Wednesday, 1 March 2023

From SimonM: Various Figures by "Papsikels Miniatures" (50 Points), Crimson Cowl by “Wizkids” (5 Points) & Lady Sarah’s Limousine (20 Points)

This 32mm Colonist Marine Cyborg Hero E-900 Exterminator is produced by "Papsikels Miniatures" and was sent to me as a free STL (Standard Triangle Language) file as part of their PAPSIPACK Welcome Models subscription set on "Patreon". The miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer and is clearly inspired by the “less-advanced, reprogrammed Terminator” played by Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1991 science-fiction film “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”.

Pigmented using “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats” paint range, the cyborg assassin was undercoated in Doom Death Black, dry-brushed using “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal”, had his T-shirt ‘picked out’ in Cold Corpse Blue and drenched in Oblivion Black Wash. I next applied a little Sir Coates Silver and splash of (more) Oblivion Black Wash to his belt buckle and pistol, before using a combination of Glistening Gold and Battle Mud Wash on the killing machine’s cartridge belt.

The Terminator’s hair and boots were treated to some Cuirass Leather and (more) Battle Mud Wash, and his remaining skin picked out with a little Elven Flesh and watered-down “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade. His exposed exo-skeleton was given a layer of Sir Coates Silver and Oblivion Black Wash, before I dotted his robotic eye with a drop of Demon Red and a dab of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Lastly, to try and break up the all-black colour scheme, I gave his jacket a light dry-brush of more Cuirass Leather and blended this in with some additional Oblivion Black Wash.

Sticking with “Papsikels Miniatures”, I have also finished three 32mm Yurneyan Golem Exofist Mask figures using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer. Like “Arnie”, these were downloaded for free as part of a set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from their PAPSIPACK Welcome Models subscription set on "Patreon” and were originally a quartet. However, one of the model’s arms failed to print – probably due to my overloading the build plate.

The 55mm tall sculpts are recognisably inspired by Ridley Scott’s 2012 science fiction film “Prometheus” and were predominantly painted using “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats paint” range. They were all primed with a double helping of Gravestone Blue, shaded using Oblivion Black Wash and dry-brushed with (more) Gravestone Blue. This really helped bring out all the partly organic looking details of their survival suits.

However, I thought the “Space Jockeys” looked a little bland so decided to pick out their stomachs, fingers and throats using a combination of Sir Coates Silver and Oblivion Black Wash. This somewhat tied into some of the pictures I have seen of the alien’s costumes for the movies, which appear to have a somewhat silvery/fleshy sheen to them. As a final step I applied Ivory Tusk to their heads, washed these areas with watered-down “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson, and dotted their eyes with Doom Death Black.

Alongside my (not) Terminator and (not) Engineers I have also pigmented seven more 32mm scale E-800 Exterminators by "Papsikels Miniatures". These could be downloaded for free as part of a set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from their "Patreon" The Exterminator December 2022 subscription service and are clearly based upon James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd's science-fiction "Terminator" franchise.

Produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, I undercoated the figures with some "Citadel" Abaddon Black, then gave each killer robot a double-helping of Sir Coates Silver from “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats” paint range and a generous splash of Oblivion Black Wash. Each android was then carefully dry-brushed with (more) Sir Coates Silver and had their eyes picked out with a spot of Demon Red and a dab of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Lastly, due to wanting their metallic hand-weapons to stand out a little bit from the rest of the E-800 Exterminators, I applied a second shade of Oblivion Black Wash to all the firearms and any ammunition feeds they were carrying.

My last figure for this week’s submission was pigmented simply to let me take Lady Sarah’s Limousine from the Super-Heroes studio to the Books studio. It is a 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of the Crimson Cowl which was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 091 from their old Marvel “Heroclix” Ultimates range. “The mysterious boss of the Masters of Evil” Justine Hammer’s alter-ego was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley for the April 1997 issue of "Thunderbolts" by "Marvel Comics".

Removed from the figure's flying 'clicky' base and super-glued upon a plastic 25mm circular base, the super-villain was treated to a double-coat of “Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats” Sanguine Scarlet and shaded in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. She was then heavily dry-brushed with (more) Sanguine Scarlet, before having her eye slits spotted with a smidgeon of Skulker Yellow and “Citadel” Reikland Fleshshade.

Nine x 32mm scale foot figure = 45 Points

One x 28mm scale foot figure = 5 Points

Two x 32mm scale half foot figure = 5 Points

Lady Sarah’s Limousine = 20 Points

Total = 75 Points

From TeemuL: Sludge Shock Troopers (15 points)


There has been lots of fuzz about Turnips, but not enough of Sludge. So here we go. After clipping and gluing my initial army last year, I was left with different body parts, which weren't that suitable together. I have used some of them as gore tokens (casualty markers) and ghosts as shock tokens (terror markers), but I still had them and I was thinking about some uses for them. I had to create a different unit, because I couldn't use the left overs to make existing units larger. In the rulebook there is a unit called Shock Troops and I got some ideas. Recently I read some WSS magazine, where they made troops and trenches, but they actually didn't dig holes - the trench (or foxhole) was just a 2D area on the board and troops in trenches were half minis on bases, so they looked like being in a hole. I decided to combine those ideas in my head and create a unit of Shock Troops, lightly armoured and crossing a bog or a swamp.

These are Perry Miniature plastics, they are Zoauves torsos with right hands (bayonets clipped away) and random heads, left hands and swords from other sets. The end result is a bit of rag tag team (ie veteran) going through the mud, flanking the opponent and making the day. Painted with the glourious yellow and brown colours like the rest of my army, so they fit in nicely. My line troops have zoauve legs and hands, foot knight torsos and heads, so I had lots of zouaves torsos left. It makes sense that these shock troops in mud won't wear that much armour. By the rules, they have muskets and swords, so these are WYSIWYG. I tried to add less mud behind them, but it is not very obvious.

Also, I reached the Red Zone last week and Curt has assigned me a task to paint "Idoneth Deepkin team for Shadespire" - you know the great kit with a pretty crab. Yeah, I bought it almost the day it was released, because of the crab. I don't even play Shadespire, I just wanted (to paint) the crab. And now a few years later I have been ordered to paint the whole team. I guess this is some kind of a lesson of impulse buys or something. The team is now on my backlog, but it will be late March when it is ready.

Points are easy, 6 half 28mm minis, so 15 in total.

I didn't fool you, they are actually just half-minis! Clever. :)

From MikeF - Gamma Wolves North-Star Faction - 75 points

I really lost steam at the start of February, but I figured that would happen thanks to work. This is the last group of models I have for Gamma Wolves. They represent the Arcology North-Star, which is built upon the remnants of the last U.S. and Canadian military installation. It was set up as a bastion of freedom after the apocalypse, but it's really just totalitarian dystopia. It's frame pilots are fed into a meat grinder of constant war, so it tends to lack veterans. In game terms, it's frame pilots have to be predominantly rookie pilots which reduces their effectiveness. They are however plentiful!

The models for this faction are from Anvil Industry and Nuclear Shrimp games. Unfortunately, NSG seems to have disappeared. I'd review their models, but I don't really see the point. 

Group Shot. The guardsman is for scale only.

These suits from Anvil Industry are fantastic!


Heavy Suit from Nuclear Shrimp

The plasma cannon on top and the top missile launcher are from Puppets War.


Very tricky to pose as each arm comes in 5 different pieces and no instructions!

Legs come in 4 pieces.







For scoring: 3 x 28mm vehicles and 3 x 28mm infantry = 75 points.

It also looks like I've had some points mistakenly added to my total. Unless those are pity points :(

Thanks for visiting!


Minion Miles: Very nice - I never heard of the company “Nuclear Shrimp” but they dont sound all that appetizing, still the minis are nice.  As for your points, perhaps a bit more info and we can see what the issue is.  I’m worried if a make a change it will be viewed as “Vindictive Points”. :)

From Brucer; Detour on Lady Sarah's Limo to the Books Studio; Dracula and Vampire Hunters; (65pts)

I've found myself in between projects and life, and I admit gaming has been intruding into my mojo.  I fell away from my approximate hour a night at the paint table and it shows.  I decided to simply grab some miniatures from the pile of opportunity and do some odd items.   

LIMO:

I think I read you could wonder through previously completed studios to new realms and rather than take advantage of this I had another female character to summon the Lady Sarah's Limo to save my feet the wander.  Here is another Foundry Miniatures civilian figure with babe.  Had done this early on in the challenge and saved for a Limo ride.  She was done mostly with contrast paints.  This figure turned out a little grainy, but as an objective or just a civilian wondering the table she will do fine.

 







Books Studio:

To shake off the malaise I looked around and found a blister of excellent miniatures.  Not sure they will ever be used, but when purchased I loved the figures.  From Bad Squiddo Games and the sculptures are Gary Morely and Gus Kearns.  


I'm submitting these Vampire Hunters as a bow to the Bram Stoker book Dracula.  I think the figures have the dress and style of the age.  These were fun to paint and are great miniatures.  

Here is my take on the stalwart vampire hunters.

The first figure is obviously the religious leader of the hunters.  Dressed in dark clothing and carrying the holy water vials.  He is armed with a vicious looking blade (for taking heads I imagine) and holy symbol able to function as a stake for coup de grace.




The next hunter looks to fill the investigator roll, seems to have the pattern English cloak.  Sporting a tie, hat, plus a hammer, with stakes for the difficult staking jobs.  




 



The next looks like he hales from the US as he sports the revolver and a rendition of the bowie knife for close work.  Again, civilly dressed, with vest and tie.  






Next is a brawny lad from Wales I'm guessing.  Any dandy, when sporting a hand and a half sword needs a cape to be able to walk about in public.  The bowler is a great add to this gents dress.  






Points:

Limo Ride            20 pts
25 mm figure          5 pts
Books Studio        20 pts
4 25 mm figures    20 pts

Total                       65 pts


Minion Miles: I’m getting a real Hammer Studios vibe here - and I like it!






From JamesM: 15mm British Snipers and Radio Truck (24 points)

Hi folks,

Just a small entry from me this week, as I clear the last few bits of WW2 stuff from my painting shelf (for now, at least) and work on some more Necromunda models. 

First up is a 15mm 3d printed Fordson WOT2D Radio Truck from Battlefield3d. I had no specific plan for this vehicle in my collection, so it's just decaled up as part of 51st highland Divisions signals regiment. Shown here alongside my recently completed LAD diorama. 


I've applied my usual selection of teeny decals, added a radio antenna and based to match the rest of my collection. No doubt this will find a role on the table at some point, even if it's just as set dressing. 




Alongside this vehicle, I finished off four bases of sniper teams for my British infantry battalion. When I last had the opportunity to parade my four infantry companies, I realised I was missing some sniper teams (an option from 3rd Ed of Flames of War). I was aware that the infantry battalions of 51st Highland Division had a sniper/scout platoon as part of the Support Company. These bases now give me enough to have three sniper teams per company, or a platoon of 13 bases plus an HQ. 

Utterly pointless game wise for 4th Ed, but the completionism in me wanted to use the figures up. These are metal Battlefront models.  

One of the sniper figures has some conversion work done, to change a beret into a Tam O'Shanter and adding a scope to the rifle held by the same figure. The others consist of older Battlefront sniper minis with a variety of other Battlefront models as spotters. 



Again, figures are based to my usual standard, with a selection of tufts. 

Points wise, it's one 15mm vehicle at 8 points, and eight 15mm figures at 16 points, for a total of 24 points. 

Minion Miles: Another fantastic 15mm entry.  I continue to be impressed with the quality of your 15mm painting.

Wed Minion Reporting in

 

Your favorite and only Wed Minion reporting in.  Actually, I’m not on my hammock but in my hotel room in London this am - not even a business trip to the UK can dissuade me from attending to my important minion duties.  Gus, by the way, says HI!


There are definitely signs of spring in my neck of the woods so we best be at at as the challenge is nearing its end mark!


Enough from me, lets see what Wed has in store for us all!!