"Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!"

"My Terminators are watching you!"

This 28mm pre-painted plastic “Wizkids” model of Tomás de Torquemada is miniature number 107 from the Indy “Heroclix” range. Originally created as simply the leader of Termight's Tube Police "in the British comic anthology 2000 A.D.", the arch-villain would quickly rise to become the "dictator of the entire human race" and was created by Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill for the 1980 serial "Nemesis The Warlock".

This miniature was initially undercoated with "Citadel" Abaddon Black before having both his armour and axe painted using a combination of Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil. The Grand Master of Terra was then dry-brushed with more Ironbreaker and subsequently had his belt 'picked out' with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, his axe-handle layered with Iraqi Sand and finally his chest emblem emboldened with Gold. All of these areas were treated to a wash of either "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade or "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Crusader II WIPs - The tank has had a green "cloud-shaped patches" camouflage pattern applied to it

Torquemada's sweeping purple cape was first given a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Violet, then washed with the "Citadel" Shade, Druchii Violet, and carefully dry-brushed with some additional "Vallejo" Heavy Violet. As a last touch, I dabbed a little "Citadel" Chaos Black into the sculpt's eye sockets and then tidied them up by using pure Ironbreaker.

Having recently played my "First Game" of the "Battle Of El Alamein - War In The Desert", using the simple scenario presented within the "Battlefront Miniatures" Battle Box starter booklet, I have started applying some green camouflage to my British Crusader II plastic tank. To be honest this vehicle was far from impressive during its debut on the tabletop. Not only did it seem incapable of actually hitting a German Panzer with its 2 pounder gun, but it similarly appeared unable to survive being struck on its front armour; supposedly the thickest and best protected part of the tank.

Boromite Ganger WIPs - The extra-terrestrial tunneller has had all his weaponry 'picked out' and washed 

As a result I thought some "cloud-shaped patches", as found in the recently released "Desert Rats" "Flames Of War" hard-backed rule-book, might help matters somewhat. Certainly the camouflage will help make the vehicle 'stand out' as part of my Crusader Armoured Squadron HQ.

  Finally, I have been persevering on the first of my Boromite Gangers for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares". The sheer amount of detail on this miniature, such as its numerous plates of reflex armour and plasma carbine, is quite breath-taking, and I now realise it's going to take a lot of patience in order to finish even just my three-man Overseer Squad during the next few days.

"The Hale And Hearty Wilted Before The Pestilent Storm..."

"...And the very lands heaved with vile corruptions, the ground churning with unnatural growths."

These two 28mm Plaguebearers come from the “Games Workshop” Plaguebearers of Nurgle boxed set, and have been painted identically to the other plaguesword-wielding servants of the Great Unclean One I have recently added to my ever-expanding Befouling Host of Nurgle. Indeed, with these grotesque multi-part plastic miniatures finished, my unit of pimple-covered lesser daemons will soon be able to attract so many buzzing flies that in "Age Of Sigmar" they'll force any opponent to "subtract two from" their Hit Rolls made during the Shooting Phase, "as well as subtracting one from any Hit Rolls that targets" them in the Combat Phase.

Despite so much "rancid flesh" still currently awaiting some pigmentation, I have spent a little of my hobby-time over the past few days working on "Wizkids" "Indyclix" model of Torquemada. This formerly pre-painted figure of Termight's one-time Chief of the Tube Police still has some way to go before being finished, but I'm confident once I've completed inking his purple cape that Terra's tyrant will soon be leading a small force of Terminators in some games of "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" by "Ganesha Games".

Torquemada WIP - The Grand Master of Termight has had his flesh and cloak painted

In addition to finishing off some of the miniatures from last month's project, I have also been focusing on a few Boromites from "Beyond The Gates Of Antares". These "roving people with their own distinctive ways" are already proving something of a challenge on account of the sheer detail found upon their sculpts.

Initially I had hoped to simply shade their bumpy grey hide with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before 'picking out' their plasma carbines and attire in a suitably 'easy to paint' colour. But having started work on a test figure from the "Warlord Games" Overseer Squad blister, and been rather taken by the mining race's 'official' yellow colour scheme, I have somewhat changed both tack and palette, and now plan to slowly work my way up each figure, carefully layering their reflex armour, numerous pouches and extra weaponry, before applying the appropriate washes over each area.

Boromite Ganger WIPs - The plasma carbine-carrying soldier has had his reflex armour painted

This extra attention is already adding to the time it is taking me to progress my first Boromite Ganger. However, I'm still reasonably confident that I have days enough left during the coming weeks to finish my three-man Overseer Squad, five-man Gang Fighters and five-man Work Gang (with Mass Compactors). I also think the 'flint-hearted rock-dogs' will look much better for it as well.

As the ultimate goal for this painting push' is my ability to field a 500 point Scouting Force, I have subsequently opened, and started basing/priming an extra box of Gang Fighters and Work Gangers. These 'reinforcements' will take my total model count to twenty-three figures, and once I have upgraded my Overseer to being armed with a Tractor Maul (as per the leader's sculpt) then my Boromite army will fit this selection tally perfectly.

"An Updated Version Of The Classic, Iconic Chaos Warrior..."

"He can also hurl them [Chaos Axes] at cowardly foes who refuse to come close."

This 28mm scale "multi-part resin kit" of Slambo is made by “Games Workshop”, and comes supplied with a "Citadel" 40mm Round base. Originally a Warrior of Chaos Mortal miniature, dating back to "Warhammer Fantasy" Fourth Edition, this updated version of the "Exalted Hero of Chaos" comes armed "with a pair of Chaos Axes which he uses to carve apart enemies at close quarters."

I have previously seen this model painted in both red armour and more recently, green armour. But as I didn't want my 'Slave to Darkness' too closely associated with either Khorne or Nurgle, I ultimately decided to go with Slambo wearing basic plate armour, which I would subsequently 'grunge up' using "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, Agrax Earthshade and Biel-Tan Green. As a result I undercoated the "Age Of Sigmar" figure with "Citadel" Chaos Black and then applied a coat of Ironbreaker over him. Once this had dried, I washed the mortal with Nuln Oil and applied a heavy dry-brush of more Ironbreaker over the entire figure.

With the basic layering completed, I picked out the Legendary Killer's boots and axe staves with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, his knee-guards and roundels with "Vallejo" Brass and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and finally his axe-handles and horns with "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The Glory-seeking Axeman's chainmail was treated to a wash from an old pot of Badab Black.

The Nurglings and Lord of Plagues are swamped by Dryads and Spite Revenants

I have immediately taken advantage of finishing Slambo by fielding him in a couple of 'friendly' battles against a Sylvaneth Force, which additionally uses Stormcast Eternals and Fyreslayers as allies. These games were played using the "Hold Or Die" Battleplan as originally found inside the "Warhammer: Age Of Sigmar" hardback rule-book; a potentially one-sided scenario which reflects "the courageous stand of Jactos Goldenmane's Stormcast Eternals against Khul's Goretide."

For our first game however, we re-imagined my Host's Lord of Plagues leading a ten-strong unit of Plaguebearers, a Rotbringers Sorcerer and some Nurglings into a Sylvaneth Branchwraith's Golden Glade, and disconcertingly finding themselves surrounded by a far superior force whilst "deep in enemy territory". Fortunately, help is supposedly near at hand in the shape of some additional Nurgle units, but my invading party must first "hold out long enough for it to arrive."

Disappointingly, despite the reinforcements supposedly arriving in the Movement Phase of Nurgle's Second Turn, my starting line-up didn't actually survive the initial onslaught long enough to see them, and therefore lost the fight before Slambo, Karanak and a plethora of additional Plaguebearers, Beasts of Nurgle and Bloodletters could even be brought onto the battlefield. Such a dismal performance seemed something of a certainty straight from the scenario's start though, as my usually reliable Chaos Sorcerer, failed to cast a Balewind Vortex with the opening dice roll of the game.

A Treelord dominates the centre of the battlefield, whilst the Lord of Plagues is surrounded and killed

Eager to meet the Forest's Custodians head-on, I also found my slow-moving units getting badly peppered by arrows during the Shooting Phase and even the Cloud of Flies which made hitting my lesser daemons that extra bit harder, failed to save them when so very many missiles were turning the sky black. Admittedly my General impressively slew a handful of Spite Revenants before being brought to his knees, but my Nurglings failed to land a single blow upon a tide of Dryads despite rolling in excess of twenty Attack Dice during the conflict; their +5 to Hit and then +5 to Wound proving especially difficult to achieve.

Sadly the Chaos Gods didn't smile much upon me when we reversed roles and played "Hold Or Die" again either. Though this might have had something to do with the fact that instead of my opponent's meagre invasion force being comprised of a leader and some Battleline fodder as mine had comprised of, the Sylvaneth intruded upon one of Nurgle's swamplands with a Treelord at their helm, along with Kurnoth Hunters, ten Stormcast Eternals and even a Knight Venator, complete with celestial talon-firing star eagle!?!

Despite their great number the Plaguebearers are torn apart by the Stormcast Eternals

Needless to say, much of my entire Host's might was ineffectively dashed against the bark-covered behemoth stood in the centre of the battlefield, and if it hadn't been for a dose of Nurgle's Rot, I doubt the Treelord would've been wounded at all. It was certainly hard for my Nurglings' tiny teeth, no matter how razor sharp, to penetrate any of the wooden sinews of these Guardians of the Deepwood, even when supported by a twenty-model strong unit of Plaguebearers, and two lolloping Beasts Of Nurgle. And that of course, was before any of the Sylvaneth rescuers arrived...

Most demoralising however, was the utter impotence of my Khorne allied contingent, who were literally shot to pieces by some (massively overpowered) Kurnoth Hunters before they even reached their foe. These 'Envoys of the Evergreen' had the ability to fire their deadly greatbows even whilst their tiny Quiverlings incredibly kept Karanak and Slambo at bay with just their vicious claws, and resultantly caused my entire left flank to collapse.

Ultimately this scenario did provide me with a few enjoyable moments as my Rotbringer's Sorcerer almost single-handedly destroyed a unit of Fyreslayers by covering the orange-haired dwarves with a stream of corrupted vomit, and my Herald of Nurgle won his lengthy duel with a Branchwych. True, such victories are minor compared to the battering my Host of Nurgle took, but I'm already looking forward to my next game of "Age Of Sigmar", and the "War Of The Storm".  

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Beyond The Gates Of Antares" April 2017

Boromite WIPs - All these Gangers are wear Reflex Armour

This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my overwhelming collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures has been superseded by my decision to dedicate probably the next couple of months to assembling a 500 point "Scouting Force" of Boromites for "Beyond The Gates Of Antares". I have actually been purchasing numerous miniatures for this "science-fiction skirmish" game produced by "Warlord Games" for some time, and feel its about time I actually got some paint on my 'genetically restructured panhumans.' 

In order to make this project more manageable I have purposely tailored my Boromite Force to one which will only require two dozen or so models, and resultantly will be fielding a scouting party simply lead by an Overseer Squad, armed with plasma carbines and wearing reflex armour. This Infantry Command Unit can be 'bulked out' with all sorts of interesting additions according to the game's rule-book, such as giving the Leader a Lectro Lash or Tractor Maul. Indeed, the 'blister' even contains a Spotter Drone. But for now it'll just contain the Overseer and a couple of Gangers.

Boromite WIPs - These figures are armed with Mass Compactors and Mag Guns

The rest of my 'army' will then be populated by two Gang Fighter five-man squads and two similarly-sized Work Gangs with Mass Compactors. Again these basic Infantry Units have a number of options available to them, like Plasma Grenades, implosion Grenades or Vorpal Charges, as well as the ability to swell their numbers with extra Mag Gun-carrying fighters or improve the quality of their Gang Leader. However, I'll literally only have a handful of points to spare once I've finished painting the basic miniatures up, so won't be including anything too fancy just yet.

As with my gradually growing Host of Nurgle for "Age Of Sigmar" though, I do hope to expand upon this Army List in the near future, and increase its size to a 750 point "Skirmish Force". Not only do I hope this will allow me to 'pimp out' my current units with perhaps some Borer Drones, but include some much needed Boromite Support Teams, Mounted Units and Beast Units. Why I might even pick up a Matronite Brood Mother...

"Flames Of War" Tanks WIPs - A Panzer III, Crusader III and Panzer IV

Fortunately, this considerable undertaking has not in any way dented my current flirtation with the "Battle Of El Alamein - War In The Desert" Battle Box I recently bought, and I have been busily super-gluing together my German Forces. These plastic tank kits by "Battlefront Miniatures" provide the player with a raft of options, so I have put them together as a Panzer III (short 5cm) and Panzer IV (long 5cm).

As I plan to purchase Rommel's Afrika Corps for "Flames Of War" once I've finished painting all these armoured vehicles up, I hope to add a couple of Panzer III (Up-armoured) and Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) tanks to my platoon in the near future, so I can establish just how useful these different German variants are on the battlefield. For now though, I've simply primed my models and given them a wash of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

"Enormous, Bloated Warriors, Festering With Pustules And Plague..."

"Each of their number has been touched by Nurgle..."

This 28mm scale Blightlord is one of the multi-part models which can be assembled from the sprues found within the “Games Workshop” Putrid Blightkings boxed set. Built and painted to represent the leader of "Nurgle's favoured mortal servants" and "blessed with the bite of the daemonfly", this champion is bestowed with four wounds instead of the five-model unit's usual three.

Having super-glued the figure together using the 105-piece plastic kit's instruction booklet, it was initially given an undercoat of “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki before being washed with “Citadel” Thrakka Green. The "rotting murderer" was then dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Khaki and had details such as his horn, open sores and armour ‘picked out’ with “Citadel” Abaddon Black. These areas were subsequently painted using either "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, Heavy Red or Gunmetal Grey, and washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Nuln Oil as appropriate.

 Plaguebearer WIPs - These lesser daemons require a few more washes and their pimples 'picked out'

In addition, in order to try and encapsulate the warrior's Virulent Discharge ability, which can cause any non-Nurgle units within 3 inches to suffer D3 mortal wounds on the roll of a 6, I dabbed a combination of “Citadel” Thrakka Green, Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson over the Blighted Weapon-carrying mortal's flesh. As a last touch all of the Blightlord’s zits were ‘pimped out’ with “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and treated to a coat of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

As I want all my Putrid Blightkings to really stand out on the battlefield, I used both "Vallejo" Brass and the "Citadel" Technical paint Nihilakh Oxide on this figure's hand-weapons. These areas were then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Brass to help blend in the blades' patina.

Tetrap WIPs - These Seventh Doctor monsters have been primed, washed and dry-brushed

With the beginnings of another unit for my Host of Nurgle in the making, I have also been beavering away on the final four miniatures needed to bring my "Age Of Sigmar" Tallyband's Plaguebearer unit up to twenty models strong. I still have some way to go on these remaining lesser daemons, but hope to have their red gore and pimples finished over the next few days.

In order to help break up the potential monotony of so much gore, grunge and acne, I have simultaneously been basing and priming the first three of six Tetraps from "Warlord Games". These impressively large metal "minions of the renegade Time Lady, The Rani" are from the company's "Into The Time Vortex" miniatures range, and first appeared in the 1987 "Doctor Who" BBC Television story "Time and the Rani".

"It Has The Soft, Sticky And Mottled Body Of A Pallid Slug..."

"Beasts of Nurgle are always looking for new friends to play with."

This 28mm scale "finely detailed resin cast kit" of a Beast of Nurgle is made by “Games Workshop”, comes as seven separate "Finecast" components and contains no instructions for assembly whatsoever. Fortunately however, I have already previously built such "a horror on the battlefield" for my Nurgle Host, so was able to use my earlier model as a guide for the super-glue...

Having put my "curious and inquisitive pet" together, and attached it to a 60mm plastic base, I undercoated it with plenty of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown before dousing it in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. The Beast of Nurgle was then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and had both it's claws and tusks painted in Iraqi Sand. These areas were subsequently also washed with Strong Tone Quickshade.

British Tanks WIPs - A Grant, Crusader III and Crusader II

In order to make the "immense slug-like" monstrosity appear somewhat similar in colour to its predecessor, I added some "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Biel-Tan Green to different areas of the creature's rubbery flesh. Indeed, in order to ensure the nightmarish conglomeration's colour palette tied into that of the rest of my "Age Of Sigmar" Rotbringers, I even 'picked out' some of its pimples with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

With this latest addition to my ever-increasing Tallyband of Nurgle finished, I have momentarily allowed myself to be distracted by the "Battle Of El Alamein - War In The Desert" Battle Box. Produced by "Battlefront Miniatures", this introduction to "Flames Of War" comes with five tanks, and I have already assembled those belonging to the British.

The 2T(fru)T virus returns to seek revenge upon Mega-City One's finest lawman

To be honest I'm a little worried as to just how much of a diversion this 15mm World War Two rule-set is going to be, as I had tremendous fun simply gluing together a couple of Crusader tanks, and ensuring that one was a Mark II with a 2 pounder gun, and the other a Mark III with a far more formidable 6 pounder. The kits even come with some wonderfully detailed, albeit tiny, commanders, so I have added one to my Crusader III to make it stand out even more on the battlefield.

The British forces also come with a Grant tank, and whilst this model's guide doesn't allow for any 'options' as the Crusaders did, it was an absolute pleasure to put together. In fact, I've been so taken with these armoured vehicles, that I've already managed to prime them all, wash them, and almost finish their dry-brushing, as well as ordered a 3 x 3 wargames terrain Desert cloth mat from "Deep-Cut Studios"...

"Like The Blood God's Vengeance, Karanak Is Ever Watchful."

"He never sleeps..."

This 28mm scale "finely detailed resin cast kit" of Karanak "contains eight components" and will eventually lead a contingent of allied Flesh Hounds for my "Age Of Sigmar" Host of Nurgle. For now however, he will prowl one of my army's flanks ripping "his prey to shreds with Gore-slick Claws" and consuming "the remnants with his three Savage Maws." 

Once assembled and super-glued upon a "Game Worskhop" 75mm x 42mm oval bike base, the Khorne Chaos Daemon was undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Red and liberally washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. It was then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Heavy Red before having a number of its facial scales 'picked out' with a combination of "Heavy Purple", "Citadel" Druchii Violet and lastly some Carroburg Crimson.

"Karanak possesses a scaly skin, huge teeth, claws, and spines...

With the basic layering of the Blood God's chosen hunter finished, I began working on all the three-headed Flesh Hound's horns and spikes with "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. These areas were subsequently shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and treated to a dry-brush of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand to try and bring out some of the resin's detail. In addition the fearsome creature's teeth and claws were painted using White, before similarly washed with Strong Tone Quickshade.

In order to make Karanak's "Brass Collar of Bloody Vengeance" stand out a little more, something I was especially keen on as the item allows him to "unbind one spell in each Enemy Phase as if he were a wizard", I painted it, along with the animal's metal-tipped tail and symbols of Khorne, using "Vallejo" Gold and Strong Tone Quickshade; having first primed all the areas with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.  

Beast Of Nurgle WIP - This Chaos Daemon just needs several different applications of ink

At £15, half the cost of an entire pack of five resin Flesh Hounds, this miniature initially seemed a little underwhelming. However, on the "Age Of Sigmar" tabletop, the creature appears especially useful when confronting whichever enemy Hero has been selected as his quarry "after Set-Up is complete". For up against this particular foe, Karanak can not only "re-roll failed hit and wound rolls", but "once per game", if within eight inches "of his quarry during your Hero Phase", he can 'summon' an additional "unit of Flesh Hounds..."

With my latest Nurgle allied unit complete, I have turned my attention to bolstering my Rotbringers and started progressing a second Beast of Nurgle in earnest. These wonderful monstrosities can actually kill their opponents by 'showering them with affectionate kisses with "their Slobbering Tongues", and should create a rather deadly duo for my force's other flank.