From SimonM: "Black Tree Design" Osiran Service Robots (50 Points)

"They're not mummies, they're service robots."

These ten 28mm metal models of Robot Mummies are manufactured by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW410 and DW474 from their "Doctor Who" range. In actuality Osiran service robots which were "disguised as mummies", these servitors were used as "workers and guards" by Sutekh's puppet, the animated corpse of Marcus Scarman, in the October 1975 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Pyramids Of Mars".

Robot Mummy WIPs - The Osiran Service Robots have been primed and washed

Initially undercoated with two coats of "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand, all of these Egyptian-looking automatons were washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, and then dry-brushed with more "Vallejo" Iraqi Sand. I did then consider giving the Robot Mummies a light highlight of White, but having checked the colour scheme of their 'small screen' counterparts, I actually realised that the actors' costumes were probably far more greyish than my chosen palette had produced, so I decided to leave well enough alone. In the end however, I did finally try to simply deepen the shadowing around their 'eye' sockets by applying some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and then treated all of the models to a layer of "Coat d'arms" gloss; something I steadfastly apply to all my miniatures.

Disconcertingly though, on this occasion, the varnish seemed 'hellbent' on eradicating a fair portion of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade, which had up until this point been providing each sculpts' bandages with plenty of shading and definition. As a result I was left with several figures which looked as if they hadn't been washed at all...

Robot Mummy WIPs - The Osiran Service Robots patiently waiting to be varnished and based

This incredibly frustrating state-of-affairs gave me few options, as much of the raised detail of the models was now covered in paint, so there was scant chance I could simply wash and then dry-brush the miniatures again without them losing some considerable detail. The thought of stripping all the models and starting again equally filled me with dread, so in the end I decided to simply dab on a watered-down wash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade over each figure and hope that wasn't subsequently 'eaten away' by the varnish either.


Some more Dr Who villians! I'm going to have to blame you,Simon for the constant bombardment of Black tree minis by my middle daughter. She is rather taken by all sorts of geeky scifi, but the good doctor is her favorite! I do remmeber these fellows when younger and the creepiness when the wrappings were torn from a mummy head.
they racked up quite the body count with the victims running about the English estate with only the Dr and athe groundkeeper's gun for defense! ;)
It seems you recovered a bit from the lacquer issues. the Agrax wash piped the wraping detail rather well!
 In the future be advised that there is a matt spray called workable fixitive. It is an artist spary that is intended to protect charcoal and pastel drawings while still allowing the artist to coninue to work on the piece. The spary does alter ink a bit, but not as drastic as lacquer does. I used to use crystal clear on minis which is very glossy, but when I began using ink the spray would wipe it out. the matt fixitive spray lessened the damage to the ink considerably...I'm sure the rest of the gang may have other tricks to help you too!