“Wolves Tend To Shy Away From Humans…”

“…But a few will occasionally wander down into the city in search of prey.”

This quartet of 28mm scale metal Wolves are produced by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought as code FGX003 from their “Frostgrave" range. The Nottingham-based manufacturer actually produces five different variants of Canis lupus. But this set only includes a random selection of four of them.

Initially, I had hoped to super-glue the large canines onto 28mm circular lipped bases. However, because the majority of the figures had been sculpted moving on all fours, I ultimately had to settle on them being permanently attached to 40mm lipped stands instead. Once in position, they were all primed with a couple of layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, before having the tops of their fur sponged in Dark Grey with a torn piece of blister foam.

"Once more into the fray. Into the last good fight I'll ever know."

Each wolf was then washed in “Citadel” Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey. Whilst this paint was still wet though, I also dry-brushed each animal from the top down with “Vallejo” Dark Grey, allowing the two colours to meet, mix and taper off once my brush started to approach each beast’s legs and underbelly.

In addition, I ‘picked out’ each wolf’s nose and eyes with a few dabs of “Citadel” Abaddon Black. To be honest I was rather underwhelmed with the sculpting of these miniatures’ faces, as I was fully prepared to apply either some red or white to their tongues and fangs, yet found no such detail being evidently available – even on those whose mouths were wide open as they bayed at the Moon.

"Zealot Miniatures" WIPs - The Stone Golem's bracelets have been base-coated, layered and shaded

Having completed my feral carnivores, I have made some more progress on a Stone Golem I recently purchased from “Zealot Miniatures”. I had originally intended to simply make this two-piece resin enchanted construct all stone, but have since had a change of mind, and subsequently started working on it wearing a pair of ‘magical’ weathered brass bracelets.

For now I’ve simply laid down a base layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, over which I’ve applied a coat of Brass and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. However, this metallic colour is already providing an excellent contrast to the somewhat monotonous grey-look of the impressively-sized statue, and that’s before I’ve added the patina effect to its superbly-detailed wrist jewellery…

"In The Annals Of Ancient Felstad..."

"...There are occasional mentions of vapour snakes."

These three 28mm scale metal Vapour Snakes are produced by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought as code FGV344 from their “Frostgrave" range. Described as being “strange, smoky entities sometimes formed as the result of the mystical refinement process of the alchemical fuel used for much of the city’s lighting and heating", the “wispy fumes” are sold as a pack of three miniatures, comprising of “one large Vapour Snake” and two smaller ones.

I was actually hoping that these particular random encounters would prove a pretty straightforward little painting project, but unfortunately the three models I received had loads of flash upon them. This resulted in me spending a good hour snipping away strays pieces of metal from many of their tendrils, and subsequently filing down some incredibly sharp points so I could simply safely handle them whilst pigmenting them.

"Why these creatures look so much like actual snakes is anyone’s guess."

Once super-glued to their individual 30mm circular lipped bases, I primed all three of the figures with “Vallejo” White and gave them a wash of Pale Grey. The Vapour Snakes were then dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” White, before having their eyes ‘picked out’ with a combination of Heavy Grey and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green.

With the latest additions to my “Frostgrave” Bestiary completed, I have momentarily turned my attention to the recent arrival of “Zombicide 2nd Edition” by “CoolMiniOrNot” and finally made the decision to see whether I can actually paint one of the “nonstop, electrifying zombie-killing action” board game’s plastic miniatures. In the past, this has always been a rabbit hole I have been truly loathe to bolt down, as I wasn’t all that impressed with some of the soft detail found on the original release’s range, and frankly intimidated by the sheer number of figures I’d need to put a brush to.

"Zombicide 2nd Edition" WIPs - President 16 has been re-based, primed and dry-brushed

However, having picked up the Presidential Box Survivor Pack as part of the Kickstarter, I thought the figure of President 16, or rather Abraham Lincoln, might prove a nice pilot piece. I’ve already re-based the miniature onto a standard 28mm base (with the intention of supergluing some tiny ball-bearings to its underside) and given the American statesman an undercoat of “Vallejo” Gloss Black.

If successful then I might contemplate painting up one or two more of the Presidents found inside the six-figure expansion set, and even set to work on a dozen or so of the core box’s zombies. This might then encourage me to dedicate this year’s Zomtober Challenge to tackling some of the other one hundred and sixty seven miniatures found inside the game’s reboot, not counting its Washington Z.C. campaign set…

“Save The Day First."

"Autographs Later Guys!”

This 31mm tall resin model of Doc Cosmos is manufactured by "Kitbash Games", and was produced as part of the company's highly successful "Supers Unlimited" Miniatures "Kickstarter" in August 2019. Described “as one of his country’s most prominent heroes in the media and the public consciousness”, I actually plan to use the sculpt as a Soviet super-hero known as Captain Cosmonaut for an upcoming Weird War Two campaign utilising some homemade rules.

Having super-glued David Cross onto a 28mm lipped base, I originally primed the figure with two layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and set about pigmenting half his costume with Heavy Blue, and then much later, Dark Grey. However, as I wanted to give the “Blaster” something of an astronaut theme so as to better tie-in with my character’s galactic-garnered background, I eventually just painted right over all this earlier work with a couple of coats of “Vallejo” Silver.

"Kitbash Games" WIPs - The original colour scheme planned for Doc Cosmos

I next applied a wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil over the model, gave it a thorough dry-brush using (more) “Vallejo” Silver, and applied a couple of layers of “Citadel” Abaddon Black to the underside of Doc Cosmos’ uniform. I was at one point actually tempted to subsequently make this area equally as metallic-looking as the rest of the Russian’s attire with a combination of “Vallejo” Gold and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. But having seen how well the black and silver contrasted with one another, I decided to leave well enough alone.

Instead, I ‘picked out’ the ”celebrity” super-hero’s belt and goggles strap with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, before using a little “Vallejo” Gold and Heavy Red on David’s suit regulator. These respective parts of this circular chest device were later shaded with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three more Federated Security Mutaints

Finally, I painted Cross’ flesh with a little “Vallejo” Heavy Blue and “Citadel” Drakenhof Nightshade, and fiery hair using “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. The space-dweller’s “Vallejo” Silver suit was also given a glaze of watered-down “Citadel” Drakenhof Nightshade, to both tie-in better with the character’s skin colour, and subtly suggest his raiment was perhaps cosmically-charged.

With my latest “Supers Unlimited” model from “Kitbash Games” completed, I have been busy pinning, assembling, priming and dry-brushing three more of the OOP Federated Security Mutaints I own by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. These figures all use the self-same torso, so I have tried to create a little variety in their pose by cementing their separate heads in different positions.

"Northern Bears Are Mostly Peaceful Creatures..."

"...But are easily spooked."

This 44mm tall metal model of a Bear rearing to attack is produced by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought as code FGX005 from their “Frostgrave" range. Somewhat reminiscent of the illustration found on page 178 of the skirmish wargame’s Second Edition rulebook, albeit disappointingly without that particular carnivoran mammal’s numerous scars and battered ear, the animal is a potential “unhappy” random encounter for any adventurer who dares enter the wintry ruins of Felstad.

The figure was initially undercoated with two layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, before being shaded with a combination of “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The Bear was then thoroughly dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. As a final touch I ‘picked out’ the creature’s nose, eyes and claws with a little “Citadel” Abaddon Black, as well as its teeth using some “Vallejo” White and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade.

"Zealot Miniatures" WIPs - This Stone Golem has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Sticking with Joseph A. McCullough’s fantasy wargame in the Frozen City, I have managed to assemble and start working on a Stone Golem by “Zealot Miniatures”. This two-piece resin magical construct “stands 65mm to the top of its head”, and has taken a little while to put together on account of my waiting upon a circular 60mm lipped base to arrive from a disappointingly slow eBay seller.

Originally, I was going to simply paint the living monolith in just my usual “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and “Citadel” Nuln Oil recipe. But having now successfully applied this palette to the figure, I plan to add some additional weathering to the stony sentinel’s surface, and ‘pick out’ its bracelets in either “Vallejo” Bronze or Brass so as to suggest these adornments are what imbue the statue with its unnatural life.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - These four Uruk-hai Bezerkers have been primed in "Vallejo" Heavy Red

Lastly, I am continuing to progress the additional “Games Workshop” metal miniatures I need to field a 500-point Isengard Force for the Nottingham-based manufacturer’s Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game. One of this army’s components I’m especially keen to expand upon are some extra Uruk-hai Bezerkers, who are accompanied with a number of formidable Special Rules in the “Armies Of The Lord Of The Rings” rule-book.

As a result I have been busy rummaging through my backlog of old models and managed to unearth four more of the barbarous orcs to help swell the ranks of my previously-painted three-figure strong unit. Just like my basic Uruk-hai Warriors however, I am going to have to turn to my modern-day collection of “Scale 75” range of "Metal N' Alchemy" water-based acrylics in order to replicate the now well OOP “Citadel” colours I used over a decade ago…

"Do You Now Believe We Mutoids Are Vampires?"

"My function will be impaired if I don't get further serum soon."

This 28mm Federated Security Mutaint was previously manufactured by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and comes from their out-of-production Federated Security Starter Set. However, these days both the miniature and several other 'dead-ringers' from the BBC science fiction television series “Blake’s Seven”, are available from "Beast In The Broch".

After pinning the "technologically modified" human's separate head to her torso, the figure was primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black and enthusiastically dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal. I then picked out the female trooper's gauntlets and chest covering using pure "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, before the entire model was treated to a splash or two of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Saurman's defection to the service of the Dark Lord left him with one monstrous obsession."

This was somewhat of a step away from the 'official' Mutoid costume broadcast on the small screen. But I felt the all-black palette used by Space Commander Travis' Command Crew was a little too bland even for my liking, and that the subtle difference in colour between the "Citadel" Abaddon Black and "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal made her slightly more interesting to the casual eye, without veering away too much from the soldier's original concept.

I also tried to make the Federated Security Mutaint a little more sinisterly pale-looking by using "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey for her face's flesh, and shading this with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. As a final touch, the trooper's firearm was 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The weapon was later dry-brushed with a little more "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Zealot Miniatures" WIPs - This Frost Horror has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

With my Mutaint test-piece finished, I have also managed to complete a plastic Uruk-hai Warrior by "Games Workshop" for my 500-point Isengard force. This age-old sculpt came inside "The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers" boxed set, and has been pigmented along very similar lines to those used for my previously-painted "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game" figures.

In addition, I've made some in-roads on an approximately 60mm tall Frost Horror by "Zealot Miniatures". This multi-part resin miniature, sculpted by Boris Woloszyn, will be used as either a Frost Giant or perhaps a Snow Troll in my games of "Frostgrave". But will first need to be varnished in "Vallejo" Matt acrylic resin so as to seal in its "Vallejo" White and Pale Grey paint-job, before it can be further progressed - owing to this colour combination usually transferring to other areas of a model whenever it is varnished.

"The Yeti Has Become An Icon Of Cryptozoology."

"Supposed evidence of the Yeti's existence include anecdotal visual sightings, video recordings, photographs..."

This 40mm tall "collector's miniature" of a Yeti is produced by “Zealot Miniatures” and can be bought from their Litchmyre Dungeon Collection range. Cast in "quality PU Resin" and sculpted by Boris Woloszyn, the figure comes in three separate pieces which can easily be super-glued into place without the need for pinning.

The Meh-Teh was initially undercoated with two layers of "Vallejo" White, and then somewhat drowned in Pale Grey. The "large, bipedal ape-like creature" was then thoroughly dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" White, before having both its teeth and claws pigmented in "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Privateer Press" WIPs - These three Paladin Annihilators have been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

I was actually tempted to leave the Abominable Snowman alone at this stage, but in the end thought that its teeth should probably be ivory(ish) in colour. As a result I picked all its sharp fangs out with "Vallejo" White and subsequently washed them using a little "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I did also contemplate doing something with the monster's sunken eyes. But decided not to do anything special in these areas in order to draw the on-looker's attention straight to the Yeti's formidably-sized mouth.

Having finished the third of my models taken from the "Zealot Miniatures" catalogue, I have also managed to make some progress on the first three of six Paladin Annihilators which I own. These two-piece "Privateer Press" castings for "Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika" were actually reasonably simple to assemble, and didn't require any extra pinning. Indeed, at least one arm-peg fitted into its hollowed shoulder so tightly it arguably didn't even require super-gluing.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This Treant is slowly have all its mushrooms and leaves 'picked out'

Although these welcome reinforcements for my Iron Star Alliance will predominantly follow the "Vallejo" Gunmetal and Brass palette of my other Paladins, I've yet to decide whether the three-soldier unit's heavy support status should be marked out in some way other than them just carrying their rapid-fire harbinger cannons. I've recently acquired a few more metallic paints from the "Metal N' Alchemy" paint range by "Scale 75", so may well decide to 'pick out' either their helmets or a shoulder-pad in a noticeable blue or red.

Lastly, I've almost completed working on a Treant "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" recently released as part of their ever-increasing Fantasy range. Having patiently dry-brushed my way around the 72mm tall miniatures with different shades of Brown, I have now almost finished painstakingly pigmenting the peaceful creature's eyes, mushrooms and numerous leaves...

"So Much Death."

"What can men do against such reckless hate?"

This pair of 28mm scale metal Uruk-hai were manufactured by "Games Workshop", and could be bought as part of their Uruk-hai Command and Uruk-hai Warriors randomly populated blisters respectively. Disappointingly, neither figure now appears to be available as part of the Nottingham-based company's current "The Lord Of The Rings" range for the Forces of Isengard, and were actually purchased in various states of disrepair second-hand at a gaming show or two many moons ago.

In order to eradicate its previous partial paint-job the Uruk-hai Captain was first treated to a couple of layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being given a coat of "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. This "Metal N' Alchemy" water-based acrylic was then dry-brushed with "Scale 75" Thrash Metal, shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and given a second, much lighter dry-brush of (more) "Scale 75" Thrash Metal.

"The Uruk-hai are too many."

Having reasonably replicated the old OOP "Citadel" Tin Bitz colour scheme I used on my decade-old, modestly-sized Forces of Isengard army I attempted something similar with the brutal warrior's flesh by applying a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to his arms, legs, and chin. I also 'picked' out the soldier's loincloth, hair and gloves with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and (more) "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

The Uruk-hai Warrior was painted in a very similar way, albeit I had apparently already painted the Isengarder's armour, sword and shield ten years ago. However, as this particular minion of Saruman was actually going to be a Uruk-hai Scout Captain in my army for the "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game", I free-handed a rough replica of the White Wizard's emblem upon his shield in "Vallejo" White, and then weathered it with a quick dry-brush of "Scale 75" Thrash Metal.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - The Treant is ready for detailing

In addition, it appears that I probably bought this model without its metal tab, and had resultantly propped the figure up on its circular base using the odd piece of plastic sprue and some metal shavings. I therefore pigmented these parts to resemble stone, courtesy of a "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey undercoat, a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey.

Sticking with J.R.R. Tolkein's Middle Earth, but moving across to "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", I have also found the time to do some groundwork on their recently-released Treant miniature. This multi-part resin kin has been assembled, pinned, primed, shaded and repeatedly dry-brushed in preparation for the 72mm tall model's leafy detail to all be 'picked out'...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.