"This Is A Public Announcement."

"Flash Gordon is to be executed."

This 28mm scale metal model is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be brought either individually as SKU: MINI 1293 Uranian Royal Guard B, or as part of the four-figure set SKU: DEAL 367. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly influenced by one of Emperor Ming's guards who escort a certain Earthling to his execution in Mike Hodges' 1980 science-fiction movie "Flash Gordon"

Primed using a double-helping of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, the legionnaire was drenched in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. I then 'picked out' the trooper's footwear and belts using some pure "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before pigmenting his hand-weapon in "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes awaiting their flesh to be applied

Originally, I had planned to keep all of the guard's costume the same colour. But I then noticed in the film that their gloves were a slightly different shade, so gave them a lick of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion (and splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson) instead. Finally, I dabbed some "Vallejo" Gold across the model's belt buckle and death mask, and later shaded these areas with a dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

Alongside this latest addition to my "Flash Gordon" project I have also managed to make a little more progress on the Lincolnshire-based company's four resin Magma Apes. In the past I've usually drowned my fur-based figures with an appropriate shade once the base layer has dried, and subsequently dry-brushed it so as to provide some rough highlights. However, for this quartet of (not) Mugato, I don't plan on applying this technique until after all their claws and areas of bare flesh are properly painted.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - A trio of Sea Devils at various stages of completion

Furthermore, I've made some slight 'in-roads' with a few more 28mm Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". I must confess to finding these classic "Doctor Who" monsters somewhat hard-going these days, with my enthusiasm for the BBC Television series waning in favour of other science fiction franchises - such as "Flash Gordon".

However, that hasn't stopped me trying to break up the monotony of the similarly-sculpted aquatic Silurians, by adding a few samurai-looking warriors of Elite Group One into the mix. Despite recently leaving the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) early, I'm still quite keen on painting enough miniatures to 'attain' my annual 500-point tally, and hope that these figures will help carry me over that personal threshold before the event's deadline in the middle of March...

"The Maus Tank Was Originally Designed..."

"...To weigh approximately 100 tons and be armed with a 128 mm main gun..."

This 15mm scale multi-piece kit is produced by "Forged In Battle" as Code P-59 Maus Super Tank, and was bought from the "Westwind Productions" stall at "Warfare" last year. The resin hull is 12.8cm in length and 7.5cm wide, and comes on a pre-sculpted base. However, as I wanted my "heaviest fully enclosed armoured fighting vehicle ever built" to 'work' with my "Flames Of War" German D-Day Beach Defence Grenadier Company (using some unofficial rules), I decided to base it upon a Large and Medium plastic stand by "Battlefront Miniatures" instead.

"...And a 75 mm co-axial secondary gun."

"Captured by advancing Soviet military forces" following its completion in late 1944, the tank was assembled and thoroughly undercoated using "Vallejo" Leather Brown Surface Primer. It was then base layered in "Vallejo" Dark Yellow, shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade", and finally highlighted, courtesy of a rough dry-brush using (more) "Vallejo" Dark Yellow.

With the basics completed, I attempted to tie the colour of my Maus' tracks in with my usual basing palette by applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade over them. I also took the opportunity to 'pick out' its headlights with a combination of "White Star" by "Two Thin Coats" and a spot or two of "Vallejo" Pale Grey.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These Guards are simply awaiting some washes

Finally, I settled down to patiently pick out the massive miniature's camouflage pattern - something which I had been unsuccessful applying upon a plastic Panzer IV by "Battlefront Miniatures" last year. Basically, areas of the hull and gun barrels were treated to some round(ish) splodges of “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna, before all being sploshed with “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. Each area was later simply highlighted back up with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Brown, Luftwaffe Camouflage Green and Heavy Sienna.

The super heavy-tank's commander was predominantly pigmented in "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Whilst his gunner was undercoated in “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII, washed with “Citadel” Nuln Oil, and dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” German Fieldgrey WWII. Any details on the metal crew figures subsequently pigmented predominantly using “Vallejo” Gunmetal, German Camouflage Dark Green, Heavy Sienna and a series of “Citadel” Shades.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - This Drone is slowly being highlighted up to "Vallejo" Silver

I had actually been working on the Maus for the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as a submission for its Challenge Library's History bonus. But having left the AHPC early, I've simply been plodding on with it alongside some more "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" figures for my ongoing "Flash Gordon" project. These 28mm miniatures currently consist of a Major Domo Drone and four Uranian Royal Guards - all of which should soon be finished...

"The Place Is Full Of Leathery Things Sealed..."

"...Soft to the touch."

These five 15mm alien models are by "Ground Zero Games" and can be bought as code SG15-X01 Xenomorphs. The six-figure pack contains two similar(ish) poses, and are clearly based upon H.R. Giger's famous extra-terrestrial killers from Ridley Scott's 1979 science fiction horror flick "Alien".

All the miniatures were super-glued in place upon a "Battlefront Miniatures" large plastic base, before being painted using my 'quick and dirty' method of dry-brushing "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey over a "Citadel" Abaddon Black undercoat. Each alien was then drowned in one or two applications of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, depending upon just how prominently the "Vallejo" "Heavy Bluegrey was showing through after its initial sploshing.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three X-Commandos

I had actually been saving these miniatures for later on in the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as a submission for its Challenge Library's Science Fiction bonus. But now I've left the AHPC early, I fancied pigmenting them a bit sooner as they were relatively straightforward to finish - so took them down from where they've been sat for the past several years, gave them a quick dusting, and quickly got them tabletop ready.

With such a simple side-project, I have also have time to get cracking on four 28mm X-Commandos by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". Quite embarrassingly I recently discovered that I have a whole bag full of these body armoured bad-boys (and girls), so felt it was about time I added a few more to those I previously-painted back in March 2021.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - These Sea Devils have had their feet and bases pigmented and shaded

This substantial 'find' has proved doubly-timely as I aim to add the soldiers to my Heroic Sci-Fi genre Cast for a series of "7TV" games, using the rule-set's latest Neutral Extra cards - "Sarge" and "Soldier". These two-three point troopers will join my "Mysterious Stranger" and his trusty "Final Girl" in a series of 'linked' scenarios against the diabolical "Evil Overlord" and her nefarious minions.

Lastly, I've taken some additional 'baby-steps' with a load more 28mm Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". Sticking with my present obsession for all-things "7TV", I recently purchased the game's "M.A.N.T.A. Ray 5" Feature Pack, and was delighted to find it contains the rules for the Villainous Extra "Nautican Warrior"; a role which I feel the "bipedal marine race" from "Doctor Who" will admirably fill...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.

"During Millions Of Years Of Hibernation..."

"...The reactivation machinery has deteriorated."

These three 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and are available as part of the 'exclusive' seven-figure strong box DW1015 Sea Devils from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Related to the Silurians, as they are "just like those cave monsters we met in Derbyshire", the race of reptilian humanoids made their first appearance in Malcolm Hulke's 1972 six-parter "The Sea Devils".

All the models were initially undercoated with a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. Their Maggie Fletcher-designed costumes were then enthusiastically layered in "Vallejo" Verdigris, drowned in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and finally dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These four Uranian Guards have had their guns finished

The Sea Devils' webbed feet, arms and heads were subsequently painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst their belts were carefully 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded in "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, each of the "ocean demons" hand-guns were treated to a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I had actually considered submitting these classic monsters from Jon Pertwee's era into the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as a third attempt to 'qualify' for its Challenge Library's Local History bonus - as the television serial was mainly filmed locally around H.M. Naval Base Portsmouth and No Man's Land Fort. However, as I decided to leave the AHPC just before they were completed, they are instead now simply destined to be used for some upcoming games of "7TV" by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio".

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes base-layered in "Two Thin Coats" White Star

Speaking of the Lincolnshire-based manufacturer, I have also managed to make a little more progress on a quartet of their Uranian Royal Guard figures I own. I was planning on simply pigmenting the rest of these "Flash Gordon" inspired Villainous Extras with "Vallejo" Heavy Red. But now plan to 'mark out' their gloves in a richer ruby colour, before dousing them in my tried and trusted "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, and applying a patient dry-brush of their base colour over them.

Furthermore, I've splattered my previously primed resin Magma Apes with some White Star" by "Two Thin Coats", to help me visualise whether they'll work as Emperor Ming's cyclopean incarnation of a Mugato - "large horned ape-like carnivore" seen in the original Sixties "Star Trek" television series. These furry fellows still have plenty of work to be done on them, yet shouldn't take too long to finish once I've 'black-lined' around their clawed hands, feet and bare chests...

"From Out Of The Marsh Bursts The Gnashing Jaws..."

"...And whipping tentacles of a terrifying Marsh Beast."

This 28mm scale resin model of a Marsh Beast is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be brought as SKU: MINI 1297. Sculpted by George Fairlamb, and heavily influenced by the Arborian Swamp Creature briefly depicted in Mike Hodges' 1980 science-fiction movie "Flash Gordon", this multi-piece miniature has been sat in my 'Pyramid of Possibilities' since I first received it way back in 2022, following the Lincolnshire-based company's successful Pirates of Luna City Kickstarter.

Ultimately shot by Prince Barin with a laser pistol, the monster had all its sharp-tipped tentacles super-glued into position, before being treated to an undercoat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and Heavy Green. The ensemble was also given a lick of pure "Vallejo" Heavy Green, shaded with plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil and Biel-Tan Green, as well as dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Green.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These four Uranian Guards are being painted from the feet up

I then 'picked out' all of the Marsh Beast's cruel-looking spikes using a combination of "Vallejo" Charred Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and momentarily considered dry-brushing their very ends with an additional touch of "Vallejo" Charred Brown. However, in the end I left well enough alone, and instead just darkened down both its gaping maw and some moss-covered patches on its body with (more) "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. These areas were later treated to a careful dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Green to help somewhat blend them in with the surrounding blubbery mass.

With the first of my post-Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) projects completed, and my enthusiasm for all-things "Flash Gordon" positively thriving, I've continued working on four Uranian Royal Guard figures (also) by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", Like so many of the uniforms utilised by Emperor Ming, this quartet will be predominantly pigmented in red, so I'm hoping to use the merciless minions as 'test pieces' for a simple palette that I can then apply to all the Alien Legionnaires I also own.

Despite the X-Commandos being thwarted by moving scenery, Sarah Jane wins the day for Tweedy

My hobby fervour has also been greatly enhanced by a first game of "7TV" using the recently-released Core Rulebook. This small-sized head-to-head between the (Space) Duchess, her Jackbooted Sadist and Titan Gladiator bodyguard, against the meddlesome Tweedy Mattison, his companion (Sarah Jane) Meddings, and two X-Commandos was an absolute riot - even if we did resort to using some old Countdown, Gadget and Profile cards rather than use the latest ones.

Foremost of this encounter had to be some incompetent scenery chap moving a ruined wall in front of Mattison's Heroic Extras to thwart their early attempts to overpower my Titan Gladiator (as per "Set Dressing"), and the Duchess seducing one of the X-Commandos. But in the end I twice succumbed to some fiendish "Script Editing" , which saw the show's Stars swap places, eventually allowing Meddings to use her Prototype Jammer a couple of times on-the-trot to take-out my giant mechanical Extra...

"I Call It Making An Affray."

"I must ask you to come down the station with me."

This 28mm metal single-cast figure is sold by by "Black Tree Design" and is available as Code DW415 - Victorian Policeman from their "Doctor Who" range. The model is based upon the various constables seen in Robert Holmes' 1977 BBC Television story "The Talons of Weng-Chiang". But I like to think of him as actor Conrad Asquith's character PC Quick, who would go on to many further adventures in the "Big Finish" audio spin-off series "Jago And Litefoot".

Originally given a coat of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, the "Peeler" was treated to a couple of layers of "Two Thin Coats" Marine Blue and a good dousing in Oblivion Black Wash. He was then enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) Marine Blue by "Two Thin Coats", before having all of his buttons and belt buckle spotted in "Vallejo" Gold and a smidgeon of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - Sea Devils undercoated in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black & Verdigris

The British Bobby's cape chain and helmet badge were later 'picked out' with a little "Two Thin Coats" Sir Coates Silver and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. Whilst the Policeman's wooden truncheon was given a blanket of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I also traced along the lines of the stout fellow's facial mutton chops with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black.

Due to my close proximity to Portsmouth Central Police Station, which was actually established (in Albert Road) during 1872, I had hoped my Nineteenth Century Policeman would be ideal for the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) and its Challenge Library's Local History section. Frustratingly though, my scoring minion felt otherwise, so having been denied the same twenty bonus points with two different entries, I have subsequently decided to 'bow out' of the AHPC early for my own sanity's sake.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes awaiting base layers and washes

Despite my grumblings with the AHPC, my hobby mojo has remained high enough to continue progressing nine more Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". I had intended to use these figures to trial a new(ish) way of soldiering on through a number of models simultaneously. But disappointingly, my recent visits to the painting table have not been as frequent as planned, and resultantly my cunning plan is already well behind schedule.

Somewhat encouragingly though, I have also managed to base and prime a quartet of resin Magma Apes by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". Originally, I'd been thinking of doing them in a similar palette to the company's much larger 50mm Arena Beast - which I recently started working on too. However, I'm now more inclined to go with the 'official' paint-job, and give them all a white fur look similar to that of a Mugato from the original Sixties "Star Trek" television series...

"You Sure Don't Look Like An Iguana."

“We are not on your planet now. We are on mine.”

This 28mm metal model is manufactured by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be purchased either as part of the four-figure SKU: DEAL 339 Resistance Fighters, or separately as SKU: MINI 1190. A "news cameraman at the time of the First Invasion", this miniature has clearly inspired by Marc Singer's character, Mike Donovan, in Kenneth Johnson's 1983 American science-fiction television miniseries "V".

"One of the leaders of the Visitor Resistance", "Gooder" was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before having his trousers base layered in "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and later sploshed with some heavily-watered down "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade so as to provide him with the illusion of wearing faded jeans.

"Resisting the Alien Invaders are this ragtag group of freedom fighters."

I next applied some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to the central part of the figure's two-tone jacket and Heavy Brown to its sleeves. The entire coat was subsequently shaded in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and then both the torso and sleeves were dry-brushed with their previous base colour. One of the last areas I tackled was the journalist's famous video camera, which was treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Following a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal, I then carefully tried to 'block back out' the predominantly plastic parts of the optical instrument with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Finally, I used my regular recipe of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, "Citadel" Reikland Fleshtone", and (extra) "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone to highlight the nose, lips and cheeks, on the model's face.

"Black Tree Design" WIPs - Sea Devils undercoated in a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black & Verdigris

With one of my last contributions to the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) completed, including an additional bonus 20-points for tying my entry in with the Challenge Library's Romance section (alongside a previously posted [not] Juliet Parrish Freedom Fighter I have pigmented), I have started working on nine more Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design" I recently discovered in a drawer. The majority of these classic "Doctor Who" monsters come from the company's seven-figure set DW1015 - Sea Devils, and should slowly be brought up to tabletop standard over the next ten days.

Indeed, I plan to use the miniatures as (yet another) experiment in overcoming my loathing for batch-painting - so everyday I'll just work on applying a layer here or dabble with an area there, before focusing on some of the other models I have on my painting desk. This might well seem like a long-winded affair. But as I've never been able to properly knuckle down to a factory conveyor-belt like process before, thus I'm hoping that this might work out better than some of my other attempts...

This posting and many others can now be viewed on the main "Fantorical" website.