Top Ten Miniatures Of 2020 - An "Undercoat" Personal Choice

It was a pleasure to be asked to choose my Top Ten painted figures of 2020 on this blog and also a bit of challenge after seeing those picked by Roger - who did a great job. These are my picks - a combination of the miniature and how it was painted.

I have had the pleasure of seeing a lot of these models in the flesh, but not all due to the lockdown and for that reason I am not sad that 2020 is in the past. I look forward to seeing the rest of these figures for real as the photographs don’t always do them justice, as they act as both an inspiration for me to paint my own stuff and spur on my own enthusiasm. Keep up the painting, keep inspiring me and others to paint and here’s to a better year ahead. So, without further ado…

No. 10 - Mole In A Hole by "Oathsworn Miniatures" – August 7th

This is a lovely little miniature from a great range of anthropomorphic medieval animals. It is full of character and once again is something slightly different. Just a nice little miniature.

No. 9 - Winston Churchill by "Warlord Games" – January 13th

What a quirky little miniature this is. Winston Churchill with a machine gun! This blog always unearths the quirky and the unusual, and this was one of those. A nice simple paint scheme, well executed on a mini that came out of left field!

No. 8 - Granite by "Kitbash Games" – July 23rd

This is a great little model. A superhero that takes ideas from existing characters but is made all the better by the paint scheme in my opinion. The skin is painted well but the red Soviet outfit just adds to the character, making it different and interesting. I love this and wish the Supers Unlimited success with their product.

No. 7 - Venom by "Atomic Mass Games" – December 5th

Another great superhero/villain/antihero model! This looks great! Simon has a good technique for painting black and that is good for this mini! However, it is the tongue and teeth that make it pop and convey something very disturbing and nasty about this creature. Really good stuff!

No. 6 - Zzzax by "Wizkids" – February 22nd

Another comic book character! I know, but bear with me and just have a look at the photos. I don’t know much about this one but the paint job is why I picked this guy to be honest. The body looks awesome, whether that it is fire, electricity, radiation, all three or something else I don’t know. But it looks great. The face is the stand out for me though, really like this one a lot.

No. 5 - Dalek by "Warlord Games" – January 22nd

It is no secret that this blog has a lot of Doctor Who miniatures and there have been plenty of Daleks in the past. So why is this particular model in the top ten? Well 2020 hasn’t seen as many Doctor Who minis as in the past and I really like the way Simon paints his Daleks. So this one is included for a great paint job, nostalgia and because Daleks are so cool!!

No. 4 - Simian Minion by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" – August 26th

Another quirky little miniature that is painted very nicely. Taking its inspiration from the classic Planet of the Apes film this miniature and paint job captures the spirit of what was at the time astounding make up and a great character. One of many Simians painted this year this one gets picked because I think the mini is the best of the bunch to be honest. Again, nice to see something unusual and a bit different.

No. 3 - Iron Golem by "Wizkids" – January 8th

2020 has been a bit of a Dungeons and Dragons revelation on this blog. Some interesting dungeon beasties have been painted up, some weird, some unusual but this is my pick. Simon is great at painting metal, in particular the slightly rusted, dirty iron that is on this beast and boy does it show. I adore this model, it looks great. Really good painting that raises this model into the top three.

No. 2 - Abominable Snowman by "Wizkids" – March 20th

I just think this paint scheme is superb. The fur has been done very well and looks awesome, and the darker contrasting skin really makes the face pop, draws you to it as a focal point and adds so much character. Perhaps not my favourite mini, or certainly the most dynamic, but wow this paint job just elevates it to the top, well almost…

No. 1 - The Walking Statue of Waterdeep: The Honorable Knight by "Wizkids" – March 23rd

This is the perfect example of the pictures not capturing the full majesty and scale of the thing. It isn’t a miniature, it is a bigature!! The photographs show parts of it because it's simply too large to get a proper full shot of it. This statue is huge. It will dominate any tabletop it is on, and cause people to stop and look for sure. This came as a pre-painted model too, so why on earth would anybody disassemble it, repaint it and then put it back together again? No idea, but I am glad it was as it looks great! The statue has been loving weathered and all the little details like a birds nest and the moss/lichen have been picked out! Simply awesome stuff. Whether this is the ultimate monster encounter for some adventurers or just scenery in a game like "Frostgrave", this model will make you stop and look and admire it for what it is. A work of art.

"He Slimed Me."

"That's great. Actual physical contact. Can you move?"

This 28mm scale metal model of an Ectoplasmic Entity is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought from their Heroes and Allies range as part of their Paranormal Exterminators 1 deal. Designed to be used with the manufacturer's "fun, cinematic style skirmish" game 7TV - Second Edition, the spectral sculpt is clearly influenced by the character Slimer from the "Ghostbusters" franchise.

Originally I had planned to simply paint this figure using a dark green colour and just get it finished quickly with a splash of shade and a thorough dry-brush. But it then occurred to me that it would make the ideal test piece for my newly acquired "Vallejo" Fluorescent Green. As a result I primed the spooky ghost with "Vallejo" White and subsequently applied a couple of coats of Fluorescent Green over the entire miniature.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This Sentient Fungus has been primed. shaded and dry-brushed

I then drowned "Onionhead" in "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green and dusted the figure down with a "Vallejo" White dry-brush. This provided the figure with a sort of Zenithal highlight which I was able to patiently glaze with numerous layers of "Vallejo" Fluorescent Green. The trick really was to allow each passing of the paint to fully dry before applying the next coat, and to focus on those areas of the model, such as the ghoul's face and stomach which had really caught the "Vallejo" White.

The Ectoplasmic Entity's mouth was pigmented using "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whilst his teeth were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" White and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Finally I 'spotted' Slimer's eyes with a couple of dabs of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and resisted the urge to shade them, so as to ensure they stood out that little bit more from the rest of the model.

"Frostgrave" WIPs - This White Gorilla is slowly having all its flesh 'picked out' and shaded

Alongside "Little Spud" I have been speedily making my way through the final four of the company's Alien Pets range, including their recently released Horned Urz cub and Sentient Fungus. With the exception of their bizarre insect-eating Vermilepus, I've really enjoyed pigmenting this line of "Colony 87" models, and potentially plan on using some of them as alternatives to the Vermin Swarms/Feral Dogs encountered as Zone Hostiles in "Zona Alfa" by "Osprey Wargames".

Lastly, I have finally made some significant in-roads on my White Gorilla for "Frostgrave". I've actually lost count how many times I've picked this "North Star Military Figures" model up and quickly put back down again, as I find the disappointing sculpt to be a real motivation-killer whenever I try to paint it. However, I've finally knuckled down to get all the ape's flesh areas finished and now just need to tidy up its hairy fur before I can call the beast done...

“I’m A Knockout!”

"Dorothea bounced them before they got themselves a death sentence."

This 28mm scale resin model of Kayo the Bouncer is produced by "Kitbash Games", and was purchased from their highly successful "Supers Unlimited" Miniatures "Kickstarter" in August 2019. Described as being "six-four without heels and broad shouldered", as well as "abnormally strong and resistant to harm", I actually plan to use the figure as a Soviet super-hero known as Mother Russia for an upcoming Weird War Two campaign utilising some homemade rules.

Having super-glued Dorothea Locke onto a 28mm lipped base, I primed the occasional bar-tender at The Junction with a double coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red before shading her in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. I then applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to the experimental subject's leather boots and gloves, and shaded them with some Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter".

A lone X-Commando dares to enter the mysterious City of the Great Apes

I also spread some "Citadel" Doombull Brown over Kayo's hair, and in an effort to contrast it to the colour of her gloves and boots, washed it with a fair amount of "Citadel" Nuln Oil before delicately dry-brushing the well-defined area with (more) "Citadel" Doombull Brown. Lastly, I gave Locke a 1/285 Soviet Star (consisting of a red emblem with a white outline) transfer by "Decal Details" to tie her in with both my own backstory of her being a Russian military powerhouse, and her Socialist Republic team-mate, Stalingrad.

With the latest of my "Supers Unlimited" miniatures completed, I have 'snuck in' the time to re-paint one of the X-Commando models by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" I actually finished back in November 2019. At the time I recall rather rushing the female red beret by simply 'picking out' her hip-holster in "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and then drowning the predominantly black uniformed soldier in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - The Karakulak has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

This palette invariably caused the empty leather pistol pouch and its accompanying leg straps to disappear amidst the rest of the Department X agent's attire. Recently however, I have been working on the remaining three figures from this blister, and having applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to their leather-work, thought I'd take the time to do something similar to their comrade-in-arms.

Sticking with "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" I've additionally started to 'get to grips' with the last few of the company's Alien Pets. Bought from their "Colony 87" sci-fi range, I thought I'd make some inroads on my wolf-like Karakulak first, and go with a somewhat subtle purplish-white colour scheme...

"Blake's Seven" 28mm Battle Report: Servalan & Travis Verses The Mutant Menace - Part Two

THE FEDERATION DISCOVER XK-72 IS OVERRUN WITH MUTANT MONSTERS

“The story so far… Supreme Commander Servalan and Space Commander Travis have boarded the apparently abandoned Federation medical facility XK-72 in order to find out where its occupants have disappeared to. However, they quickly discover that the scientists are still there, and disconcertingly have been infected by a mutating space plague."

THE TABLETOP - FEDERATION MEDICAL FACILITY XK-72

"Blake's Seven" 28mm Battle Report: Servalan & Travis Verses The Mutant Menace - Part One

Whilst Section Leader Klegg pondered opening the eastern door to the Lobby, Alpha Squad waited at the location of Objective Four to see whether Supreme Commander Servalan or Space Commander Travis required their assistance in dispatching the partially-mutated scientist approaching their position by Objective Three.

SPACE COMMANDER TRAVIS AND SERVALAN ATTRACT A SECOND FOE

Luckily they were not, as the pair riddled their target with lasers and satisfactorily saw the malformed figure fall dead at their feet. However, the additional noise of their weapons did attract a full-blown mutant to appear in the Lobby, and cause the second mutated scientist to turn west towards them once he reached the Laboratory.

Travis aimed his hand-blaster at the oncoming shuffling cadaver and cut it down before  the scientist could reach him. The Space Commander could hear something larger slowly making it way along the Lobby's central corridor, so beckoned for Alpha Squad to move west towards the Laboratory whilst the Supreme Commander remained where she was. Hearing movement behind the Lobby door, Klegg also decided not to do anything yet either.

TRAVIS AND SERVALAN STRIKE DOWN A MUTATED SCIENTIST

Alpha Squad quickly arrived at the entrance to the Laboratory, and formed up into a battle-line so as to await the approach of the mutant. Servalan and Travis remained where they were, waiting to see how their troopers coped with the humanoid monstrosity. Section Leader Klegg carefully considered opening the Lobby door in front of him, but stopped short when he heard the arrival of a second Mutant behind it.

Despite the threat of an imminent attack by a Mutant, Alpha Squad backed their way into the Laboratory and seized Objective Two. The brave Federation soldiers were awarded five points of data for their troubles and had now downloaded more than enough intelligence to help them piece together what had happened at the medical facility.

ALPHA SQUAD SUCCEED IN ACQUIRING ENOUGH INTELLIGENCE FOR THEIR MISSION

Realising their initial mission was a success, both Servalan and Space Commander Travis headed south towards their extraction point and safety. Section Leader Klegg also made a move towards his own extraction point, but not before the wily veteran heard a mutated scientist appear in the Lobby on the other side of the door he was stood beside.

The Mutant closest to the Laboratory tore into Alpha Squad, hacking apart one of the troopers with its giant claw. Behind it, the soldiers could hear a second malformed creature slowly approaching. Realising that they had to quickly dispatch their foe or face two of them, the troopers attempted to batter the brute into submission with their rifle-butts. Yet they only succeeded in causing the lightest of flesh wounds.

ALPHA SQUAD FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES AS SERVALAN AND TRAVIS SAFELY ESCAPE

Fortunately for the Federation, not only did Klegg manage to safely reach his extraction point, but so too did the Supreme Commander and Travis. Alpha Squad would be written off as acceptable losses, and would quickly be reformed when it came time for Servalan to venture deeper into medical facility XK-72...

“It's Time For Mayhem!"

"Here comes the one-man wrecking crew!”

This 34mm tall resin model of Mayhem is produced by "Kitbash Games", and was bought as part of my pledge from their highly successful "Supers Unlimited" Miniatures "Kickstarter" in August 2019. A past his prime wrestler who was "infused with unimaginable might" by the avatar of a trickster god, I actually plan to use the casting as a Third Reich super-villain known as the Berlin Brawler for an upcoming Weird War Two campaign utilising some homemade rules.

Having super-glued the figure onto a 28mm lipped base, I first undercoated Miles Maxwell's alter-ego with a double layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone before shading it in "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. I then applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the brute's boots, leather belt and cowl, and delicately dry-brushed his laces with some "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three X-Commandos

The former wrestler's toe-caps and spiked belt were given a 'lick' of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I did originally consider just pigmenting the spikes on Mayhem's belt with metallic paint, and leaving the rest as black leather. But in the end decided I rather liked the look of the 'official' plate metal colour scheme.

In order to help tie-in the figure with my Weird War Two setting, I gave his trousers a layer of "Vallejo" German Fieldgrey WWII and shaded them with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. Lastly, I picked out the eye-slits in the heavily-muscled maniac's head covering with a couple of lines of "Vallejo" White.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - An Ectoplasmic Entity

Moving my attention back to reducing the sizeable backlog of "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" miniatures I currently own, I have finished dry-brushing and shading the predominantly black uniforms of three X-Commandos. I have also managed to both layer and shade their flesh areas, and now just need to highlight their hands and faces before finishing off their insignias and red berets.

In addition, I am within a gnat's whisker of completing the Lincolnshire-based company's Ectoplasmic Entity. This corpulent-sized ghost has been painstakingly treated to numerous layers of "Vallejo" Fluorescent Green over the past few days, and now just needs a little tidying up before being tabletop ready.

"Isn't It Odd..."

"...The most dangerous places are always the most beautiful?"

This 43mm tall Gorilla model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought from their Heroes and Allies range as part of a set of three Great Apes. Designed to be used with the manufacturer's "fun, cinematic style skirmish" game 7TV - Second Edition, the huge primate's rules as a "Neutral Extra" can be found in the 7TV: Pulp expansion Menagerie of Terror.

The figure was initially primed with two coats "Citadel" Abaddon Black and enthusiastically dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal so as to highlight the sculpt's well-detailed fur. I then applied some (additional) "Vallejo "Heavy Charcoal to the Great Ape's chest, hands, face and feet, before shading these parts with "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These three X-Commandos have been primed and dry-brushed

I 'spotted' the miniature's eyes with a couple of blobs of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to its forehead to indicate that it was a Western gorilla. This was later better blended in with a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna over the entire area. Lastly I 'picked out' the animal's teeth with some delicate dabs of "Vallejo" White, and carefully coloured its tongue in Heavy Red. All of these details were shaded in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to dirty them down.

In addition to finishing my third and final "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" Great Ape, I have also been working on the remaining three figures from the company's second X-Commandos blister. I actually previously painted one of this group's models way back in November 2019, and was in all honestly never really happy with its predominantly black palette choices.

"Kitbash Games" WIPs - Blackthorn and Alpha Male

Having recently 'overcome' a similar problem with my "Marvel Crisis Protocol" Crossbones miniature by "Atomic Mass Games" by incorporating some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna into the colour scheme, I've decided to do the same with these models' leg-straps and holsters. And may well now even pay a return visit to my earlier female Department X trooper, so as to ensure a consistent look to the entire four-soldier squad.

I've also made some progress on two more of my "Supers Unlimited" figures by "Kitbash Games", including the long-forgotten Blackthorn. I was initially planning on closely following the former human-plant hybridization scientist's 'official' paint scheme, even though I intend upon using the resin sculpt for my own Weird War Two American super-hero Everglades. However, having patiently 'picked out' all the intricate vines snaking about the mutate's body and limbs, I really didn't like the look of my brush-work, so have since decided to go with a mixture of dry-brushing and washes to replicate the swampy-feel of Florida's subtropical wilderness...

First Few Posts Of February 2021 Posted On Wix Website

The first few postings of February 2021 are now up on the new Wix website. These include the last of my "Atomic Mass Games" 40mm super-hero models to use for Marvel Crisis Protocol, as well as the start of a painting push to finished a load of partially-painted figures by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio".

In addition, I've posted up the first of my completed 15mm ACW plastic infantry strips by "Warlord Games", taken from their upcoming "Epic Battles: American Civil War" game for Black Powder. The models came free on the cover of Issue 393 of "Wargames Illustrated".

Lastly, I've finishing porting across both the January and February 2019 postings from this blog over to the new Wix website. Please click the link below to pay me a visit and see all the changes for yourself.

https://www.fantoricalwargaming.com