"Iron Man’s Versatile Mechanical Suit..."

"...Makes Tony Stark a very well-rounded hero."

This 40mm scale model of Iron Man is produced by "CoolMiniOrNot", and can be found inside the Marvel United Core Box. Designed by Edouard Guiton, Tony Stark’s alter-ego is one of five costumed crime-fighters found inside the “fast-paced cooperative” board game, along with the super-villains - Red Skull, Ultron and Taskmaster.

Manufactured in a bright, light blue hard plastic, this is actually the second time I've tried to pigment this particular gaming piece with my previous attempt being consigned to a container full of Paint Remover by "Green Stuff World". Resultantly, once the miniature was dry, it was (re)undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being base layered in "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"In Marvel United you take the role of iconic Marvel Heroes cooperating to stop the master plan of a powerful Villain."

"Developed by scripter Larry Lieber" for the December 1962 issue of "Tales Of Suspense", the comic book character was then drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal. I next applied a few coats of "Citadel" Blood Tearers Red to the majority of his powered armour, and prepared the way for some areas of "Vallejo" Gold by first giving them a lick of Heavy Sienna. These panels, such as Iron Man's face plate were subsequently treated to a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and a careful dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Gold.

The founding Avenger's palm repulsors, chest-mounted Unibeam and eye slits were carefully 'picked out' using a little "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and a healthy dose of "Citadel" Talassar Blue. With this part of the paint-job finished, I gave the entire ensemble a covering of "Vallejo" Matt Varnish with a brush. I purposely dabbed this "acrylic resin" on in places, as I've found in the past that it can pull away the "Citadel" Contrast and Shades range from the model quite easily, and therefore make it appear that an armoured model has been chipped/weathered. 

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Reaver is being painted from his mini-tank tracks up

For Iron Man's base I purposely decided to steer away from the bright blue of the super-hero's foot repulsors - as per the official palette - as I thought it might draw the eye away from the actual figure itself. Resultantly, I went for a much more straightforward combination of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow over a White Star base layer, a bucket full of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and then a dry-bursh of (more) Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats".

With my latest miniature finished for Marvel United, I have turned my attention to working on one of the numerous Reavers (Brutes) found inside the Marvel Zombicide core box by "CoolMiniOrNot". I'm actually hoping to batch paint a number of these "literal tanks" in the near future - at least up until a certain stage - but wanted to get a feel for a pilot piece or two first...

"I'm Very Sorry About This..."

"...But that was the backup system."

This 30mm scale metal Enslaved Computer is manufactured by "Beast In A Broch" and can be brought either individually as SKU: FFF15 or as part of the seven-figure Scorpius Crew set SKU: PAK05. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the two-piece miniature is clearly inspired by the flight computer of the Scorpio from the fourth and final season of the cult BBC science fiction television programme "Blake's Seven"

Before painting, I actually had a few decisions to make with this kit as to its overall look, and how I was going to base it. For starters, Slave is actually completely housed inside a set aboard a Mark II Wanderer class planet hopper, so I wasn't at all happy with the sculpt abruptly ending at the top of the mainframe's cylinder. Instead, I wanted the Central Processing Unit (CPU) to appear entirely self-contained, so took the rather expensive route of purchasing a second copy of the model, and using the large, square-shaped base for a roof (of sorts).

"Don't be sorry. Be Quiet."

In addition, I really wanted to use the 'figure' with the likes of my Idealistic Leader, Cynical Second, Space Smuggler and Cowardly Thief on the tabletop, as opposed to just having it stuck on a spaceship somewhere - maybe as a terrain feature or objective marker. So resultantly decided to have the miniature represent the computer being in direct communications contact with a crewmember (and presumably providing them with some short-lived House Rule bonus as a result). This meant I simply plonked the ensemble onto a "Citadel" 50mm circular base and gritted/flocked the stand as normal.

"A unique system installed by Dorian, possibly making use of work by Ensor", the model was primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being layered with "Vallejo" Gunmetal. It was then positively drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Blade is being painted inside out and from the ground up

With the basics completed, I then just patiently worked my way around all the different buttons, displays and circuit boards with splodges of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, Heavy Green, Neutral Grey, "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and White Star by "Two Thin Coats". Many of these areas were later treated to a shade of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, Biel-Tan Green and Nuln Oil as appropriate.

Having completed the latest addition to my "Blake's Seven" project, I have begun working in earnest on the Blade figure from the old Marvel United Kickstarter by "CoolMiniOrNot". Considering the meticulous detail found on some of this board-game's other sculpts, this particular stretch goal appears reasonably straight forward to pigment, so will hopefully be finished in short(ish) order...

"The Ancient Icons..."

"...Represented the inviolable and nigh-omnipotent authority of the Emperor."

This 28mm plastic miniature of a Space Marine is by "Games Workshop" and comes from the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness boxed set by "Games Workshop". The multi-part figure has been assembled wearing MK VI armour and is carrying a Legion Vexilla (Legion Standard) which will allow its unit to add +1 "to the Wounds score used to determine if they win a Combat in the Assault Phase."

Due to the miniature forming part of my second Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for the Horus Heresy, it was undercoated with "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before being heavily washed with Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. I then applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to his Bolter, the joints of his Corvus Armour, and a couple of parts making up his backpack.

"Their Primarch was Horus, known to them as Horus Lupercal."

The model's power tubes and firearm were subsequently treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst I layered his left shoulder-pad, chest buckle and Legion Vexilla with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Gold. These areas were later given a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and highlighted with some additional touches of "Vallejo" Gold on the sharpest edges and rivets.

As a final touch I applied some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal to the Space Marine's eye slits, and then a single layer of the "Citadel" Contrast colour Flesh Tearers Red. I also fixed a couple of the many decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto his right shoulder-pad and in the middle of his standard's circular central emblem.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - This Russian infantryman is almost finished

Alongside the last of my Sons of Horus MK VI armoured tactical space marine squad, I have also dusted down one of the 28mm metal models I own from “Wargames Foundry" blister RN023 Infantry in Oilskin Covered 1812 Shako Marching. I've probably not touched any of these remaining Napoleonic Russian soldiers sculpted by Alan Perry for a good ten months. But have recently acquired a copy of The Silver Bayonet by "Osprey Games", and figured these miniatures would help make a sizeable Coalition unit to battle the rule-set's supernatural creatures.

Ultimately I intend to field bands solely dedicated to each of the Nationalities covered by the core rule-book. However, for now at least, these winter-clad Infantrymen will join forces with my already painted British Riflemen and Officer. I also believe I have enough painted Frenchmen to represent an elite hunting party from the ranks of La Grande Armée - even potentially utilising the skills of the odd Prussian ally...

"Despite Hank McCoy's Feral Appearance..."

"...He is depicted as a brilliant, well-educated man in the arts and sciences."

This 32mm scale plastic model of Beast was produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” as part of their "Marvel Zombies" stand-alone game using the "Zombicide" rule-set. One of the "Kickstarter" campaign's numerous exclusive figures, this particular incarnation of Henry "Hank" McCoy's fur-covered alter-ego was created by Mark Millar and Greg Land for the September 2005 issue of "Ultimate Fantastic Four" by "Marvel Comics".

Believed to have been residing at the Xavier Institute on Earth-2149 when the zombie plague first struck, the mutant superhero was initially undercoated using a couple of licks of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, quite literally drenched in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I then picked out his trunks using a little "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and base-layered his waistband with a line of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Blade, Baron Zemo and Squirrel have all been primed

Beast's belt was next treated to a couple of coats of "Vallejo" Gold, sploshed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and tidied up with a few well-placed strokes of (more) "Vallejo" Gold. The figure's official paintjob by "CoolMiniOrNot" shows the X-Man's belt buckle to be a black and red affair. However, the detail was so tiny on the miniature that in the end I decided to leave it being the same gold colour as the rest of the girdle.

I did though decide to carefully trace out McCoy's spectacles with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, as well as catch his fangs with a spot of "Two Thin Coats" White Star and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. In addition, I applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green to a pair of bottles littering the model's base, and some White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to some battered books. I had intended to pigment the covers of these tomes with "Vallejo" Heavy Red. But ultimately stuck with just "Citadel" Abaddon Black leather jackets instead.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three more Sons Of Horus Space Marines are on the hobby table

Staying with super-heroes, albeit figures from Marvel United by "CoolMiniOrNot", I have primed three more of the co-operative boardgame's models - Squirrel Girl, Blade and Baron Zemo. I strongly doubt I'll get these all finished by the end of the month, so will probably end up pottering on with them well into August 2024 too.

Furthermore, I've started working on another trio of 28mm plastic space marines by "Games Workshop". I seem to have painted a good handful of traitorous Sons of Horus over the past few weeks, so thought I'd see if I can finally well and truly break the back of my push to field a 500-point force for Horus Heresy...

"As Heads Roll And Blood Flows..."

"...More daemons from beyond the veil are summoned forth to partake in the slaughter."

This 28mm multi-part model of a Bloodletter has been assembled from one of the sprues found inside an old "Start Collecting" Daemons Of Khorne set produced by “Games Workshop”, and was based upon a "Citadel" 32mm round base so as to fit in with the rest of my Blades of Khorne "Age Of Sigmar" warhost. Armed with a ferocious Hellblade, this "finely detailed plastic" figure was assembled using the instructions found within their box.

Like all his demonic brethren before him, this particular Slaughter-kin was given a double undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Red, washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Red. His deadly two-handed sword was then given a base layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, twice pigmented with Gold, and subsequently dulled down using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

"The pact between Horus and the Chaos Gods was straightforward."

To suggest that the Hellblade's "razored edge is sharpened by pure hatred" I highlighted it by dry-brushing the weapon with (more) "Vallejo" Gold, and later frustratingly spent some time tidying up the rest of the miniature due to all the specks of metallic paint this process inevitably seems to accidentally spatter the rest of model with. However, I did use this opportunity to apply a little "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the Bloodletter's horns, hands, hooves, spine and sword hilt.

These blackened areas were ultimately gently blended back in with the rest of the Taker of Skulls' red coloured limbs and head. Finally, I patiently picked out its sharp teeth using a combination of "Two Thin Coats" White Star and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, before dabbing in its eyes and tongue with Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats". To finish it off the tongue was also drenched in “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - The Golden Avenger is coming to fruition

Alongside my first 28mm Bloodletter to be painted in approximately five years, I have also completed another 28mm plastic Space Marine by "Games Workshop" from their now OOP (Out Of Production) Betrayal At Calth stand-alone boxed game. The multi-part model was assembled wearing MK IV armour, and was pigmented in the colours of the Sons of Horus Legion for "Warhammer: The Horus Heresy."

Sliding across to Marvel United by "CoolMiniOrNot", I've finally finished all the armour on my previously 'stripped' Iron Man miniature. This was largely achieved using some thinned down "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red over a fairly basic dry-brush of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, as well as a coat of "Vallejo" Matt Varnish. In the past I've found the Contrast paint has pulled away from the model when varnished with a brush, and whilst I am hoping for this to occur in places - so as to suggest wear and tear on Tony Stark's armour - I didn't want the red to be transferred onto other aspects of the model...

"An Unusual Mutant..."

 "...Whose simian physique was apparent at birth."

This 40mm scale model of Beast is made by "CoolMiniOrNot” and is one of six super-heroes found inside the Marvel United: X-Men Starter Box. Based upon the comic book character Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy created by Stan Lee and Jack "King" Kirby in September 1963, the figure is produced in a light(ish) blue hard plastic, and was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and Heavy Blue.

The founding member of the X-Men was then layered in pure "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, before being drenched in plenty of "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. I next carefully 'picked out' the hairy mutant's belt with a couple of coats of Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats", and ensured that any flat areas still allowing some of the "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to show through were subsequently given a lick of "Two Thin Coats" White Star.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Iron Man has been layered, shaded and dry-brushed

The belt was later given a second coat of Skulker Yellow or two, a serious splosh of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and finally highlighted with some thin lines of (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow. I also considered trying to somehow plonk a litle "Vallejo" Heavy Red onto the Beast's belt buckle. But in the end thought it was wisest (and certainly easiest) to simply pigment the fastener with some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Having completed the majority of Hank McCoy's colours, I began picking out his piercing eyes and pointed teeth with some careful spots of White Star by "Two Thin Coats", as well as his tongue in "Vallejo" Heavy Red. These wonderfully sculpted details were ultimately shaded in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade or Carroburg Crimson as appropriate.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Beast is now ready for his tiny details to be 'picked out' 

Moving over to a super-hero model found inside the Marvel United Core Box, I've made some significant in-roads on my 'stripped' Iron Man. This figure has been increasingly problematic for me in the past, as I never found myself happy with whatever red paint I pigmented Tony Stark's armour with. However, I'm now pretty happy with a thinned down layer of "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red over some "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, so am finally focusing on 'cutting in' all the Avenger's gold panels now.

In addition, I didn't want to fully turn my back on my massive Zombicide backlog either, so thought I might as well slap some colours on my Beast miniature for that co-operative boardgame by "CoolMiniOrNot" too. The palette is slightly different to Hank McCoy's 'bigger brother' and the sculpt is obviously in an entirely different scale as well, so working on this particular X-Man hasn't thankfully felt too similar to working on his completed Marvel United incarnation...

"Even In Defeat The Menace Of Ultron Always Looms..."

"...As even a trace of his code can potentially lead to a full restoration of his consciousness."

This 40mm scale model of Ultron is made by "CoolMiniOrNot” and is one of three super-villains found inside the Marvel United Core Box. Designed with an "all-new visual take" by Edouard Guiton, the figure is produced in a red hard plastic, and was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black.

The robot super-villain was then layered in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and Silver, before being washed in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Silver. I next carefully 'picked out' all the areas which I wanted to be vibrant red, such as the mechanical fiend's eyes, with some White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and later covered these in thinned down "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Ultron's internal workings were 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star

I also considered adding some 'glow effects' on these parts by carefully trying to catch the surrounding edges with a light dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. However, I really didn't like the effect, so in the end, I simply re-worked these edges with some patiently-placed lines of (more) "Vallejo" Silver. I did though want the metal piping on Ultron's base to tie-in with the actual figure's colour scheme, so gave them a splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson before varnishing them.

In addition to my fifth model for Marvel United, I have also completed another 28mm plastic Space Marine by "Games Workshop" from the now OOP (Out Of Production) Betrayal At Calth stand-alone boxed game. The multi-part model was assembled wearing MK IV armour, and is another one of the ten figures I need to field my third Sons of Horus Tactical Squad for "Warhammer: The Horus Heresy."

"The Horus Heresy truly began after Warmaster Horus was wounded by the possessed Eugen Temba." 

The miniature was originally primed using "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, before I used a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold, and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to the rim of his left shoulder-pad and anywhere else which I intended to be gold. I next picked out the sharpest edges and numerous rivets in (more) "Vallejo" Gold, before applying some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the traitor's knee-joints and elbow-joints, as well as the top of his backpack and the majority of his Bolter.

The model’s power tubes and firearm were subsequently given a splodge or two of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst some "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red was carefully slipped into the Space Marine's eye slits. Once all this brush-work was finished, I gave the MK IV armour a good dousing in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed it back up with (more) Sons Of Horus Green. Lastly, I attached one of the numerous decals found on the "Games Workshop" Sons of Horus Legion transfer sheet onto the right shoulder-pad.