"The Lord Of Disease Delights In Decay And Physical Corruption."

"The cycle of putrefaction, rebirth and morbidity draws Nurgle the way a corpse draws flies."

These two 28mm Plaguebearers have been assembled from the plastic multi-part sprues which can be found within the “Games Workshop” Plaguebearers of Nurgle boxed set. Painted as daemonic minions for my slowly increasing Befouling Host of Nurgle, these plaguesword-wielding servants of the Great Unclean One will help increase their unit to thirteen suitably grotesque miniatures.

I initially gave the putrid creatures an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki and washed them both with “Citadel” Thrakka Green. The fly-infested bloaters were then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki before I ‘picked out’ details such as their horns, open sores and troubled teeth with “Citadel” Abaddon Black.

"During times of pestilence and rampant contagion, Nurgle waxes strongest, to the dismay of all."

As each vile fiend suffers with Nurgle’s Rot various parts of their stomach-churning anatomy were coated with either “Vallejo” Heavy Red or Heavy Warmgrey, and subsequently washed with a combination of “Citadel” Thrakka Green, Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson. Lastly all the creatures' boils and pimples were dabbed with a spot of “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and treated to a coat of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

With these latest “Age Of Sigmar” additions completed, and with an eye on my current "Nemesis The Warlock" project, I have finally glued together some fearsome Terminators using some plastic "Frostgrave" Cultist torsos and some resin pieces from "North Star Military Figures" Cultist Sci-Fi Accessory Pack. Somewhat disappointingly however, I have found that the 'new parts' are slightly bigger in size than those found upon the "Frostgrave" sprues; most notably their heads, which are actually quite significantly larger. As a result I've had to arm all three of the figures using resin pieces, as they'd otherwise look rather disproportionate.

Terminator WIPs - These Sci-Fi conversions have been dry-brushed to bring out the models' details

I plan to paint these fanatical soldiers, who loyally follow their Grand Master in his endless "war with all alien races in the galaxy", predominantly in the black and red colour scheme used on the cover illustration of Prog 230 of the British Sci-Fi comic book "2000 A.D." Along with some browns, this should then help provide the miniatures with the "high-concept science fiction with [Medieval] fantasy" look of Kevin O'Neill's Eighties artwork.

Rules-wise, I'll be fielding these gun-toting villains, along with Tomás de Torquemada, as a Purity Squad for "Mutants And Death Ray Guns". Written by Andrea Sfiligoi and published by "Ganesha Games", this rule-set, along with its supplement "Project Simian Ultra X", was recommended to me by Gordon over on his excellent blog "I Have Wrought My Simple Plan...", and seems particularly suitable for fielding "an organisation of humans dedicated to the affirmation of human supremacy."

"Do Androids Dream Of Electronic Sheep?"

"Stories written before space travel but about space travel."

As this year's 'entry fee' for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, participants were asked to work in groups and create a collaborative offering for the organiser, Curt. Fortunately for me, Clint quickly shepherded a flock of us together and after a brief email exchange with Ian and Kyle, it was agreed that we would all paint up some sheep.

However, as with all such simple ideas, our mini-scene soon blossomed into a considerable diorama, which then later metamorphosed into a fantastic display piece based upon the 1968 science fiction novel by American writer Philip K. Dick, and later made famous by the 1982 motion picture "Blade Runner". This particularly innovative interpretation of Rick Deckard's post-apocalyptic adventure has also allowed us to submit our 'Curtgeld' into the challenge's final Theme Round: Character(s) and/or Scene from a Movie, TV Program, Book or Piece of Music.   

"Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores..."

For my own part in this project I merely painted a couple of Jacob Sheep from "Warbases", and sent them to Kyle for placement upon his outstanding ledge/cliff base. As I was rather inspired by the dark brown wool scheme on Clint's pair I followed an almost identical palette, only realising later that he had in fact, painted a couple of Mouflon Sheep, and that the most common colour for the "rare breed of small, piebald, polycerate sheep" I had selected was actually white and black. Still it was a little late to start crying over some spilt (goat's) milk... 

The ewe was initially undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and washed with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. I then dabbed, using a piece from a face blusher pad, some additional "Vallejo" Sienna, Charred Brown and "Citadel" Abaddon Black over the animal's wool and used a combination of Vallejo" White and Pale Grey for its white markings. Finally the sheep's horns were painted using some Iraqi Sand and Strong Tone Quickshade.

Black Panther WIPs - T-Challa just needs his gold belt and base's vines 'picking out'

The diminutive lamb was rather quickly completed by priming it with "Vallejo" Heavy Brown, washing it with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade, and then dabbing it with more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown. As with the ewe, I then picked out the young animal's lower legs with White and Pale Grey.

With the anticipated bonus theme points our 'Curtgeld' should be awarded, I believe I have once again successfully attained my 500 point goal for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. However, I still have a couple of miniatures I have been slowly progressing and may well yet complete in time to add to my tally. One such piece is this rather dramatically sculpted "Wizkids" model of the Black Panther, who, having been dry-brushed and washed, now really only needs its vine-covered carved headstone to be finished.

"All Life Shall Perish Under The Reign Of Sutekh The Destroyer!"

"It was a deliberate attempt to block my cytronic control."

This 28mm metal model of Sutekh is manufactured by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW412 from their "Doctor Who" range. An Osiran "who planned to destroy all life in the Universe, this extra-terrestrial was eventually defeated by his brother Horus and, having been imprisoned beneath an Egyptian pyramid was first seen in the October 1975 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Pyramids Of Mars".

Before painting this miniature I decided to invest a little time and money constructing an Egyptian-flavoured base for the figure, and resultantly super-glued Gabriel Woolf's character onto the (hollowed out) metal throne which accompanies him. I then placed the model upon one of the thin 50mm round plastic bases I use for my larger objective markers, and used two 40mm square "Lord Of The Sand" resin bases as an improvised backdrop. Unfortunately, it was only once I had started painting Sutekh that I realised what an unwise decision I had made...

"Identify yourself, plaything of Sutekh."

To begin with both the immobile Osiran and his basalt chair were painted with two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whilst the carved wall behind him was primed with "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. I then dry-brushed Nephthys' husband with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and gave him a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. His throne was repeated with more Abaddon Black in order to make it stand out from the seated figure.

The relief sculpture was subsequently washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. I did consider picking out some of the characters on the wall with blue, red and gold. However, I felt this would detract from the central all-black figure and draw the eye away from where I wanted it to go. I therefore left the sandstone backdrop alone.

Jacob Sheep WIP - The animal has been dappled with a sponge to blend in its wool's different colours 

It was at this point that I encountered my error in super-gluing the Typhonian Beast in place, as it meant I could no longer get my brush-tip behind the miniature and 'pick out' some of his red piping. This led to my colour scheme taking a couple of departures away from the 'official' televised version, as I could only paint the hands, arms and face of Sutekh with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson; thereby missing out the piping around the waist and on the neck.

With the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge approaching its conclusion, I have been finishing off a couple of Jacob Sheep by "Warbases". These miniatures will actually form part of a group effort, with fellow challengers Kyle, Clint and Ian, and, alongside being our entry fee for this year's competition, will also be submitted into the 'Movie/Book' themed round as "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep"...  

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Nemesis The Warlock" March 2017

Nemesis The Warlock WIP - The alien has only been primed "Vallejo" Heavy Red

This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures has been well and truly side-tracked by my wish to paint up at least a couple of old plastic pre-painted "Wizkids" miniatures based upon the "2000 A.D." comic book series "Nemesis The Warlock". Indeed, I have even gone so far as to purchase a box of "Frostgrave" Cultists from "North Star Military Figures", as well as a few of their Cultist Sci-Fi Accessory Packs to create a horde of Termight Terminators...

Such sudden adoration for Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill's co-creation is entirely due to my recent reading of the character's colourfully-inked "seven-issue necro series" by "Eagle Comics", and as a result I'm rather keen to at least try and replicate some of the sword and sorcery madness the Feast of Zamarkland. For now though, I'll just be sticking to the title's two lead antagonists, the “fire-breathing demonic alien" himself, and his arch-nemesis Torquemada.

Torquemada WIP - The Grand Master of Termight has been undercoated and had his armour painted

As a result both of these "Indyclix" figures have been cut from their clicky-bases, super-glued onto approximately sized plastic circular bases and primed. In addition I have also removed Nemesis' horribly bendy Sword Sinister and replaced it with a far sturdier double-handed variant from a "Frostgrave" Soldiers sprue.

Somewhat frustratingly, I have also decided to simply replicate both models' colour schemes. I had hoped to perhaps paint Torquemada in the all-red armour first worn when he was just Termight's Chief of the Tube Police. But felt this would invariably clash with the large flowing red cloak the Warlock wears. Terra's bare-armed Grand Master will therefore be attired in silver-armour with a purple cape.

Plaguebearer WIPs - These daemons now need to be washed and dry-brushed

In addition to this rather surprising dabble with the leader of “the underground resistance organisation sworn to destroy the tyranny of Termight”, I have also managed to assemble and prime four more plastic "Games Workshop" Plaguebearers. Once finished these lesser daemons will greatly bolster my "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle Host and provide me with a twenty-strong regiment of the Bilesword-wielding warriors. 

Zombicide Report: Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man & Howard the Duck - "Riot!"- Part Three

“The story so far… The Cosmic Cube has resurfaced on Earth, and every criminal on the planet is desperately attempting to locate it in order to hold dominion over all. In New York some of the city's finest have become trapped in a large riot. Captain America and Spider-Man have disastrously fallen during a rescue mission. But the Hulk and Howard the Duck are still alive and well..."

Zombicide Report: Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man & Howard the Duck - "Riot!"

Zombicide Report: Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man & Howard the Duck - "Riot!"- Part Two

THE TABLETOP - DOWNTOWN NEW YORK

The Hulk stomped into the room where Howard the Duck was currently facing a rioter, and with a chop floored the goon. The feathered fowl meanwhile turned his rifle towards the group of five minions just outside Scott's Store and blazed away at them. Disappointingly only one criminal dropped. The remaining four rioters piled into the the two heroes, and were soon joined by two thugs (runners) that had been accompanying the Rhino.

Outside Aleksei Sytsevich pounded the road in frustration, and attracted four goons to his side. The super-villain smiled, he could hear six more rioters coming from the direction of South Street.

THE HULK AND HOWARD THE DUCK FIGHT OFF THEIR ATTACKERS

Angered beyond belief, Bruce Banner's alter-ego swung away at his assailants and the two thugs clattered to the floor. Howard used his "Waugh" (Slippery) special ability escape the melee and then picked off three goons with his scoped-rifle. Sadly such efforts still left enough attackers surrounding the Hulk to cause the 'Green Goliath' to take a wound, and with a bellow he dropped his canned food. 

Sensing that his considerably stronger foe might be vulnerable to attack the Rhino and his minions stormed into Scott's Store, with plenty more crowbar-wielding rioters rushing up into Main Street behind him...

The Hulk knocked down three of his opponents and with a savage roar attained his amber experience level. This meant the behemoth could now utilise his "Hulk Strongest There Is!" (Barbarian) special ability, replacing "the dice number of the Melee weapon(s) he uses by the number of actors in his zone." However before the Rhino could react, Howard the Duck was chopping away at him with a fire-axe, and along with a goon, Sytsevich fell. Disappointingly though, the store's front lobby room was still occupied by some rioters, and the Hulk took another wound.

THE RHINO BATTLES THE HULK, BUT IT'S A DUCK WHICH TAKES SYTSEVICH OUT

Outside five minions stood impatiently waiting to charge into the two super-heroes, and got their wish as they were all given an extra action, including the one inside Scott's Store. Hurling his feathers in-front of an increasingly weakening Hulk, Howard took one for the team. Three more rioters appeared at the West end of Main Street and an additional seven felons were stood nearby, including two thugs.

Completely losing it at the sight of his plucky companion being hurt, the Hulk swatted all six of his assailants and incredibly cleared the store. Howard the Duck therefore had time to fire his rifle into the rioters outside, and blew four of them away. In addition, the foul-mouthed fowl found he was finally a "Master of Quack-Fu" (+1 Die: Melee). He tightened his grip on his fire-axe as one goon and two thugs rushed into Scott's Store, and he heard the footfalls of many more rioters outside.

MORE GOONS TAKE ON THE FEATHERED MASTER OF QUACK-FU

Once again the Hulk's anger helped clear the room of criminals, and soon after Howard the Duck had also managed to open up the road outside with his rifle. It was perhaps time to try and rescue the policeman inside the building before too many felons appeared. Indeed, five more goons were soon stood outside, with five more heading North from South Street and more travelling along Main Street.

The Hulk jumped onto the five rioters outside and smacked three of them into next week with his powerful fists. Howard the Duck then finished the remaining two goons with his rifle and sped off deeper into Scott' Store to find the missing police officer. Behind him a criminal rushed towards his green friend, with eight more approaching from one end of Main Street and five more from the other.

HOWARD THE DUCK AND THE HULK SAVE THE DAY... FOR A WHILE AT LEAST

Howard the Duck found the lawman, and having ensured he was safe, then rushed back to the entrance of the store to see how his fellow Avenger was doing. The Hulk had walloped the minion stupid enough to try and tackle him single-handedly, and was moving East along Main Street. Before the feathered hero could follow however, five goons stood before him, whilst two thugs rushed up to the alter-ego of Bruce Banner.

Suddenly, a couple of ladders appeared from the sky, as a second Avengers quinjet hovered overheard. The super-team had done all they could here, and there were other villainous machinations to thwart...

"I Want To Get A Closer Look At That Melkur Creature."

"Melkur will be out of action a while. Let's try and make that a permanent arrangement, shall we?" 

This 28mm metal model of Melkur is manufactured by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW455 from their "Doctor Who" range. Initially thought to simply be a corrupted creature, who having been attracted to the planet Traken, immediately became frozen in stone, this walking statue was subsequently revealed to be the Master's TARDIS, and first appeared in the January 1981 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Keeper Of Traken".

The model was originally primed with "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and roughly dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. However, I was far from happy with the finished result, and having studied my source material, felt the figure's larger areas should appear far flatter than the dry-brush had created.

Plaguebearer WIPs - These daemons currently need all their sores and wounds washed with inks

As a result I repainted the entirety of Kassia's long-time mute companion with another coat of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and only left the brown-stained recesses alone. I then washed the entire model with some heavily watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Still disgruntled with some of the shading, I lastly 'touched up' some of the recesses with a thin line of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The time machine's eyes were achieved with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Having become rather frustrated with my Melkur, I have sought solace by painting lots of bloody open sores, hanging entrails and bulging boils on three more of my Plaguebearers for my "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle Host. These lesser daemons really are very characterful, and great fun to put a brush to, especially when they have such horrendous mutations such as belly-teeth, spider-eyes and a cherub-faced Nurgling merrily leading you forward by the intestines.

Boromite Overseer Squad WIPs - These models now need to have some detailing done

In addition, as with my most recently finished Nurgle Tallyman, a couple of these mini-vignettes will also act as my ‘elite’ Plaguebearers for the “Warhammer 40,000” skirmish game “Kill Team”. Although for now they all still need to be washed with a combination of green, brown and red inks, before having all their zits and puss-filled spots dutifully highlighted...

Finally I have set aside a little time to put a "Citadel" Nuln Oil wash over my "Warlord Games" Overseer Squad for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares", and started tidying up their gritted bases. I was actually planning on dry-brushing the Boromites with some additional grey. But actually really like the way the colour has mixed with the "Games Workshop" Shade, so have left them as is for now.

"It Is The Plaguebearers' Role To Keep Stock Of New Diseases And Symptoms..."

"...And to maintain some semblance of order amongst Nurgle's naturally mischievous hordes."

This 28mm 'Rotten Paladin' is just one of the plastic multi-part models which can be assembled from the sprues found within the “Games Workshop” Plaguebearers of Nurgle boxed set. Painted as an additional daemonic minion for my fledgling Befouling Host of Nurgle, this plaguesword-wielding servant of the Great Unclean One will not only add some resilience to my Plaguebearer unit for “Age Of Sigmar”, but provide me with an easily recognisable specialist for my "Warhammer 40K" Nurgle "Kill Team" as well.

Indeed, the lesser daemon's pile of wriggling maggots was specifically placed on his base in order to signify the model as my 41st Millennium team's Dirty Fighter. This "brutal and savage" foot-soldier "for whom no blow is too low and no trick too dirty" has been 'blessed' with the special rule Poisoned Weapon, and thus narratively-speaking uses the fly larva as one of the ingredients needed to produce his blade's deadly toxin. 

Sutekh's Mummies WIPs - These heavily-bandaged robots still need additional washes

As I wanted the "loathsome creature" to match the rest of my Plaguebearers I initially gave the putrid Tallyman of Nurgle an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki and washed him with “Citadel” Thrakka Green. The bloated daemon was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki before I ‘picked out’ details such as his horns, open sores and teeth with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. As every "shambling, pustulent" fiend suffers with Nurgle’s Rot I coated various parts of his stomach-churning anatomy with either “Vallejo” Heavy Red or Heavy Warmgrey, and subsequently washed these areas with a combination of “Citadel” Thrakka Green, Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson. Lastly all of the creature’s boils and pimples, as well as his maggots, were dabbed with a spot of “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and treated to a coat of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

I've yet to actually play a game of "Kill Team" yet, despite already owning more than enough fully-based "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle models with which to field the rule-set's obligatory 200 point force. However, as the figure's Poisoned Weapon always allows it to wound its target on a 4+ "when attacking in Close Combat" I'm pretty convinced this grotesque daemon will prove rather useful. Especially when this particular Plaguebearer is also able to re-roll "failed rolls To Wound in Close Combat" if his Strength is higher than the Toughness of his target.

Boromite Overseer Squad WIPs - These models currently have simply been pinned together and primed

Due to this miniature, and a few others I'm currently progressing 'behind the scenes', not being eligible for the Seventh Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, I have finally returned to my "Doctor Who And The Pyramids Of Mars" side-project and made some significant progress on the ten "Black Tree Design" service robots I plan to field as Sutekh the Destroyer's invasion force. These Egyptian Mummies still need their cytronic particle accelerators picked out in red, and some additional washes to be applied before being properly based. But should soon be submitted into the competition along with their chair-bound Osiran leader; thereby bringing me just eight 28mm miniatures shy of my 500 point goal with just under a month to go...

In addition to my current 'love affair' with "Doctor Who", a subject which both Dick Garrison ("Rantings From Under The Wargames Table") and Carrion Crow ("Carrion Crow's Buffet") currently appear to be similarly enamoured with, I have started prepping and priming the first of my Boromite Scout Force for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares" by "Warlord Games". I'll be dedicating a couple of months of my hobby-time towards painting an army for "this science-fiction tabletop wargame written by 40k author Rick Priestley" from April, so simply couldn't resist opening up my Overseer Squad blister and assembling the multi-part metal figures.