It's not about the mummy, mummy

Don't worry about the price tag because these MILPs (Mummies I Like to Paint) were straight out of the bits box.

Why am I painting Mummies?

Well, basically, as I said, I've discovered over time that I quite like painting them. I find it quite relaxing and therapeutic and suitable subject for when I'm in an odd headspace.

I think this was a discovery that evolved out of painting bandages and wraps on models and really took root when I painted the Mummies in my Heroquest set.

Speaking of which...

That is exactly where this chap is from. He's one of the chunk of spare Heroquest miniatures I have in the bits box and so I carefully removed from his base, plonked him on a round base and got to work.

I slightly change my approach to the bandages as I didn't start with a bone colour, but when for a Ghoul Grey (from Colour Forge) undercoat, then hit with a coat of Skeleton Horde followed by Agrax Earthshade and picking out each bandage with Ushabti Bone.

This second sculpt is from a board game called Dark World, which I bought for the miniatures (some of which were truly awful - the Mummy being one of the best). He has more awkwardly thin bandages and more flesh in show... especially in his MASSIVE hands.

For the flesh I went for green rather than my usual blue-grey as the wash I usually use was coming out too blue. Plaguebearer Flesh contrast paint followed by Agrax Earthshade did the job.

There's really not much more to say, other than they are going with my rather miscellaneous collection of pulp miniatures for 7TV. I don't have much that fits with ancient Egypt, but I might be encouraged by this to at least put together enough for an epic desert adventure.

Acquired: -73

Painted: 405

Lead Mountain: 367

Flying Visit

In another excursion to the 1980s I've finally got round to painting up my Skyfighter from V, along with my last remaining Visitor miniature from Crooked Dice.

Despite being a 3d print, I didn't actually print this myself. I picked up the STL during the Kickstarter campaign for the 7TV: 80s campaign and it was kindly printed by Matt.

I managed to lose the landing gear somewhere along the line and so I put the project on hold until I could print my own recently.

In all honesty, the print is a little rough, but given that Matt did it for free, I'm not complaining.

Therefore, when it came to painting, I kept things simple and coherent with how the ships looked in the series and decided that being less detailed will prevent the eye being drawn to the less than perfect areas.

I undercoated it in Ghoul Grey from Colourforge, sponged on matt white, before painting the windows black and freehanding the icons in red. I then gave everything a coat of gloss bc arnish because these things were shiny.

Given that this is most likely to feature as scenery, I'm happy enough with it. I've seen them used with the helicopter rules in games of 7TV, but unless I'm playing on a big board, the transport capacity is not that useful.

The final Visitor I've painted is actually a duplicate model to the one I painted as Lydia. Given that the pose and her hair are quite distinctive, I opted to do a couple of things to differentiate the two.

Firstly, I went with a slightly different colour scheme, giving her the black body armour worn by the security guards and allowing her to use the Shocktrooper profile.

Secondly, I gave her a head swap. Finding an appropriately sized head proved challenging and the best I could come up with was a Zombie Vixen head from Wargames Factory (I think these are the models that also feature in the Project Z game from Warlord Games). There is a wound on the face, but I've painted it as a torn bit of fake skin, which works well enough.

I'm not sure if I'm going to add to my Visitors. I might do another Skyfighter for scenic purposes and Crooked Dice do have Visitor Jeep with a gun mount that I've been tempted by for a long time.

However, I'm much more likely to focus my attention on the Resistance, as currently I only have four dedicated miniatures for them.

Acquired: -95
Painted: 163
Lead Mountain: 391

The Return Visit

As you will no doubt be aware, a few weeks ago I painted up some key figures from the LA resistance in the 1980s cult classic V.

This combined with the fact that I've just watched a battle report on the Peachy Tips YouTube channel which pit the Visitors against a range of 80s action heroes (Rambo, TJ Hooker, etc.) has made me want to get nosy off the last few unpainted Visitors I currently have.

Here they are...

...well, almost. I still have another model to do who is a duplicate of one I already own, but I want to see if I can do a suitable head swap to keep some variety, but I need to see I have a female head that's the right scale, ideally with a cap or sunglasses.

We'll see.

As pointed out five years ago, when I painted the last lot, I've gone with orange rather than red for the uniforms.

When you trawl the internet for images, it seems that there has been some colour enhancement going on with images that has convinced many folk that the Visitors wore red. However, only their flags and iconography were red, the uniforms were dark orange.

In an attempt to achieve this effect and match a paint job firm half a decade ago, Ive actually been quite sloppy compared to a lot of my more recent work.

Simply basing in Ryza Rust...yes, I know it's a dry paint but mine dried up too much, so I added some water to it and now have an orange paint I can actually use...adding the black, flesh, gold and hair before an all over wash.

I did pick out the gold again as a highlight, but overall not my best work.

These troopers with the gold helmets first appear in the second miniseries, V: The Final Battle, and seem to be security guards rather than more active soldiers like the ones in black armour.

I get the feeling that the decision to introduce them might have been cost induced as adding gold trim some of the spare uniforms from the first series and making what look like much cheaper helmets would have strained the budget less for the larger battle scenes in the second miniseries.

I did have to do a little bit of repair work on this model as his baton was missing a section, so I needed to trim it off and add a small length of plastic rod. Not the hardest job, or done with great finesse, but good enough.

His pistol is also missing the bottom bar of the hand grip, but it's a small detail and not particularly of the profile of the model, so I'm going to see if it annoys me enough to try to fix it.

And there we have them. I think they fit in quite well with only a slight difference in the orange. In fact a more noticeable issue is the asphalt flock on the base. I've no idea whether I've used a different type or the colour has faded, but I might need to address that.

So I still have another model to do and then I need to get round to sorting out the shuttlecraft that I've lost the landing gear for. After that, I may finally pick up some Visitor keeps to complete my collection.

Acquired: -29

Painted: 29

Lead Mountain: 601

Humankind's Last Stand

'V', the original miniseries and 'V': The Final Battle were a defining part of my youth. I remember seeing them for the first time and my family delaying setting off on holiday to finish watching the final episode.

I painted up a bunch of Visitors a couple of years ago, but didn't pick up the Resistance from Crooked Dice until fairly recently. I'm not sure why I didn't paint them sooner, but I have now.

Given how vividly I remember the show, I really wanted to get the models looking right. This is really helped by the extremely characterful sculpts. 

However, given that these are essentially models of 'people in clothes' I needed to get the painting right to make sure that when I look at the table, I see the TV show.

That meant research.

The images on the Crooked Dice website suggest that the clothing choices of the four characters: Mike Donovan, Julie Parish, Ham Tyler and Elias Taylor, were taken from this promo image.

Therefore I decided to try to stick with them as much as possible, which included Donovan's godawful two-tone eighties jacket.

However, I did make one change.

I opted to put Julie, the medical student who becomes leader of the Resistance, in the red roll neck sweater she wears in the finale of the original two-part miniseries.

Partly, this was due to the fact that the scene was much more significant to her development as a character and a leader than the general 'stealth' outfit she wears on a couple of missions in the second three-part miniseries.

Mainly, however, it was due to the fact that with Ham and Elias also wearing black, I wanted a bit more variety in the group.

Despite Julie being the actual leader of the Los Angeles Resistance, cameraman Mike Donovan is the star of the show with Marc Singer (of Beastmaster fame) at his pompously wooden eighties leading man finest in the role.

I like the fact that the sculpt has him holding his MASSIVE camera, making useable as a civilian in other games. Also, if I want a more action pose, one of the Visitor models I've painted is clearly Donovan in disguise as he puts on a Visitor uniform with alarming regularity.

I'm pleased I managed to get the two-tone jacket sort of right, but my attempt to give him properly faded jeans didn't really deliver.

Elias is one of my favourite characters in the show and Michael Wright, the actor who played him, gets some of the best speeches in the show. This includes the still tear-jerking moment where Julie brings Elias' much more successful brother Ben to him as Ben is dying and we see Elias' caught up in a mixture of grief and his own inferiority complex.

Not much to say about the painting of this one.

Michael Ironside plays Ham Tyler and is probably the most famous face in the show, although Robert England (Freddie Krueger) is also in the show.

If you've seen Michael Ironside in any film (Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Top Gun, etc.) then you know all you need to about the sort of character Ham Tyler is. He's nothing if not consistent as an actor.

I'm perhaps most pleased with the job I've done on this model of the four as I think I've managed to get the leather jacket looking suitably worn.

All in all I'm really happy with how these have come out and painting them has made me want to watch the series again. I have a few more bits and pieces for the Visitors to do but I probably need to look at putting together some more generic Resistance members, as they get killed in drives whenever there's a fight.

Acquired: -58
Painted: 394
Lead Mountain: 622

Vampires Don't Like It Up 'Em!

I've not played 7TV for ages, and I've had everything painted and ready for running the Vlad's Army feature pack for a similar time.

So, when Matt became available for a game at short notice, I suggested we take a trip to wartime Britain and visit the stoic defenders of Walmington-On-Sea as they confront something that will send chills down all of their spines.

And I'm not talking about Private Fraser.

Cue the music and title sequence...

Vlad's Army merges a classic British sitcom, Dad's Army (although other names are used, I'll be ignoring them for clarity), which is about the bumbling and ineffectual members of a small town's Home Guard unit, and the nightmarish horrors of Weird World War II.

A natural fit, I'm sure you'll agree. 

In the three game campaign, the Home Guard try to contend with an undead infiltration force which is intent on disrupting the defences prior to a potential German invasion.

In the first scenario, the Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, a Home Guard patrol sets out to investigate a possibly enemy landing near the home of Private Godfrey and his two sisters.

Due to the amount of other people who show up in the game, I can only assume there was some kind of parish council meeting taking place.

The Home Guard must protect the civilians and drive off the undead invaders, which seem intent on slaying or converting all that they encounter.

The Home Guard patrol dispatched to the enemy landing site included the following personnel:

• Sergeant Wilson
• Corporal Jones
• Private Pike
• Private Godfrey
• 5 Home Guard Reservists

They spread out along the road and advanced cautiously towards the unknown threat.

Meanwhile, the vampiric minions and their local turncoat allies included:

• 3 Nachtjager Kommando Vampires
• 3 Half-Blood Turncoats
• 3 Wolves
• 6 Totganger Zombies

It's not clear why the Germans had disguised their glider as a Spitfire with American markings. Possibly it was to sow confusion. However, it's more likely to do with the limited budget available to the BBC props department in the early seventies.

Upon arriving at the cottage were met by Godfrey's sister Cissy, who volunteered as a nurse at the local hospital, rushing out to greet them.

She informed them of the aircraft that had come down and the odd shapes seen loping through the fog before pointing out that her guests at the parish council meeting had scattered and were probably lost in the darkness.

"Would you mind awfully rounding them up and dealing with whatever is out there?"

With that, and without Captain Mainwaring around, Sergeant Wilson politely asked his men to commence the search. Pike and a detachment spread out and explored the garden, the rest of the men stayed back to protect Cissy and Corporal Jones ran off into the trees shouting, "Don't panic!"

Meanwhile, by the glider, the Vicar had fallen into the clutches of some of the vampiric minions, namely a group of half-blood fifth columnists who had rushed out to greet their masters' arrival.

"I must say, I'm very disappointed to see you here Mrs Von Gruber, I shan't be asking you to organise the jumble sale again."

The Vicar's life was saved when the dulcet tones of Jones' less than stealthy search technique drifted through the night air.

He and another captive were quickly bound and gagged as the forces of darkness moved out towards the cottage.

The Verger was found cowering behind some plant pots. When questioned he said, "the Vicar's going to be very unhappy if he's not rescued."

"Why?' said Mr Jenkins, the tailor.

"They're going to eat him."

As the Nachtjager and it's minions reached the fence rifle and SMG fire pierced the night and a Half-Blood and a Wolf were brought down.

But the Nachtjager Kommando inhumanky shrugged off bullets and swooped towards one of the Reservists, ripping out Jenkins' throat as the Verger looked on, aghast.

Almost immediately, Jenkins rose up again, an unhealthy parlour to his skin and a fell light in his eyes.

"Excuse me, sir," said Sergeant Wilson, calmly, from behind the Verger, "if you wouldn't mind following me," and led the terrified man to the fence, where an ad hoc firing line had been assembled.

Wilson gave the order and gunfire ripped into the Nachtjager and Jenkins, and the poor tailor died for a second time that night.

Meanwhile, Corporal Jones, who had been giving a good account of himself, found himself surrounded. Contrary to his own advice, he did panic and ran off into the trees to escape death. 

Reviewers have since commented that it seemed implausible the Jones would survive such an encounter, however, it has been pointed out that Jones was a fan favourite, but also that Clive Dunn was still in contract.

With the undead on the advance, Wilson ordered the retreat in order to protect the Verger, Cissy and Godfrey's other sister, Dolly, who he had slowly retrieved from the cottage, along with his trust cricket bat 

"You took your time in there, Godfrey."

"Did I? I must have dozed off."

Suddenly, something strange can over the Verger. His breath became raspy and he leapt for Sergeant Wilson, trying wrap his hands round the throat of the Chief Clerk of the Bank.

"Do you think that's wise? Is this about the refused loan for church roof?"

The Verger's attack was brought to a halt with a loud think, when Godfrey, of all people, struck him on the back of the head with his cricket bat.

"Godfrey! That was a bit heavy handed, wasn't it?"

"Well, sir, my sister Dolly was telling me that he'd been rather rude about her buns."

Another Nachtjager had crept up on the Home Guard, using the cottage as cover. However, its clever ruse was countered in a shower of glass as Pike ran into the cottage and emptied his SMG through the window.

"Don't tell mum, Uncle Arthur."

Having learned from the fates of their fellows, more of the vampiric host were creeping up through the trees.

A wolf burst out of the undergrowth, but was surrounded and brought down by the men working together.

Meanwhile, Mr Norris, the Headmaster of St Gavin's School, was found hiding in the shed and met a grisly fate.

Shortly afterwards he had joined the enemy forces as a mindless slave, a fate which would have amused many of the boys.

Realising that they would be unable to rescue anyone else, Wilson gave the order to leave.

However, he was grabbed at the last minute by the undead Norris and was unable to retreat as the last of the Nachtjager closed in.

Sergeant Wilson smiled wryly as the creature looked over him. It's beastial arm lashed out and sent him sprawling, but his life was saved as another volley of gunfire drive the creature off.

The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage was over.

At the end of everything, two of Matt's vampires and both of my co-stars (Wilson and Jones) had been taken out of action, but the vampiric cast had been axed meaning that the tally of victory points was 3-2 and the Home Guard had won something of a pyrrhic victory.

This scenario was a bit of a tough ask for Matt as his close combat force had to advance across open ground against rifle-armed soldiers. Also, without any stars or co-stars he had a bit of an issue with not being able to activate his whole cast.

The action now moves into the centre of Walmington-On-Sea, where Captain Mainwaring will be trying to interrupt the enemy's travel plans.

Gifted Scientist

It feels like I keep returning to painting scientists, and my Faculty of Cryptobiology and Pseudoscience for 7TV: Pulp, just keeps growing.

The latest addition to the team is apparently called Dr Friedman, and is a 'mad' scientist (apparently specialising in chemistry) from the Reaper Chronoscope range.

He was given to me as part of the annual 7TV Secret Santa on the 7TV Productions Facebook group, where willing participants are paired up and exchanged unwanted miniatures from their lead pile as gifts. It's a nice little tradition I've taken part in for several years.

This year I sent off and eclectic group of Grenadier Sci-Fi cops, a suited pulp thug, a mummy and a dog. In return I received three Artizan Designs field agents from their Kiss Kiss Bang Bang range, and the esteemed Dr Friedman. 

As with all Reaper Miniatures, Dr Friedman is I really crisp and clean sculpt which needed minimal cleaning. The model lacks extraneous detail and so was quite quick to paint, especially as I mainly used contrast paints as my base coats and highlighted up.The bottles were hit with a touch of gloss varnish to give them an appropriate shine.

I used to really worry about large expanses of white, but I've become a lot more calm about the whole thing. Yes, the pain could be smoother, but this isn't a dress uniform or a superheros cape, it's a lab coat. It's going to be a bit worn.

All in all I'm happy with this one. And unexpected arrival, but pleasing nonetheless.

Acquired: -58
Painted: 390
Lead Mountain: 626

Freedom Force: In Full Effect

I'm aware that I bounce around my many different projects with little rhyme or reason, often leaving things unfinished only to return to them at a later date when motivation strikes again.

Such is the case with this post where external events (to be discussed later) have brought me back around to my Freedom Force project to (almost) finish off my existing backlog.

The latest surge of miniatures for this project came from a Kitbash Games Supers Unlimited Kickstarter releasing a new team called the Glory Guard, which are heavily influenced by the Freedom Force game and I've chosen to lean into with my painting and modeling choices.

I now only have a single miniature from the Glory Guard Kickstarter to paint: Enigmiss. Unfortunately, the member of Freedom Force that she looks like is Alche-Miss, who I've already converted, so I'm considering alternative uses for her.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. The latest models to get paint on them are a somewhat contrasting affair, and not only because they have largely been done with contrast paints.

We have the monochromatic Tombstone and the eminently more vibrant Quetzalcoatl, both of who are characters which turn up in the time-travelling sequel, Freedom Force Vs the Third Reich.

Quetzalcoatl is a character which plays on the superhero trope of ancient gods bestowing power on a suitable mortal in the manner of Thor (the original comics version) or Shazam. In this case it's an Aztec god who imbues Jonny Azotl with a range of powers appropriate to a giant flying snake.

This model was the most fragile of the set and in fact I managed to snap his ankle whilst cleaning the model. However, it's also probably the most detailed and took the contrast paints and washes really well leaving me really happy with the outcome.

On the other hand, there's Tombstone. The vengeful spirit of a man executed for a crime he didn't commit who no stalks the guilty, bringing them to justice. Deadman meets the Shadow, if you will.

When it came to painting this one I have arguably relied too much on contrast paints and the initial reference picture I used made it clear that his colours are black, grey and silver.

However, the reference material varies and, as you can see, there were options for a more colourful approach. Adding in the fact that the Basilicanum Grey paint has left him looking quite dirty means that overall I'm not very pleased with the outcome.

I think I'm found to revisit him and highlight the black with purple and clean up the grey to see if I can get an outcome I'm happier with.

As the Glory Guard came with stat cards for both Super Mission Force and Pulp City, I can now field a version of Freedom Force in both games along with 7TV, where I've been using custom profiles.

However, it's Pulp City that provided the motivation for me to get back to these two models, and this is the reason...

Kitbash Games are currently running another campaign, Pulp City: Full Effect, this time on Gamefound to fund the first additions to the main Pulp City setting in a long time (this was originally due in 2020, but 'stuff' happened, if you remember). It's also the first time that the rulebook has been available since the company changed hands, so it marks a real relaunch of the game.

The campaign can be found HERE.

I have somehow now amassed five teams and a motley selection of independent heroes for Pulp City, and so I'm looking to pick up any members of Red Republik or the A.R.C. (such as Simian Jones above) that turn up in the campaign, and with more stretch goals (based on both funding and backers) I'm checking back daily to see what else to add.

I'm also toying with the idea of starting another team, Settlers Green, simply as an excuse to buy the somewhat intimidating Tri-Bal model. There are three members of the team currently available in the add-ons section at the bottom of the page with more that have been teased.

Alternatively, there is a brand new team, Discord, available as a multi-buy, new versions of older characters and with Pulp City's mechanic of being able to build teams in multiple different ways, you could just grab the models you like and go from there.

Am I shilling for the company?

Well, yes. Leon is a friend and I'd like to see him get the game back to where it was. Partly because I want him to do well, but also because it's a really good game that I'd like to play more.

Acquired: -61

Painted: 360

Lead Mountain: 652