(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Kings Of War" January 2020

"The souls of the damned are released from their prison to drive the unit towards its foe."

This month's themed attempt to reduce my mass of metal, plastic and resin models has been significantly fuelled by the BlackJack Legacy Slow Grow Army Challenge over on “Facebook”. Weighing in at over two hundred participants the eight month long event has been created to inspire gamers to paint a 2,000 point army for “Kings Of War” by “Mantic Games”, and will see me desperately try to pigment an Empire of Dust force at a (probably overly-ambitious) rate of 250 points per month.

For once though, I’m actually off to something of a quick start, having already finished a metal Casket of the Damned for my first unit of Skeleton Warriors. Costing 10 points, this army special upgrade will accompany my ten-figure strong infantry unit across the battlefield, and once per game, allow me to "roll an additional six dice" when "this unit is targeted by a Surge spell..."

"Kings Of War" WIPs - The Ahmunite Pharaoh is slowly having all his details 'picked out'

The 28mm scale miniature comes inside every "Mantic Games" Skeleton Regiment box, and was primed using a double layer of "Vallejo" Gold before being heavily washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. I then dry-brushed it with some (more) "Vallejo" Gold and gave parts of its relief sculpture a splash of colour using a lick of Turquoise and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. Lastly, in an attempt to show the ravages of the desert sand upon the 'prison', I dabbed (even more) "Vallejo" Gold over the container's front facing, so as to give the impression of its pigmentation fading across the aeons...

Of course, every army needs its leader, and considering the decidedly Egyptian feel to the Empire of Dust, I have gone for an Ahmunite Pharaoh. The multi-part figure was actually something of a pain to assemble, as its kit comes complete with the additional components to turn it into a High Priest; and all of them are unbelievably delicate to handle. Indeed, I actually ended up having to significantly pin the fellow together, as super-glue alone simply wasn't providing a strong enough bond between his limbs and torso to survive even the most timid of touches.

Wargame Hobby Bingo

Disconcertingly, I've suffered similar problems assembling my actual Skeleton Warriors and Skeleton Spearman too, where the generic plastic undead legs and torsos don't really seem to like being bonded with the Empire of Dust metal components. Each separate body, head, shield and even occasional arm, has literally needed to be left overnight before I have been able to add an additional piece to the precarious ensemble. And such a long-winded build has proved both incredibly time-consuming and deflating...

Assembly frustrations aside, I'm also hoping to maintain my positive progress with the Wargame Hobby Bingo Challenge squares I set myself five months ago. I've somehow managed to haphazardly complete ten of the tasks without paying particular attention to the trials themselves, and most recently successfully achieved both 'painting a new unit that can be used in multiple game systems', as well as 'adding a new unit to your army, and completely painting it before using it on the battlefield' with my "Games Workshop" Iron Golem warband for "Warcry"/"Age Of Sigmar", and some (as yet unposted) "Lucid Eye Publications" Grove's Shrubs for "Dragon Rampant.

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Warcry" September 2019

Iron Golems WIPs - An Ogre Breacher, Armator and Dominar

This month's themed attempt to shrink my ever-increasing mass of metal, plastic and resin models will see me once again returning to "Games Workshop" in an effort to pigment at least one of the disparate warbands which regularly make the dark pilgrimage to the Eightpoints, “seeking the favour of Archaon the Everchosen.” Considering my love of both “Age Of Sigmar” and the Chaos gods of the Mortal Realms, I’m actually surprised I’ve managed to hold off for an entire month since the opportunity to “enter the dark world of Warcry” first emerged, but now I’ve finally purchased the new skirmish game’s enormous starter set I’ve immediately found myself busy preparing for my ‘big push’ by assembling my “indomitable warband hailing from the Realm of Metal.”

Fortunately, unlike many of the Nottingham-based company’s modern-day plastic miniatures, the eight Iron Golems I’ve mustered together were reasonably straightforward and quick to glue together, with only the three Iron Legionaries causing me a moments consternation on account of the multiple variants it is possible to build. Indeed even the construction choice between fielding a banner-bearing Signifier or a massive hammer-wielding Prefector was pretty simple to visualise, courtesy of a comprehensive assembly instruction guide-book, before I’d snapped a single piece from a sprue.

Revamped Wargame Hobby Bingo - Several squares have been replaced with more likely achievements

This somewhat substantial project should also provide me with a partial in-road into completing another of the (amended) Wargame Hobby Bingo Challenge squares I’ve set myself over the next twelve months; to paint all of the miniatures in a board game, and play it. Fortunately, due to last month’s completion of both “The Walking Dead: Call To Arms" Prisoner Booster Pack by “Mantic Games” and a converted female Borg Drone from the “Modiphius Entertainment” Borg Collective box, I’ve already managed to ‘strike through’ two of the twenty-four squares, so am currently on track to achieve my twelve-month goal.

Of course there may be some who will argue that “Warcry” is not a proper board game, but alongside its Untamed Beasts, Chaotic Beasts and scenery the box is listed as containing “a double-sided 22” x 30” folding gaming board to battle on”, and that’s good enough for me. Besides, there’s always the possibility of undertaking a less figure-filled 'proper' board game in the future, in which case I’ll be arguing that the completion of the set’s Bell Tower, statue head, barricades and ruins should count as "a scenery set."

August 2019 - The most productive August since my records began in 2014

Statistics is something I’ve tried to keep to a minimum on this blog, but the reasonable success of my “Top Ten Manufacturers” 2016-2018 series has suggested that perhaps a brief dalliance into the number of miniatures completed throughout the year might be of interest to some. I’ve actually been scoring my finished figures using the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge’s points system as far back as 2014 (e.g. 5 Points per 28mm infantry model), and as a result am able to not only ascertain how industrious I have been from year to year, but also identify my favourite painting genres and ranges.

Predominantly thanks to my concerted effort to complete a number of “Star Trek Adventures” models by “Modiphius Entertainment”, alongside a dalliance into “The Walking Dead: Call To Arms” by “Mantic Games”, last month was actually my most productive period on record for this time of year, and has me well on track to possibly break my annual painting tally record. In addition, another significant batch of “Doctor Who” miniatures by “Black Tree Design” has seen the frustratingly unreliable manufacturer continue to stretch ahead of the majority of the pack, and now only needs to overtake “Lucid Eye Publications” and their characterful “Toon Realms” range to disconcertingly become my most popular company of 2019…

"My Life Was A Wreck -- All Because A' My Addiction."

"I couldn't function, y'know..."

This 28mm scale model of Andrew is produced by “Mantic Games” and can be found inside "The Walking Dead: Call To Arms" Prisoner Booster Pack. Sculpted to represent the "ex-junkie convict" trapped in the cafeteria of the Meriwether County Correctional Facility, the drug dealer fled "into the surrounding countryside" following the death of Dexter in Issue 19 of "The Walking Dead" comic book.

The African-American figure was initially primed using two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Orange, and had his prison overalls shaded with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. I then ‘picked out’ the narcotics addict's rifle holster and shoulder strap with "Citadel" Doombull Brown and his skin with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. All of these areas were later shaded in “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.

"Hey. You guys want some meatloaf?"

The prisoner's actual rifle was treated to a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Badab Black. Whilst I delicately picked out the tiny tip of Andrew's shirt with a spot of "Vallejo" Dead White and later a splash of Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter". Finally, the inmate's shoes and hair were tidied up with a lick of "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

With all four of my Meriwether County Correctional Facility survivors now completed, and suitably armed with an additional Shiv and Tear Gas Grenade, I’m pleased to say that I’ve accomplished the second of my Wargame Hobby Bingo challenges this month by painting all of the models in a faction starter box. In addition, this short sojourn into the post-apocalyptic world of comic book creator Robert Kirkman has lead me to both dig out my still unopened starter set for "The Walking Dead: All Out War", as well as purchase a few new items from the "Mantic Games" webstore...

"Star Trek Adventures" WIPs - Sulu, Uhura and a Romulan Commander

Of course, my determination to complete a faction for “The Walking Dead: Call To Arms” hasn’t distracted me from my desire to continue pigmenting a number of “Star Trek Adventures” figures by “Modiphius Entertainment”, especially as I’ve now dug out the models from their Original Series Bridge Crew boxed set to join my remaining Romulans and Borg. Disappointingly, I am definitely finding these miniatures a tad problematic to assemble on account of their separate limbs supposedly only requiring the tiniest amount of superglue to stay permanently affixed, despite some of their poses being rather dynamic.


Hikaru Sulu’s model is a good case in point, where the smallest of ‘ball and cup’ sockets is all that holds his out-stretched arm to his shoulder. As a result I have opted to pin the Starfleet officers together instead, but in doing so have found their true alignments somewhat difficult to replicate. Fortunately, due to being resin, any positioning errors on my part, such Nyota Uhura’s right arm initially protruding from her shoulder, can easily be rectified courtesy of some very careful filing…

“You Will Be Assimilated."

"Resistance is futile."

These three 32mm scale resin miniatures of female Borg drones are manufactured by “Modiphius Entertainment” and form part of their ten-figure strong Borg Collective boxed set. “Designed for use with the Star Trek Adventures roleplaying game”, these models are based upon the American science fiction franchise’s cybernetic aliens which made their first television appearance in the May 1989 episode “Q Who”.

Despite coming with their own 30mm scenic stands, I actually re-based the trio onto 28mm lipped plastic bases instead, and also took the opportunity to convert a couple of the drones following my discovery that three of the five female figures inside the box were identical sculpts. As a result I cut off one of the miniatures’ more-pointed metallic appendages at the elbow and swapped it with the crude-pincer limb of another, courtesy of some drilling and pinning.

"I don't believe in no-win scenarios."

Created by executive producer Maurice Hurley, the Borg were initially primed with two coats of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, heavily dry-brushed using some “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal” and much more lightly dry-brushed with “Citadel” Ironbreaker. This process provided each incredibly-detailed drone with a metallic-looking highlight, as well as allowed me to see all the cables which formidably snaked around their limbs and torsos.

I then applied some additional “Citadel” Ironbreaker to the cyborgs’ multi-purpose prosthesis, some of their facial implants, and numerous cables. These areas, along with my original dry-brushing, were subsequently tidied up using a little more “Citadel” Abaddon Black and then shaded with Nuln Oil, before being lightly dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker. Some parts of the Borg’s bodysuit were also ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

"Your life as it has been is over."

As I wanted to give the Borg’s flesh a somewhat necrotic look, I base-coated their faces and the odd elbow with “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, washed them with “Citadel” Nuln Oil and later added some extra “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey to their noses, cheeks and brows. Having previously painted the range’s limited edition James T. Kirk in the past, I was highly sceptical about ‘dotting’ each drone’s eyes, so ultimately decided to simply spot them with a dab of “Citadel” Abaddon Black.

Lastly, I placed a tiny dollop of “Vallejo” Dark Vermillion at the end of each model’s “sophisticated ocular implant” and shaded it with “Citadel” Bloodletter. Having finished these Borg I’m delighted to say that I’ve already accomplished the first of my Wargame Hobby Bingo challenges by converting a model (can be as simple as a weapon swap, or re-pose)...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Star Trek Adventures" August 2019

"Star Trek Adventures" WIPs - Two Romulan Uhlans

Inspired by a past posting by Michael Awdry over on his simply stunning blog “28mm Victorian Warfare”, I have decided to try and chip away at my embarrassingly big lead mountain by trying to successfully complete a Wargame Hobby Bingo Challenge over the next twelve months. This twenty-five part trial was actually originally conceived by Rob Hawkins (“Rob Hawkins Hobby Blog”), and as I plan on utilising his hobby bingo card exactly, there’s every chance I’ll end up doing quite a bit more than simply paint models during the forthcoming year (e.g. one of the tasks is to make a modelled game board with integrated terrain, at least 2’ x 2’).

Coinciding with this ‘bit of fun’ has been the arrival of the “Star Trek Adventures Starter Set” by “Modiphius Entertainment” and some figures from the London-based company’s 32mm “unpainted resin” miniatures range. I’ve already started work assembling the ten drones which come in the Borg Collective box as they’ll help me achieve painting “all of the models in a faction starter box” reasonably swiftly, whilst the Captain James T. Kirk figure from the Original Series Bridge Crew set will ensure I also quickly succeed in painting “a new version of one of your old character models.”

Wargame Hobby Bingo

Enthused by all these Gene Roddenberry inspired shenanigans I’ve additionally dug out a pair of partially-pigmented Uhlans from the Romulan Strike Team box which I bought at “Salute” 2018. I’m not sure why I stopped working on these figures so shortly after purchasing them, but now I have  decided upon a ‘quick and straightforward’ colour scheme for them, their predominantly grey uniforms have been appropriately washed and dry-brushed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil and “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey respectively.

Equally as intriguing is the release of “The Walking Dead: Call To Arms” by “Mantic Games”. I’ve only played the odd game of its skirmish-based predecessor “All Out War” and was somewhat disappointed with the game; albeit not to the point where I don’t own a shamefully still sealed copy of the starter set. However, this larger-scale rule-set appears to be more my ‘cup of tea’, so I have pre-ordered the book, cards and gone so far as to pick up the Prisoner Booster Pack and Wave Two Retail Exclusives Bundle. I’m even considering using the rules with my “Star Trek” models, with the Borg playing the role of the zeds, as the Federation battle the Romulan Star Empire for technological loot…

Carl and Lori start the battle hiding behind a bloody Police Van, as a line of the Undead approaches Patrick

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, I've also managed to get in a skirmish battle "amongst the Walking Dead" before actually laying my hands upon my own copy. Fielding a simple 150-point (Lawful) Atlanta Camp faction against a (Ruthless) Scavengers raiding party, I initially found Rick Grimes' "Sound Tactics (Special Order) extremely effective in helping a fleet-footed Glenn get within range of some loot objectives. But ultimately, some poor shooting by Cynthiana survivor Carl arguably lead to the death of both his father and later his mother, Lori Grimes, when she succumbed to a zombie bite inflicted whilst fending off a zed attacking her child.

Derek and Reggie fend off a zombie, whilst Glenn races towards a valuable loot objetcive

Still, not everything went the way of bruiser Derek and the Scavengers, with Reggie eventually discovering that Rick Grimes' bullets were fatal when he finally fell before the fangs of a brain-hungry ghoul after being shot to pieces by the Atlanta Camp Leader. Sadly though, the baseball bat wielding Patrick was undoubtedly the star of his party, with his deft avoidance of no less than seven zombies at the start of the game, and battering of Rick into dead mulch towards its end...