"Under Their Master's Gaze, They Felt Invincible"

I've finished painting the first five of fifteen “Heroclix” Moloids I plan to use for some adventures of the 'Caped Crusader' using the ruleset “7TV” by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”. Created by the Deviants in the Marvel Comics Universe, the majority of these followers of the Mole Man are the Rookie miniature from the “Critical Mass” Marvel Heroclix expansion (#001). I actually struggled to find even a single model for under £5.00 on Ebay.co.uk (including postage), let alone the double figures I wanted, so they were purchased as part of a much larger order I eventually made from American Webstore Troll And Toad, and cost approximately just £0.93 each.

As part of my move away from all things "Games Workshop" these plastic Mole People were predominantly painted with Vallejo paints, with their flesh initially having an undercoat of Heavy Warmgrey before being given a liberal wash of Fleshtone Shade. Their eye goggles were painted using a combination of Gunmetal Grey and Black Shade, whilst their rock clubs were undercoated either with Heavy Bluegrey or Heavy Charcoal before also being washed with Black Shade. The Subterraneans’ loincloths were painted with Heavy Sienna. However a wash of Umber Shade proved disappointing so they were then washed with either Devlan Mud (RIP) or Agrax Earthshade; both washes/shades by Citadel (Games Worskhop).

Each model was then given a coat of Gloss Varnish by Games Workshop, before being based using a combination of Citadel’s Doombull Brown, Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade. Clumps of Citadel Static Grass were then PVA’d to the bases. Unfortunately the grass has not turned out as sporadically as I anticipated, with some of the bases being positively overgrown with flora (especially unsuitable for a race of underground cave-dwellers). As a result, I may well re-base these models over the next few weeks.

My attention over the next fortnight will now turn to painting some more Heroclix models, this time ones representing the officers of the Gotham City Police Department, including Commissioner Jim Gordon. In addition, I've also started working on a Batmobile (utilising the 1989 “Batman” movie version). The model is metal, so I've had to screw it to its base in order to ensure it removes intact.

Blutkreuz Korps Untertoten Squad

I've managed to complete my Blutkreuz Korps Untertoten Squad, and enjoyed painting these "Dust Tactics" models so much that I've ordered a second boxed set off Ebay.

 The models are predominantly painted in “Vallejo” Heavy Orange and then liberally washed with Umber Shade in order to give them the 'penal inmate look' I wanted. I then gave their flesh a coat of Heavy Bluegrey and a wash of Green Shade. I 'picked out' some of their facial details with more Heavy Bluegrey, and then slightly smudged them so as to lessen their stark contrast with the areas washed with the Green Shade. Each "Axis Zombie" was then given a mouthful of bloody guck that dripped down their front, using a combination of Fleshtone Shade and Red Shade. Each model’s panzer glove was painted with Gunmetal Grey before being washed with Black Shade. The rivets and fittings of the close combat weapons were then treated to a wash of watered down Copper. Once dry, these areas were dry brushed with more Gunmetal Grey.

 My enthusiasm for the “Dust Tactics” range continues to go from strength to strength although I have experienced some initial doubts as to the colour I've selected for the “Grim Reapers” armour. The box artwork for the Allied unit clearly depicts light grey attire, but having applied a similarly coloured undercoat to the models, the Heavy Ranger Attack Squad appeared too close to the Early Panzer Grey scheme ordinarily attributed to German forces. This was despite the Rocket punching troopers wearing armour almost identical to that of the “Red Devils”. I have attempted to use Heavy Brown as an alternative, but shelved this idea after it made the Victory MG dual wielding soldiers appear too like the German ‘Afrika Korps’. Instead, I've now undercoated all three models in Heavy Grey in order to replicate the colour of the “Red Devils”, and establish a consistent green-brown look to all of my “Dust Tactics” Allied Forces.   

Axis Zombie

Despite me only starting to work on my Blutkreuz Korps Untertoten Squad a little over a week ago, I've already finished the first of the five “Axis Zombies”, and frankly there is little left to be done on the boxed set’s remaining four plastic models. Indeed this Undead painting project has gone so well I'm almost certain to buy a second box of Blutkreuz Zombies during the next couple of weeks.

I'm once again really enjoying painting the “Dust Tactics” 30mm model range by “Fantasy Flight”. so much so that I've already re-based the three models from the boxed set “Grim Reapers” in preparation to start painting them over the next few days.

Red Devils

Some six months after I first started painting them I've finally finished the three “Red Devils” by “Fantasy Flight”. I've struggled with my enthusiasm for this £8.99 30mm plastic boxed set (ordered from "Maelstorm Games") as I've found both the sculpting on the "Dust Tactics" models to be ‘soft’ and some of their details impossibly hard to reach with a paintbrush. As a result the majority of each soldier has simply been painted with “Vallejo” Heavy Grey and an equal mix of Umber Shade and Black Shade wash.

Fortunately the models have somewhat been improved by applying some allied decals I recently purchased from the Ebay store “1/144 Direct”. Costing £6.30 (including postage and packaging) the “1/144 - 1/160 Decals British Armour Divisions Europe 44-45 Tank 001” sheet has enabled me to give each model a 20” allied star on its armour, along with its arms of service serial number (in this case the Armed Recon Regiment), its bridge classification plate (2 tons) and its squadron marking (Senior Regiment 'A'). I've tried to place these decals on the 'armoured' models in the spirit of British military tank markings.

Work In Progress: Red Devils

I'm finally close to completing the three British Paratrooper models I've been 'working on' from the "Dust Tactics" “Red Devils” boxed set by "Fantasy Flight Games". Some five months after this mini-project originally started, I've actually varnished and based the second of my Third Para Brigade miniatures and, despite some repainting being required, am close to having the Heavy Grey "Vallejo" armour of the third model finished.

Unfortunately, this third Red Devil is proving even more frustrating to paint than the first, thanks to the model having some especially difficult areas to reach with a paintbrush. Worse, the equal mix of Umber Shade and Black Shade wash I used for their armour, has come out far darker on this soldier than it did on its two colleagues; so instead of pooling naturally, it has simply dried as it was applied and left plenty of splodgey brush stokes visible as a result. I've now applied a second coat of Heavy Grey to these problem areas in the hope that a further “Vallejo” wash will better settle.  

This poor-looking armour has lead to me ordering a set of allied decals “1/144 - 1/160 Decals British Armour Divisions Europe 44-45 Tank 001” from the Ebay store “1/144 Direct”. Hopefully once I've applied an allied star and a couple of insignia to each model I'll have masked some of their painting deficiencies.

Once I've finished working on these “Red Devils” I plan to turn my attention to the five Blutkreuz Korps Untertoten Squad models that make up the “Axis Zombies” boxed set. I'd like to get these finished before any of my "Dreadball" or "Judge Dredd" Kickstarter models arrive.

Brother Blog For 10mm Projects

In order to try and maintain a bit of motivation, I've created a second blog that will concentrate on a number of 10mm projects I plan to complete over the next few years. Essentially a mass armies affair, I hope to use it to record my excusions into the world of "Pike and Shotte", "Black Powder" and "Hail Caesar".

First up is the English Civil War, using "Pendraken Miniatures" with the "Pike and Shotte" rule set. The new blog can be found here: http://tenyearsandcountingdown.blogspot.co.uk/

I also hope to give this blog a good many updates in the run up to Christmas, largely thanks to the "Mongoose Publishing" Judge Dredd and "Mantic Games" Dreadball Kickstarters. But also some "Heroclix", "Crooked Dice" and "Project Pandora" stuff I've been pottering with on and off.

Red Devil

This British Paratrooper is one of three Third Para Brigade models from "Dust Tactics" by "Fantasy Flight Games". As with the Axis Gorillas I dislike the 'metal effect' bases, so repositioned it on a 40mm lipped base from the Ebay store Arcane Scenery.

The model was initially given a coat of Heavy Grey "Vallejo" paint and then heavily washed with an equal mix of Umber Shade and Black Shade. The 60W Phaser Gun was painted with Gunmetal Grey and Black Shade, before being drybrushed with more Gunmetal Grey to bring out the detail. The phaser weapon's tubing and the Paratrooper's Red Beret were picked out with Heavy Red and Red Shade. The face was painted with Heavy Skintone and Fleshtone Shade.

I must confess to be rather unhappy as to how this soldier has turned out, especially as the painted examples on the box look so good. Especially disappointing is how obviously plastic the model is. Indeed in some of the harder to reach areas (e.g. under the arms) detail had clearly been lost in the casting process, and some edges appeared jagged and almost torn. As a result I've found my enthusiasm for this project quickly disappearing, to the point where I'm struggling mightily to complete the remaining two miniatures from the box.

In the meantime I'm painting up some more 10mm Russian and German Early Winter War infantry and some scenery by "Pendraken Miniatures". This building is from their resin scenery "PS41 WWII Russian tiled hut, rendered walls" and the broken 50mm x 50mm "Dragon's Teeth" are part of "GR209 Tank Traps".