(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Age Of Sigmar" February 2017

Karanak WIPs - The Flesh Hound has had all its details base-coated with "Citadel" Chaos Black

This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures has been superseded by my desire to dedicate another month to my Befouling Host of Nurgle for “Age Of Sigmar”, and its blood-crazed Khorne allies. I have been trying to paint at least one new unit for this "Games Workshop" army per month since late last year, but have increasingly found myself losing momentum and falling further behind schedule with each passing week.

As a result I have 'dusted off' a few notable models I started working on before the commencement of the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, and additionally 'brought to the fore' a few Khorne Flesh Hounds I primed in anticipation of submission into the event's West Bonus Round; the savage beasts being part of "the Goretide's westernmost Blood Warrior warbands" during the famed Battle of the Brimstone Peninsula. Foremost of these resin monstrosities is the three-headed Karanak, whose scaly red hide has already been washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade" and dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Red.

Great Unclean One WIP - The large model has been primed, washed and dry-brushed green

Equally counting as a single model unit, but infinitely more formidable, is my model of a Great Unclean One. This towering Greater Daemon of Nurgle was unfortunately assembled, primed and washed well before the start of the Challenge, so isn't eligible for entry. However, I felt it was about time the 'facsimile of the Chaos God himself' had some tender loving care, and I have therefore already finished dry-brushing him in preparation for base-layering his Massive Bilesword and Plague Flail.

The figure really is crammed with extraordinary detail, such as a couple of cheeky Nurglings and wriggling maggots, and has been constructed using the sculpt's original antler-less head. I actually own a second metal version, complete with horns and serpent-headed tongue. Sadly though, I am missing the model's non-sword arm, so have side-lined the old OOP 'Sixth Edition miniature' until I can source one...

Sutekh WIPs - The Osiran has had his Egyptian backdrop dry-brushed

With plenty of time-consuming projects on the horizon, I have once again turned my attention to a few "Black Tree Design" "Doctor Who" miniatures as some easier subjects to paint, and resultantly invested a little time constructing an Egyptian-flavoured base for Sutekh the Destroyer. This Fourth Doctor villain from the 1975 BBC Television story "The Pyramids Of Mars" will hopefully lead a small(ish) force of service robots, the murderous Ibrahim Namin, and the extra-terrestrial's hapless slave Professor Marcus Scarman. I may even have purchased a laser cut MDF 30cm x 30cm gaming area representing 'The Tomb of the Serpent God'.

For now though I have simply super-glued my motionless Osiran onto his black stone throne, placed him upon one of the thin 50mm round plastic bases I use for my larger objective markers, and then used two 40mm square "Lord Of The Sand" Egyptian bases as an improvised backdrop. The God-like being's heavily bandaged mummies will be worked on next...

"Tweak!"

"Twurk!"

This 28mm resin model of Tweak was sculpted for me by the very generous Dave Stone of "Wargames Terrain Workshop" fame, and resultantly can't actually be bought from his company's webstore. A major character in the "Judge Dredd" epic "The Cursed Earth", which ran within the pages of "2000 A.D." from May to October 1978, this brown furry alien would help Mega-City One's toughest Lawman deliver a vaccine for the killer virus 2T(FRU)T to Mega City Two.

Initially primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, the "noble and loyal creature" was heavily washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and subsequently dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. I then painted his nose, hands and feet with the slightly lighter colour Heavy Brown, before applying a layer of Strong Tone Quickshade over these areas as well.

Shanty Hut WIP - The dwelling has lots of metallic areas yet to paint, as well as its interior

Described by the "Judge Dredd Wiki" as having "large black eyes and a snout", as well as "donkey-like ears and large hands with three large claws", I 'picked out' Tweak's claws with a combination of "Vallejo" White and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and additionally highlighted his eyes with "Vallejo" Charred Brown and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Alongside being a submission for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, Tweak is also my entry into a friendly "Tweak Off!" suggested by (sculptor) Dave. As a result you can see both Dave and Bryan's painted extraterrestrial on "Vampifan's World Of The Undead" and Andy's finished version on "Da Gobbo's Grotto".

Mindless One WIP - The hulking giants all need their red cyclopean eyes tidied up and washed 

Sticking with "Wargames Terrain Workshop" I have started painting the first of four of their fantastically-detailed Post-Apocalyptic Shanty Huts. This dwelling will be submitted into the AHPC Terrain: 'Home' Themed Bonus Round, and also prove a piece of useful scenery for my "Mad Max" project. For now I've simply based the resin model upon an oval 90 x 120mm MDF laser cut base by "Green Stuff World", and started to paint the building's wooden parts...

Lastly, having recently finished painting my "Wizkids" model of the "Marvel Worldwide" super-villain Nightmare, I have started work on seven "Heroclix" Mindless Ones to accompany him. I've actually previously painted two of these towering monsters before, and subsequently ordered some more from "Troll And Toad" as soon as they had more in stock so as to give the evil ruler of a "Dream Dimension" a truly fitting retinue.

"They Got My Blood, Now Its My Car!"

"So I exist in this wasteland... A man, reduced to a single instinct: Survive."

This 1/55th Scale Mgebrov Single-Turret Armoured Car can be bought from "Coppletone Castings" as code K53 and is actually produced by "The Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company". Designed and sold to compliment the manufacturer's "Back Of Beyond " range of miniatures, I actually purchased the resin model in order to use it as a rusty 'steampunk' version of Mad Max's famous Interceptor for my fledgling "Mad Max: Fury Road" project.

Unsurprisingly the kit, also available from "North Star Military Figures", is supplied unpainted and unassembled, and actually proved somewhat cumbersome to put together as a result if it arriving with no instructions. This omission was eventually overcome largely thanks to a picture of the vehicle on the "Copplestone Castings" website, and a bit of drilling (so as to accommodate the metal wheels).

"That's mine!"

In addition to the model, I also separately prepared a "Games Workshop" 120mm x 92mm oval base for it to sit upon, by marking out the position of its wheels and gritting around them. The base was then primed with "Citadel" Chaos Black, and dry-brushed first with Doombull Brown and then Rakarth Flesh. As a last step I washed the stand with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and left it to dry...

The 'Interceptor' itself was initially primed with two coats of "Citadel" Chaos Black and subsequently dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. I then 'picked out' it's turret weapon and wheels with Ironbreaker, and heavily washed with the entire vehicle with "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

'The Interceptor' - Accompanied by Mad Max and Imperator Furiosa

With the car's basic layers finished, I then took some "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash, and having shaken the bottle vigorously, simply administered the particle-charged solution over the majority of the model using a "medium sized round soft paintbrush". Once this had thoroughly dried, and the bottle's contents had been given time to settle to the bottom, I roughly dappled a far more sediment-filled brush over all the seams, rivets and bolts. This technique really seemed to help build up some thick rust in the deeper recesses of the vehicle.

As I wanted the automobile to appear somewhat well-cared for, despite its post-apocalyptic environment, I decided to 'clean' the car up a bit by dry-brushing certain areas with more "Citadel" Abaddon Black. In addition to this, I tidied up the wheels, weapon, and painted the headlight with a combination of "Vallejo" White and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"The Horns Of Nimon" WIPs - The intergalactic locusts are slowly being base-coated and tidied up

Having fixed the vehicle to its 'finished' base (as the car's clearance was so low as to make painting its stand impossible otherwise) I shook my bottle of "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash once again and applied the 'watery' solution over the edges of my recent dry-brushing, so as to tone down its starkness. The 'Interceptor' was then gloss varnished.

Alongside my latest submission to the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge I have started work on another batch of “Doctor Who” miniatures by "Black Tree Design”. I've already painted up five Nimon from the December 1979 BBC Television story “The Horns Of Nimon” this month. But having found more of the bull-headed 'intergalactic locusts' buried amidst my ample lead mountain I thought I'd give them some additional reinforcements with which to bring down the gullible Skonnan Empire...

"Who Dares To Enter The Chamber Of Doctor Doom?"

"For no one knows what's best for you... except your mighty sovereign... Doctor Doom!"

This 28mm pre-painted plastic model of Doctor Doom is by “Wizkids” and can be bought as number 105 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Secret Invasion range. The son of Romani witch Cynthia Von Doom, Victor is the leader of the Eastern European nation of Latveria, and "both a genius inventor and a sorcerer." Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the July 1962 edition of "The Fantastic Four" and would go to be the chief opponent of Reed Richards super-team.

Originally undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Green in order to 'cover over' the figure's somewhat 'slapdash' pre-paint, the facially disfigured monarch was washed with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green and subsequently dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Green. I then layered the suit of armour (with "scowling mask") which Victor forged whilst living with a clan of Tibetan monks, with "Citadel" Ironbreaker and later washed it with Nuln Oil.

"Stand aside for the glory that is Doom!"

With both Doctor Doom's "trademark metal mask and green cloak" essentially finished, I turned my attention to 'picking out' the model's belt and buckle  with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Gold. Both of these areas were then washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. As a final touch I lightly 'dry-brushed' the armour with more "Citadel" Ironbreaker in order to give it a bit more shine.

Alongside the "soul-stirring…super sensational new villain" I additionally painted three of the character's infamous Doombots. These unarmed automatons can be bought as number 006 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Galactic Guardians range and actually "have the face of the real Doctor Doom but with no hood." Regularly used by Latveria's sovereign on missions "where he fears defeat", the robots are sometimes programmed to actually believe themselves to be the real Doctor Doom..

Jungle Trooper WIPs - These models will be painted up to resemble some "Mad Max" War Boys

In addition to my submission for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge East Bonus Round I have started to progress probably the final group of "Copplestone Castings" miniatures I'll currently paint as part of this month's "Mad Max" project. These Jungle Troopers will obviously look a little out of place fighting across a post-apocalyptic Australian desert, so instead I hope to turn them into some of Immortan Joe's (more militaristic-looking) War Boys.

Heavily armed, yet wearing rusty plate armour, I intend to use these figures as further guinea pigs for some "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash, and see whether I can really grim up their helmets, knives and (to a lesser extent) automatic rifles. I may even try out a watered down "Vallejo" White wash over their skin and "Citadel" Ironbreaker across their mouths so they "will arrive at the gates of Valhalla, shiny and chrome!"

"Nightmare Forever Walks The Earth."

"He is called Nightmare. And he was not given that name lightly."

This 28mm pre-painted plastic model of Nightmare is by “Wizkids” and can be bought as number 118 from their Marvel: Universe “Heroclix” range. The evil ruler of a "Dream Dimension", where tormented humans are brought during their sleep, this "demon from the dimension Everinnye" was the first foe Doctor Strange encountered during the Sorcerer Supreme's comic book adventures. "Dependent on the human race's need to dream" the super-villain was created by Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and made his first appearance in the July 1963 "Marvel Comics Group" edition of "Strange Tales".

Initially primed with a double layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Green in order to 'mask' the "Super Rare" 35mm tall model's pre-paint, the Dweller-in-Darkness' cousin was heavily washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Green. With his bodysuit and ragged cape finished I 'picked out' his chalk-white flesh with a combination of "Vallejo" White and Pale Flesh. Finally Nightmare's "wild green hair" was painted by dry-brushing Heavy Green over a "Citadel" Abaddon Black base coat, and subsequently washing it with Nuln Oil.

Armoured Car WIPs - The 'Interceptor' has been weathered and based upon a "Games Workshop" oval stand

Sadly, this nigh-omnipotent character isn't eligible for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge as I began working on him just before the tournament started. So as a result, I have simultaneously been applying a second layer of "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash over the rivets and panels of my "Copplestone Castings" Mgebrov Single-Turret Armoured Car. This additional layer really produced lots of thick rust amongst the vehicle's plating and welding, and whilst the result was somewhat overkill for "Mad Max" Rockatansky's ride, I did think it would suit a less-loved truck I hope to later add to my post-apocalypse project.

For now though I have toned down the car's evident decay to something more in keeping with a somewhat reasonably well-maintained automobile of the dune roads by dry-brushing certain areas with "Citadel" Abaddon Black. In addition, I have tidied up the wheels and weapon, as well as fixed the 'Interceptor' to a pre-prepared gritted and painted "Games Workshop" 120mm x 92mm oval base.

Tweak WIPs: The alien has been washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade

Lastly, and spurred on by Dave Stone kindly emailing me pictures of his completed Tweak, I have been persevering on own resin figure of Judge Dredd's alien ally during his trek across "The Cursed Earth". Initially painted "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, I have subsequently dry-brushed the "noble and loyal creature" and 'picked out' the lighter areas of his fur with some Heavy Brown...

"The Voord Were Trying To Penetrate The Walls."

"Shall I follow and destroy them?"

These 28mm models of Yartek and six Voord are currently sold by "Black Tree Design” as part of their "Doctor Who" range under codes DW121 Voord Warrior and DW125 Voord Leader. The figures are based upon the treacherous aliens encountered by the First Doctor in the 1964 BBC Television serial "The Keys Of Marinus" and were originally designed by "Harlequin Miniatures" for the company's OOP rule-set "Doctor Who: Invasion Earth".

"The first in a long line of deliberate, but generally unsuccessful, attempts to find an enemy as popular as the Daleks" the Voord were all primed with a double-layer of "Citadel" Chaos Black before being heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. Each model was then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and, as the semi-aquatic aliens simply "wore a complete black bodysuit, which was similar to a frogman's wetsuit and flippers", could arguably have simply been left at that...

"There is no escape now except for us."

However, in order to try and break up their monotone look a little, I decided to slightly step away from their ‘official’ colour scheme by ‘picking out’ their belts and eyes with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal, and their diving (lead) weights with Heavy Bluegrey. In addition, I painted the Voords’ commando-style knives with “Citadel” Ironbreaker. All of these areas were then subsequently washed with Nuln Oil and their hand-weapons dry-brushed with more Ironbreaker.

Because the telepathic humanoids are only cast in a single pose, I tried to break up my raiding party’s look by slightly adjusting each figures’ right arm. This decision immediately met with disaster as the first model’s knife-blade snapped off, leaving me in a bit of a quandary. Fortunately, I had a spare similarly-sized knife-wielding hand from a pack of previously painted Evil Hooded Minions by “Pulp Figures”, so was able to chop the damaged Voord’s hand off and pin on a new one; albeit the blade is facing the other way. The rest of the ‘delicate’ miniatures were then left well alone…

"I want them here when the final key is inserted and my power is absolute."

The model of Yartek was somewhat more interesting to paint on account of his sculpt capturing the leader after he had "discovered how to resist the Conscience of Marinus" and killed its Keeper, Arbitan. As a result the Chief Voord is actually depicted dressed in the dead man's robe and was thus predominantly treated to a combination of "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey. The garment was then dry-brushed with more White. Yartek's stolen chain of office was 'picked out' with Gold and simply washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Despite failing to capture the imagination of the science fiction programme's audience in the Sixties, the Voord have made several appearances in "Doctor Who" lore as a result of them battling the Daleks ("Doctor Who And The Daleks" sweet cigarette cards), evolving into the "entirely cybernetic creatures called Cybermen" ("The World Shapers" comic book) and featuring in the "Big Finish" audio play "Domain of the Voord".

Armoured Car WIPs - The 'Interceptor' is increasingly being weathered and rusted

With so many classic "Doctor Who" models being painted recently, I have found my attention being momentarily diverted from this month's "Mad Max" project. However, that hasn't stopped me making a little progress on the "Copplestone Castings" Mgebrov Single-Turret Armoured Car I plan to use as Rockatansky's ride. Purchased via "North Star Military Figures" this 1/55th Scale resin vehicle has not only been primed, dry-brushed and washed black, but has had its metal wheels and machine-gun 'picked out'.

In addition, I have started to slowly build up the franchise's famous rust-look on the automobile using "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash. The first application was simply administered over the entire car using a "medium sized round soft paintbrush". Whilst the second is slowly being dappled over all the seams, rivets and bolts with a piece of makeup sponge in order to try and build up the layers of rust.

"I Have No Idea What It Could Be. It Was Greyish In Colour..."

"Not every discovery has been announced."

These five 28mm metal models of Grey Aliens are produced by “Copplestone Castings” and can be bought as code FW36 from their Future Wars range. Supposedly the extraterrestrial beings responsible for "forty-three percent of all reported alien encounters in the United States", these aliens are named for their unique skin colour and were made famous "from earlier depictions of the Roswell UFO incident from 1947."

"At no time, when the astronauts were in space were they alone: There was a constant surveillance by UFOs."

Smoothly sculpted and somewhat diminutive models, the figures were initially undercoated with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The aliens were then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, before receiving a second heavily watered-down wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.  Finally, the gun-toting 'leader' had his space weapon painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

With these latest (admittedly odd) additions to my "Mad Max" project completed, I have momentarily turned my attention towards painting a rather smashing sculpt of Tweak; one of Judge Dredd's "most important allies" during the lawman's epic adventure across "The Cursed Earth". This 28mm scale resin model was an extremely generous Christmas gift from Dave Stone and, now I have super-glued it upon one of plastic circular slotta bases I use for all my "2000 A.D." related miniatures, has been given a generous double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

Tweak WIPs: The alien has been undercoated "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and subsequently washed 

Described in the "Judge Dredd Wiki" as a "furry alien with dark brown fur covering the majority of his body... [and] large black eyes" I initially planned to simply dry-brush the figure and 'pick out' his claws. However, having scrutinised his appearance in "Tweak's Story" it's clear the "leader of an unnamed planet" actually has lighter fur around his snout and formidable-looking hands, so I'll be applying a lighter brown to these areas in order to make the "noble and loyal creature" far less monotone in colour.