“The Rhino Is A Common Armoured Troop Transport Produced By The Imperium.”

“Its use is entrusted to only the most loyal of soldiers.”

These three 6mm scale plastic models of a Rhino used to be produced by “Games Workshop” as part of their now long out of production (OOP) “Epic” range. I actually seem to have acquired them second-hand, as I discovered them whilst rummaging through an old box of “Adeptus Titanicus” from 1988, and their previous owner predominantly primed them in a disconcertingly thick black paint.

As a result, I decided to pigment them as part of the Black Templars chapter, so having permanently attached them onto some small “Flames Of War” stands by “Battlefront Miniatures”, I simply gave them a coat of watered down “Citadel” Abaddon Black. I then had to decide which areas, such as the vehicles’ doors and hatches, were going to be ‘picked out’ with any “Vallejo” White, but ultimately decided just to apply a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil to their weapons, tracks, and handles.

Black Templars encounter a horde of daemonic Bloodletters

I did look for any suitably-sized decals which would mark the armoured vehicles out as specifically belonging to the “Loyalist Second Founding Space Marine Chapter derived from the Imperial Fists' gene-seed”. However, I couldn’t find any within my own collection, so eventually just settled upon them being black and silver. This did though cause me to pick out some extra details on the Rhinos with “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil, before treating them all to a coat of “Vallejo” Matt Varnish.

"Robots are artificial constructs capable of completing complex tasks automatically."

Having ‘bagged’ a handful of points for the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge [AHPC] with my transports, I also decided to complete a second 6mm plastic “Epic” Conqueror Robot. This particular sculpt was undercoated with “Vallejo” White Surface Primer as part of my AHPC preparation, so was simply treated to a couple of layers of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, before having its large power-fist ‘picked out’ with some “Vallejo” White and Pale Grey.

The automaton’s heavy bolter and auto-cannon were originally given a layer of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, and then later treated to a little “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. In addition, I dabbed the killing machine’s prominent eyes with “Vallejo” Heavy Red and a dash of “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. Finally, I spotted them with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Red.

"Epic" WIPs - An Assault Marine (Dark Angels), land Speeder (Space Wolves) and Terminator (Black Templars)

I really am on a big “Epic” push currently, with several more Space Marine-related units in my painting queue, including some Assault Marines, Terminators and a Land Speeder. As with my recently finished Rhinos, some of these 6mm models have already been partially-painted by their previous owner/s, but where-ever possible I have tried to ensure that my combined Adeptus Astartes force represents more chapters than just the Black Templars…

“Troll Slayers Aren’t Likely To Be Dodging Around…”

“…So you can concentrate on building them to hurt the other team.”

"Salutations fellow salivating Blood Bowl fans, and welcome to an action packed broadcast of Thursday Night Football. I'm Jim Maddenberg and along with Thom Grassyglade, I’ll be bringing you the very latest news concerning the smaller-sized, much faster version of Blood Bowl called Sevens.”

"Straight off the bat there’s news that amateur club, the Rusty Buckets, have somehow scooped up retired Blitzer Naghag Nightbane. The second edition Dwarf has been lured back out from his latest quest to meet a glorious death for a jaw-dropping 95,000 copper pieces, and has already made the local newspaper’s front page donned in the team’s well-worn kit.”

"Blood Bowl" WIPs - The Dwarf was primed, dry-brushed and shaded before having his details picked out

“That’s correct Jim, this 28mm scale second-hand metal miniature was initially (re)primed with a layer or two of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, so as to completely cover the sculpt’s previous yellow and blue colour scheme. The player was then dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Gunmetal, before being treated to a combination of “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.”

“Following that, the grizzled veteran had his steel toe-capped boots, and belt ‘picked out’ with “Citadel” Abaddon Black, before his trousers and tunic received a coat of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and (more) “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. The Dwarf’s gloves were initially coated with “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, before being shaded in (even more) “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade.”

"Blood Bowl" WIPs - A Dwarf Blitzer and a pair of portly Blockers

“I believe some additional touches of "Mig Productions" Extreme Rust Wash were also used on the model’s spiked knee-caps, elbow-pads, shoulder-pads and knuckle-dusters, Thom..? Plus his beard and hair were treated to a mixture of “Vallejo” Heavy Orange and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade..?”

“Spot on, Jim. Interestingly, the Rusty Buckets are now not the only Dwarf team currently trying to recruit former professional Blood Bowl players either, following gold mine owner Bruldrin Bluebeard’s announcement to establish a new Sevens side known as the Bombardiers.

"Thanks Thom. I, for one, am looking forward to these two new clubs battling it out in some sort of future Dwarf Bowl. Sadly, that brings this particular Blood Bowl Sevens special to an end. But please do join us again next time when we'll once again be taking a closer look at some of this sport's other players..."

“The 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment…”

“...Was a Confederate volunteer infantry unit from the state of Alabama during the American Civil War.”

These ten 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers are produced by “Warlord Games” and came free on a sprue accompanying Issue 393 of "Wargames Illustrated". Later released as part of the Nottingham-based company's "Epic Battles: American Civil War" game for its Black Powder rule-set, the line of infantrymen are the second of two I needed to form a single stand of miniatures, and are based upon the uniforms of an Alabama unit.

The figures were all primed using a double-coat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and then slowly had their somewhat intricate details 'picked out' from the ground up. Originally, I was awfully tempted simply to stick to basic black for all of their shoes, but as with the first line of troops I painted, I decided to apply a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to the footwear of three models.

"For a year it staffed the batteries at Pensacola, then with 1,000 soldiers moved to Missouri."

I then did something similar with the miniatures’ trousers too, as I didn't just want all of them to be marching in the colour pants. As a result I pigmented six with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, a couple with Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and the remaining two with “Vallejo” Steel Grey and “Citadel” Drakenhof Nightshade.

For the Confederates' jackets I either went with a mixture of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade, or Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. Such colours might seem a little odd for a Southern unit but the Alabama recruits actually wore "a dark blue frock coat" and "black broad brimmed felt hats at the war's start," so I wanted to capture that uniqueness with my palette choices.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - A tiny Space Marine, a Rhino, and a larger (Second Edition) Space Marine

I gave all the Kepi hats a dash of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, their blanket rolls a smidgeon of either "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna or White with a wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and their belt buckles a touch of "Vallejo" Gold and (more) Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter". Finally their hands and faces were layered with "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, shaded in "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and later highlighted with extra dabs of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

With the last of my Weekly Challenges now completed, and the first of my "Epic Battles: American Civil War" infantry stands finished after a ten-month delay, I have been able to fully focus upon the first batch of “Epic” figures by “Games Workshop” I want to submit to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. All of these plastic 6mm models had already been previously painted in some way, shape or form, so I am turning them all into the Space Marine Chapter Black Templars, so as to be able to eradicate their previous paint-jobs with a layer of “Citadel” Abaddon Black…

“Robots Are Hulking Automations…”

“…With limited scope for tactical manoeuvres.”

This 6mm scale plastic model of a Conqueror Robot was produced by “Games Workshop” and could be found as part of their now long out of production (OOP) “Epic” range for the second edition of “Space Marine”. Incorporating “good armour and formidable combat ability,” the single-cast sculpt seems to have ‘officially’ been painted predominantly red - presumably to tie in with the Legio Cybernetica who built it.

But as I wanted it to form part of a force of Space Wolves, I decided to use it as a pilot piece for their colour scheme instead. As a result the tiny figure was temporarily glued to a wooden painting stick, before being primed with a double helping of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey. It was then shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, so as to better ‘highlight’ its impressive details.

"Catalyst Game Labs" WIPs - This Marauder has been primed “Vallejo” Japanese Uniform WWII

This 6mm scale plastic model of a Conqueror Robot was produced by “Games Workshop” and could be found as part of their now long out of production (OOP) “Epic” range for the second edition of “Space Marine”. Incorporating “good armour and formidable combat ability,” the single-cast sculpt seems to have ‘officially’ been painted predominantly red - presumably to tie in with the Legio Cybernetica who built it.

But as I wanted it to form part of a force of Space Wolves, I decided to use it as a pilot piece for their colour scheme instead. As a result the tiny figure was temporarily glued to a wooden painting stick, before being primed with a double helping of “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey. It was then shaded in “Citadel” Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, so as to better ‘highlight’ its impressive details.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Some of these Confederate soldiers just need some shading and highlights

Sticking with diminutive-sized science fiction figures, albeit the 1:285 scale plastic models by “Catalyst Game Labs”, I’ve finally started to re-base and undercoat the first of my large “Battletech” mechs for my Weird War Two campaign. First up will be a pair of impressively-sized Marauders to bolster the Japanese Empire’s forces in the Pacific theatre. As with my previously-painted Mitsubishi class War Walker these killing-machines have been primed in “Vallejo” Japanese Uniform WWII.

Finally, the end is very much in sight for the last of this year’s Weekly Challenges, randomly chosen by the turning of a playing card. I’ve just got some inks to apply to my latest 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers by “Warlord Games”, and will then add them to a twenty-man strong stand of Alabama soldiers for "Epic Battles: American Civil War" table-top game.

“The Mongrel Received Its Baptism Of Fire…”

“…During the Battle of Tukayyid.”

This 1:285 scale plastic model of a Mongrel (Grendel) is manufactured by “Catalyst Game Labs” and can be found together with an Executioner, Timber Wolf, Nova, and Adder in the company’s “Battletech: Clan Invasion” boxed set. All the pre-assembled miniatures in this “supplement to the BattleTech: A Game of Armoured Combat box” come with an assortment of Alpha Strike cards depicting various colour schemes. But as I plan to use this particular sculpt as a Centauro class Italian War Walker for an upcoming Weird War Two campaign using some homemade rules, I decided to go with a predominantly green palette.

“Commonly seen leading light Star [formations], especially on deep reconnaissance and raiding missions”, the 38mm tall figure was initially undercoated with “Vallejo” Heavy Green, shaded in “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green, and dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Green. I then ‘picked out’ the armoured combat vehicle’s numerous exhaust ports, its Extended Range [ER] large laser, medium lasers and Streak short range missiles using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. These areas were later carefully dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Gunmetal.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - This "Epic" Robot is slowly having its details picked out

Ordinarily, I would then have left the miniature alone, apart from apply a few well-placed transfers onto any suitably-sized plates of Ferro-Fibrous armour. However, I actually found the 1/600 WWII Italian Insignia by “Decal Details” to be decidedly lacking in Italian national flags, so ended using the Mongrel’s left shoulder instead. As a result the top part was pigmented using a combination of “Vallejo” Dark Green and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green, the middle segment layered with “Vallejo” White and a little Pale Grey, and finally it’s bottom section daubed in “Vallejo” Heavy Red and “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson.

In addition to my latest Weird War Two walker, I have also been working on a 6mm scale “Epic” plastic robot by “Games Workshop”. I have actually found myself owning quite a few of these, following a rummage through an old box of “Space Marine” and the original “Adeptus Titanicus”, so plan of painting a few up during the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) to represent the various main chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Just three more Confederate soldiers to finish on this strip

For starters though, I thought I’d apply my brush-tip to a solitary test piece, and pilot the straightforward colour scheme I intend using for all my Space Wolves. Despite the (second-hand) space marine infantry I currently own being predominantly primed in black, I’m also still hoping to get a couple of stands of Leman Russ’ ferocious warriors ready for the table-top, courtesy of a little flutter on “eBay” and the imminent arrival of some Mk VII armoured defenders of Humanity.

Lastly, I’m now about three-quarters of the way to completing the last of this year’s Weekly Challenges, randomly chosen by the turning of a playing card. Rather embarrassingly it’s actually been ten months since I last touched these 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers by “Warlord Games”. Nonetheless, fingers crossed it shouldn’t be too long now before I can finally field an entire twenty-man stand of Alabama soldiers for "Epic Battles: American Civil War" table-top game.

“Bloodletters Are Horrific Lesser Daemons Of Khorne…”

“…That specialise in close combat fighting.”

These ten plastic 6mm scale Bloodletters used to be manufactured by "Games Workshop" for their tabletop wargame "Epic", and disappointingly are now long Out Of Production (OOP). However I was fortunate enough to stumble across a small tub of these diminutive Slaughter-kin from a second-hand stall whilst visiting "Colours" at Newbury a few years ago, and thought a couple of bases would make a nice subject for my penultimate, self-imposed Weekly Challenge.

The tiny figures were initially all super-glued onto two thin strips of wood, and primed using a double-helping of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. They were then shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I subsequently 'picked out' their loincloths and horns with some “Citadel” Abaddon Black, and applied a layer of Heavy Sienna to their Hellblades.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - A Space Marine Land Speeder, Robot and bike

Lastly, I pigmented their hand-weapons using a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, finished the blades off with a delicate dry-brush of more "Vallejo" Brass, and assembled them in groups of five figures upon two separate small "Flames Of War" rectangular stands by "Battlefront Miniatures". During this process, I spotted that the sculpts are wearing brass bracelets on their wrists, something I had never noticed before, and was momentarily tempted to pick these out.

However, as I already have twenty Bloodletters already painted, based, varnished and flocked, such a move would necessitate my returning to these other figures and ‘touching them up’ too. Considering that some of these models were now rather inaccessible due to their position on their stands, I felt that that was asking a bit much of my skill with a steady paint-brush tip, so ultimately decided to simply leave well enough alone…

"Warlord Games" WIPs - Ten Confederate Soldiers are slowly having their details 'picked out'

In addition to my ever expanding “crimson death”, I have also primed some other “Epic” miniatures in preparation for the imminent Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). Unlike many of the 6mm scale models I aim to pigment for that event, my collection of second-hand Space Marine Land Speeders, bikes and robots were never primed by their previous owners, allowing me to consider having them represent some of the more colourful chapters of the Adeptus Astartes.

Moving away to the last of this year’s Weekly Challenges, randomly chosen by the turning of a playing card, I have been steadily progressing ten more 15mm scale plastic Confederate soldiers by “Warlord Games”. These figures actually came free on a sprue accompanying Issue 393 of "Wargames Illustrated", and once finished will actually allow me to field a complete twenty-man stand of soldiers for the Nottingham-based company’s "Epic Battles: American Civil War" tabletop game.

“Though Vaguely Canine In Form…”

“…Flesh Hounds are more a horrific cross between dog and reptile.”

These six plastic 6mm scale Flesh Hounds [twelve shown with accompanying Bloodletters] were produced by "Games Workshop" for their tabletop wargame "Epic", and regrettably are now long Out Of Production (OOP). However I was jammy enough to stumble across a tub of these daemonic canines from the second-hand stall, “Lesley’s Bitz Box”, whilst visiting "Colours" at Newbury a few years ago, and as part of one of my recent self-imposed Weekly Challenges, thought I should paint up some of them.

“Found by the hundreds and thousands on the bone-littered plains surrounding Khorne's demesne in the Realm of Chaos”, the tiny figures were super-glued onto two thin strips of wood, and primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. They were then washed using "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and very delicately dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Both this 6mm Lander Raider and Rhino were uncoated by their previous owner

Later, each “bloody-minded daemonic beast” had their back spines and head crests ‘picked out' with a little “Citadel” Abaddon Black. As a final touch I also decided to dot their super-tiny teeth/fangs with a well-placed spot of “Vallejo” White, and then dirtied these areas up, along with the insides of their open maws, with some “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade.

Momentarily sticking with “Epic”, I have set aside some opposition to my 6mm Forces of Chaos in the shape of some second-hand Adeptus Astartes I was gifted a good couple of decades ago. There’s no actual rhyhme or reason as to the motley collection, and many of them have already undergone a somewhat thick initial coat of black paint – probably “Citadel” Chaos Black.

"The Iron Star Alliance is able to afford the most advanced technology and weapons for its military."

However, I thought a sizeable batch of space marines, assault marines, rhinos, land raiders, speeders and robots would make an enjoyable small(ish) project for the forthcoming Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. Although, despite wanting this force to encompass as many chapters as I can cram in, I fear the black ‘prime’ is predominantly going to limit some of the units to being Black Templar, Iron Hand or perhaps Raven Guard…

Lastly, having recently finished painting three Paladin Annihilators by “Privateer Press” for “Warcaster: Neo-Mechanika”, I have revisited the rest of my Iron Star Alliance forces and re-painted all of their Arc receiver’s with a combination of “Vallejo” Brass and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. I had actually used this palette on most of their backpacks before anyway, but I then spotted a couple of areas I have consistently missed on the older models which I decided to ‘pick out’ so that they would match-up better with the new Annihilators.