"Oh, Great Nurgle, Accept This Offering Of Blood And Filth!"

"Witness my devotion and send your might to slither through my clotted veins."

This 40mm tall "favoured mortal servant" of the Plague Lord is one of the five multi-piece figures which can be assembled from the plastic sprues found inside the “Games Workshop” Putrid Blightkings boxed set, and actually follows the box's assembly instructions for Putrid Blightking 5. However, as the miniature's single-cast legs, which disgustingly depict one bloated hooved foot firmly planted upon a small rock formation, are actually also used for the unit's Icon Bearer, I ended up purchasing a second pair of limbs from a 'bitz' seller to use for this particular model.

"Blessed with the bite of the daemonfly", I originally undercoated the "hulking" warrior with "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, before dry-brushing it with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki. I then worked my way up his pustule-covered leg picking out the leather straps which keep his fatty folds in check with "Citadel" Abbadon Black, and painted both his malformed hoof, as well as a nearby 'decorative' skull, using a combination of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

A five-model unit of Putrid Blightkings costs 180 Points in "Age Of Sigmar"

As the relentlessly rotting combatant was predominantly encased in a suit of discoloured plate armour, I carefully 'blocked in' these areas using a base-coat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and some "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. These surfaces were subsequently shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and high-lighted with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. In addition I 'picked out' the Rotbringer's wooden shield, animal fur and a few straps with Heavy Sienna plus a liberal washing of Strong Tone Quickshade. I even managed to get my paintbrush to apply a mix of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to the heavily-armoured fiend's 'hard to reach' dirty undergarment...

Due to the grossly-disfigured mortal being capable of driving "relentlessly through the foe's battle-line and shatter[ing] it apart, before hacking down the survivors with contemptuous ease", I treated its "Blighted Weapon" to a coat of "Vallejo" Brass, a wash of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and some dabs of the "Citadel" Technical paint Nihilakh Oxide. All of these parts were then later dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Brass so as to help blend in the patina.

Cybermen WIPs - The four silver giants have been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Lastly, I set about 'amplifying' the Blightking's "Virulent Discharge" (which can cause either D3 mortal wounds or heal D3 wounds on the roll of a 6+ to "each unit (friend or foe) that is within 3" of any friendly units with this ability"), by 'pimping out' its numerous zits using “Vallejo” Heavy Ochre and a wash of “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. I also dabbed some “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green, Agrax Earthshade and Carroburg Crimson over the decaying flesh to add to its discolouration.

Infinitely easy to progress, have been four wonderfully characterful metal miniatures gifted to me by the excellent Simon Quinton of "Brummie's Wargaming Blog". These particular 'silver giants', now long out of production for arguably obvious reasons, were bought from a private collector and stand an impressive 43mm tall. Initially, I wasn't entirely sure whether to use them as Cyber-giants for my "Black Tree Design" "Doctor Who" Cyber-force, or utilise them as metal/mechanical constructs for "Dungeons & Dragons", so in the end I've simply based them upon some generic 25mm circular stands...

"A Cyber-Megatron Bomb Will Be Delivered."

"We must destroy life on Earth completely. Every living being."

These three 28mm metal Cyberman figures are cast by “Black Tree Design", and quite bizarrely can seemingly only be bought as part of the company's "Doctor Who" boxed set DW1014 - Cyberman (7). A similarly posed sculpt is available separately as Code DW208 - Invasion Cyberman Firing Gun, but that model's left hand is positioned much further along its weapon's barrel. Determined to destroy all life on Earth via the detonation of a megatron bomb, this version of the "race of cyborgs" were created by "Derrick Sherwin, from a story by Kit Pedler", for the November 1968 BBC Television story "The Invasion". 

Each miniature was initially undercoated with a base-coat of "Citadel" Chaos Black. They were then treated to a double layer of Ironbreaker, shaded with Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker. As a last touch, I picked out the end of their firearms with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Putrid Blightking WIPs - The warrior has just needs his bronze hand-weapon to be washed and dry-brushed

With the last of my "Black Tree Design" "Invasion" Cybermen finished I have (once again) turned my attention towards completing the last of the Putrid Blightking multi-piece plastic miniatures I need in order to field a five-man unit for my "Age Of Sigmar" Nurgle Host. This particular piece has proved a little more time-consuming than I anticipated on account of me originally mistakenly believing that the vast majority of the figure was blubbery flesh, as opposed to grimy plate armour.

This error caused me to prime the formidable-looking brute using some "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green, and resultantly, I have been forced to carefully 'block in' the massive warrior's 'hard to reach' armour using "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey. In addition I seemed to have selected the most difficult "Games Workshop" shield to paint imaginable, whose delicate brass work apparently just 'melts' into the wooden shield at its edges, rather than come to any discernible halt; an annoyance which has meant I've had to paint in detail which isn't actually on the miniature itself...

Blooded Saek WIPs - The Khorne Worshipper needs his axe and skull mask to be finished

Sticking with "Age Of Sigmar" I've not managed to have as much time for this month's mini-project, Garrek's Reavers, as I would have liked. However, that doesn't mean for an instant that I haven't made any progress at all upon my Chaos "Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire" warband, as I've managed to nearly finish Blooded Saek.

This particular Blood Reaver is one of the two Khorne models needed in order to play the "action-packed combat" game's quick-start sheet, so, as I've previously painted Garrek Gorebeard, I could be tempted once Saek's been varnished and flocked to momentarily turn my attention towards the Liberators Severin Steelheart and Angharad Brightshield instead. For now though the mighty axe-man still needs his fearsome hand-weapon to be layered and washed, as well as his skull-mask shaded and blooded. 

"Great Big Absorbing Creature From Outer Space..."

"Interesting. A sort of Absorbatrix? Absorbaclon? Absorbaloff?"

This 33mm tall metal miniature of an Abzorbalovian is manufactured by “Warlord Games” and can be found in the Abzorbaloff & Victor Kennedy boxed set from their "Into The Time Vortex" range. Able to "absorb his victims' bodies, along with their memories and consciousnesses, into himself at a simple touch", the Abzorbaloff  was created by nine-year-old William Grantham as part of a Blue Peter competition to design a monster for "Doctor Who", and appeared in the June 2006 story "Love And Monsters".

The figure was initially undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki, heavily shaded with "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green and dry-brushed with some additional "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki. His clawed toes and fingers were subsequently picked out with "Citadel" Abaddon Black and "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, before being washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. 

Cult Of Skaro WIPs - Dalek Thay and Dalek Caan, plus an additional drone

As the detailed sculpt contains the partially-absorbed heads of Ursula, Mr Skinner, Bliss, and Bridget (L.I.N.D.A. - London Investigation 'n' Detective Agency), I decided to try and make these stand out a bit more by washing them with a spot of Strong Tone Quickshade, and later lightly dry-brushing each face with some "Vallejo" Heavy Khaki and Heavy Skintone. In addition I straightened the extra-terrestrial's somewhat bent limitation field cane and 'picked out' its end using a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

With  my inhabitant of the planet Clom completed, I have started work on getting my "Maximum Extermination!" expansion set on the tabletop. Perhaps surprisingly though, I haven't yet actually started painting any of the metal and resin miniatures which come inside the box, but instead begun progressing the final two plastic Dalek models I need in order to be able to field a fully-fledged Cult of Skaro.

Copyright "Warlord Games" - General Staal and his Sontarans

I had initially intended to simply field these three one-time ordinary drone units using a single Faction Recruitment Card taken from the Nottingham-based company's Davros & the New Dalek Empire expansion set. However, each of the members of the cult, Caan, Thay and Jast (as well as their all-black leader Sec) now all come with their own unique Recruitment Cards. Resultantly, I've already got an idea for fielding the foursome against some of the "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" rule-set's other alien factions to see how they get on 'alone'...

In addition, "Warlord Games" have now released some additional details regarding next month's Sontaran-based releases, with General Staal currently taking centre-stage. Accompanied by two bodyguards, "The Undefeated" officer looks set to be a formidable force with "Wounds (3)", "Concentrated Fire!" and the "Commander (Sontarans)" ability, as well as generating two highly-valuable Fate Tokens.

"Master Of All Matter!"

"Rassilon's discovery, all mine. I shall have supreme power over the universe."

This 28mm metal model of the Master is produced by “Black Tree Design", and can be bought from their "Doctor Who" range as code DW431 Decaying Master. Sculpted to replicate the emaciated renegade Time Lord when he was rescued by Chancellor Goth on the planet Tersurus, this incarnation of the Master sought the power of the Eye of Harmony in order to "restart his regeneration cycle, even though Gallifrey would be destroyed by doing so", and first appeared in the October 1976 BBC Television story “The Deadly Assassin”.

The miniature was initially undercoated with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The despicable villain was then shaded with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before having his putrefying hands and face 'picked out' with a combination of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

Sontaran WIPs - Stike, Linx and Varl have all been primed and dry-brushed

As a final touch I painted the time-travelling fiend's 'soulless' eyes with "Vallejo" Dead White, and 'pooled' a little Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter" over them. I also tried to highlight the Master's skeletal teeth with (more) "Vallejo" Dead White, but found the tiny detail incredibly difficult to find with my brush-tip. In the end I therefore settled upon a brusque application of acrylic across the mouth area, and blended it in with a second application of "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade.

With my interest in "Doctor Who" maintaining an all-time high currently, and spurred on by my recently painted "Black Tree Design" Sontaran Warrior, I have based, primed and dry-brushed three more of the company's "militaristic clones". These characterful miniatures represent Jingo Linx from the Third Doctor adventure "The Time Warrior", as well as Stike and Varl from the Sixth Doctor story "The Two Doctors".

Locust Beta WIP - The Viridian extra-terrestrial has been assembled, based and under-coated

Disappointingly I've discovered that unlike the Daleks, Cybermen, Sea Devils, Ice Warriors, Draconians and Autons, "Black Tree Design" don't do an 'army' collection for their Sontaran figures. So resultantly, I'm now somewhat tempted to purchase a few more basic Sontaran Warrior sculpts and use the aforementioned 'named' models as officers in order to replicate their "eternal war throughout Mutter's Spiral against the Rutan Host." Of course, I don't own any Rutan miniatures either, so this is clearly a "Doctor Who" project for another day...

By way of a diversion, I have also assembled the second of my Viridian Clade models for "Wild West Exodus". This plastic Locust Beta came in a whopping thirteen pieces, and actually required me to print out its instructions from off the "Warcradle Studios" website in order to ensure I had super-glued it together correctly. I have high hopes for this "Sci-Fi Western Miniatures Game" and plan to get my extra-terrestrial posse all primed ready for a big painting push in a couple of months time.

"Our Invasion Force Is Not Yet Complete."

"The data will be computed and the invasion details transmitted to you. Discussion terminated."

These three 28mm metal Cyberman figures are produced by “Black Tree Design", and somewhat oddly can only be bought as part of the company's "Doctor Who" boxed set DW1014 - Cyberman (7); albeit a similarly posed sculpt, arguably far less cute-looking, is available separately as Code DW206 - Invasion Cyberman. Temporarily allied to the Managing Director of International Electromatics, "the sinister Tobias Vaughn", this version of the silver giants appeared in Derrick Sherwin's eight-part 1968 BBC Television adventure "The Invasion".

Each miniature was originally primed "Citadel" Chaos Black and subsequently coated with two layers of Ironbreaker. They were then washed with Nuln Oil, before being dry-brushed with (more) Ironbreaker. Finally, each of their firearms' barrels was 'picked out' using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Abzorbaloff WIPs - The Clom-born extra-terrestrial has been primed, shaded and dry-brushed

Sticking with "Doctor Who" I've managed to spend a little hobby time progressing an Abzorbalovian which I've had gathering dust in my painting queue for quite a while now. The figure itself is absolutely packed full of gruesome detail, especially the faces of the alien's victims, which can clearly be seen embedded in his blubbery flesh.

The only disappointment with the metal miniature is the monster's limitation field cane, which not only came out of the box rather bent, and resultantly required urgent straightening, but also seems dangerously thin in places too; particularly when it so extravagantly juts out from the side of the model. In addition, I'm not really sure what use I'll find for Victor Kennedy's alter-ego on the tabletop, as "Warlord Games" don't currently have any unique gaming cards for him in their "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" game.

"Burrows And Badgers" WIPs - This Adder Warrior needs just some washes to be 'added'

One of the highlights of "Salute" 2018 for me was stumbling upon the "Oathsworn Miniatures" stall and impulsively purchasing their "Burrows And Badgers" rule-book, as well as an assortment of "anthropomorphic animal" figures. I plan on spending a fair bit of time working on these inhabitants of the Kingdom of Northymbra next month, yet still couldn't stop myself dabbling with the first model which caught my eye on the manufacturer's well-populated blister rack.

Indeed, the Adder Warrior has had me repeatedly listening to Keith Michell's superb Eighties-based musical telling of "Captain Beaky And His Band" since the pewter reptile first 'fell' into my grip, and it'll therefore come as no surprise that I've named him Hissing Sid for my 'evil' warband. I also couldn't help noticing that the sculpt pays more than a passing resemblance to Thulsa Doom's snake-form as depicted in the 1982 motion picture "Conan The Barbarian", so expect to see the scaly-serpent popping up in one of my Hyborian-set battle reports too once I've finished painting him...

"Salute" Loot 2018 - Part Two Of Two

"The Dominators" WIPs - All the models have been based and primed

Undoubtedly my main reason for attending this year's "Salute" 2018 was to visit the "Warlord Games" stall and buy the Nottingham-based company's latest two releases for "Doctor Who: Exterminate!". This range is really starting to 'take-off' and I was particularly pleased to see this blog featuring once again in the latest "Into The Time Vortex" digital newsletter, which specifically focused upon Dalek conversions, 'tip-top' paint-jobs and their "ever-growing loyal customers."

Patrick Troughton's incarnation of the travelling Time Lord has always held a high place in my memories of the BBC science fiction television programme, even if my first encounter with the Second Doctor only occurred during "The Five Faces Of Doctor Who" season of repeats in November 1981. The recent announcement that "Warlord Games" will be releasing his miniature, along with "Zoe, Jamie, Victoria and the Brig" later this year, has only helped fuel my enthusiasm for this 'black & white' period, so I was absolutely delighted to get my hands on a set of models taken from the Gallifreyan's August 1968 five-parter "The Dominators".

"Warlord Games" Newsletter Wednesday 11th April 2018

Featuring formidable sculpts of both Navigator Rago and Probationer Toba, I have already set to work basing the two male "humanoids from Drahb", as well as applied a double undercoat of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand over the pair. Initially I did think these 'conquerors of the Ten Galaxies' would be fairly straightforward to paint, due to the majority of their clothing being black. However, colourised pictures of the duo, as well as the studio's official paint-jobs, actually shows them to be wearing dark green costumes...  

"The Ninth Doctor & Companions" WIPs - Rose, The Ninth Doctor and Captain Jack

Far easier to paint, at least upon first impression, are the three "robot work-soldiers" which accompany their taller masters in the box. Despite providing enough models to both deploy a complete Quark Recruitment Card and have one spare to 'defend' a Dominator ("must always stay within 4") I can still see me buying a second set of the servitors once I've finished work on this initial batch. This should then give me enough Quarks to field a second Recruitment Card and provide Toba with a 'cuboid-shaped guard' too. Of course that'll give me duplicates of the two Dominators, but I can always utilise them as scenic statues or as an extra ethereal ghost for my Fisher King.

In addition to picking up some figures from the show's Sixth Season, I was also able to buy the Ninth Doctor And Companions set. Featuring sculpts of Christopher Eccleston's character, Rose Tyler, Captain Jack Harkness, Mickey Smith and Jackie Tyler, I have immediately set to work priming the "sole survivor" of the Last Great Time War, as well as two of Nu Who's most popular assistants Rose and the "con man Javic Piotr Thane."

Copyright "Warlord Games" - The 'Nu Who' Sontarans

Lastly, I was thrilled to see one of next month's releases in the fully-pigmented flesh, the Sontarans. The stunning detail on these "militaristic clones from the planet Sontar" was absolutely breath-taking, despite the somewhat poor lighting of the ExCeL convention centre, and I'm really looking forward to picking up a couple of boxes of them in the near future... 

"Salute" Loot 2018 - Part One Of Two

"Star Trek Adventures" WIPs - Two Romulan Uhlans and Khan Noonien Singh

This year's annual pilgrimage to the ExCeL convention centre in Custom House, East London has undoubtedly added somewhat to my collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures, as well as greatly widened my interest in a couple more of our hobby's vast pantheon of genres. Indeed, having only travelled up to "Salute" 2018 with just one 'definite' purchase on my shopping list (some OOP "Nexus Miniatures" Caprican Legion Troopers kindly sold to me by "Wargames Terrain Workshop"), I was rather surprised by the sheer range of loot I found within my various carrier bags upon leaving the disagreeably stuffy, dimly-lit venue...

My first impulse purchase however, courtesy of a flyer found within a disconcertingly sparse goodie bag, was arguably a no-brainer for a science fiction fan such as myself, and actually caused me to make a bee-line straight for the "Modiphius Entertainment" stall just as soon as the show started. Apparently an exclusive miniature, this resin model of Khan Noonien Singh from the 1982 motion picture "Star Trek: The Wrath Of Khan" was being given away for free by the British games and entertainment publisher "with every Star Trek Adventures purchase whilst stocks last!"

"Burrows And Badgers" WIPs - A Sparrow Warrior, Adder Warrior and Mouse

Disappointingly however, I wasn't that impressed with what I had to pay in order to make a "Star Trek Adventures purchase", and in the end slightly begrudgingly handed over a whopping forty quid for a measly ten 32mm Romulan Strike Team miniatures; a somewhat expensive outgoing considering that I have subsequently found the company's resin to easily 'tear' when being cleaned with a modelling knife or file, and the figures' stands awkwardly bent - to the point where I've decided not to use them at all and replaced them with plastic 28mm lipped bases instead...

Offering a free miniature was clearly the right way for a manufacturer to go though, in order to grab both my attention and hard-earned funds. I have never really considered gaming with cute furry animals before, but simply couldn't help myself from buying a warband or three at the "Oathsworn Miniatures" stall when I spotted the free mouse adventurer which came with their "Burrows And Badgers" rule-book.

"Wild West Exodus" WIP - This Viridian Alpha has simply been assembled, based and primed 

It's clear I'm going to have to dedicate a month or so to this "tabletop skirmish game that takes place in the Kingdom of Northymbra", as I went a bit silly and picked up quite an array of warriors, mages and cut-throats from their "range of [metal] anthropomorphic animal miniatures." In particular I was rather taken by a heavily-armoured Adder Warrior and heroically-posed Sparrow Warrior...

I also happened upon another irresistible temptation whilst passing the "Warcradle Studios" "Wild West Exodus" display. Their extra-terrestrial Watchers simply smack of 'Cowboys verses Aliens' to me, and thus I now own a copy of their remarkably well-priced Viridian Clade Starter Set. Not only does this hefty box contain enough resin/plastic models to form a posse, but it also includes a softback rule-book, tokens, templates, dice and cards.