Secret Santa 2014 - "Crooked Dice" Federated Security

This year I decided to take part in the fantastic Secret Santa organized by Ian and his excellent wife, Cath, over on “The Blog With No Name” [http://walladvantage2.blogspot.co.uk].

As a result I was absolutely delighted to be greeted with these five Federated Security models by “Crooked Dice Design Game Studio” yesterday morning, and have already managed to spend some time painting up a test piece. Based upon the dastardly henchmen of the Federation from the BBC science fiction television series “Blake’s Seven” these figures look set to be a joy a paint; especially as they’re almost entirely black.

Three of the miniatures, which are slightly thinner than ‘heroic 28mm’ scale and are somewhat sedentary, are sculpted by Ian Mountain. Whilst the more dynamically posed and slightly thicker-set Federation goons are by Martin Buck. All the models come with separate heads.

To begin with I’ve given each figure a double undercoat of black and then dry-brushed them all with charcoal in order to provide some highlights but also to help me see the detail I need to pick out. I’ve seen some photographs of some lovely bright green headwear for these miniatures on the internet but I wanted mine to be somewhat more muted so I have gone with a rather bland green undercoat before applying a wash over the area. I have also seen a number of different colours used for the space henchmen’s visors. I’ve decided to go with red but as I just want the vaguest suggestion of crimson I painted just a single layer straight onto the black undercoat and then washed it with a black shade.

I like my science fiction weapons to somewhat stand out from a model so instead of painting the Federation rifle the brown-tin colour depicted in the television series I’ve simply gone with a metal undercoat heavily washed with a double helping of black shade. I’ve also picked out the belt accessories with silver in order to make them stand out a bit more than my normal “Citadel” Boltgun Metal and hopefully break-up the pure black of the Federated Security guard’s uniform. The model just needs another wash of black shade to help tie-in the charcoal highlights and should then be finished, ready for final basing.

I genuinely can’t thank my Secret Santa enough for selecting these miniatures for me as they’re really helped re-galvanize my “Blake’s Seven” “The Way Back” painting project from a couple of months ago.

 I have also managed to find a little more time to spend on these three models from Dick Garrison of “Wargames Supply Dump” [http://www.wargamessupplydump.co.uk].

These arrived as a surprise gift from Roger a couple of weeks ago now and I’ve struggled to progress them as quickly as I would like as a result of my commitment to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. However I’m hopefully almost halfway finished with Ballistics Man, and finally getting into the orange and gold layers for Captain Garrison and Ultra Retrovian; two colours I really struggle with at the best of times.

I’ve got some high hopes for these models to prominently feature in a “7TV” campaign set in America during the Prohibition period, which I have planned for 2015. But for now I just want to get these lovely figures painted up to a similar standard to those done by Roger on his “Rantings From Under The Wargames Table” blog [http://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com]. 

“Who’s A Good Bizarro Doggie?”

This rather jolly 28mm “Wizkids” model of Lockjaw is number 001 from the “Heroclix” Marvel Fantastic Forces range and is my third submission for the Mo’vember 2014 challenge Dick Garrison is running over on his blog “Rantings From Under The Wargames Table”. The figure is actually quite large and as a result I was unable to accommodate him on the usual 40mm round base I reserve for similar-sized figures. As a result I have placed him upon a “Games Workshop” 60mm base instead.

'WALKING THE DOG' - Ben Grimm and Lockjaw encounter Ironclad on Yancy Street

As the vast majority of the model was going to be brown I undercoated the Inhuman using “Vallejo” Heavy Brown and then simply picked out the alien bulldog-like being’s large moustache with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. Lockjaw’s antenna was easily apinted using Boltgun Metal with a Nuln Oil wash. To try and bring out the detail of the Pet Avenger’s facial folds I slowly washed the model with Devlan Mud. Once dry I then concentrated on applying additional washes of “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade over the model.

If you’re interested in seeing other Mo’vember blog postings then please visit Dick Garrison’s latest submission here: http://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/movember-rangers-1-united-4-week-3

In addition if you’re interested in Lockjaw, then a review of the 2006 “Marvel Comics” issue where he becomes the Thing’s pet can be found here: http://thebrownbagaeccb.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-thing-4-marvel-comics.html

In between other painting projects I am still beavering away these three miniatures by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. I’ve almost completed the Freedom Fighter Vila, and finally boxed off and washed the red costume of Jenna. In addition I’ve finished the highlights on Tweedy Mattison’s black trousers, washed his pink shirt (to go with the “cool” red bow-tie I have planned for him) and started the undercoat for his brown jacket.

Speaking of “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” I have received a lovely envelope from the company with the words “Secret Santa” emblazoned on them. This was my first year in participating in Ian’s ‘Secret Santa’ over on “The Blog With No Name” [http://walladvantage2.blogspot.co.uk] and I just want to thank him, his excellent wife Cath and whoever has bought me some “7TV” goodies. Very much appreciated and I look forward to doing a Christmas Day posting when I open my present.

These five models are from code PWM32 Arresting Gestapo Troopers by “Pulp Figures”. I’m planning to base and prime a number of Bob Murch’s superb miniatures in preparation for my participation in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge next month.