completely from scratch, having actually tried to paint some "Victrix" French six years ago for a 'Battle of Marengo' project. That naive undertaking was perhaps always destined to fail, but it did cause me to purchase a considerable number of plastic Napoleonic infantry and cavalry, as well as actually paint sixteen Frenchmen up; albeit I don't seem to have applied any flags to their command stand... 

"Victrix" Napoleonic French WIPs - All of the soldiers' trousers have been painted

As I plan on getting to grips with the rule-set's basics by simply deploying just eight musket-armed infantry units (8 @ 4 SP each = 32 SP; Rated Average), and a Commander (1 @ 6 SP each = 6 SP), this means I already own almost half of the foot-soldiers needed for my first foray into "The Portable Wargame". Of course though, that still means I need to paint another twenty of Napoleon's finest, 'picking out' all their straps, cuffs, water bottles and stowage... and I haven't even mentioned their similarly sized Austrian opposition yet.

Realistically therefore, considering all the other painting projects and models I want to pigment over the next few months, I've decided to set a relatively low-bar of completing just four figures per month, and hope that before my enthusiasm for the project wanes too much I manage to finish enough soldiers off to at least start a few straightforward skirmishes; something which as a rule ordinarily helps reinvigorate my mojo. In addition, once I've completed these initial four Frenchmen I plan to start work on a few of their "oldest and, next to the English, the most persistent" of their "foemen", the white-coated Austrians.

Ronnie Salvage WIPs - The dwarf has had his boots and leg tassels 'picked out'

Sticking with 'beardy' miniatures for Mo'Vember, I have also been slapping a lick of paint onto one of my favourite miniatures from "Rumbleslam" by "TTCombat". Arguably, "the showiest, flashiest and most charismatic dwarf you are ever going to see! Ronnie Salvage is one of the superstars" of the Cornwall-based company's fantasy wrestling rule-set and has clearly been inspired by the late Macho Man Randy Savage.

As a huge fan of the old "World Wrestling Federation", and Randy Mario Poffo in particular, I have been picking up a number of this "fast paced high action" tabletop game's plastic figures since I first bought the "Rumbleslam" Starter Box towards the start of the year; the majority of which have clearly been modelled upon old-time professional wrestlers. So don't be at all surprised to see a few crop up over the next few weeks as I look to (re)assemble The Mega-Powers, The Bushwhackers and Legion Of Doom...