"They All Keep Their Eyes On The Axe."

"They can't help it. That's when you sink the cutter in deep."

This 28mm scale "push-fit" model of Arnulf forms part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set manufactured by "Games Workshop", and can also be used to represent a "warrior of a murderous band of Khorne-worshippers, called Garrek's Reavers" in the Nottingham-based company's "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop wargame as well. Despite there being "not a great deal that’s noteworthy about Arnulf – even when he’s Inspired", this warrior is "useful for triggering Supports with your other fighters, holding objectives or being sacrificed to score certain objective cards or activate your Inspire condition."

Initially primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help 'eradicate' the figure's vivid red-coloured plastic, the Khorne Worshipper's trousers and boots were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his leg armour, thigh plates, right arm-guard, torc and axe-blade were treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, the miniature's chains, helmet, blade and belt-buckle were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being washed with Nuln Oil.

"Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows."

The Blood Reaver's belt, leg straps and axe-handle were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Plus his loincloth and back spikes were given a double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and subsequently a generous shade of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The maniac's flesh was created using "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, a splash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and then a thin-line of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone across his scars. In addition I 'filled' the Chaos symbol burnt into his flesh with two helpings of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and pigmented the figure's fur-lined footwear with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and a splodge of "Citadel" Badab Black.

The model's skull trophy was originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Dead White, before being muddied and bloodied with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. It was then 'bleached' with a light dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Dead White. Finally, in order to ensure the model matched my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Rangers Of Middle-Earth WIPs - Three of "The Lord Of The Rings" boxed set's plastic miniatures

My version of Arnulf differs quite substantially from that of the official "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" paint-scheme, as I disliked both their studio's red armour and helmet, as well as their stony-coloured spikes rising from his back. Spookily, I actually decided upon making my model's chaotic blessing red because I inadvertently rubbed the "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone undercoat covering the protruding barbs off during my handling of the figure. This led to the bare red plastic clearly showing on the miniature and I rather liked the contrast it created with the Khorne warrior's paler flesh.

Sticking with "Games Workshop", the wargaming developer has recently caught my eye with its efforts to once again support its range of miniatures for "The Lord Of The Rings". I was a big fan of this strategy battle game many years ago, and having seen their re-release of the Champions Of The Shire, alongside both the Gundabad Orc Warband and Nazgûl of Dol Guldur Collection, I have tentatively placed a handful of plastic Rangers of Middle-Earth into my painting queue...

"I'm The Doctor, By The Way. What's Your Name?"

"Go and have your lovely beans on toast."

This 35mm-tall "pewter" model of the Ninth Doctor as played by Christopher Eccleston, is produced by “Warlord Games” and forms part of the five-miniature strong "Ninth Doctor And Companions" boxed set. Deciding "to leave the role after just one series", the Lancashire-born actor "was voted Most Popular Actor at the 2005 National Television Awards for his portrayal of the Doctor", and made his debut as the travelling Time Lord in the March 2005 BBC television story "Rose".

Initially primed using some "Vallejo" Black Surface Primer, the Gallifreyan's shoes, trousers and leather jacket were subsequently painted in Black, and dry-brushed with Heavy Charcoal. In order to break up the time traveller's monotonous colour scheme, I then re-painted his shoes Black, and washed his trousers with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The figure's half-hidden top was 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and more "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

The Master confronts the Ninth, Tenth and Twelfth Doctor, as well as K-9

I used watered-down "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade for Doctor Who's skin, as well as "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil for his hair. Finally, having managed to 'highlight' his sonic screwdriver using some Ironbreaker, I dabbed the electronic device's head with a small splodge of "Vallejo" Dead White and shaded it using "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade.

Disconcertingly, for such a relatively straightforward miniature, this particular sculpt was somewhat time-consuming due to my desire to try and desperately avoid giving it a pair of doe-like eyes. As a result I kept slowly cutting into the "Vallejo" Black surrounding his eyeballs with Heavy Skintone until I was convinced I could get no closer without spoiling the outline. In addition, whilst protecting the model with "Coat d'arms" Gloss Varnish I discovered that despite using a 'proper primer' for a change, part of the paint on the figure's left arm completely came away; necessitating my having to re-pigment that particular area.

The Master WIPs - Roger Delgado, Derek Jacobi and Anthony Ainley

Sticking with Time Lords, I've recently purchased the "Big Finish" audio drama boxed set "Only The Good" which stars Derek Jacobi as The War Master. These "four brand-new full-cast adventures featuring the Master’s exploits in the Time War" have perhaps unsurprisingly inspired me to dig out my previously started "Warlord Games" model of Professor Yana, and get to work on the sculpt's waistcoat.

In addition, I have begun doing a little more work to two of the renegade time traveller's earlier incarnations, as played by Roger Delgado and Anthony Ainley. Both of these figures come from the "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" expansion set "I Am The Master", and having been primed using some "Vallejo" Black Surface Primer, have had their all-black costumes dry-brushed with Heavy Charcoal.

"You Are Inferior."

"Man will be reborn as Cyberman, but you will perish under maximum deletion."

This 43mm tall metal miniature of a Cybus Industries metallic exoskeleton is from a private collection and thus not commercially available. Fortunately though, I was lucky enough to be sent a quartet of the "monotonous cybernetic creatures" as a fabulous gift by Simon Quinton of "Brummie's Wargaming Blog", and have painted this particular model up as a Cyber-Leader.

Prior to priming, the three piece figure had his arms pinned to his shoulders using some wire, and was subsequently super-glued upon a normal 25mm circular plastic base. To be honest it actually took me quite a while to decide which stand to use for the 'upgraded human', as I wasn't sure with which ranges/genres the unique sculpt would fit in with.

"Burrows & Badgers" WIPs - The Sparrow Warrior Angus Quickbeak and a Green Lizard

In fact, at one point I even considered placing him on the larger-sized lipped bases I use for my "Frostgrave" miniatures and using him as some sort of a magic-born metallic construct. Ultimately however, I decided to go with a base which would let me potentially use the figure as a Cyber-giant alongside my "Black Tree Design" "Doctor Who" models, as well as the majority of my "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and "Heroclix" models. In addition I wouldn't be at all surprised if the towering silver giant didn't make an appearance in my long-delayed "Expedition To Barrier Peaks" "Dungeons & Dragons" campaign as a futuristic robot enforcer...   

The Cyberman was initially undercoated with a base-coat of "Vallejo" Black Surface Primer and later given a double layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker. It was then washed with Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker. As a final touch, I picked out the automaton's famous head handlebars with some "Vallejo" Black in order to 'designate' it as a Cyber-leader, and darkened its joints with an application of "Citadel" Badab Black.

Chigoe Beta WIP - The Viridian extra-terrestrial has been assembled, based and under-coated

Moving across to this month's themed mini-project, I have been busy trying to progress both a Sparrow Warrior and a Green Lizard for my "Burrows And Badgers" warband. Both of these "Oathsworn Miniatures" are absolutely packed full of detail, and are proving great fun to paint with all their tiny weapons, pouches, armour plates and straps. Sadly, those anticipating a tartan apparel for Angus Quickbeak will be sorely disappointed as I plan to simply pigment his raiment red as opposed to any complicated criss-crossed pattern.

I'm also slowly assembling, basing and priming the Viridian Clade models I want to paint in earnest next month as part of a "Wild West Exodus" push. This plastic Chigoe Beta comes as a rather fiddly thirteen piece kit, and required me to print out its assembly instructions from off the "Warcradle Studios" website in order to ensure I had put it together correctly...

"Once Hissing Sid, An Evil Snake, Kept The Woodland Folk Awake..."

"...In fear and trembling every night, in case he gave someone a bite."

This 28mm metal model of Slisssk The Adder is produced by “Oathsworn Miniatures", and was part of the company's recent "Rogues And Vagabonds" Kickstarter. Disappointingly, the figure isn't currently available to buy on their website, but I was lucky enough to pick him up, labelled as an Adder Warrior, at "Salute" 2018.

Due to the deadly serpent wearing heavy armour the figure was inititally primed "Citadel" Chaos Black and subsequently coated with two layers of Ironbreaker. He was then washed with Nuln Oil, before being dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker.

Shrew Warrior WIPs - The tiny fighter has had his shield, sword, armour and helmet 'picked out'

The venomous snake's flesh was carefully painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and the numerous leather straps tying his protective plate sheets to his slithering body were 'picked out' with "Heavy Sienna". Both of these areas were then washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

I did strongly consider applying some sort of typical dark-coloured reptilian pattern over the carnivore's skin, but as so little was showing I decided against such a move. As a last step however, I dabbed some "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre over the poisonous Adder's glaring eyes, and in order to hopefully make them really stand out I didn't subsequently shade them as I ordinarily do.

Karsus The Chained WIPs - The Khorne warrior has had his infamous hand-weapon finished

With the first of my nefarious Northymbran wrongdoers done, I've already set about applying some pigments to my warband's second mischievous malefactor, a Shrew Warrior. This wonderfully characterful sculpt has really caught my imagination, and I'm already considering utilising a tiny garrison of these diminutive fighters as the protectors of the Squire of Shrewsbury...

Despite having such fun with this range of anthropomorphic animals, I am somehow still managing to also maintain my focus upon the remaining plastic miniatures I need to complete so as to field "Garrek's Reavers" for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". Having finished all the fiddly belt buckles, straps and brass armour on Karsus The Chained, I am hoping to have the "Game Workshop" Khorne worshipper completed before too much longer.

"The Genesis Ark Must Be Protected Above All Else."

"Time Lord science will restore Dalek supremacy."

This 38mm tall resin sculpt of "a Time Lord prison ship from the Last Great Time" is produced by “Warlord Games” and can be found inside the "Maximum Extermination!" expansion set from their "Into The Time Vortex" range. "Slightly larger and similar in shape to a Dalek casing, the Ark was dimensionally transcendental" and made its first appearance at the very end of the July 2006 BBC Television story “Army Of Ghosts”.

Having based the Genesis Ark upon one of the 40mm thin-lipped circular bases I use for the vast majority of my objective markers, I primed the model with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and subsequently applied two layers of Brass over the entire miniature. I then treated the piece of Gallifreyan technology to a heavy wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and roughly dry-brushed it with (more) "Vallejo Brass.

The Ninth Doctor & Draconian WIPs - Both the Time Lord and Nobleman are almost completed

In order to make the prison's supporting struts stand out a bit more, I additionally shaded these areas using a combination of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade and Strong Tone Quickshade. Later I 'picked out' the extra-terrestrial jail's numerous buttons using either "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, or "Vallejo" Dead White with some watered-down "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Sticking with 'Nu-Who' I've started painting both the Nottingham-based company's sculpt of the Ninth Doctor, as well as the Mid-Seventeenth Century "highwayman known as the Knightmare." Christopher Ecclestone's miniature is a stunning likeness of the Lancashire-born actor, and has perhaps unsurprisingly proved rather straightforward to progress considering that his shoes, trousers and jacket are all black.

Ashildr & Draconian WIPs - The immortal Highwayman has a lot of work left to do

Obviously I've attempted to break-up such monotony by dry-brushing both the Time Lord's trousers and somewhat battered leather top with some "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and subsequently only shaded the trousers with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Ashildr's far more flamboyant attire, complete with thigh-length boots, frilly ruffs and the faintest of face masks will be a little more time-consuming. But as I have no intention, for my sanity's sake, to replicate the official "Warlord Games" multi-patterned shirt, "The Woman Who Lived" should still be completed in good time.

Finally, I have been persevering with a Draconian Noble and finally settled upon a simple solution to all the different golden garments the reptilian extra-terrestrial wears. An application of "Vallejo" Brass followed by a wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade seems to provide plenty of depth and shadow, whilst a light dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Brass brings out enough detail to show there are different shimmering accessories overlapping one another. I might yet shade a couple of the areas with some "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, but for now I plan to leave the regal alien as is...

"The First Kill Is The Greatest."

"That first arc of hot blood through the air."

This 28mm scale "push-fit, red plastic" miniature of Blooded Saek forms part of the "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" starter set produced by "Games Workshop", and can also be used to represent a "warrior of a murderous band of Khorne-worshippers, called Garrek's Reavers" in the Nottingham-based company's "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop wargame as well. Having "lost himself entirely to the red rage of Khorne" and therefore "only able to speak bestial growls and blood-chilling screams", this warrior "is an essential fighter" for the Blood Reavers warband, whose "great axe excels at killing fighters".

Primarily undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to help mask the model's vivid red plastic, the deadly juggernaut's trousers were painted with "Vallejo" Black, whilst his leg armour and belly plate, were both treated to a combination of Heavy Sienna, Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. In addition, Saek's chains and double-axe blades were given a layer of "Citadel" Ironbreaker, before being shaded with Nuln Oil.

Garrek's Reavers WIPs - The final two warriors of the warband

The mortal fighter's belt, numerous straps, and wrist-guard were 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade. Plus his loincloth and cloth pouch were given a double-coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and subsequently a healthy splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The berserker's dark skin was created using Doombull Brown, a thin-line of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone across his many scars, and an application of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade over all these areas.

The miniature's skull mask was originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Dead White, before being washed with Pale Grey. It was then 'bloodied' using a combination of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and the glaze Bloodletter. Finally, in order to ensure themodel fitted in with my Chaos Host for "Age Of Sigmar", I painted its highly-detailed base with "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I also highlighted a tiny tentacle rising from out of the ground using a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green.

Foamasi WIPs - The alien has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Having recently attended the Portsmouth Comic-Con at the city's Guildhall recently, I was rather pleased to spend a few minutes chatting to the truly generous David Bulbeck. The actor "appeared in several Doctor Who episodes" in the Early Eighties, including "The Leisure Hive" in which he played one of my favourite Tom Baker monsters, a Foamasi.

As a result I have located my "Black Tree Design" model of the 'stocky, reptilian humanoid', and rather enthusiastically based, primed, shaded and dry-brushed the figure already using "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green. I now simply need to paint the alien's three clawed hands and red eyes for the radiation resistant extra-terrestrial to be finished....

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Burrows And Badgers" May 2018

"Burrows & Badgers" WIPs - Toad Mage, Dandy Highwayfox and Green Lizard

This month's themed effort to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures will be dedicated to the six "Oathsworn Miniatures" I require in order to field my first warband for the company's "Burrows And Badgers" skirmish game. In addition, it'll be my first committed push to actually paint all the figures I bought at this year's "Salute" before I re-attend the ExCel convention centre at Custom House in twelve months time...

Anthropomorphic animals have not previously been a genre of the hobby I've contemplated, but the opportunity to collect both a free miniature and the Scenario: Mouse-Hunt if I bought the tabletop rule-book whilst at the South London Warlords show was too good an opportunity to refuse. The "Oathsworn Miniatures" stall also had a terrific display of models, so as the manufacturers had already sold out of pre-made warbands I simply bought (more than) enough blisters with which to compile my own.

"Burrows & Badgers" WIPs - Sparrow Warrior and Shrew Warrior

Obviously it is still early days for my 'nefarious' force to be battle ready, but I have already worked out my 350 pennies worth of miscreants, and set about basing/priming the dirty half-dozen. For starters, I plan to use the impressively large and pistol-toting Dandy Highwayfox as my gang's leader, Watership Dick, and a bloated Toad Mage as my Morglyn's Fiery Blast firing magic-user.

Filling out my cast of roguish players will be a tiny Shrew Warrior, a wonderfully-feathered Sparrow Warrior, and a particularly venomous Adder Warrior; which doesn't yet appear to be purchasable on the company's website due to being part of their recent "Rogues And Vagabonds" Kickstarter. With the exception of the heavily-armoured poisonous snake (sixty-one Northymbran pennies well spent methinks), these fighters will all be armed with a one-handed weapon and light shield.

Arnulf WIPs - The Blood Reaver now needs just his steel helmet and hand weapons to be finished

One of the highlights of the game is the ability to additionally recruit beasts who "live in far off lands and are only rarely seen..." To that end I have 'splashed out' on a Green Lizard armed with a one-handed weapon and wearing some light armour. I hope to paint the reptile's plate protection in bronze with a patina, to show its deepest dark South American roots.

For those interested in a full review of "Burrows & Badgers" then I'd strong recommend popping over to Simon Quiton's excellent website, "Brummie's Wargaming Blog", where he gives a detailed overview of the game and its extensive range of miniatures.  

Alongside these suitably scaly and furry fiends, I also still need to finish off my remaining Garrek's Reavers for "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire". I've still got a couple of the "Games Workshop" Blood Reavers left to paint, but have been making some excellent progress on Arnulf recently so hope to soon have the Khorne Worshippers ready for both the "action-packed combat game", as well as "Age Of Sigmar".