“Demon Is Actually The More Common Term For Extraplanar Entity.”

“Few of the demons in Frostgrave have come of their own free will or for their own purpose.”

This 28mm scale metal model of a Minor Demon is made by “North Star Military Figures” and can be bought together with a somewhat smaller Imp Demon as code FGV302 from their “Frostgrave” range. Rather embarrassingly I actually received this figure as part of a Secret Santa gift way back in December 2015, and had initially planned to paint him as part of that year’s Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge.

Described as being “pretty unhappy about being pulled away from their own existence”, the devil was primed with “Vallejo” Heavy Red and washed in “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. I then ‘picked out’ its hooves, horns and teeth with a combination of “Vallejo” White and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade”, before applying “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna to all the monster’s fur.

"Goatskins full of blood poured upon Bezerkers before battle instil their bloodlust."

These areas were later drenched in (more) “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. I did originally just leave the Minor Demon’s tongue black, as per the creature’s ‘official’ paint-job. But I simply didn’t like the way it looked somewhat unfinished, so eventually went back with a little “Vallejo” Heavy Violet and “Citadel” Druchi Violet.

Alongside my latest “Frostgrave” figure I have finished the fourth (and final) 28mm Uruk-hai Bezerker by "Games Workshop" which I needed for my 500-point "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game" Isengard force. Like so many of my metal “The Lord Of The Rings” miniatures, this old model was bought at a wargaming show over a decade ago , and was painted along the exact same lines to those used for my previously-painted "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game" super-strong Orcs.

"Rocket Pig Games" WIPs - This Grave Gnasher has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Sticking with Fantasy, albeit an entirely different world to that of Joseph A. McCullough or J.R.R. Tolkein, I have made some in-roads on another of my “Rocket Pig Games” sculpts which “FullyCycled” have printed for me in resin. I must admit that this 32mm miniature of a Grave Gnasher has turned out to be a bit softer in detail than I was anticipating, but having looked much closer at the 3D rendering the monster is clearly meant to be a bit ‘blobby’.

Its pre-printed base has also turned out a bit larger than I anticipated, so instead of placing him upon a normal 28mm circular base I have had to use a 40mm instead. This additional size also made me consider placing one or two thematic grave markers around the fiend so as to tie-in to it being an Undead creature of some kind. However, I ultimately felt this might make the entire ensemble a little too busy-looking, or at least, much more difficult to paint.

“Mutaints Are Genetically And Surgically Modified Individuals…”

“…Usually criminals or failed FedSec staff.”

These three 28mm Federated Security Mutaints were originally released by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” way back in July 2013 and were sculpted by Ian Mountain. These days however, the sculpt is available as Mutaint B from "Beast In The Broch", along with many other 'dead-ringers' from the BBC science fiction television series “Blake’s Seven”. 

Before being primed, each metal figure’s head was attached looking in a slightly different direction in order to give each trooper some individuality. The separate heads can actually simply be super-glued into place, courtesy of a small bump sticking out from their underside which can then sit upon the torso’s slightly hollowed out neck. In the past though, I have inadvertently dislodged the head whilst handling the model during its painting, so to make doubly sure it would remain in place, the two pieces were additionally pinned and green-stuffed in place.

"Zombicide 2nd Edition" WIPs - President 16 is slowly having his details 'picked out'

Described as retaining “no memories of their previous selves” having “been conditioned to obey orders without question”, each miniature was primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black and energetically dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal. I then picked out all the Mutaints’ gauntlets and chest coverings using pure "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal, and subsequently drenched each one in "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

In addition, I attempted to make Space Commander Travis’ Command Crew a little more sinister-looking by using "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey for their faces’ flesh as opposed to my regular Heavy Skintone, and shading them with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. Lastly, each trooper's firearm was pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"I am Groot."

With the latest additions to my Federated Security force finished, I have managed to persevere with my test piece taken from the “Zombicide 2nd Edition” Presidential Box Survivor Pack by “CoolMiniOrNot”. I’m still not convinced attempting to paint the hordes of plastic figures which were produced during this highly successful Kickstarter is going to be good for my health, but the Abraham Lincoln sculpt seems to be working out reasonably well, and might encourage me to do a second US President once completed.

I’ve also taken the time to return to my previously-painted model of Groot by “Atomic Mass Games” and attempted to lighten the extra-terrestrial's rather dark colour scheme with a dry-brush of “Vallejo” Earth. I rarely return to past projects, however, the Flora colossi’s predominantly “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna (and super-shiny) palette made it difficult to see a lot of the sculpt’s excellent detail, even after applying a couple of coats of Matt Varnish over the "Marvel Crisis Protocol" miniature.

“Treants Are A Peaceful Race Usually Found Roaming Ancient Forests.”

"They spend their time guarding and preserving their woodlands,"

This 72mm tall resin model of a Treant is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be purchased from the Lincolnshire-based company’s Fantasy range. Described as being “fond of other peaceful beings”, the multi-part figure was assembled using a combination of metal pins, green-stuff and super-glue before being attached to a “Citadel” circular 50mm base.

Able to “unleash thunderous destruction on anyone threatening their lands”, I initially primed the miniature with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. I then sporadically ‘blotched’ the “nomadic tree shepherd” with some “Vallejo” Earth and shaded the entire ensemble with a mixture of “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade and The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These three Mutaints just need shading

In order to really bring out all the sculpt’s wonderful wooden details I next took a soft face make-up blusher brush dipped in “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and patiently drew it across all of the raised surfaces on the Treant. This was followed up by an even lighter dry-brush of “Vallejo” Earth.

With the basics now finished, I set about ‘picking out’ all the marvellous mushrooms and slightly intimidating leaves etched upon the “almost Troll-like” creature’s bark. I used “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson for the tops of the toadstools, and “Vallejo” White with a smidgeon of Pale Grey for the fungi’s underbellies. Lastly, I applied a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Green and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green to the model’s somewhat abundant foliage.

"Berserkers were tough Orcs bred in Isengard."

Sticking with “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” figures, I have made some more progress on three of the last five OOP Federated Security Mutaints I own. Admittedly, these minions of Space Commander Travis haven’t taken too long to base layer, but they still need their eyes ‘dotting’ and washes to be applied before being finished.

In addition, I am pleased to report that yet another 28mm Uruk-hai Bezerker by "Games Workshop" has been completed for my 500-point "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game" Isengard force. This particular metal sculpt is identical to one I already recently pigmented, so I decided to make him appear slightly different by leaving his helmet just plain metal, rather than giving it the emblem of the White Wizard, Saruman.

“Why, It's A Man! A Man Made Out Of Tin!”

“Where do you want to be oiled first?”

This 40mm scale resin print of a Tin Construct is produced by "Rocket Pig Games", but actually 3D printed by “FullyCycled” over on “Etsy”. The model is one of several test prints I recently bought in order to see just how well such figures can currently be manufactured, and for a homemade project pitting the forces of a Clockwork Mage against those of the Natural World.

The figure comes on a pre-printed base, which is arguably the only place where the tell-tale striation signs of a 3D print were visible. This part also wasn’t terrible flat, so I had the option of either removing the mechanical man from its some large boulder-covered stand, or super-gluing it onto a 50mm circular base by “Games Workshop”.

"Before they are unleashed, their helmets are filled with blood..."

Considering just how brittle I found the miniature to be when I inadvertently snipped off the handle to its head, having mistaken it for a support strut, I quickly decided to simply attach it to the base and apply a coat of “Vallejo” Gloss Black over the entire model. I then treated the figure to a layer of “Scale 75” Decayed Metal, a hearty dry-brush of “Scale 75” Thrash Metal, and a wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

I next dabbed the Tin Construct’s various joints, its boiler and its damaged axe-head with some "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash, and applied a second dry-brush of “Scale 75” Thrash Metal over the entire ensemble to help blend it all in. As a final touch on the metallic work, I also added some “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade sporadically over the model in an effort to weather it some more, and where appropriate, gave some of these areas an additional dry-brush of “Scale 75” Thrash Metal.

"...And then thrust roughly onto their head."

Lastly, I treated the lumbering construct’s axe-shaft to a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, and his eyes to a dab of “Vallejo” Dark Vermillion. Ordinarily, I’d usually leave the figure alone at this point to be varnished and flocked. But as the miniature has some splendidly sculpted stones on its base, I decided to ‘embellish’ them a little using some “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey and a dash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

With my first ever 3D printed miniature completed, I have also managed to fully pigment another 28mm Uruk-hai Bezerker by "Games Workshop" for my 500-point Isengard force. As memory serves this old metal sculpt was bought at a wargaming show over a decade ago , and was painted along the exact same lines to those used for my previously-painted "Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game" super-strong Orcs.

“The Most Barbarous And Brutal Of The Uruk-hai Are The Bezerkers.”

"Frenzied killers who are hurled into battle to break through enemy lines."

This 28mm scale metal Uruk-hai Berzerker is produced by "Games Workshop", and these days can be bought as one of four different resin cast sculpts from the Nottingham-based company’s "The Lord Of The Rings" range. Both “Oblivious To Pain” and “Impervious To Bow Fire” in the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game, this is one of seven such double-handed sword-wielding maniacs I intend to field as part of my 500-point Isengard force.

The figure was initially primed in two coats of “Vallejo” Heavy Red, before having his leather sandals, loincloth and hand-guards ‘picked out’ with some slightly watered-down Heavy Sienna. The entire model was then shaded in “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade, and had its chainmail pigmented using a combination of “Scale 75” Thrash Metal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

"Rocket Pig Games" WIPs - The Tin Construct is currently being weathered

Next I tackled the issue of trying to replicate the decades-old metallic paint-job some of my previously-finished Orcs had with modern-day colours. This resulted in me applying some “Citadel” Abaddon Black to their great hand-weapons and helmets as a base coat, and subsequently giving them a lick of “Scale 75” Decayed Metal.

The sword and head-gear were later dry-brushed with “Scale 75” Thrash Metal, shaded with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and finally dry-brushed with (more) “Scale 75” Thrash Metal. As a last step I applied a hand pattern over the brute’s face with some “Vallejo” White” so as to mark the Bezerker out as being favoured by the treacherous White Wizard himself.

"Rocket Pig Games" WIPs - The Twig Fiend has been shaded and dry-brushed

In addition to my latest Uruk-hai, I have also been working on the first couple of 3D Printed models I bought from “FullyCycled”. Both of these figures are actually produced by “Rocket Pig Games” and printed in resin. However, as part of my experiment into this new aspect of the wargaming world, I did acquire a 40mm print of the Tin Construct and just a 32mm the Twig Fiend; albeit on the tabletop the wooden monstrosity would appear to be of a comparable size.

One of the first learning curves I’ve experienced is being super-careful when removing any support struts still attached to the models, and double-checking to ensure what I’m clipping off isn’t actually meant to be part of the sculpt itself. Unfortunately, I mistook the Tin Construct’s head-handle as being ‘flash’ and whilst tidying up one of the tendrils on the back of my Twig Fiend snapped the surprisingly brittle piece off…

“The Paladin Weaver Can Channel Destructive Fury Cyphers.”

"Accompanying the Alliance’s forces on the battlefield..."

This 35mm scale metal miniature of a Paladin Weaver is produced by “Privateer Press” and can be found inside the Iron Star Alliance Command Group Starter Set for Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika. Able to “unleash all manner of psychokinetic ruin upon those who would face the Paladins in battle”, the three-piece figure also comes armed with a “null hammer, a battle staff capable of knocking Arc off any opponent it strikes.”

Having pinned the solo right arm and backpack in place, the entire assembly was primed in "Citadel" Abaddon Black before being treated to a double-helping of "Vallejo" Gunmetal. It was then shaded using "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal, courtesy of a large make-up blusher brush.

"...The Paladin Weaver acts as a living focus for the Warcaster’s offensive arcane might."

Initially, I had planned to turn my Iron Star Alliance miniatures into a somewhat rusty and battered formation, arguably more in keeping with their supposed "aggressive expansion throughout the galaxy". But in the end, I actually chose to predominantly keep to the somewhat 'clean' look of their metallic compound armour, and instead just 'pick out' various areas of interest on each figure.

For the Weaver this meant applying some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the Paladin's skirt, neck plate, elbow-pads, and the shaft of his null hammer. In addition, I layered the model's spats, shoulder-pads, face-plate, hand-weapon and central chest-plate with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and later gave them a 'lick' of Brass followed by a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. These areas were later delicately dry-brushed with a touch more "Vallejo" Brass to try and bring back some of their shine after being shaded.

"The Lord Of The Rings" WIPs - These three Uruk-hai Bezerkers are at various stages

Lastly, in an effort to somewhat further break-up all the metallics on show, I applied some "Vallejo" Turquoise to the central front and rear portions of his loincloth and washed them with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. I also decided to paint the miniature’s cyclopean ‘eye’ with a combination of “Vallejo” White and Fluorescent Blue so as to make it ‘pop’ that bit more from the rest of the figure.

With the latest of my Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika miniatures finished, I’ve managed to make some further progress on the remaining metal Uruk-hai Bezerkers I want to field for my 500 point Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game Isengard army. The plan is to have seven on these old “Games Workshop” sculpts following one of my Captains, alongside a contingent of already-painted Uruk-hai Scout bowmen, and then move on to pigmenting a quartet of crossbowman to follow another evil Hero of Fortitude…

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "The Lord Of The Rings" May 2021

"Isengard is a mighty fortress sited to guard the Gap of Rohan."

This month's effort to chisel away at my rather large backlog of metal, plastic and resin models will primarily focus upon the completion of a 500 point Isengard army for the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by “Games Workshop”. Fortunately as project’s go, this particular one shouldn’t prove too difficult as I already own a sizeable amount of painted Uruk-hai from the Nottingham-based manufacturer’s old "The Lord Of The Rings" range, and have spent a fair portion of the past four weeks ‘picking away’ at some of Saruman’s sword-wielding super-strong orcs.

In addition, as I want my force to be lead by the treacherous White Wizard himself, then I actually only now need to paint up a figure of the Head of the White Council to be done. However, my ultimate plan is to be in a position where, should I wish to replace magic with sheer weight of unnatural numbers, I can swap Saruman out with a hefty horde of extra Bezerkers and crossbow-carrying Uruk-hai.

"Rocket Pig Games" WIPs - Tin Construct, Dwarven War Construct, and Twig Fiend

Alongside this cunning plan, I also thought it was about time I started dabbling in the increasingly impressive wargaming world of 3D printed miniatures. I have been contemplating buying my own additive manufacturing machine for a while, but thought as a first step I would simply purchase a few models from different sellers on Etsy, and explore the quality which the different materials used to create the figures employ.

For now I’m sticking with some of the simply marvellous sculpts produced by “Rocket Pig Games”, and had the company “FullyCycled” print these out for me in different scales and materials. The results have certainly been somewhat mixed, but I’m still hopeful to have enough playable pieces fully-pigmented by the end of this experiment with which to game the eternal struggle for domination between an all-conquering Clockwork Mage and the Forces of Nature…

April 2021 - "North Star Military Figures" dominated the month thanks to its range of Frostgrave models

Painting wise, the past four weeks have resulted in the biggest turn-out I’ve ever experienced during the month of April, thanks largely to my ability to work through a number of animals and monsters for the second edition of Frostgrave. This ever-increasing bestiary has seen “North Star Military Figures” suddenly become my second favourite manufacturer of the year so far, and with even more of their Frozen City-based fauna currently sat upon my painting table I’ve little doubt they’ll continue to make an impressive showing in the months to come too. 

I’ve also managed to make some healthy progress with my Iron Star Alliance force for Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika. I’ve never actually finished a model by “Privateer Press” until I started getting the army’s various paladins tabletop ready, but am now reasonably close to getting all the figures in their Command Group Starter Set completed, as well as some additional reinforcements in the shape of three Annihilators.