(Lead) Mountain Musings - "CoolMiniOrNot" July 2024

"In Marvel United you take the role of iconic Marvel Heroes."

Despite a somewhat encouraging start to last month's plan to re-energise my hobby enthusiasm, which surprisingly even included 3D printing a number of models to be added to my increasingly long painting queue, my desire to put a brush-tip to any miniature whatsoever eventually once again died away to nothing. Much of this apathy was undoubtedly caused by my urgent need to manually cut'n'paste approximately 500 postings over to this blog from my "Wix" website after I was told I'd need to pay a whopping £273.60 by the end of July simply to maintain it.

Initially therefore I've spent a considerable amount of my recent free time simply publishing old articles and their pictures (back) over to "Blogger". However, even that plan has had to be radically changed following news from "Wix" that they actually now want £403.20 and "may" be deducting it within a fortnight of the renewal date. Obviously, I needed to therefore cancel my plan, but not before I at least had all the missing posts (minus photographs) safe and sound before I did so - just on the off-chance "Wix" simply deleted my content early in a 'hissy fit'.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - Daredevil, Ultron and Beast have all been primed

This currently means I have 280 drafts awaiting their pictures before I can (re)publish them, and not much time to paint during my hobby time as a consequence. Happily however, this 'slog' has taken me down some wonderfully invigorating trips down memory lane, and infected me with a desire to both continue my current Monty Python’s Flying Circus expansion set for Zombicide 2nd Edition, as well as recommence another "CoolMiniOrNot" project involving "Marvel United" figures.

I've also decided to see whether mixing the content of my postings up a bit might help 'keep me going', and by that I mean not just produce an endless string of finished models. But actually return to plenty of Battle Reports (possibly weekly) and other hobby-related articles, such as product reviews and my experiences with 3D printing. I think this move would take the pressure off of me having to repeatedly finish pigmenting miniatures, and encourage me to actually paint more for the games I'm playing.

June 2024 - Due to a lack of productivity there's no change at the top of the table for the second month

With this in mind, I have already plucked out my "Marvel United" models for Ultron, the Beast and Daredevil, with the intention of adding these to my battles as part of an ad hoc campaign I hope to cover over the next few weeks. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given my 'all-in' attitude to anything I attempt, I've also grabbed a few less 'monotone' figures from my huge Kickstarter Exclusives box, simply so I can potentially potter away on them too if the mood takes me.

Alongside all these comic book and comedy-based characters, I thought I might also scoop up a handful of 'close-to-completion' miniatures which have been loitering around my hobby desk for far too long. These partially-painted side-projects are predominantly metal so should help me 'break up' an otherwise all-plastic affair, and help me scratch the itch for a number of genres/subjects I've rediscovered a liking for having been neck-deep in so many old blog posts...

"I'll Tell You What's Wrong With It."

 "It's dead, that's what's wrong with it."

This 32mm scale plastic model of a stuffed Norwegian Blue parrot is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” as part of their Monty Python's Flying Circus expansion for "Zombicide", and was sculpted by "Big Child Creatives". Described in the boxed game's pre-order advertisement as an "undead parrot" who on "an unlucky roll" can "quickly make you an unlucky survivor", the lifeless figure clearly represents John Cleese's famous dead pet from the British comedy series' most famous sketch.  

Mistakenly seen as having "passed on, ceased to be, expired and gone to meet its maker", the undead playing piece was simply undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before being layered with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. The large, prone bird was then shaded using "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to bring out all of its fantastic feathers.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - The Spanish Inquisition have been shaded with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson

I next applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the parrot's feet, and beak, as well as some White Star by "Two Thin Coats" to its exposed rib-cage, and facial plumage. The bones were later treated to a couple of splodges of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and a smidgeon of heavily watered-down Flesh Tearers Red. To add some 'shading' to the white feathers - albeit these too would later be 'bloodied up' with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson - I carefully gave them a lick of strongly diluted "Two Thin Coats" Carchardon Grey, and subsequently 'picked out' the dead bird's throat area using a combination of Skulker Yellow and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

Lastly, I dotted the miniature's eyes with (more) Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats" and subsequently made them a bit more gory by splodging them, alongside a few other parts of the parrot, with both "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Flesh Tearers Red. The model's base was then treated to my usual colour combination of "Citadel" Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Knight with a Raw Chicken is slowly having his details 'picked out'. 

In addition to this deceased pet bird, I have also made a little more progress on my three members of the Spanish Inquisition by giving Cardinal Ximénez, Cardinal Biggles and Cardinal Fang a generous shading of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. I'm actually hoping that this wash, alongside a future dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, will do most of the heavy-lifting on these figures, and let me just 'pick out' a few fine details before they're tabletop ready.

Furthermore, I've started paying attention to the boxed set's survivors and finished working on the suit of armour adorning the 'Knight with a Raw Chicken'. The "poultry paladin" still needs his gambeson (or arming doublet) to be pigmented, along with a few gold embellishments on his chest plate. But hopefully these can be done in short(ish) order...

"A Terrible Menace Is Afoot."

 "A foot. Get it..?"

This 32mm scale plastic model of 'The Foot' is produced by “CoolMiniOrNot” as part of their Monty Python's Flying Circus expansion for "Zombicide". An impressive 80mm in length, and 60mm tall, the miniature was sculpted by "Big Child Creatives" and represents Cupid's Foot from the title sequence of the 1969 "British surreal sketch comedy series." 

"A constant threat hanging over the Survivors' heads", the boardgame piece was primed using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Skintone, before being completely plastered in (pure) Heavy Skintone. It was then drowned in "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and thoroughly dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone.

"The robot protects Sheeta from the army and destroys the fortress with its weapons."

The toenails and protruding leg bone were both originally 'picked out' with some White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and darkened down using some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson respectively. Finally, both were slightly lightened back up with a careful dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star, and given a cheeky glaze of heavily watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade or Carroburg Crimson as appropriate.

Alongside the Foot, I have also finished a third 28mm scale Laputian Robot Trooper crafted by "Big Mr Tong" and downloaded for free as part of a five-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the giant mechanical bodyguards depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - The Spanish Inquisition have been primed "Vallejo" Heavy Red

The figure was first undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being coated in Decayed Metal by "Scale 75". It was then drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. Furthermore, its face plate was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst the Laputian royal family crest on its chest was singled out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Lastly, I have started priming the three members of the Spanish Inquisition also found inside the Monty Python’s Flying Circus boxed set. Heavily based upon the likenesses of actors Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, this "dastardly" trio should provide something of a welcome contrast to the predominantly black-coloured quartet of Silly Walkers I've recently started working on...

"When Not Tending To The Needs Of The Laputian Family..."

"...The robots are in charge of maintaining Laputa."

This 28mm scale Laputian Robot Trooper was sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a five-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the giant mechanical bodyguards depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"Constructed out of an extremely strong, dark armour", the 107mm tall figure was primed in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna, before being coated in Decayed Metal by "Scale 75". It was then drenched in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and heavily dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Decayed Metal. Furthermore, its face plate was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Foot just needs some washes and a final dry-brush

Lastly, the Heavenly Trooper's crest of the Laputian royal family was patiently picked out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and shaded with a dollop of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. This is actually one of two "Big Mr Tong" 3D prints I started working on for Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" event, so I'm planning on getting the other super-tall automaton finished over the next few days.

Alongside my latest Laputian Robot Trooper I have also 'broken the back' of the giant plastic Foot found inside Monty Python’s Flying Circus for Zombicide 2nd Edition. This rather impressive sculpt by "CoolMiniOrNot" has proved quite a nice, straightforward painting project, and definitely helped me rekindle the flagging flame I've had for the hobby in recent weeks - even if I'd have preferred the top of the miniature to have been slightly hollowed out as opposed to having a piece of the leg-bone sticking out.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - These Silly Walkers have been undercoated and dry-brushed

I've also made a little progress on the expansion box's quartet of suited Silly Walkers. I was initially contemplating working on these wonderfully humorous figures as a single batch. But have since changed my mind, and will instead simply tackle them one at a time - using the first model as a test piece for the predominantly black palette I've chosen.

This option will also provide me with an opportunity to throw something else 'into the mix' should the urge take me, and resultantly keep my enthusiasm for the project fresh. Indeed, I've already gritted the bases on several more of the models from the Monty Python’s Flying Circus expansion, including a certain dead pet bird with a curved beak and clawed feet...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "CoolMiniOrNot" June 2024

"There’s a zombie plague spreading throughout the populace."

After the utterly lack-lustre past four weeks, it seems clear that my current hobby mojo is still at one of its all-time lows. Happily however, I've recently received my pre-ordered copy of Monty Python’s Flying Circus for Zombicide 2nd Edition by "CoolMiniOrNot", complete with its exclusive Gumby Pack. These "nonsensical creations from the classic television show" have really helped re-enthuse me to once again pick up the painting brush, so for the next month I thought I'd simply plod through the two boxes of figures, and see what it leads to.

Starting with something hopefully rather straightforward, I thought I'd tackle the large plastic Foot which apparently acts as a persistent threat to the survivors in the boardgame. Sculpted by "Big Child Creatives", I've actually super-glued the model to a plastic oval "Citadel" base, to better protect its paint-job, and given it a prime using a combination of "Vallejo" Leather Brown Surface Primer and Heavy Skintone.

"CoolMiniOrNot" WIPs - This Foot has been primed, base-layered and washed

In addition, I've gritted the bases and undercoated the expansion's quartet of suited Silly Walkers. Again, these predominantly black-coloured miniatures should be quite easy to get tabletop ready, and help me regain some momentum as I get back into the hobby. I was thinking about possibly pigmenting each fellow's briefcase a different colour to slightly mark them out - albeit having seen the 'official' paintjobs online I'll probably just stick to them all being brown.

Lastly, I haven't completely forgotten about the pair of 28mm scale Laputian Robot Troopers by "Big Mr Tong" I started working on for Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" event. Obviously, these super-tall automatons are a little late in getting finished. But I'm still determined to get them ready for varnishing as quickly as I can, and maybe even produce another couple of models once I start using my Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer again.

May 2024 - No change at the top considering I only painted a single figure all month long

Obviously, having experienced my second least productive month ever, my painting area is still awash with all sorts of half-started or barely begun projects. With my current goal just to potter through the Monty Python’s Flying Circus box, I strongly doubt any of these will see much if any attention soon, and in all likelihood, quite a few may well find themselves back in one of 'drawers of doom' - destined not to see daylight for a good month or more.

I am though pretty confident I can polish off a few of these "CoolMiniOrNot" miniatures, and am already eyeing a few of the Marvel Zombicide models I undercoated at the start of the year. These might make a welcome break from the comedic sculpts I'm currently facing, and maybe even me convince me to get the cooperative boardgame out for a spin - something which ordinarily always helps motivate me to slap some figures with a paint-brush...

"Well... Not Bad!"

"At least the mask should spare me any personal embarrassment."

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Monica Rambeau was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 210 from their Marvel “Heroclix” Sinister range. Able to convert her body mass into any form of energy of the electromagnetic spectrum, Captain Marvel was created by Roger Stern, John Romita Junior for the August 1982 Annual of "Amazing Spider-Man" by "Marvel Comics".

Mercilessly clipped from the figure's 'clicky' base and super-glued upon a plastic 25mm circular base, the harbor patrol officer was given a couple of licks of "Vallejo" White and splash of some heavily watered-down of Carchardon Grey by Two Thin Coats”. She was then enthusiastically dry-brushed with "Two Thin Coats" White Star, before having her black leggings and hair 'picked out' with "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - This Laputian Robot Trooper has been primed, base-layered and shaded

I also attempted to apply a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade to her lower face, as well as give the Avenger's former chairwoman some eyes with a little "Citadel" Abaddon Black. However, despite trying to make my acrylic coats thin, the figure's thick pre-paint job had already decimated any trace of detail on the super-hero's head; including her eye sockets. Indeed, to my alarm I actually noticed some of my layers starting to crack and flake over the top of the model's original goopy pigmentation.

I therefore decided to simply leave well enough alone, and focus upon placing a small black star from US-112 US Armour Stars w/Stencilled & Solid Circles by "Decal Details" on Monica's chest. This wasn't quite the emblem Captain Marvel usually sported. But I hoped due to the sculpt's overshadowing pose, that it would suffice - and that perhaps at some point in the future I might attempt to improve upon it with a few thin lines of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Disappointingly though, there was no way I could apply the transfer in the right place without it disintegrating, so for the second time I gave up upon a notion for Monica's miniature in order to retain my sanity.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - These Space Marines have been primed and shaded

Overall, this has to be one of the most frustrating models I've ever put my brush-tip too, and having initially been seen as a 'quick win' to help get my hobby mojo back, has actually turned out to have caused me to lose even more enthusiasm. If I can source a second copy of the miniature I may well try again at some point, as Rambeau is one of my favourite comic book characters from the Eighties, even if the New York City-based publisher has desperately attempted to retcon her origin story so as to better suit her modern-day exploits as the woeful Photon.

Thankfully, my aforementioned trials and tribulations haven't completed eradicated my hobby time, as I have made some progress on a pair of 28mm scale Laputian Robot Troopers by "Big Mr Tong". Furthermore, I've found a little time to dilly-dally with some more Sons Of Horus Space Marines by "Games Workshop" for my Horus Heresy traitor's legion...

(Lead) Mountain Musings - Monster May(hem) 2024

'A monster is a type of fictional creature found in horror, fantasy, science fiction, and mythology.'

As I'm currently struggling with my hobby mojo somewhat, I felt it might be prudent to forgo trying to focus upon one (or two) specific manufacturers this month, and simply join the colossal carnage which is the Angry Piper's annual "Monster May(hem)" challenge over on his marvellously titled "Dead Dick's Tavern and Temporary Lodging" blog. This will hopefully help recharge my ailing batteries and potentially make some big circular base-shaped holes on my painting table.

In addition, the move may jump-start my flagging interest in 3D printing, which has perhaps unsurprisingly stalled on account of all the STL (Standard Triangle Language) files I currently collect monthly from the various subscription services I support on both "Patreon" and "Tribes". Obviously as mere digital sculpts my backlog is effectively 'out of sight and out of mind' - at least until I visit my library on "MyMiniFactory". But I also have a few boxes stacked full of grey-coloured cured resin ready for a lick from my brush-tip as well - a visible deterrent if ever there was one for producing anything more.

"Big Mr Tong" WIPs - This Laputian Robot Trooper has been primed, base-layered and shaded

As a result I have already hooked out a few big beasties to pigment over the next four weeks. The rules for the challenge are quite simple in that "any monster will do", regardless of it being a non-fantasy figure or sized at any particular scale. To begin with I therefore thought I might see how quickly I can progress a couple more 28mm scale Laputian Robot Troopers by "Big Mr Tong". I first printed/painted one of these mechanical monstrosities back in November 2023, and have frankly been itching to get some more tabletop ready ever since.

I actually own various variants of the giant automatons which featured in Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", so certainly wouldn't be adverse to working my through the rest of the range if, in the long run, it actually helps build up my motivation to chip away at my perilously tall pile of potential. Likewise, I have a thriving menagerie of creatures previously produced from the STL stalls of "Artisan Guild" and "Titan Forge Miniatures", which I aim to at least pick away at whenever the fancy takes me too.

April 2024 - "Black Tree Design" continues to dominant due to my interest in "Doctor Who"

To be fair April has traditionally always been a time of low productivity in my personal hobbying, as I've usually only just come off the back of a tiring three-month battle to attain my target tally in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). However, as I left that event much earlier than usual this time round, I had hoped that there might have been a bit more air still left in my sails to finally finish off a few long-lingering projects, or at least get a couple more Napoleonics completed.

As for the future I don't sadly see anything particularly grabbing my attention and sending me into a furious paint-brush wielding frenzy. I have rather naughtily picked up some reinforcements for my "Horus Heresy" army, as well as a few more miniatures from the seemingly relentless figure factory known as "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". But all these models have been 'safely packed away' so they don't impinge upon the long line of "Games Workshop" and "7TV" inspired miniatures I already have snaking their way across my hobby table.