"...Foremost Amongst The Blood God's Followers In Mortal Life..."

"Slay without pity; triumph without remorse."

These two 28mm "finely detailed plastic" Bloodletters have been built using some “parts and accessories” found within the Bloodletters of Khorne kit manufactured by “Games Workshop”, and have been super-glued upon "Citadel" 32mm Round bases. Accompanied by my previously painted Musician, and ‘captained’ by a Bloodhunter, these are the last of the Blood God's (basic) followers I plan to paint in order to field an allied unit of Khorne daemons as support for my ever-expanding “Age Of Sigmar” Host of Nurgle.

Each “implacable and blood-hungry” warrior was given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Red and treated to a heavy wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, before being dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Red. With their basic layering done, the “Slaughter-kin” next had their horns, hands, hooves, spines and sword hilts 'picked out' with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. Some of these areas were subsequently blended into the surrounding red flesh and both Bloodletters' Hellblades were painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and then Gold.

"Heroclix" WIPs - Doctor Strange, Steel and Nightmare 

As a final touch I picked out the Chosen of Khorne's teeth with White and their snake-like tongues with Heavy Ochre. Both areas were lastly washed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Reikland Fleshshade respectively.

In between assembling, basing and priming a significant number of models for the start of next week’s Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, I have been busily trying to clear some space on my painting table by completing a number of partially-finished “Heroclix” miniatures from ‘yesteryear’.

Arguably the most complicated of these past projects, and one whose selection has been inspired by the 2016 theatrical release of Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange”, is my old re-based “Wizkids” plastic miniature of the Sorcerer Supreme. Unfortunately, time has not been terribly kind to one of the first “Heroclix” figures manufactured (c. 2002), especially because of its horrendously thick pre-paint, so I am having to make do without priming and instead apply my brush tip directly over the existing colour scheme as if it were the undercoat. This technique will hopefully work well enough for the majority of the Master of the Mystic Arts, but I’m a little concerned as to how much perceptible detail will be visible once I start painting the former-surgeon’s famous beard…

"Sherlock" WIPs - Based and primed, ready for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

Fortunately, neither my figures of Nightmare or Steel appear to have the same issue, and as a result both appear to require fairly straightforward paint-jobs. Indeed, the evil ruler of the "Dream Dimension" and the notable Man of Steel seem so well-detailed that I’m not sure why I actually stopped progressing them in the first place.

Two models which have recently come into my possession, and may still be available to buy from “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”, are an Investigative Academic and his Dependable Deputy. Undoubtedly owing a smidgeon of inspiration from the 2010 television crime drama “Sherlock”, these two miniatures have already been ‘made ready’ for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and will hopefully soon grace my “7TV” tabletop.

"The Sixth Airborne Division Led The Way..."

"...By securing vital positions on the first day of the invasion."

These two 28mm metal models are from the "West Wind Productions" "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR05 British Commando Carbines, but have had their Gas Mask Heads replaced with some taken from the manufacturer’s excellent ‘Separate Head System’ ‘blister’ SHS-SOTR09 “British Para Heads In Berets With Gas Masks” so as to better represent an Airborne Infantry section on my “Konflikt ‘47” battleground. Equipped with rifles and able to act as "Tank Hunters (if grenades taken)" this squad currently only comprises of four veteran soldiers and an NCO. However, once they’ve engaged the enemy a few times I hope to significantly expand the company with SMGs, an LMG and even a man carrying rifle grenades. 

Undercoated using "Citadel" Doombull Brown and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, both models were initially painted in a manner identical to that applied to my recently completed regular British Infantrymen. As a result their rifles were painted using "Vallejo" Charred Brown and "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being washed appropriately with more Strong Tone Quickshade and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Balewind Vortex WIPs - The "Age Of Sigmar" scenic pieces just need to be dry-brushed

In order to make the Airborne comatants stand out from the standard soldier however, I used an old OOP pot of “Citadel” Knarlock Green for their body armour, as opposed to my force’s ‘usual’ Calthan Brown. These areas were subsequently treated first to a wash of Thrakka Green, and then Devlan Mud. The  veterans' gas mask filters were painted using a combination of Knarloc Green and Devlan Mud, whilst the eye filters were simply ‘picked out’ with Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

Because I wanted to make all my models’ famous berets especially red, their headwear was first painted with Mechrite Red, before receiving a couple of generous coats of Bloodletter. This glazing technique was applied as an alternative to my former concoction of Blood Red and Baal Red as, disappointingly, both paint/wash have long since been withdrawn by “Games Workshop”.

"Bolt Action" WIPs - These three British Expeditionary Force models have simply been undercoated

Having now completed enough "Secrets Of The Third Reich" figures for a “Konflikt ‘47” Great British and Commonwealth reinforced platoon, as well as an accompanying Airborne contingent, I have been able to give my “Age Of Sigmar” Balewind Vortex a lot more attention. This formidably tall “multi-part plastic kit” is arguably now two-thirds complete, due to my washing/dry-brushing the scenery piece’s actual vortex, and I am now persevering with the eerie blue paint scheme for the wizard’s heavily-carved stone platform. 

Finally, and with an eye on the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, I have started assembling and priming some of the models found with the British Expeditionary Force boxed set by “Warlord Games”. An impulse buy at this year’s Colours wargaming show in Newbury, these metal miniatures will provide me with a fully-staffed officer, a 10-man section (including NCO) and some heavy-weapon options, such as a Boyes Anti-tank rifle team, Vickers medium machine gun team, and 2″ light mortar team, for both a “Konflikt ‘47” force, as well as one for “Bolt Action”. For starters though I will simply be focusing upon my Second Lieutenant “and two attendant riflemen.”

"Skeletons Are The Animated Bones Of Some Long-dead Creature..."

"At the height of the ancient empire, necromancers used lesser undead as servants and guards..."

These two multi-part 28mm hard plastic skeletons have been built using pieces taken from the sprues found within the Frostgrave Cultists boxed set by "North Star Military Figures", and are the first of ten such undead warriors needed in order for me to game The Mausoleum scenario from the "Frostgrave" rule-book. "Held together and animated by the power of magic" these 'swordsmen' were originally humans and randomly emerge "through one of the doors in the central building" as a result of the event's special rules...

Assembled predominantly using cultist henchmen parts, and then converted into "undead monstrosities" using skeleton heads and arms, both miniatures were undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Violet as I initially envisaged them wearing the colourfully rich attire of hooded fanatics. However, I soon changed my mind when it occurred to me that their clothing should probably be dank and faded on account of the time spent decaying beneath the soil.

"There were probably many thousands active in the city at any time."

I therefore changed my palette to one which used pigments such as Dark Grey, USA Olive Drab, Heavy Sienna, Charred Brown and Heavy Charcoal, and washed the various garments with either "Citadel" Nuln Oil or "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The bones of the servants of a long-dead Necromancer's were painted using a four-stage process which consisted of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, Strong Tone Quickshade, a dry-brush of more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and finally a light highlight of White just around the skull's eye sockets and teeth.

In order to give the more oriental-headed skeleton an added touch of antiquity, I painted his ancient armour with "Vallejo" Brass and tried to make his raiment appear somewhat richer than that worn by his undead brethren by using both Heavy Red and Heavy Violet. All these areas were then 'atrophied' courtesy of a wash of either "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Abslom Daak and Doctor Who WIPs - Basic basing and priming for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

Whilst painting these wonderfully animated monsters, I was somewhat disconcerted to read a posting by Jez over on his blog "Carrion Crow's Buffet" which brought a range of 28mm metal models to my notice which I hadn't seen before. "Miniature Figurines & Matchlock Miniatures" sell an incredibly varied selection of figures, most notably a Retro Sci-Fi range entitled "Wayne's World Of Wonder".

To be fair the catalogue currently only consists of nine different sculpts, but these two figures have already been based and primed ready for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge on account of their "Doctor Who" connection; Abslom Daak - Dalek Killer and the cinematic (First) Doctor. Admittedly, I painted a version of Peter Cushing's silver screen persona last year during "Mo'Vember 2016". But the chance to paint a second incarnation, and base him upon the plastic lipped circular stand I use for my 'Weird War Two' collection was too good an opportunity to miss.

"Keep Calm And Carry On."

"By this stage of the war the British army had gained considerable experience of modern warfare..."

This 28mm metal model is from the "West Wind Productions" "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR05 British Commando Carbines. However, rather than use the miniature for Andy Cooper's "Weird WWII game", this Tommy will actually form part of a minimum strength (Regular) Infantry Section for "Konflikt '47" by "Warlord Games". Indeed, my completion of the rifleman now means I can actually field the simplest of reinforced platoons for Great Britain and the Commonwealth using figures taken from my painted "SotTR" collection.

Unfortunately, painting a model in order to match the colour scheme for a force assembled some years ago has not proved an easy task as I have had to partially step away from many of the now 'out of production' "Games Wokrshop" Foundation paints and washes I originally used for my British Commando Carbines, and instead replace them with alternatives from other manufacturers such as "Vallejo".

The Silence WIPs - As soon as the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge starts these aliens will get some attention

As a result the model was initially primed using "Citadel" Doombull Brown (as opposed to Dark Flesh) and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade (instead of "Citadel" Devlan Mud). Once dry the rifleman's weapon was painted using "Vallejo" Charred Brown, Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Ironbreaker, and these areas were then appropriately washed with either more Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Because I still own a pot of Calthan Brown, I was able to paint the soldier's bullet proof vest with its 'original' colour, and also 'pick out' the infantryman's gas mask filter with a long-forgotten pot of "Citadel" Knarloc Green too. A rummage through my collection of pigments even located an unopened tub of Devlan Mud, making it possible to darken both the Tommy's piece of personal armour and his breathing apparatus with the OOP wash. 

Trinity WIPs - These sculpts of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are fantastically detailed

With the commencement of the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge fast approaching I have additionally been spending a portion of my hobby-time basing and preparing a number of other models. The vast percentage of these figures have unintentionally turned out to be produced by "Warlord Games" and none have proved quite so tantalising to finish before the start of the three-month long competition than the company's latest "Doctor Who" release, The Silence. These "genetically engineered 7 foot tall mouthless creatures" should be reasonably straightforward to complete on account of their predominantly grey/black colour scheme, and somewhat tower over the other figures currently found within the "Into the Time Vortex" range.

Far less simple to paint, or even assemble for that matter, are these three "Knight Models" sculpts from the Batman Verses Superman: Trinity DC Universe Miniature Game Starter Set. These models are certainly taller than your average 'heroic scale' figure, but due to their 'realistic' anatomical proportions they've needed a bit of pinning and realigning in order to come together... 

“Terrifying Horn Blasts Ring Out As They Charge…”

"...Their deafening clarion call resounding in the enemy's ears..." 

These three 28mm “Slaughter-kin” have been built using the "finely detailed plastic" Bloodletters of Khorne kit produced by “Games Workshop” for “Age Of Sigmar”, and were assembled to not only depict two of “the Blood God’s followers”, but also the unit’s musician known as a Hornblower; an especially fearsome Khorne daemon who causes opponents to “re-roll [their] Battleshock Tests of 1 for units that are within 6 inches” of the instrumentalist.

“Festooned with rippling muscles, [and] knotted sinews”, all three of the figures were treated to two layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Red before being generously washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The “blood-hungry” warriors were then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Red and, as I am still very much enamoured with a colour scheme depicted within “The General’s Handbook”, had all their horns, hands, hooves, spines and sword hilts undercoated with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. Afterwards, most of these ‘blackened’ areas were blended into the surrounding spotted skin courtesy of some careful dry-brushing.

"...Even as the Bloodletters' blades, claws and fangs rip through their flesh."

With the majority of the Bloodletters’ flesh completed, I subsequently turned my attention to their formidable Hellblades, as well as the musician’s great horn, by priming the weapons/instrument with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. These parts were then treated to a double layer of Gold, a hearty wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and a robust dry-brush using more “Vallejo” Gold.

Finally, I painted all of the Crimson Death’s teeth with White and their forked tongues with Heavy Ochre, before washing them with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Reikland Fleshshade respectively.

The Mausoleum WIPs - Three long-dead skeleton warriors in various states of completion

Having made a nice sizeable ‘dent’ in my Bloodletter backlog for “Age Of Sigmar”, I have momentarily turned my attention back to the horde of skeletons by “North Star Military Figures” I want to field for the “Frostgrave” scenario entitled “The Mausoleum”. I’ve now developed quite a productive little painting line of miniatures, having added a fourth sculpt to my current queue, and am resultantly progressing through their soiled garments and ragged clothes apace.

However, with my eye on the imminent commencement of the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, I am a little wary of beginning work on any new models unless it be to simply prime their base with my usual “Citadel” Abaddon Black or undercoat the mini itself with an appropriately pigmented paint. Any miniature I progress beyond this initial stage won’t unfortunately be eligible for entry and as my target once again is 500 points (approximately 100 x 28mm miniatures over three months) I am rather keen to make every stroke of my paintbrush count. 

“You Are Too Clever, Doctor. Clever And Dangerous.”

"Destroy him. Die, Doctor, die!"

These "finely-sculpted" and rather overly-large 28mm scale "pewter" models of six shape-changing Zygons are produced by “Warlord Games” and were some of the first “much-anticipated” miniatures which ‘materialised in stores’ as part of the Nottingham-based company's Doctor Who Miniatures Game range. Arguably based far more upon the “fictional extra-terrestrial race” depicted in the 2013 BBC television story “The Day Of The Doctor”, as opposed to the Warlord Broton’s more obvious rubber-suit wearing brethren from the 1975 tale “Terror Of The Zygons”, these figures are wonderfully detailed sculpts and proved such an absolute pleasure to paint that I quickly went from possessing just a pair of the stranded aliens to owning an intimidating half a dozen.

Originally primed with two layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, my ‘go to’ pot for portraying flesh since the frustrating cessation of “Citadel” Tallarn Flesh and Pallid Flesh, these miniatures were all predominantly painted using a colour scheme inspired by that recommended on the “Warlord Games” “Into The Time Vortex” website. However, rather than simply ‘build up’ the figures’ shading with increasingly lighter layers of red, I instead just heavily washed them with “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson and then dry-brushed them with more “Vallejo” Heavy Skintone.

"The humans will be following our course by their radar. Transmit a jamming signal."

One somewhat contentious suggestion from the Zygons Paint Guide was to paint their hands and feet in black. Such an obvious physical feature of the “shape-changing humanoids” certainly wasn’t evident during the Tom Baker era, and wasn’t all that noticeable during their recent appearances in “The Zygon Invasion/The Zygon Inversion” either. However, as the more ‘modern-day’ monsters now appear capable of firing “electrical charges from their hands that can stun or disintegrate” the thought of blending in some old OOP “Citadel” Chaos Black over the ends of their sucker-covered limbs appealed as I thought it would make the models more interesting to the eye…

With my ‘distracting’ refugees from the Zygor homeworld completed I have finally been able to start working on my monthly unit for the “Age Of Sigmar” rule-set by “Games Workshop”. In the past, I’ve painted up a sizeable gathering of Plaguebearers, Nurglings and Bloodletters, as well as a Beast of Nurgle, Rotbringer’s Sorcerer, Herald of Nurgle and Lord of Plagues. However, I haven’t yet really tackled any of the corking scenery currently being produced for the “tabletop wargame” which replaced “Warhammer Fantasy Battle” in 2015.

Balewind Vortex WIPs - The scenic piece has twice been dry-brushed and had its details undercoated in black

This “multi-part plastic kit” of a Balewind Vortex will change all that, and arguably count as an additional ‘unit’ for my Host of Nurgle, due to the “swirling, violently swaying vortex of fell energies” needing to be summoned by my force’s Chaos Wizard before it can be placed upon the battlefield. Indeed, as far as “Age Of Sigmar” is concerned the “platform from which” powerful spells may be cast cannot actually be set up at the start of the game and instead can only be conjured upon the successful roll of a 7 or higher during the Hero Phase.

A genuinely formidably-sized piece of scenery, I’ve decided to paint the model in three separate pieces before assembling it. As a result I have begun working on the base of the “howling gusts” and not only undercoated it’s skull-festooned icon-covered stone foundation with “Citadel” Abaddon Black, but also started building up the dark foreboding carvings with plenty of dry-brushing.

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Konflikt '47" December 2016

"Secrets Of The Third Reich WIPs - The regular British infantryman is almost finished already

This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my ever-increasing mountain of metal, plastic and resin models has been somewhat surprisingly superseded by an impulse purchase of a rule-book at last month's "Warfare" wargames show in Reading, and a subsequent rummage through a box of partially painted miniatures which has stood unattended for a couple of years. Consequently I intend to try and dedicate myself for the next few weeks to a batch of "Secrets Of The Third Reich" figures by "West Wind Productions" and some 'World War Two' models by "Warlord Games", in order to be able field a couple of 'sizeable' forces suitable for "Konflikt '47".

Indeed, as far as previously painted "West Wind Productions" miniatures are concerned, I already own enough 'Weird War Two' figures to deploy a minimum-sized 199 point German reinforced platoon for the "standalone game inspired by the hugely successful Bolt Action"; one which contains both a Leutnant and his two Wehrmacht Infantry Squads, as well as seven "animated corpses of the Totenkorps...

A basic "Konflikt '47" reinforced German platoon, with accompanying Totenkorps Squad

Disappointingly however, I do not yet currently own quite enough finished "Secrets Of The Third Reich" models to field a similarly-sized British contingent. Although I am only short of a single (regular) Tommy equipped with a carbine rifle, and two red beret-wearing, identically-armed, members of the Airborne Infantry.

As a result of these slightly frustrating omissions I am initially focusing the majority of my attention upon three of "West Wind Productions" characterful Commando sculpts, two of which have had their Gas Mask heads swapped for British Para Heads in Berets with Gas Masks. Eager to play my first game of "Konflikt '47" these figures have already all been based, primed and worked upon, with my 'missing' regular Infantryman already close to completion.

British Matilda Mark I Infantry Tank WIP - The vehicle needs to be based before much more work can be done 

One of the real attractions of Chris Hale's alternative World War rule-set is the fact that players can additionally also utilise any of the ('historically accurate') units found within the "Bolt Action" Army books. This has rather inevitably led to me returning to an 'old' metal and resin "Warlord Games" model of a British Matilda Mark I Infantry Tank I actually started painting for a game of "Savage Worlds" a couple of years ago.

Having dusted off "the first of the infantry tank concepts to see production and combat", I have given the 'slow and under-gunned' motor vehicle a generous double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Green, and started work on both its turret-mounted Vickers heavy machine gun and accompanying commander. Unfortunately, I don't though currently own any more of the "Games Workshop" 120mm x 92mm oval bases I predominantly super-glue such transports upon, so once I've finished painting its underbelly I'll have to wait until my new stands arrive through the post before I can make any more progress on it.

The Mausoleum WIPs - Three long-dead swordsmen in various states of completion

Such a 'healthy' obsession with "Goblin Clockwork Miniatures" brainchild and all of its 'Weird War' shenanigans does not however, mean that I have forgotten my plans to paint ten skeletons with which to re-enact The Mausoleum scenario from the "Frostgrave" rule-book, and I have still been busily putting pigment to plastic on the first three of my Undead warriors by "North Star Military Figures". Indeed, I have even found time to locate a number of old "Games Workshop" Dwarven shield emblems with which to decorate the bony antagonist's rather bare and formerly uninteresting wooden shields.