Top Ten Miniatures Of 2018 - An "Undercoat" Personal Choice

Happy New Year to all "Fantorical" readers! Well after stepping into the breach last year to do a Top Ten for this blog last year, I have been asked to repeat it for 2018 despite Roger being back. So apologies to Roger for duplicating his efforts, but hopefully I have chosen some different models to him...

This blog is a great source of inspiration to me, helps spur me on to paint my own models and has seen me having to invest in quite a bit of storage in order to house my own growing collection. However, as well as looking at the wonderful minis on "Fantorical", I have also found the website to be a great signpost to dip into the efforts of other bloggers, like the wonderful “Tail Feathers” World of Mice and Mystics miniatures on the "Da Gobbos Grotto".

I will be honest with Simon's prolific output this year it was actually hard to pick just ten models, so it became a bit of family effort. This then is the Undercoat Top Ten of 2018...

No. 10 - Nurglings by "Games Workshop" - August 27th

This may be a surprise choice as these are little models representing daemons of Nurgle, the plague god. However, despite their small size, they are amazing sculpts and the paint job is also just amazing, resulting in a miniature that I want. I want these Nurglings so much!!!

No. 9 - Chaos Chosen by "Games Workshop" - September 17th

A chaos champion playing fantasy football that has bags of detail. The paint job picks out the detail superbly while staying true to the evil theme of the forces of chaos. The skin is well done and the metallics look great. I really like this a lot.

No. 8 - Hydro Man by "Wizkids" - June 13th

This blog has a knack of introducing comic book characters I have never heard of and this chap is no exception. This has a great paint job. The face is well done, but the star is the water effects which I think are stunning. Another model I wouldn’t mind owning!

No. 7 - Slisssk The Adder and Shrew Warrior by "Oathsworn Miniatures" - May 12th/21st

We stumbled across the incredible "Burrows & Badgers" range of miniatures at Salute. I love nearly all these fantastic sculpts and there were plenty to choose from as the warband was painted over several months. As a result, I cheated and chose two to represent one choice. The little shrew looks so characterful he had to be selected, but so too did the adder, whose armour and scales are just amazing. A great "range of anthropomorphic animal miniatures" really brought to life.

No. 6 - Destroyer by "Wizkids" - February 6th

A comic book character who I did know about! But only because he was in the movie "Thor"! Simon has a great technique for painting metal, and is far more patient about it than me. His dry-brushing, highlighting and “polishing” (as he calls it!) is really top notch and this sculpt captures that perfectly. There were plenty of other examples but this one was the best for me.

No. 5 - Arnulf by "Games Workshop" - May 18th

This Reaver of Khorne, from Games Workshop’s "Age of Sigmar" setting, is essentially a blood thirsty barbarian charging into battle, whose excellent skin tones really stood out for me. I also liked the way Simon didn't copy the traditional red of the followers of the Blood God, but used a more original colour scheme that still captured the character perfectly. Very nice indeed.

No. 4 - Demon Bunny by "Wizkids" Heroclix - July 13th

A blood soaked giant rabbit. Need I say more! Great paint job that is so full of character!!

No. 3 - Yeti by "Black Tree Design" - December 10th

Well it wouldn’t be "Fantorical" without "Doctor Who". This classic Patrick Troughton baddie looks great. The fur is so well done and it just begs to be in a unit and on the tabletop. Simon’s techniques for picking out fur and hair are really, really good and this is a great example.

No. 2 - Wendigo by "Wizkids" - February 8th

I had never heard of this "Marvel Worldwide" comic book character before, but had to pay attention when I saw him. The sculpt is very dynamic and he really stands out because he is pure white. White is such a difficult colour to paint, well in my opinion at least, and the shading on this model is very subtle, very clean and precise, so this super-villain was always going to be high up the list.

No. 1 - Polar Bear by "Copplestone Castings" - March 22nd

This is a great sculpt and what makes it stand out is the realistic painting of it. It looks great in the photograph, but even better in real life. Simple, but so effective. This model really stood out for me.

Well that concludes my Top Ten and the reasons behind them. Happy New Year to all the readers of “Fantorical”.

Top Ten Miniatures Of 2018 - A "Rantings From Under The Wargames Table" Viewpoint

Well the year is nearly at an end and so it’s that time again, when both Simon and myself hand over the reins of our respective blogs to each other. This means that I get at least one piece of quality writing (actually it’s two this year) on my blog, and Simon gets to moan at me for picking the wrong figures from his prestigious output for the year. However to quote Eric Morecombe - “I’m picking all the right figures, but not necessarily in the right order!”. Anyway this is always a joy to do, even if Simon has it much easier than me as he doesn’t have anywhere near as many posts to sort through over on my blog!

Right, well, before I get into the list, I’ll just clarify a few of the ground rules, figures are only eligible for the list if they were completed in 2018, no “works in progress” allowed, and vehicles or pieces of scenery can also count for list entries, So now that’s sorted on with the Top Ten itself…

No. 10 - Demon Bunny by "Wizkids – July 13th

One of the great things about Simon’s blog is that you really don’t know what you are going to get, and this amazing find from the “Wizkids” “HorrorClix” figure range is a great example of that. Re-painted to represent the “Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog” of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” fame, this wonderfully horrific looking “lupus” was as wonderful as it was terrifying!

No. 9 - Darkmantle by "Wizkids" - February 16th

Another “Wizids” figure at number nine, this time from their “Dungeons and Dragons miniatures game”. This wonderfully weird creature was given a remarkably simple paint-job by Simon, yet that doesn’t detract from the gruesomely great result. It instantly reminded me of “The Mire Beast” from the classic “Doctor Who” Dalek story “The Chase”, and became one of those “I’ll get one of those myself one day figures”. Sadly however, that day has not yet arrived, but if anyone has one going spare?

No. 8 - Arnulf by "Games Workshop" - May 18th

Though I make it no secret that I am neither a "Games Workshop" fanboy, nor someone who will be dipping their toe into the expensive “Age of Sigmar” pool, I have to admit that they do produce some truly awesome miniatures now and again. Arnulf and the rest of the miniatures Simon painted up from “Garrek’s Reavers” were all pretty awe inspiring, and would make a great band of Barbarians for pretty much any game, especially as a fantastic bunch of "Frostgrave" mercenaries. Ultimately though I chose Arnulf as my favourite as the painting of his flesh is just so right, along with his well suited metallic coloured weapons and helmet. A cracking figure!

No. 7 - Orange Adder Combat Lifter by "The Ion Age" - October 12th

All the 15mm “Ion Age” figures and vehicles Simon has produced over the last year are worthy of inclusion here so it was after much “to’ing & fro’ing” that I finally decided upon this particular model. I think what swung it for me in the end was the wonderful “Crimson Fists” Space Marine chapter inspired colour scheme. Painted to the usual high standard this is going to look mighty impressive on the battlefield.

No. 6 - The Master by "Warlord Games" - July 25th

I have said it before, Simon excels at painting black! He’s also pretty good at painting “Doctor Who” characters too. So this 32mm version of Roger Delgado’s version of the classic villain was always going to be in the running for this years “Top Ten”. As always the colour match is absolutely spot on with even the grey at the actor’s temples exemplary, and the painting itself seamlessly accurate. Painting black is hard (well it is for me anyway), but Simon makes it look easy, and that’s the real skill.

No. 5 - Hybrid by "Wizkids" - January 30th

Simon’s almost encyclopedic knowledge of super-heroes and super-villains stands him in good stead on many occasions, allowing him to pick up and enhance many an obscure character from “comic book history”. “Jimmy Marks” meant nothing to me until he appeared on "Fantorical" as Hybrid, but fortunately Simon accompanied the excellent paintwork he’d applied to the figure with a great little bit of background too. These little insights are always a pleasure to read and go to prove that he really knows his stuff. What struck me most though was what a great job he’d done on the figure!

No. 4 - Astronaut Action Man by "Ground Zero Games" – December 17th

15mm figures is something I have stayed right away from this year, whilst Simon on the other hand has produced some beautiful “little fellows” with the wonderful “Ion Age” figures very nearly making it onto this list themselves. It was however when he started showcasing these stunning Astronaut figures as part of his “Race to the Moon” Action Man project that he really outdid himself, with some top notch painting on both the figures and vehicles. I even warmed to his idea of basing them on “green flocked” bases once I’d seen them.

No. 3 - Mei-Lin Mayfair by "Statuesque Miniatures" - August 31st

Okay, so I’ve established that Simon can do black, but he is equally at home with white! This gorgeous figure by "Statuesque Miniatures" has been given this treatment to perfection. He intends to use her as a stand in for Major Mira Killian from “Ghost in the Shell” and should look mighty impressive on the table, especially surrounded by the rest of his “Killer Fembots”. Many of Simon's miniatures are deceptively monochrome, but this is not to say that the paintwork is basic or simple, layer after layer is built up producing a well-rounded finish, it’s just like good movie music, when it works you don’t realise it’s there!

No. 2 - Mandrels by "Black Tree Design" December 28th

Simon has painted a lot of "Doctor Who" miniatures this year (and I do mean a lot!), taking figures from both “Black Tree Design” and “Warlord Games” ranges. To be honest, the 32mm offerings from “Warlord Games” are the better representations, but I do have a soft spot for the 28mm figures “Black Tree” produce. As a result I was having a tough time deciding between “Kettlewells Robot” or one of the excellent “Sontarans” to add to this list when just before the deadline up popped these marvellous alien beasties from one of the all-time great stories “The Nightmare of Eden”. The colours are, as always, perfectly true to the originals, the details are spot-on, and the shading is absolutely first rate. Some of the best figures Simon has produced in my opinion.

No. 1 - Garrp Croaak by "Oathsworn Miniatures" - June 18th

So I hear you ask if they were so good, what has made it to the top of Simon's painting tree this year? Well the funny thing is each time I have done one of these “Top Ten’s” I wrangle and debate about what is going to be in it and what position they will take. Yet every year I know what will be number one as soon as I begin looking back through Simon's posts (if not sooner). This year was no different as the second I saw this 'so ugly he’s cute' little toad mage I knew he would top this year’s pile. In fact all of the figures Simon has painted from this range could have been in this list but I’ve tried to limit myself. The painting and colours are subtle and perfect, and his trademark gloss finish works so well with this chap, I could go on and wax lyrical regarding the subtle shading on his throat and the perfect colour used on his “bone staff”, but the truth is I just love everything about him. Just a truly great miniature, and that’s why he’s number one in my book.

So that’s it for another year, the votes are in (well mine are anyway and they are the only ones that count!). You may not agree with all (or any) of my choices but these are my personal favourites. Obviously, you will have your own (they are wrong, but what can you do!). As always I’ll finish by saying a huge thank you to Simon for letting me play “fast and loose” with his baby, and I will now give control back into the hands it is safest with. Here’s to another great year's painting and modelling on the pages of “Fantorical” in 2019.

A very happy New Year to you all, Cheers Roger.

And don't forget to check out Blax The Kleric's Top Ten of 2018 over on "Rantings From Under The Wargames Table"

"There'll Be A Cold Time In The Old Town Tonight!"

"This man's jaw feels like it's made of solid ice!"

These two 37mm tall “Wizkids” models of Solomon Grundy are both miniature number 018 from the Arkham Asylum DC Comics "Heroclix" range and have been converted into members of Mister Freeze's "Cold Pack" for this year's annual "Forgotten Heroes" challenge. Based upon the poor unfortunate millionaires who foolishly underwent one of Victor Fries' cryogenic treatments in an attempt to have their lifespans greatly increased, the living zombies first appeared in the February 1979 edition of "Batman" and were created by Len Wein and penciler John Calnan.

As the plastic pre-painted models originally carried a formidable-looking tree branch, they both had to momentarily suffer under the blade of a sharp modelling knife so as to appear as empty-handed as they do in the "DC Comics" publication. I then primed one with two layers of "Vallejo" USA Olive Drab and the other with Charred Brown.

Volturnos WIPs - The High King's mount has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

The "failed experiments commanded by Freeze" subsequently had their shoes painted in "Vallejo" Black and their frozen flesh layered with Dead White. Their icy skin was later shaded using a little watered-down "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and patiently dry-brushed with some (more) "Vallejo" Dead White.

I was briefly perplexed over the choice of colour for my Cold Pack members' shirts. They were always going to be predominantly "Vallejo" Dead White, but I was somewhat worried this 'whiteness' might easily merge in with their pallid undead flesh if I simply washed the areas with some Pale Grey. In the end I therefore applied some Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter" over their ragged shirts, as well as more heavily across their jacket and trousers.  

Stormcast Eternals WIPs - Sigmar's warriors have all had their armour layered

With two of my planned three ice zombies finished before the "Forgotten Heroes" deadline, I have started to make some increasing inroads on my Idoneth Deepkin general for "Age Of Sigmar", their Akhelian King, Volturnos. The Sea Aelf High King's serpentine mount has now been primed, shaded and dry-brushed along with it's base's marine-based scatter terrain, and I'm hoping to turn my attention to the water-beast's rider over the next week or so.

In addition, along with the Errant-Questor I recently purchased from "Warhammer World", I have also progressed the three "Games Workshop" Stormcast Eternals which come in the Nottingham-based company's "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set. These "Sigmarines" are incredibly detailed and well-posed, and more importantly can also be used for an Order Army on the "Age Of Sigmar" battlefield too.

"At Dredgard Ridge I Opened The Throats Of Three Duardin..."

"...With a single swing."

This 28mm scale multi-part "push-fit" model of Targor is from the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set sold by "Games Workshop", and can additionally be used as part of Garrek's Reavers unit for "Age Of Sigmar". Behaving "very similarly to Arnulf", apart from becoming "a little more powerful when inspired" the bloodthirsty warrior is actually "a recent addition to the warband, choosing to walk the path of skulls rather than being slowly tortured to death like the rest of his conquered tribe."

Initially primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone so as to cover the plastic model's vivid red colouring, the Bloodreaver's trousers, pony-tail and leather wrist bracelet were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his leg armour and gut protector were both treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Targor's axe and large knife were treated to a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being shaded with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.

"Blinded by battle madness and lost to the exultant sensations of combat..."

The Khorne-worshipper's leg-straps, broad belt and axe-handle were painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. I also managed to get my paint-brush tip onto the trophy skull swinging at his waist, and resultantly applied some "Vallejo" Dead White, "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to the grisly prize.

In order to create the murderous cannibal's bare, self-mutilated flesh, I applied another coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone over all his skin areas, and subsequently splashed them with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. As a final touch I used a thin, carefully drawn line of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to 'highlight' the manic's scars and carefully filled the Chaotic Khorne symbol across his chest with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Toad Mage WIPs - The magic user simply needs some washes to be added to his "dry, leathery skin"

Alongside ensuring the model matched  my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar" by pigmenting its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, I also treated his leather loin-cloth and hair band to a pairing of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Similarly, I gave my model's painful-looking shoulder-blade spikes a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and then shaded both them and the surrounding areas of flesh with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

With my Garrek's Reavers warband for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" now finally complete after a staggering eight months, I've been able to increase the amount of hobby-time I spend upon my "Burrows & Badgers" models. Cast by "Oathsworn Miniatures", this Toad Mage will be my six-figure strong party's magic user, and actually, now I've re-visited his staff's feathers, just needs some additional washes upon his "dry, leathery skin" before being gloss varnished...

"At First Glance, Karsus Doesn’t Seem Like Much."

"He's neither as durable as Garrek nor as deadly as Saek."

This 28mm scale multi-part "push-fit" model of Karsus The Chained is part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set sold by "Games Workshop", and can additionally be used as part of Garrek's Reavers unit for "Age Of Sigmar". "With a ranged attack and the ability to attack multiple fighters at once" this cruel warrior is "one of the warband’s most dangerous fighters" and "a key component to many Khorne Bloodbound strategies."

Primarily undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help mask the model's vivid red plastic, the former slave's trousers, neck collar and leather wrist bracelet were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his thigh armour and shoulder plate, were both treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Karsus' chains, which are made from the shackles he used "to choke his masters to death", as well as the "many-notched axe that has claimed countless skulls for Khorne" were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being shaded with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.

Targor WIPs - The Khorne Bloodreaver just needs his flesh to be shaded and his many scars 'picked out'

The mortal fighter's belt, numerous straps, weapon handles and boots were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Whereas his bare flesh was pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone with a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. As a final touch I used a thin, carefully drawn line of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to 'highlight' the killer's heavily scarred Chaotic Khorne symbol which had at some point been hacked across his torso.

As a last step, and in order to ensure the model matched  my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Disconcertingly, because I steered away from the Nottingham-based company's official red-armoured paint scheme by replacing it with burnished brass, it was only at this point that I realised I hadn't used and "Vallejo" Heavy Red on the miniature at all; a colour which is ordinarily universally seen on all of the Blood God's butchers. However, hopefully such an oversight won't be all that noticeable when Karsus The Chained is on the tabletop with his fellow frenzied devotees...

Flat-Top WIPs - This heroic resin warrior has had all his metallic areas layered, shaded and dry-brushed

With just one of my Garrek's Reavers left to finish, it shouldn't come as any surprise to know that I have made some significant progress on my "Shadespire" miniature of Targor as well. To be honest, I've been avoiding painting this particular model as it's my least favourite of the Khorne Worshippers, on account of the sculpt's pose striking me as being a little too similar to that of Gorebeard himself. However, having persevered with the crazed bezerker's fiddly leather straps, stitches, skull trophy and leg armour, I am now in a position where he simply needs his mutilated flesh to be shaded/highlighted before being ready for a gloss varnish...

Having recently started re-watching some classic episodes from the animated television series produced by "Filmation" called "He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe", I was rather inspired and pleased to recently locate a copy of this Out Of Production (OOP) sculpt of Flat-Top from a private collector. A good likeness of the Heroic Warrior, Ram-Man, I've set to work trying to replicate the palette "Mattel" used for their action toy of "the human battering ram."

"They All Keep Their Eyes On The Axe."

"They can't help it. That's when you sink the cutter in deep."

This 28mm scale "push-fit" model of Arnulf forms part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set manufactured by "Games Workshop", and can also be used to represent a "warrior of a murderous band of Khorne-worshippers, called Garrek's Reavers" in the Nottingham-based company's "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop wargame as well. Despite there being "not a great deal that’s noteworthy about Arnulf – even when he’s Inspired", this warrior is "useful for triggering Supports with your other fighters, holding objectives or being sacrificed to score certain objective cards or activate your Inspire condition."

Initially primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help 'eradicate' the figure's vivid red-coloured plastic, the Khorne Worshipper's trousers and boots were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his leg armour, thigh plates, right arm-guard, torc and axe-blade were treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, the miniature's chains, helmet, blade and belt-buckle were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being washed with Nuln Oil.

"Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows."

The Blood Reaver's belt, leg straps and axe-handle were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Plus his loincloth and back spikes were given a double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and subsequently a generous shade of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The maniac's flesh was created using "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and then a thin-line of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone across his scars. In addition I 'filled' the Chaos symbol burnt into his flesh with two helpings of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and pigmented the figure's fur-lined footwear with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and a splodge of "Citadel" Badab Black.

The model's skull trophy was originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Dead White, before being muddied and bloodied with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. It was then 'bleached' with a light dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Dead White. Finally, in order to ensure the model matched my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Rangers Of Middle-Earth WIPs - Three of "The Lord Of The Rings" boxed set's plastic miniatures

My version of Arnulf differs quite substantially from that of the official "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" paint-scheme, as I disliked both their studio's red armour and helmet, as well as their stony-coloured spikes rising from his back. Spookily, I actually decided upon making my model's chaotic blessing red because I inadvertently rubbed the "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone undercoat covering the protruding barbs off during my handling of the figure. This led to the bare red plastic clearly showing on the miniature and I rather liked the contrast it created with the Khorne warrior's paler flesh.

Sticking with "Games Workshop", the wargaming developer has recently caught my eye with its efforts to once again support its range of miniatures for "The Lord Of The Rings". I was a big fan of this strategy battle game many years ago, and having seen their re-release of the Champions Of The Shire, alongside both the Gundabad Orc Warband and Nazgûl of Dol Guldur Collection, I have tentatively placed a handful of plastic Rangers of Middle-Earth into my painting queue...

"Once Hissing Sid, An Evil Snake, Kept The Woodland Folk Awake..."

"...In fear and trembling every night, in case he gave someone a bite."

This 28mm metal model of Slisssk The Adder is produced by “Oathsworn Miniatures", and was part of the company's recent "Rogues And Vagabonds" Kickstarter. Disappointingly, the figure isn't currently available to buy on their website, but I was lucky enough to pick him up, labelled as an Adder Warrior, at "Salute" 2018.

Due to the deadly serpent wearing heavy armour the figure was inititally primed "Citadel" Chaos Black and subsequently coated with two layers of Ironbreaker. He was then washed with Nuln Oil, before being dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.

Shrew Warrior WIPs - The tiny fighter has had his shield, sword, armour and helmet 'picked out'

The venomous snake's flesh was carefully painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and the numerous leather straps tying his protective plate sheets to his slithering body were 'picked out' with "Heavy Sienna". Both of these areas were then washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

I did strongly consider applying some sort of typical dark-coloured reptilian pattern over the carnivore's skin, but as so little was showing I decided against such a move. As a last step however, I dabbed some "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre over the poisonous Adder's glaring eyes, and in order to hopefully make them really stand out I didn't subsequently shade them as I ordinarily do.

Karsus The Chained WIPs - The Khorne warrior has had his infamous hand-weapon finished

With the first of my nefarious Northymbran wrongdoers done, I've already set about applying some pigments to my warband's second mischievous malefactor, a Shrew Warrior. This wonderfully characterful sculpt has really caught my imagination, and I'm already considering utilising a tiny garrison of these diminutive fighters as the protectors of the Squire of Shrewsbury...

Despite having such fun with this range of anthropomorphic animals, I am somehow still managing to also maintain my focus upon the remaining plastic miniatures I need to complete so as to field "Garrek's Reavers" for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". Having finished all the fiddly belt buckles, straps and brass armour on Karsus The Chained, I am hoping to have the "Game Workshop" Khorne worshipper completed before too much longer.

"The First Kill Is The Greatest."

"That first arc of hot blood through the air."

This 28mm scale "push-fit, red plastic" miniature of Blooded Saek forms part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set produced by "Games Workshop", and can also be used to represent a "warrior of a murderous band of Khorne-worshippers, called Garrek's Reavers" in the Nottingham-based company's "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop wargame as well. Having "lost himself entirely to the red rage of Khorne" and therefore "only able to speak bestial growls and blood-chilling screams", this warrior "is an essential fighter" for the Blood Reavers warband, whose "great axe excels at killing fighters".

Primarily undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help mask the model's vivid red plastic, the deadly juggernaut's trousers were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his leg armour and belly plate, were both treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Saek's chains and double-axe blades were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being shaded with Nuln Oil.

Garrek's Reavers WIPs - The final two warriors of the warband

The mortal fighter's belt, numerous straps, and wrist-guard were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Plus his loincloth and cloth pouch were given a double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and subsequently a healthy splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The berserker's dark skin was created using Doombull Brown, a thin-line of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone across his many scars, and an application of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade over all these areas.

The miniature's skull mask was originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Dead White, before being washed with Pale Grey. It was then 'bloodied' using a combination of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and the glaze Bloodletter. Finally, in order to ensure themodel fitted in with my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I also highlighted a tiny tentacle rising from out of the ground using a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

Foamasi WIPs - The alien has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Having recently attended the Portsmouth Comic-Con at the city's Guildhall recently, I was rather pleased to spend a few minutes chatting to the truly generous David Bulbeck. The actor "appeared in several Doctor Who episodes" in the Early Eighties, including "The Leisure Hive" in which he played one of my favourite Tom Baker monsters, a Foamasi.

As a result I have located my "Black Tree Design" model of the 'stocky, reptilian humanoid', and rather enthusiastically based, primed, shaded and dry-brushed the figure already using "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I now simply need to paint the alien's three clawed hands and red eyes for the radiation resistant extra-terrestrial to be finished....

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Burrows And Badgers" May 2018

"Burrows & Badgers" WIPs - Toad Mage, Dandy Highwayfox and Green Lizard

This month's themed effort to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures will be dedicated to the six "Oathsworn Miniatures" I require in order to field my first warband for the company's "Burrows And Badgers" skirmish game. In addition, it'll be my first committed push to actually paint all the figures I bought at this year's "Salute" before I re-attend the ExCel convention centre at Custom House in twelve months time...

Anthropomorphic animals have not previously been a genre of the hobby I've contemplated, but the opportunity to collect both a free miniature and the Scenario: Mouse-Hunt if I bought the tabletop rule-book whilst at the South London Warlords show was too good an opportunity to refuse. The "Oathsworn Miniatures" stall also had a terrific display of models, so as the manufacturers had already sold out of pre-made warbands I simply bought (more than) enough blisters with which to compile my own.

"Burrows & Badgers" WIPs - Sparrow Warrior and Shrew Warrior

Obviously it is still early days for my 'nefarious' force to be battle ready, but I have already worked out my 350 pennies worth of miscreants, and set about basing/priming the dirty half-dozen. For starters, I plan to use the impressively large and pistol-toting Dandy Highwayfox as my gang's leader, Watership Dick, and a bloated Toad Mage as my Morglyn's Fiery Blast firing magic-user.

Filling out my cast of roguish players will be a tiny Shrew Warrior, a wonderfully-feathered Sparrow Warrior, and a particularly venomous Adder Warrior; which doesn't yet appear to be purchasable on the company's website due to being part of their recent "Rogues And Vagabonds" Kickstarter. With the exception of the heavily-armoured poisonous snake (sixty-one Northymbran pennies well spent methinks), these fighters will all be armed with a one-handed weapon and light shield.

Arnulf WIPs - The Blood Reaver now needs just his steel helmet and hand weapons to be finished

One of the highlights of the game is the ability to additionally recruit beasts who "live in far off lands and are only rarely seen..." To that end I have 'splashed out' on a Green Lizard armed with a one-handed weapon and wearing some light armour. I hope to paint the reptile's plate protection in bronze with a patina, to show its deepest dark South American roots.

For those interested in a full review of "Burrows & Badgers" then I'd strong recommend popping over to Simon Quiton's excellent website, "Brummie's Wargaming Blog", where he gives a detailed overview of the game and its extensive range of miniatures.  

Alongside these suitably scaly and furry fiends, I also still need to finish off my remaining Garrek's Reavers for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". I've still got a couple of the "Games Workshop" Blood Reavers left to paint, but have been making some excellent progress on Arnulf recently so hope to soon have the Khorne Worshippers ready for both the "action-packed combat game", as well as "Age Of Sigmar".

"A Cyber-Megatron Bomb Will Be Delivered."

"We must destroy life on Earth completely. Every living being."

These three 28mm metal Cyberman figures are cast by “Black Tree Design", and quite bizarrely can seemingly only be bought as part of the company's "Doctor Who" boxed set DW1014 - Cyberman (7). A similarly posed sculpt is available separately as Code DW208 - Invasion Cyberman Firing Gun, but that model's left hand is positioned much further along its weapon's barrel. Determined to destroy all life on Earth via the detonation of a megatron bomb, this version of the "race of cyborgs" were created by "Derrick Sherwin, from a story by Kit Pedler", for the November 1968 BBC Television story "The Invasion". 

Each miniature was initially undercoated with a base-coat of "Citadel" Chaos Black. They were then treated to a double layer of Ironbreaker, shaded with Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker. As a last touch, I picked out the end of their firearms with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Putrid Blightking WIPs - The warrior has just needs his bronze hand-weapon to be washed and dry-brushed

With the last of my "Black Tree Design" "Invasion" Cybermen finished I have (once again) turned my attention towards completing the last of the Putrid Blightking multi-piece plastic miniatures I need in order to field a five-man unit for my "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle Host. This particular piece has proved a little more time-consuming than I anticipated on account of me originally mistakenly believing that the vast majority of the figure was blubbery flesh, as opposed to grimy plate armour.

This error caused me to prime the formidable-looking brute using some "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, and resultantly, I have been forced to carefully 'block in' the massive warrior's 'hard to reach' armour using "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. In addition I seemed to have selected the most difficult "Games Workshop" shield to paint imaginable, whose delicate brass work apparently just 'melts' into the wooden shield at its edges, rather than come to any discernible halt; an annoyance which has meant I've had to paint in detail which isn't actually on the miniature itself...

Blooded Saek WIPs - The Khorne Worshipper needs his axe and skull mask to be finished

Sticking with "Age Of Sigmar" I've not managed to have as much time for this month's mini-project, Garrek's Reavers, as I would have liked. However, that doesn't mean for an instant that I haven't made any progress at all upon my Chaos "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" warband, as I've managed to nearly finish Blooded Saek.

This particular Blood Reaver is one of the two Khorne models needed in order to play the "action-packed combat" game's quick-start sheet, so, as I've previously painted Garrek Gorebeard, I could be tempted once Saek's been varnished and flocked to momentarily turn my attention towards the Liberators Severin Steelheart and Angharad Brightshield instead. For now though the mighty axe-man still needs his fearsome hand-weapon to be layered and washed, as well as his skull-mask shaded and blooded. 

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Garrek's Reavers" April 2018

Garrek's Reavers WIPs - The warriors have all had their pre-sculpted bases layered, dry-brushed and washed

This month's themed attempt to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures will be dedicated to the four remaining models I need to finish so as to (finally) field Garrek's Reavers for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". I've actually been slowly pottering away on these "push-fit" Bloodreavers for some considerable time, but never managed to properly 'break the back of them' with some concentrated painting sessions.

Resultantly, I've fallen well behind the Nottingham-based company's release schedule, and although I own their Ironskull’s Boyz and The Sepulchral Guard expansions, I really want to finish both of the "action-packed" combat game's starter warbands first. This desire to lose myself amongst "the twisted streets of the Mirrored City" has been furthered by "Games Workshop" announcing the imminent release of a second Khorne faction with Magore’s Fiends, as well as an interesting addition to the Stormcast's forces in the shape of the cross-bow bearing Farstriders. 

"Doctor Who" WIPs - A Dalek, a Sontaran and Professor Kettlewell's Robot

In addition, Garrek's Reavers will also be entirely playable for "Age Of Sigmar", and provide my sizeable Chaos Host with a unit of extra-durable axemen for a paltry 60 points. Indeed, Garrek alone can cause mortal wounds with his Blooddrinker Axe ("do not make a wound or save roll"), whilst for every enemy Hero he slays all of his flesh-eating men's melee weapons "add 1 to the Attacks characteristic" for "the rest of the battle."

Of course, this new-found fervour for the "nightmare plane of illusions and madness" won't be stopping any progress on my recently discovered drawer of "Doctor Who" miniatures. Produced under the banner of both "Harlequin Miniatures" and "Black Tree Design" I have plans to field a number of factions from the cyclopean Monoids to the ant-like Zarbi; plus a fair few reinforcements for my Tomb-based Cybermen and heavily-hooved Nimon.

"Warlord Games" Newsletter Wednesday 14th March 2018

For now however I have been persevering with some test pieces for a rebel Dalek force and Sontaran invasion party. One of the more enjoyable elements to these old, somewhat clunky sculpts, is that they are a lot simpler to paint due to their lack of detail; albeit both of these particular miniatures still contain plenty of eye-catching elements. I therefore hope to have both of these figures, along with a pretty straightforward Experimental Prototype Robot K1 finished soon.

Sticking with "Doctor Who" momentarily, I've sought permission to utilise some of "Warlord Games" preview photographs of their range for this website, so for the next few weeks I'll be trialling a new series of posts unimaginatively labelled "Warlord's Who Wednesdays". These will hopefully cajole me into finishing painting some of their current range's line-up, as well as encourage me to keep going in order to make space for some of their upcoming new products. Ultimately this should help me stage a few more mash-up battles for the Time Traveller using my homemade rule-set "M.I.S.S.", as I was rather pleased recently when my Dalek/Cybermen invasion of Draconian's Moon Battle Report featured in the regular "Warlord Games" customer newsletter...