The Tribe of The Tsar in Yellow - OpFor for Metro 2033

Here is a small nod to my Metro 2033 project. I desperately needed some opponents to pit against my Survivors and found the perfect solution in these figures from Pig Iron Productions.

They are listed as 'Kolony Ferals' and are wonderfully chunky and characterful. The heads are separate allowing for a nice variability.

I wanted them to be from a post-apoc cult so I kept to a yellow motif. I had a bit of fun with the leader by 'gifting' him a few miliput tentacles and a plasticard sigil plate for his staff to emblazon with the sign of 'The King (er, Tsar) in Yellow'.

I have some heavy weapon and close combat specialists to back these up, but before that I feel a desire to return to the puff & slash of the Renaissance.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great week!

A Quidditch Pitch in a Jar

I made this wee Quidditch pitch as a friend's birthday present, using an inverted candle jar as a display case. The model began as a 3D print.

I should have chequered the lower oval gallery, but as I was almost cross-eyed from painting the ten towers I hope I'll be forgiven for leaving it as a buff tarp.

The goal posts are cut down sewing pins.

Below is a pic of some of the rough parts, straight from the printer. It was a fun, whimsical project, reminding me that I need to continue reading the series (I think I'm only as far as book 4) - Sacre bleu!

Next up: Landsknechts!

Tokens of Appreciation for Helping with Challenge VII

As some of you may know, we've just wrapped up the 7th Annual Painting Challenge.  This year I had the pleasure of being assisted by eight wonderful people, who by tradition are jokingly referred to as 'Minions', but whose efforts are pivotal in keeping the event on the rails and running smoothly.  Similar to last year, I like to extend a token of my appreciation by painting up 'Tributes' for them, a little memento for their personal collections. Some have already been seen here, but a few will be new.

For Miles, who was our Monday Minion, I presented Abdul Alhazared, author of the Necronomicon, but also chief accountant for Azathoth, Narlathotep & Young.

For Alan and Paul, our Minion team for Tuesday, I did up a Russian Cossack for Alan's 1812 Retreat collection and a Metro 2033 survivor for Paul's post-apoc project.

For Byron, our Wednesday Minion, I returned to my Great War in Greyscale work and gave him a Canadian officer depicting Robert Combe, VC, hopefully seen as apropos in light of our upcoming Vimy Ridge observances.

For our Thursday Minion, David, I made up a Star Wars vignette as I know he his a huge fan of the series.

Friday's Minions were Phil and Sylvain. For Phil, with whom I share a fascination for pulp horror, I did up a HP Lovecraft figure, while for Sylvain I created an exploding Victory-class Star Destroyer to celebrate his recent wins in our Star Wars Armada campaign.

And last but not least, for Millsy, who kept on top of all our bewilderingly complex painting 'duels' I thought it suitable to give him this small vignette of The Duellists.

Guys, thank you for all your hard work and good humour during the three months of the Challenge. It was both a huge amount of fun and an absolute pleasure to work with you all. 

Until next year!