"Across The Dead Earth" - WIP - Part Four

Cod Wars WIPs - I've repainted their boots a darker brown and started their blue slacks

Having recently finished my 'Queenie and her Peelers' State gang for the post-apocalyptic skirmish wargame “Across The Dead Earth” by "Dead Earth Games", I have spent some time basing, undercoating and painting some of the other models from "West Wind Productions" which I plan to use with the rules. These models are from the "Empire Of The Dead" boxed set EOTD-15 Nemo And The Crew Of The Nautilus and will be the humble beginnings of a rival force based upon Captain Clarence Birdseye and his Icelanders; a group of salty seadogs holed up in a frozen food supermarket located close to the Thames docklands.

More "EotD" WIPs - Two more seadogs for Captain Birdseye and an alternative Queenie

Since starting work on the 'advertising mascot' and his cronies, I've subsequently based another two of the models from his boxed set, and a second figure of Queen Victoria. This particular model doesn't carry the formidable rail-gun Andy Cooper has sculpted the other version with. But I thought Her Majesty might make a nice objective marker or something nonetheless.

Long Dead WIPs - A green wash over a "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey undercoat

Lastly, inspired by the "AtDE" expansion "From Sea To Poisoned Sea" and "the terrifying Sollus - the soulless and unknowing dead" I have also started to test paint some of the miniatures from the boxed set EOTD-05 Victorian Zombies. For now I just wanted to see how some old 'out of production' pots of "Citadel" Thrakka Green worked as an undead flesh shade over a pink undercoat... clearly the wash needs to be watered down somewhat.

Zombicide Report: Queen Victoria, Zorro And Frankenstein's Monster Verses The Nazi Undead

QUEEN VICTORIA, ZORRO AND FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER BATTLE NAZI ZOMBIES

This game was played using the ‘Season One’ rules of “Zombicide” by “Guillotine Games” and as we were attempting the mission C14 “Do You Want Fries With That?” we used the Tiles 5B, 6C, 5C and 7B. Because I dislike playing with unpainted miniatures, and have plenty of “Secrets Of The Third Reich” zombies ready for the table we simply swapped the Survivors, Walkers, Runners and Fatties with some of my previously finished “West Wind Productions” models… as well as one by “Boot Hill Miniatures” and another by “Graven Images”.

“The story so far… It is 1945 and in a last desperate effort to hold off the Allied advance, the Fuhrer has flooded the streets of Berlin with the Walking Dead. Desperate to protect the capital’s civilian population as well as oust the Nazi menace, General Eisenhower has deployed a top secret multi-national commando force to enter the heart of the Third Reich and put an end to the zombie infestation as swiftly as possible. Consisting of three of the Allies greatest warriors, intermittently thawed from icy tombs whenever their countries have need of them, the Free World’s finest have already saved hundreds of German evacuees lives. But now food is getting scarce as well as petrol. Fortunately military intelligence has identified not only a huge nearby restaurant complete with larder. But there is a small fuel depot nearby as well. Armed with this information, a couple of pistols, a crowbar and a fire axe, Queen Victoria, Zorro and Frankenstein’s Monster must reach the diner, bring back some crates of food and if at all possible, raid the fuel dump as well…”

THE TABLETOP - A RESTAURANT SOMEWHERE IN WESTERN BERLIN

Before we began Queen Victoria received a pistol, Frankenstein’s Monster was awarded the Slippery skill, and Zorro given +1 free move action. The objective was simple in that the Allied Special Forces Team simply had to bring back to the Exit Zone six crates of food from the restaurant. All the rules of the scenario, such as ‘Can Crates Are Heavy’ and ‘The Old Man Said We’d Better Not Use The Main Entrance’ were followed. This meant that the game started with Zorro wielding a pistol, Frankenstein’s Monster a fire axe and Queen Victoria a pistol and crowbar.

The game started with the heroes beginning the mission in the north-west corner. Queen Victoria immediately therefore crowbarred open the door to the building right by her and started filling the two zombies inside the first room with lead. Upon realising there was a third hungry cadaver in the small building’s other room, Zorro rushed in and shot the putrefying corpse dead with his pistol. Frankenstein’s Monster entered the building and started to search for something better than a fire axe. But all he found was another zombie. Fortunately a quick chop from the huge monster’s hand-weapon took the zed’s head clean off.

QUEEN VICTORIA LEADS THE ALLIED CHARGE AGAINST THE GERMAN UNDEAD

Searching around the room again, ‘Big Frank’ discovered a sawed off shotgun and then broke down the premise’s eastern door. Outside he saw a zombie shambling towards him from the north. Zorro also searched the two-roomed building and located a pistol. The ‘dashing blade’ then joined ventured outside onto the street but failed to hit the approaching brain-eater with his pistol. Queen Victoria joined her companions. But also missed the shambling cadaver. To their horror they spotted a second zombie behind it and heard a terrible dog-like growl someway off to the south-east.

ZORRO AND HER MAJESTY SHUDDER AT THE FAR OFF ROAR OF A NAZI MONSTER

Queen Victoria gave the closest zombie a quick bashing with her crowbar, and before the ghoul’s brains had dried, she had shot the second one behind it with her pistol. Ma’am certainly meant business and raced south towards two cadavers shambling towards the noise from the southern end of the street. Zorro joined Her Majesty, and managed to fell one of the zeds with his pistol. Frankenstein’s Monster searched the building he was in for a third time, and finding a rifle stepped east outside and gunned down the last of the Nazi Undead on the street. Suddenly however another living corpse rose up out of the sewer beside Zorro and went for the swashbuckler’s brains…

FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER SHOWS JUST WHAT A DEAD-SHOT HE IS WITH A RIFLE

Pressing his pistol to the corpse’s head, Zorro dispatched the gory fiend. Meanwhile Queen Victoria opened the fuel depot’s door and was delighted to find no zombies inside. However having found some gasoline and a rifle, she discovered there was a zed hidden in the small supply dump after all. Frankenstein’s Monster lumbered up to Zorro’s position. Unable to help the Empress of the British Empire, they watched as Queen Victoria was wounded, and then shivered as a second loud dog-like roar issued from the south-east. Worse a shrill howl to the south alerted the heroes to the sudden appearance of a werewolf.   

QUEEN VICTORIA CLAIMS THE FUEL DEPOT FOR HERSELF AND COUNTRY

Taking the crowbar in her Imperial hand, Queen Victoria bludgeon the zombie attacking her to death, grabbed a shotgun and stepped back onto the street alongside Zorro and ‘Big Frank’. It was clear that the team were never going to quickly fight their way round to the restaurant’s eastern door, so they decided to break in through the diner’s western door [Point One] even though they knew it was alarmed and was thus bound to attract additional attention. Frankenstein’s Monster kicked open the eaterie’s door and turned around to see just two zombies, attracted by the noise, emerging from the far western street edge [Point Two]. Inside the restaurant, the dining area was thankfully clear of the undead but from the groans it was clear two of the ravenous cadavers were in the toilets to the north. Determining that the werewolf was the greatest threat ‘Big Frank’ blasted the lycanthrope with his rifle. Meanwhile the ‘Flashing Blade’ slipped into the restaurant and gunned down the two corpses in the bathroom with his pistol.

THE NAZI UNDEAD START TO SWARM THE ALLIED FORCES

Realising that they needed to clear the street of the undead before they could grab any of the food, Zorro emerged west from out of the diner and fired at the two zombies approaching from the far west table edge. Unfortunately he missed both. Fortunately Queen Victoria joined him and blew both of the shuffling cadavers away with her shotgun. This brought Her Majesty’s experience up into the yellow zone, and gave her another action. A moment later and she had bought down a zed far away to the north with her rifle. Confident his companions could handle any zombies outside Frankenstein’s Monster readied himself to break down the toilet’s northern door. Suddenly however the streets around the restaurant were simply packed with the walking dead as four walkers appeared from the south and three from the north.

'BIG FRANK' BREAKS DOORS AS ZORRO AND QUEEN VICTORIA TAKE NAMES

To make matters worse ‘Big Frank’ bashed open the bathroom’s door and found four more zombies behind it. Frankenstein’s Monster fired his rifle three times and two of the fiends dropped to the tiled floor. Queen Victoria aimed her rifle at the group of shuffling cadavers approaching from the south and stunningly ‘killed’ all of them. Zorro moved south to confront the other brain-hungry corpses but then only brought down one of the fiends with his pistol. A moment later saw the undead close in upon both ‘the Spanish Fox’ and Frankenstein’s Monster.

THE GERMAN UNDEAD START TO OVERWHELM ZORRO AND FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER

There was still hope for the heroes however if they could battle through the next turn and take down their putrid foes. But they never got the chance as all walker’s were awarded another activation and both Zorro and Frankenstein’s Monster fell before the undead’s clawing hands and snapping teeth. Sensing defeat was near at hand, and spotting a third Were-Rottweiler and its two long-dead German companions nearby, Queen Victoria hastened north-west to the extraction point. Next time she’d bring more soldiers…

TWO HEROES FALL BEFORE THE NAZI ZOMBIE HORDE

Disappointingly the Allied Forces had failed to recover any food for the starving German evacuees. But at least Queen Victoria had survived. This medium mission is actually recommended for four survivors or more. But if it hadn’t been for the extra walker activation card being drawn both Zorro and Frankenstein’s Monster should have been able to cope with the foes before them, even with the horribly high zombie spawns.

For those interested in finding out a bit more about the new "IDW Publishing" comic book adventures of Frankenstein’s Monster then my reviews of the first couple of issues can be found here:
Joe Frankenstein #1     Joe Frankenstein #2

"You Can Just Call Me Ben."

"That's your idea of stability? Bring in captain zombie?"

This 28mm plastic model of Captain Ben Daimio from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is made by “Wizkids. It is model 006 from the Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. “Heroclix” Action Pack. A former United States Marine who 'died' in the Bolivian Jungle, this were-jaguar was created by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis in 2004 and features in the “B.P.R.D.” comic book by “Dark Horse Comics”.

In order to ‘cover-up’ the miniature’s pre-paint the entire figure was undercoated with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. I then painted Daimio's trousers and top with "Citadel" Abaddon Black. The original colour scheme also had the ex-soldier wearing black boots. But in order to break up so monotonous an appearance I decided to give his footwear a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. To make his firearm's holster and belt also somewhat 'stand out' I painted them with some Heavy Brown. All these areas were then washed with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Ben’s pistol was simply picked out with "Citadel" Ironbreaker and then given a two applications of Nuln Oil to help really darken the weapon.

Invasion Cybermen WIPs - Just need to be dry-brushed and have some minute details picked out

Having previously sorted through my “Doctor Who” lead mountain I have finally managed to wash all seven of my "Black Tree Design" Cybermen with black shade in preparation for dry-brushing them.

Doctor Who WIPs - Twenty year-old minis which may yet be salvageable

I have also found a few more of the Cornwall-based manufacturer’s miniatures which I probably started to paint some twenty years ago and have dusted them down ready for re-painting. I certainly plan to use the Dalek as a test-piece to see whether by just giving the model a quick black wash I can achieve a similar effect to the time-consumingly tricky 'black-lining' technique I used to employ on my Kaled Mark III travelling machines. I'm pretty confident I can simply tidy up and continue to paint the Ancient Haemovore and the Fourth Doctor; although the Timelord's face will undoubtedly need re-working and highlighting.

"Stay On The Road. Keep Clear Of The Moors."

"I vote we go back to The Slaughtered Lamb"

These eight 28mm metal miniatures are made by “SLAP Miniatures” and come from Stuart Powley’s Moon Howler’s range. They can actually be bought individually but as I wanted multiples of each in order to create a reasonably sized pack, I purchased mine as part of their He-Wolf set of six figures deal. Each pewter model comprises of a separate body, and a tab containing the were-wolf’s arms, head and tail.

 "There aren't any coyotes in England"

Having assembled these models with the aid of some superglue and “Citadel” Green Stuff I undercoated each lycanthrope with a base colour. As I wanted to have a mixture of different-looking furry fiends I used several different undercoats such as “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, Charred Brown, and Heavy Sienna, as well as “Citadel” Dark Flesh, Khemri brown and Adeptus Battlegrey. The brown-coloured miniatures were then liberally washed with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Whilst the grey models were given a coat of “Citadel” Nuln Oil. All the models were then dry-brushed with more of their base colour. 

 "I walk the Earth in limbo until the werewolf's curse is lifted"

Interestingly this technique didn’t seem to work out all that well for the figure painted using “Vallejo” Heavy Bluegrey, so as a result I applied another wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil over this particular model once its dry-brush had dried. All the models’ claws were then picked out with “Vallejo” White before being dabbed with some more of “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Their eyes were painted with dots of “Vallejo” Dark Vermillion.

I really must thank Bryan over on his blog "Vampifan’s World Of The Undead" for bringing these to my attention, and Stuart, who owns “SLAP Miniatures”, for an excellent service.

"Fun Times! Blood Times! Hee-Hee-He-Hee!"

"Your death will be the Hyena's last laugh!"

This 28mm plastic model of The Hyena is made by “Wizkids". It is model 004 from the DC Comics “Heroclix” Legacy expansion set. Bitten by a were-hyena whilst in Africa with the Peace Corps, this super-villainess was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom in 1978 and first featured in the “Firestorm” comic book by “DC Comics”.

In order to ‘cover-up’ the miniature’s bright red pre-paint I initially undercoated the model with a couple of layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Red before washing it with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade in order to ‘muddy’ the colour somewhat. The model was then dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Red before I dabbed in some hyena-spots around the character’s shoulders and chest using some more Strong Tone Quickshade.

Having allowed these areas to dry I then delicately brushed over them with "Vallejo" Heavy Red in order to try and somewhat blend them in with the surrounding fur. Once finished I picked out her teeth and claws with White. Both of these areas were then dirtied with another quick coat of “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade. Summer Day’s eyes were created using a couple of dabs of “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre.

General Solo WIP - Han's boots, trousers and jacket have already been painted and inked

Like so many science fiction fans recently, I was rather excited by the final few seconds of the trailer to J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”. So much so that it actually made me want to paint up a couple of appropriate “Wizards Of The Coast” plastic figures. I already own a rather large assortment of these miniatures. But have always resisted painting any because of the huge range in size and quality of the game’s sculpts. 

On this occasion however I thought I'd make an exception but having pawed through my collection I simply couldn’t find a suitable model which really fitted the bill as a silver-haired smuggler. Thus I eventually ended up buying one which looked to be similar in size to the vast majority of my 28mm model collection on "Ebay". In addition I also bought a rather nice looking Wookie Scoundrel figure to represent the rebel's stalwart co-pilot Chewbacca. 

Chewie WIP - After several brown washes and dry-brushes, Chewbacca's belt has finally been 'picked out'

Unfortunately when the figures arrived it was very clear that the pair didn’t look quite right alongside one another, as Han Solo was almost as tall as his hairy companion. As a result I located a second Wookie Freedom Fighter miniature I already owned and which was a little taller, and super-glued that figure to a 40mm circular base instead.

Painting Challenge 2015: Fortnight Four - 6mm Edenite Zombie Horde By “Steel Crown Productions”

Here's Two I Did Earlier - A couple of previously painted Edenite Zombie Horde bases

This fortnight’s personal painting challenge is an especially simple one in that all I have to do is paint something from my 6mm collection; be it a base of miniatures or perhaps a piece of scenery.

Last year I actually spent a fair amount of my time quietly building up a collection of “Modern Micro Armour” figures by “GHQ” in order to play a few games of “Battlefield Evolution Modern Combat” by “Mongoose Publishing”. Long-time followers of this blog will know that after a few months work I managed to finish painting both a modest British Army force complete with Land Rovers and Saxon armoured personnel carriers, as well as a similarly sized Middle Eastern Alliance contingent, predominantly consisting of Fedayeen troops. I even completed several resin buildings from the North African Building range by “Baccus 6mm” and some irregularly shaped MDF tiles by “Hurlbat” to represent some Built Up Areas. However I never found myself in a position to actually play any battles.

Undead WIPs - A white undercoat and Green wash helps bring out the details of these little horrors

As a result I immediately thought for this fortnight’s challenge that I might just paint up another base of frontline assets for my Middle Eastern Alliance force, or perhaps one more “Baccus 6mm” resin dwelling and then ‘get a game in.’ But having scrambled around in my 6mm drawer I stumbled upon a load of loose zombie figures made by “Steel Crown Productions”. These wonderfully detailed little fellows are from the company’s “Exodus Wars” range and are entitled “Edenite Zombie Horde”. Searching deeper into my 6mm stash I also discovered I’d previously painted and based two stands of these models and so a thought struck me… tabletop “Zombicide” in 6mm.

British Infantry approach a Middle Eastern settlement and encounter 'the Walking Dead'

I would certainly need to paint up a fair few of my “Exodus Wars” zombies to populate a sizable smattering of undead stands for such a venture, probably enough for another eight bases or so. But apart from that I would have all I need for a trial game of sorts using the standard rules by "Guillotine Games". The “Hurlbat” tiles, which come in different shapes and sizes, will even work as haphazard movement zones, with the boardgame's one-roomed buildings being represented by BUAs. It's a plan at least, and another mini-project...

"We Are Not Amused."

"We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist."

Back in November last year I started a rather popular series of postings dedicated to the post-apocalyptic skirmish wargame “Across The Dead Earth” by "Dead Earth Games". Inspired by both some great Battle Reports by the likes of Simon over on his "Brummie's Wargaming Blog" and the ever friendly “Across The Dead Earth Gaming Group” Facebook page, I managed to construct a handful of 28mm scale wooden Commercial Style Buildings by "Wargame-Model-Mods" and paint up some London Bobbies from the "Empire Of The Dead" range by “West Wind Productions” to use as a State-based gang. Unfortunately since then things have gone somewhat quiet. Until now…

This 28mm character model of Queen Victoria is (also) by “West Wind Productions” and is code COTD-08 Queen Vic Gun. The model was initially undercoated with “Citadel” Abaddon Black before her ‘Gatling gun’ was painted using Boltgun Metal and “Vallejo” Gold. These areas were then washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade respectively. Her Majesty’s blue sash was painted with “Vallejo” Heavy Blue and “Citadel” Asurmen Blue. For the Monarch’s white bonnet, I washed the area with “Vallejo” Pale Grey before dry-brushing more White across the highly-detailed lace material. To help highlight the Queen’s splendid dress frills I dry-brushed these areas with Heavy Charcoal before applying a final wash of “Citadel” Nuln Oil over the entire garment.

Cod Wars WIPs - Having been based these salty sea-dogs will predominantly be painted brown, blue and cream 

‘Queenie’ is going to be the leader of my ‘Peelers’, a no-nonsense hard-nosed State gang, who have been inspired by some of the costumes they found having raided a derelict Madame Tussauds and long abandoned Black Museum.

As opposition I’ve started painting a few of the models from the “West Wind Productions” boxed set EOTD-15 Nemo And The Crew Of The Nautilus. I’ve actually got the other character version of Nemo as part of “The Empire Of The Dead Kickstarter”, so thought this model of him would be suitable to represent that feared seadog of the pre-Nuclear Age dinner table, Captain Clarence Birdseye; a local merchant who holds court in a dilapidated "Iceland" supermarket. This particular gang will vie for control of the profitable trade around the Thames docklands.

More Werewolf WIPs - These fanged fiends simply need their claws washed with a brown shade to be finished

I’m also just finishing off the basing of these three 40mm metal werewolves by “SLAP Miniatures”. After these are flocked with static grass I just have two more to complete and I'll be able to table a suitably-sized were-gang for my “DC Comics” super-villainess the Hyena.