(Lead) Mountain Musings - Forgotten Heroes June 2026

A trio of "Titan Forge" Death Dogs were completed for "Monster (Mayhem)"

Having at least managed a far better May than I have during the past couple of years, thanks largely to my participation in Angry Piper's "Monster May(hem)" monthly challenge over on his "Dead Dick's Tavern and Temporary Lodging" blog, I thought I'd dedicate some of this month's hobby time to visiting "Carrion Crow's Buffet" and helping Jez celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of "Forgotten Heroes" event. This is an annual affair I really enjoyed being involved in during its formative days, and resulted in the creation of many of my Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. predominantly using various "Wizkids" plastic pieces from their numerous "Heroclix" lines. 

In recent years though, I've not been quite so inspired to cobble a figure together using bits and pieces from various manufacturers due to what I want being available as STL (Standard Triangle Language) files, and so my interest (as well as my participation) has disappointingly waned. This time however, I thought I should go back to its roots, hack up a metal figure or two, and pin an ensemble together.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This 'Rick Sanchez' has been kit-bashed from a couple of figures

Fortunately, I already had just the very model in my collection, having chopped up the body of a Investigative Academic by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", stuck the company's Crackpot Inventor head on its shoulders, and added a Robo-Minion weapon accessory to use as a portal gun. This gave me a rather agreeable looking Rick Sanchez from the animated science fiction comedy franchise "Rick And Morty", and a solid start for "Forgotten Heroes" too.

Furthermore, I also thought I'd do a third drawer challenge for this month, even though I still had plenty to do on the "Citadel Miniatures" blister Don Uggie And His Ape Gang from May. Somewhat coincidentally, my random roll picked a drawer absolutely packed full of more of Karl Perrotton's figures, so I'm reasonably confident I should be able to both complete the gangsters I didn't finish last time, as well as polish off a fair few more miniatures from "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" as well.

May 2026 - "Modiphius Entertainment" finally enters the Top Five

The past four weeks certainly saw an odd mix of subjects being pigmented, with a couple of blasts from the past being treated to a lick of my brush simply because they brought back some nostalgic memories. Of particular note for this were the two Wookie Warriors by "Fantasy Flight Games" I got tabletop ready having purchased them on the spur of the moment second-hand. Now admittedly I don't have any current plans to play "Star Wars: Legion" any time soon. But I may well polish off the two remaining fur-covered rebels in the near future simply for completion's sake.

Indeed, this month may well see me 'finish off' a number of models I've been toying with over the past few weeks rather than plonk them away on a drawer for another day. Along with Don Uggie's minions and the aforementioned Wookies I have also got a rather sizeable Banderhobb by "Wizkids" to put the last touches too - something I'm especially keen to do so that the monster can participate in some of the games of "The Silver Bayonet" I have planned for the coming months...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - Monster May(hem) 2026

"Modiphius Entertainment" surprisingly made a big return throughout April 2026

Despite managing to complete my personal randomly drawn drawer challenge last month, my overall output was still a bit lower than what I had both expected or hoped. As a result I thought I'd accept Angry Piper's invitation to join his annual "Monster May(hem)" monthly challenge over on the "Dead Dick's Tavern and Temporary Lodging" blog, and finally finish a few of the larger models I have had just sat on one side away from my painting area for the past few years.

In addition, I thought I'd do a second drawer challenge, and this time initially appeared to be knee deep in old "Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War" models from the rather controversial 2012 "Mongoose Publishing" Kickstarter - fourteen years has still not calmed my fury over this campaign. However, I also spied a plastic bag containing the classic 28mm metal figures Don Uggie Apelino and his Ape Gang by "Citadel Miniatures".

"Step into a cataclysmic struggle that will decide the fate of humanity’s soul…"

Admittedly these particular "rare, vintage" sculpts date back even further in time than my aforementioned collection of Matthew Sprange miniatures, all the way back to 1985 when Bryan Ansell's company released them in a blister as part of their "2000 A.D." Judge Dredd range . However not only should the set still fit in size-wise with my current painted Judge Dredd collection, but I seem to somehow own three copies of Fast Eeek. So 'he' will provide Don Uggie with some much needed multiple minions, along with the larger 'muscle' of Joe Bananas.

Furthermore, I have completed a third 32mm scale Bomb Coffin by "Trench Stench". As with the first couple of Sarcophagus Mines I recently completed, this model was downloaded for free as part of their three-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from the company's "Patreon" subscription service; albeit having read the "Warbands of Trench Crusade" rulebook a force of Heretic Troopers is limited to only two such 'upgrades'.

April 2026 - No change at the top after a rather lack-lustre month's productivity

Forming part of their Ghosts of the Nomansland range for the "tabletop skirmish wargame that pits the forces of Mankind against the fiends of Hell", and produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, the miniature was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Bronze and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade over a "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna undercoat. Although I did I use White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green for the sculpt's spooky spectral flames.

Whilst the last four weeks wasn't the worst April I've recorded, it wasn't anywhere near as productive as I thought I was going to be, so I'm hoping that a plethora of big, scary monsters will help shake off this 'hobby funk' and see me rattle off a fair few miniatures. In particular I want to get at least another tiny unit of Napoleonic French by "Wargames Foundry" completed, as well as successfully make a start on the American Civil War models by "Perry Miniatures" I managed to assemble and prime last month. Plus, there's a big collection of unpainted scenery pieces currently loitering my hobby desk which need polishing off before they can be used for some actual games...

"Enterprise Is Cleared For Launch."

"Hailing frequencies open, sir."

This 32mm scale resin model of Lieutenant Uhura was bought as part of the Star Trek Adventures Original Series Miniatures Set by "Modiphius Entertainment" and is sadly no longer available as a physical figure. However, the sculpt, featuring an excellent likeness of actress Nichelle Nichols, can still be purchased from the company as an STL (Standard Triangle Language) file from their Print At Home range.

The Bridge Officer was initially primed using a layer or two of "Vallejo" Heavy Red before having her uniform shaded in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. This clothing was then dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red, before it's iconic insignia and Nyota's rank wrist stripes were carefully 'picked out' using a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"This is not merely a fight for survival."

I next painted Uhura's boots and hair with pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to her legs, hands and face. As I wanted to suggest that the linguistics specialist was wearing tights, I gave her legs a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst the rest of the woman's flesh was treated to some Agrax Earthshade. Finally, I dotted Nyota's earpiece and Type-2 hand phaser with "Vallejo" Gunmetal and darkened the devices down with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

In addition to Lieutenant Uhura I have also completed a second 32mm scale Bomb Coffin by "Trench Stench". As with the first Sarcophagus Mine I recently completed, this model was downloaded for free as part of their three-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from the company's "Patreon" subscription service.

"Perry Miniatures" WIPs - These four confederate soldiers have had all their different areas 'boxed'

Forming part of their Ghosts of the Nomansland range for "Trench Crusade", and produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, the miniature was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Bronze and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade over a "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna undercoat. In addition I used White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green for the sculpt's spooky spectral flames.

Despite all these 'distractions', I haven't forgotten about the first four Confederate soldiers from my recently acquired the American Civil War - Battle in a Box starter set either, and have managed to spend a little time on the "Perry Miniatures" 'boxing off' all their different coloured areas. This process has certainly made me rethink my technique for future American Civil War combatants - as they're all going to be primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black from now on...

Heretic Troopers..."

"...Can be encased in suits of thick armour that have been filled with explosives."

This 32mm scale Bomb Coffin is produced by "Trench Stench" and was downloaded for free as part of their three-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from the company's "Patreon" subscription service. Forming part of their Ghosts of the Nomansland range for "Trench Crusade", the Sarcophagus Mine was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer.

Super-glued onto a plastic 30mm circular stand, the figure was primed in "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, base-coated with Bronze, and shaded using some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. It was then lightly dry-brushed with a little (more) "Vallejo" Bronze, before I set about 'picking out' all of the various flames rising up around the casket's base using some White Star by "Two Thin Coats".

"Wizkids" WIPs - This Displacer Beast has been primed, and had its based worked on

To be honest I did initially consider pigmenting this area just using "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and some "Citadel" Nuln Oil, as I thought they were supposed to be the trails of smoke pouring out of the coffin's bottom as its internal fuse sparked away. However, having done some research I felt that the fire was probably more likely to be some sort of unholy, spectral energy which was helping to lift the deadly sarcophagus across the battlefield towards its enemies. As a resultant, I simply washed the flames with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, and carefully caught its edges with a smidgeon (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star.

With the first of my Trench Crusade force completed, I have been busy working on another model I pulled out of the plastic drawer I recently randomly chose for this month's main painting project. Unlike the other figures I selected though, this particular sculpt was from "Wizkids" Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures range for "Dungeons & Dragons", and would make a welcome addition to my ever-growing wandering monster menagerie.

"Perry Miniatures" WIPs - These four Confederate soldiers have had their shoes blocked in

For now I've only managed to permanently plonk the Displacer Beast upon a "Games Workshop" 50mm round base, prime the "monstrous predator" with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and finish dry-brushing the large rock its standing upon. But I should be able to get the "Lawful evil" creature completed reasonably quickly whilst working on some of my more time-consuming models during the next couple of weeks.

Lastly, I have managed to get the 'groundwork' completed on the first four Confederate soldiers I have assembled from my recently acquired the American Civil War - Battle in a Box starter set by "Perry Miniatures". My plan is slowly 'pick away' at this quartet area by area over the coming month whenever the opportunity arises, and, much like my ongoing Napoleonic project using "Wargames Foundry", get five to six Tiny (four-figure strong) units completed for each side before settling down to some basic battles of "Black Powder"...

"Hi..! I'm Squirrel Girl.!"

 "Yeah. Neat name, huh.?"

This "super rare" 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Squirrel Girl was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 056 from their 2011 Marvel “Heroclix” Captain America expansion. Born with "a genetic anomaly which gives her the ability to communicate with squirrels", Doreen Green was created by Will Murray (writer) and Steve Ditko (artist), and first appeared in the Winter 1991 edition of "Marvel Super-Heroes".

Separated from her 'clicky' stand and super-glued onto a plastic 25mm circular base well over a decade ago, this figure actually then sat unattended in a plastic drawer for a further five years before I finally primed over its pre-existing paintjob using some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. For some reason it was then rather disappointingly consigned back to the shadows until very recently, when I decided to dig the Great Lakes Avenger out and get her tabletop ready.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three of four Beastman slowly being progressed

As a result I 'picked out' Doreen's leotard with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before applying some "Two Thin Coats" Sword Hilt Burgundy to her waist pouches. As far as I can tell from the artist sketches I was using as a colour guide these bags are supposed to weave in and out of the super-heroine's furry costume. However, I simply couldn't see any such detail on the sculpt, so eventually just went with picking out the utility belt's buckle with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I next applied some "Citadel" Doombull Brown to Squirrel Girl's curly mop, and followed this up by sploshing her hair, as well as the human mutate's fur, tail and pouches with plenty of Agrax Earthshade. The majority of these areas were later carefully dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna or "Citadel" Doombull Brown as appropriate. As a last touch I gave the squirrel sat upon Green's shoulder a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and a dash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil - thus hopefully suggesting her trusty companion is Tippy-Toe.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - These Bomb Coffins are now about two thirds completed

Alongside my latest "Heroclix" miniature, I have also been busy tackling four Beastmen by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". This quartet haven't been in my collection for quite as long as Squirrel Girl. But have still probably been quietly gathering dust for a good three years, and as I fancy using them as Cultists in some future battles of "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", I thought I'd better continue slapping some (more) paint on them 'toot sweet.'

Finally, I am still plugging away at three Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These "heavily armoured, tormented figures" are taking a lot longer to complete than I first anticipated on account of their swirling, somewhat fiddly to reach spectral flames - which I admit I initially intended to simply pigment grey as I thought it was supposed to be smoke...

"Summoning Her Strange Sonic Powers..."

 "...Black Canary hurls a whistling whammy at the retreating hearse."

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Black Canary was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 036 from their DC “Heroclix” Cosmic Justice expansion. "A metahuman who possesses a unique ability known as the Canary Cry", this comic book super-heroine was created by Dennis O'Neil and Dick Dillin, and first appeared in the November 1969 issue of "Justice League of America".

Somewhat unsympathetically chopped from her 'clicky' base and super-glued onto a plastic 25mm circular base, Dinah Laurel Lance had her rather thick previous paint-job primed over with a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, before being doused in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. The figure's clothing and boots were then dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to bring out some of the sculpt's detail.

"Bring it through safely. Land it."

I next applied some "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to her tights in an effort to suggest that these were at least slightly transparent, and 'picked out' her rectangular belt buckle using a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Lastly, I gave Black Canary's hair as many coats of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow as it needed so it stopped looking green, sploshed the area in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and subsequently tried to build back some of its colour with (more) Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats".

In addition to Dinah Lance I have also finished another 28mm scale white metal model by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”, which can be bought either separately as Alien Legionary 1A, or as part of the company's four-figure Alien Legionnaries set. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly strongly influenced by Danilo Donati's costume design for the Emperor Ming's minions seen in Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon", and is part of an embarrassingly sizeable and is part of a unit I'm currently working on for the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - These Bomb Coffins have had their spectral flames 'picked out'

The trooper was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Red, "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Abaddon Black. However,  his belt buckle and shoulder epaulettes were treated to a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst his gloved hands received a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

I've also hopefully completed the 'larger part' of three Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These STL (Standard Triangle Language) files were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, and are already part of an embarrassingly large pile of grey (resin) I have made for my games set "in a horrifying alternate timeline of World War One..."

"Strange Object In The Imperial Vortex."

"Object entering our control range, approaching the Sea of Fire."

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately as Alien Legionary 1D, or as part of their four-figure Alien Legionnaries set. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly strongly influenced by Danilo Donati's costume design for the Emperor Ming's minions seen in Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon", and, along with a number of its scarlet-coloured comrade-in-arms, has rather embarrassingly been sat awaiting some attention on my painting table for a couple of years now.

Initially primed using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, the trooper was given a dousing in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before being dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. The guard then had all of his leather straps and belt carefully 'picked out' with a smidgeon of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Furthermore, his belt buckle and shoulder epaulettes were subsequently were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Wizkids" WIPs - Sergeant Rock, Squirrel Girl and Black Canary

In order to create the illusion that the legionary's gloves were made from a different material to his robes, I gave the figure's hands a lick of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion, before shading them with a quick splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Lastly I applied some "Vallejo" Gunmetal to his face-mask's lenses and shaded the tiny areas with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

With just two more of these Alien Legionnaries left to complete before I can submit the finished unit into the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog, I've decided to dust down a few (really) old "Heroclix" models by "Wizkids" to help break up the monotony of pigmenting the same, similar-looking miniatures. Indeed, having now finished four of Ming's gas-mask wearing hoodlums in recent weeks, I must confess to losing some of my motivation to get the significantly-sized squad finally finished.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - A trio of Bomb Coffins

I had initially hoped that this trio of 28mm re-paints would prove fairly quick to get tabletop ready. But unlike the Black Canary - who I began progressing late last year, my Sergeant Rock and (to a lesser extent) Squirrel Girl will actually need some significant effort on account of Old Father Time taking its toll upon my earlier work. In fact, DC Comics' non-commissioned officer will effectively need a total overhaul after I discovered the figure was covered in tiny white blotches.

I've also decided to tap into my interest of "Trench Crusade" by producing and undercoating a trio Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These "hazardous battlefield obstacles" were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, and should give me another opportunity to devise a reasonably quick method of creating ethereal-looking undead creatures...

"You Cannot Hide. I See You."

"There is no life in the void, only death".

This rather diminutive 28mm scale metal model of Frodo Baggins was produced by "Games Workshop", and could be found inside either the Nottingham-based company's "The Fellowship Of The Ring" boxed set [99111499002] or as part of their Frodo & Sam blister [99061461002]. Now long OOP (Out Of Production), I actually only recently discovered that I had this figure in my backlog of "The Lord Of The Rings" miniatures, and must have picked him up (probably with Sam, Merry and Pippin) second-hand at a show some years ago.

In addition, having already 'properly pigmented' an identical sculpt just last month, I was initially at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it. But then thought I could use it to simply represent the Hobbit actually putting on the One Ring - as per the "Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game" (MESBG) main rule-book. Resultantly, the entire piece was treated to a couple of coats of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, splattered with some heavily watered-down "Vallejo" Neutral Grey, and dry-brushed with (more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats".

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three of four Uruk-hai armed with crossbows currently on the painting table 

Now admittedly, this may well seem like a bit of a waste of a model to some. However, behind the scenes it provided me with a rare opportunity to experiment with a variety of "Citadel" Shades to establish whether I could suggest that 'ethereal creatures' (such as The Army of the Dead or the "Dead faces in the Dead Marshes") were actually wearing coloured clothing.

Having covered this miniature in a cunning combination of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, Nuln Oil, Carroburg Crimson and Reikland Fleshshade though, and subsequently started giving the halfling a dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star, it disappointingly became clear to me that my plan using fading inks wasn't going to work. I therefore decided to sadly re-prime Frodo with (even more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and apply the far simpler two-tone colour scheme I mention above.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - Three of five Dirt Knights currently being worked on

In addition to providing my Fellowship with a distinctive-looking Ring-bearer, I've assembled, undercoated and progressed a handful more Uruk-hai armed with crossbows too. This all-metal orc unit by "Games Workshop" will be added to my already quite-sizeable Isengard force for MESBG, and also contribute towards the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog.

Likewise, I have dusted down the five 32mm Dirt Knights by "Trench Stench" I printed and began painting back in October 2025. Recently I've been producing quite a considerable number of the manufacturer's "Trench Crusade" inspired models on my "Elegoo" Mars 5 3D printer, and thought I had better start getting on top of this fast-growing pile of grey before things get too badly out of hand...

"Tribal Nations Warbands Will Centre Around A Core Of Mohawk And Seneca Infantry...

"...Backed by packs of wild beasts acting as fast strike forces."

This pair of 28mm metal miniatures were produced by "Warlord Games" as part of their Mythic Americas range, and could be found inside the Nottingham-based company's five-figure Tribal Nations Wolves boxed set. The animals actually came with circular MDF bases. However, as with the rest of my models for this wargame, I soon super-glued them upon plastic 32mm round bases instead.

The two canines were both primed using a couple of licks of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. I then gave all the legs, bellies, throats and maws a few heavy brushstrokes of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, shaded these areas with plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and subsequently dry-brushed them with (more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats".

"Trench Stench" WIPs - Three Dirt Knights at various stages of completion

So brusque a technique obviously created a strong contrast between the animals' upper and lower bodies, so I carefully dry-brushed the regions where the two colours clashed with some "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey. I also went back afterwards with some "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and touched up these parts to hopefully blend all the differently hued fur together even more.

As a final step I dotted the two Wolves' eyes and noses with some pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and traced out their forward-facing fangs with a combination of White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. This actually made the pair look a bit toothless to me. So I quickly went back with my brush-tip and ensured that each miniature was sporting a few more teeth than appeared to have been sculpted on them.

"Black Site Studios" WIPs - A NASA Astronaut and two (more) Soviet Cosmonauts

In addition to the last of my Tribal Nations Wolves I have started working on earnest on five Dirt Knights by "Trench Stench" I recently produced on my "Elegoo" Mars 5 3D printer. For once I'm actually hoping that a factory line approach will actually pay some dividends for me, so I'm hoping to get all of the 'Crusader Knights' finished in good time before I start pigmenting the Trench Crusader unit's leader - a rather impressive Mechanised Gunslinger Lieutenant.

Furthermore, I simply can't seem to stop building more astronauts by "Black Site Studios". Despite now arguably owning more than enough Soviets and NASA spacemen than I need, I've picked up a few more 3D prints I found in my 'pile of potential' and converted them using some more of the leftover bitz I own from the American company's 2021 "Lunar" Core Boxed Set...

"Often Favouring Rugged And Ugly Looking Equipment..."

"...The Soviets have shown themselves to be excellent Lunar inhabitants."

This 32mm Soviet Cosmonaut is produced by "Black Site Studios" for their "Lunar" skirmish game, and was created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 5 3D Printer. The STL (Standard Triangle Language) file comes as part of the company's Two-Player Digital Starter Set and was actually upscaled a little bit due to the sculpt appearing somewhat smaller than the cast resin Russian astronauts I already own.

The Cosmonaut was super-glued onto a "Citadel" 30mm circular stand and primed in "Two Thin Coats" Sanguine Scarlet. It was then covered in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, dry-brushed with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Sanguine Scarlet and had his face-plate initially layered with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black.  This helmet visor was subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Black Site Studios" WIPs - These three NASA Astronauts have had their basic work finished

Lastly, the figure's small geology hammer and large briefcase were given a lick of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The metal attaché case was later given a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal to help bring out some of its finer details. I'm not entirely sure what could be contained in such a carryall - as this piece of equipment appears to be unique to the digital product, and there's no card for it in the Lunar Core Game I bought in July 2021. As a result I probably use the model to represent a Soviet Doctor with all their medical equipment locked away safely inside.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I have also been working on more of my NASA reinforcements as well, as I'd ideally like each opposing side to consist of eight or so miniatures. These particular astronauts are all 3D printed from the Two-Player Digital Starter Set too, although a couple of them have been quite heavily converted using pieces taken from my "Lunar" bitz box. Of particular note I spotted that I now owned an STL for a more advanced-looking American space suit, which will now be worn by the faction's overall commander - reducing the cast resin character I've previously pigmented down to a Junior Officer.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - These Dirt Knights have been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

In addition, I've rather suddenly found myself being absolutely bowled over by the digital sculpts of "Trench Stench" - a subsidiary of "Westfalia Miniatures", who rather delightfully "make Trench Crusade compatible miniatures." To begin with I've produced a five-man strong squad of their free to download Dirt Knight STL. Admittedly, whilst the product does carry the "Trench Crusade" tagline it doesn't seem to be a specific unit for the "skirmish-scale tabletop miniatures game set in a horrifying alternate timeline of WW1." However, the quintet could easily be used to represent a band of Crusader Knights - especially as the lore claims that "there are thousands of different crusader Orders from across Christendom."

As a result I have simply 'mirrored' the odd single-pose sculpt to provide the warband with a little variety, and aim to give them a fairly straightforward rusty armour look, with drab brown leather garments to tie in with their Dirt Knight title. In the near future I also plan to give them a Mechanised Gunslinger Lieutenant as a leader, having been sent this STL file as another freebie...