(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Modiphius Entertainment" April 2026

Last month's output was surprisingly dominated by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and Super-heroes

Having successfully completed my four-month long Partially-Painted/Printed Pledge (PPPP), and rather pleasingly managed to better last year's 'score' of 246 points by a further 13 points, I thought I might turn to a range of 28mm "soft resin" models I haven't paid much attention to for six years. Indeed, it's been so long since I last picked up one of the Star Trek Adventures Tabletop RPG figures produced by "Modiphius Entertainment" that the entire range appears to have subsequently been 'shelved' as a physical product, and are now only available as part of their "Print at Home" STL (Standard Triangle Language) files.

Perhaps slightly disconcertingly I haven't actually decided to pigment a quartet of these figures over the next few weeks through choice either. But rather as a result of a D12 dice roll, which saw me number a dozen of my hobby drawers and then randomly pick one for this month's project. However, as luck would have it, the particular container chosen was simply packed full of all sorts of goodies, so in the end I did have some say in what my brush-tip would be tackling throughout April.

"What is your name..?"

Furthermore, I have also finished another 28mm scale white metal model by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” for the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog. Available either separately as Alien Legionary 1A, or as part of the company's four-figure Alien Legionnaries set, this Ernst Veingart sculpt is clearly strongly influenced by Danilo Donati's costume design for the Emperor Ming's minions seen in Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon".

The trooper was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Red, "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Abaddon Black. However,  his belt buckle and shoulder epaulettes were treated to a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst his gloved hands received a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

March 2026 - The battle between "Wargames Foundry" and "Games Workshop" is hotting up

Unfortunately, the previous month has been the worst March I've had productivity-wise since I first started noting my output well over a decade ago, and disappointingly I fear a lot of that inactivity has been due to my trying to push on with older projects as opposed to cracking on with newer ones. True, I have made a bit of a dent in my backlog (in some places). But a lot of the models I have finished won't see the tabletop on account of me still not having enough miniatures from that range for an actual game.

I'm therefore really hoping that my idea of randomly mixing up my painting subjects with some more recent purchases/3D prints will "Gee me [back] up". In recent years this month has been a rather slow time for me, so it should also offer me a good opportunity to get back on track with a few long-term gaming plans (e.g. Fielding some more Napoleonic units by "Wargames Foundry" for "Black Powder). In addition, despite my best intentions I still haven't got many actual battles 'in the books', and firmly believe that these spur me on when the hobby mojo is weakening...

"They Seem A Pretty Subhuman Species."

"Yet the master race."

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately as Beastman 3C, or as part of their DEAL 397 Beastman 3 four-figure set. Despite being by sculpted Ernst Veingart, I must confess to not being the greatest fan of this particular miniature as I dislike the patches of furry hair on the savage's chest forearms - something which arguably appears all the more bizarre-looking by the 'official' light-skinned paint-job.

As a result I decided to undercoat mine with a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and splosh him with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I then went back with some highlights of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna on the brute's facial features and fingers. This colour scheme definitely helped mask the aforementioned details I disliked without me having to resort to filing them off - which is something I did actually consider.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - The three remaining Beastmen

The Beastman's loincloth was hit with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before I 'picked out' the heavily-ornated belt threaded around the fellow's waist with a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I did think about subsequently dry-brushing the animal fur with a little more "Vallejo" Heavy Brown. However, as I wanted to use these models as cave-dwelling savages for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games" (using the Cultist or maybe Ghoul rules), I felt they'd probably be extremely dirty, so left the piece of 'cloth' lone.

To finish off my test piece, I used some "Citadel" Rakarth Flesh and Agrax Earthshade on the brute's formidable animal bone, and later dry-brushed the hand-weapon with a tad more Rakarth Flesh, as well as a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Dead White. I also dropped a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal along the metal ring sticking out from the implement's bottom, and darkened it down with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"CobraMode" & "Totters Yard Customs" WIPs - This statue has yet to be base-layered and weathered

Perhaps unsurprisingly, having completed the first of my fearsome quartet I have carried on working on the remaining three Beastman I bought. Disappointingly though, due to my dislike of some of their details I am finding the trio rather hard work to progress, and am now unsure whether I will get the rest tabletop ready in time for the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog.

To mix things up a bit I am also tackling a piece of terrain I predominantly made using some "Bambu Lab" Jade White PLA (Polylactic Acid) on my A1 Mini 3D Printer. The Desert Shrine Scatter Terrain itself is by "CobraMode". Whilst the resin 1:21 scale miniature of The Leader which I'm using as a statue, was incredibly kindly sent to me by "Totters Yard Customs" so I could use the ensemble for some future "Blake's 7" gaming...

"Hi..! I'm Squirrel Girl.!"

 "Yeah. Neat name, huh.?"

This "super rare" 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Squirrel Girl was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 056 from their 2011 Marvel “Heroclix” Captain America expansion. Born with "a genetic anomaly which gives her the ability to communicate with squirrels", Doreen Green was created by Will Murray (writer) and Steve Ditko (artist), and first appeared in the Winter 1991 edition of "Marvel Super-Heroes".

Separated from her 'clicky' stand and super-glued onto a plastic 25mm circular base well over a decade ago, this figure actually then sat unattended in a plastic drawer for a further five years before I finally primed over its pre-existing paintjob using some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. For some reason it was then rather disappointingly consigned back to the shadows until very recently, when I decided to dig the Great Lakes Avenger out and get her tabletop ready.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three of four Beastman slowly being progressed

As a result I 'picked out' Doreen's leotard with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before applying some "Two Thin Coats" Sword Hilt Burgundy to her waist pouches. As far as I can tell from the artist sketches I was using as a colour guide these bags are supposed to weave in and out of the super-heroine's furry costume. However, I simply couldn't see any such detail on the sculpt, so eventually just went with picking out the utility belt's buckle with a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I next applied some "Citadel" Doombull Brown to Squirrel Girl's curly mop, and followed this up by sploshing her hair, as well as the human mutate's fur, tail and pouches with plenty of Agrax Earthshade. The majority of these areas were later carefully dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna or "Citadel" Doombull Brown as appropriate. As a last touch I gave the squirrel sat upon Green's shoulder a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey and a dash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil - thus hopefully suggesting her trusty companion is Tippy-Toe.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - These Bomb Coffins are now about two thirds completed

Alongside my latest "Heroclix" miniature, I have also been busy tackling four Beastmen by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". This quartet haven't been in my collection for quite as long as Squirrel Girl. But have still probably been quietly gathering dust for a good three years, and as I fancy using them as Cultists in some future battles of "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", I thought I'd better continue slapping some (more) paint on them 'toot sweet.'

Finally, I am still plugging away at three Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These "heavily armoured, tormented figures" are taking a lot longer to complete than I first anticipated on account of their swirling, somewhat fiddly to reach spectral flames - which I admit I initially intended to simply pigment grey as I thought it was supposed to be smoke...

"Summoning Her Strange Sonic Powers..."

 "...Black Canary hurls a whistling whammy at the retreating hearse."

This 28mm scale pre-painted plastic model of Black Canary was produced by “Wizkids” and is miniature number 036 from their DC “Heroclix” Cosmic Justice expansion. "A metahuman who possesses a unique ability known as the Canary Cry", this comic book super-heroine was created by Dennis O'Neil and Dick Dillin, and first appeared in the November 1969 issue of "Justice League of America".

Somewhat unsympathetically chopped from her 'clicky' base and super-glued onto a plastic 25mm circular base, Dinah Laurel Lance had her rather thick previous paint-job primed over with a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue, before being doused in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. The figure's clothing and boots were then dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue to bring out some of the sculpt's detail.

"Bring it through safely. Land it."

I next applied some "Vallejo" Neutral Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil to her tights in an effort to suggest that these were at least slightly transparent, and 'picked out' her rectangular belt buckle using a little "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Lastly, I gave Black Canary's hair as many coats of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow as it needed so it stopped looking green, sploshed the area in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and subsequently tried to build back some of its colour with (more) Skulker Yellow by "Two Thin Coats".

In addition to Dinah Lance I have also finished another 28mm scale white metal model by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio”, which can be bought either separately as Alien Legionary 1A, or as part of the company's four-figure Alien Legionnaries set. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly strongly influenced by Danilo Donati's costume design for the Emperor Ming's minions seen in Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon", and is part of an embarrassingly sizeable and is part of a unit I'm currently working on for the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - These Bomb Coffins have had their spectral flames 'picked out'

The trooper was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Red, "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Abaddon Black. However,  his belt buckle and shoulder epaulettes were treated to a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, whilst his gloved hands received a smidgeon of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

I've also hopefully completed the 'larger part' of three Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These STL (Standard Triangle Language) files were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, and are already part of an embarrassingly large pile of grey (resin) I have made for my games set "in a horrifying alternate timeline of World War One..."

"Strange Object In The Imperial Vortex."

"Object entering our control range, approaching the Sea of Fire."

This 28mm scale white metal model is produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately as Alien Legionary 1D, or as part of their four-figure Alien Legionnaries set. Sculpted by Ernst Veingart, the miniature is clearly strongly influenced by Danilo Donati's costume design for the Emperor Ming's minions seen in Mike Hodges' cult 1980 movie "Flash Gordon", and, along with a number of its scarlet-coloured comrade-in-arms, has rather embarrassingly been sat awaiting some attention on my painting table for a couple of years now.

Initially primed using a couple of layers of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, the trooper was given a dousing in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, before being dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. The guard then had all of his leather straps and belt carefully 'picked out' with a smidgeon of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Furthermore, his belt buckle and shoulder epaulettes were subsequently were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Wizkids" WIPs - Sergeant Rock, Squirrel Girl and Black Canary

In order to create the illusion that the legionary's gloves were made from a different material to his robes, I gave the figure's hands a lick of "Vallejo" Dark Vermillion, before shading them with a quick splash of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Lastly I applied some "Vallejo" Gunmetal to his face-mask's lenses and shaded the tiny areas with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

With just two more of these Alien Legionnaries left to complete before I can submit the finished unit into the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog, I've decided to dust down a few (really) old "Heroclix" models by "Wizkids" to help break up the monotony of pigmenting the same, similar-looking miniatures. Indeed, having now finished four of Ming's gas-mask wearing hoodlums in recent weeks, I must confess to losing some of my motivation to get the significantly-sized squad finally finished.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - A trio of Bomb Coffins

I had initially hoped that this trio of 28mm re-paints would prove fairly quick to get tabletop ready. But unlike the Black Canary - who I began progressing late last year, my Sergeant Rock and (to a lesser extent) Squirrel Girl will actually need some significant effort on account of Old Father Time taking its toll upon my earlier work. In fact, DC Comics' non-commissioned officer will effectively need a total overhaul after I discovered the figure was covered in tiny white blotches.

I've also decided to tap into my interest of "Trench Crusade" by producing and undercoating a trio Bomb Coffins from the Ghosts of the Nomansland range by "Trench Stench". These "hazardous battlefield obstacles" were created using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on my Mars 5 3D Printer, and should give me another opportunity to devise a reasonably quick method of creating ethereal-looking undead creatures...

"You Cannot Hide. I See You."

"There is no life in the void, only death".

This rather diminutive 28mm scale metal model of Frodo Baggins was produced by "Games Workshop", and could be found inside either the Nottingham-based company's "The Fellowship Of The Ring" boxed set [99111499002] or as part of their Frodo & Sam blister [99061461002]. Now long OOP (Out Of Production), I actually only recently discovered that I had this figure in my backlog of "The Lord Of The Rings" miniatures, and must have picked him up (probably with Sam, Merry and Pippin) second-hand at a show some years ago.

In addition, having already 'properly pigmented' an identical sculpt just last month, I was initially at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it. But then thought I could use it to simply represent the Hobbit actually putting on the One Ring - as per the "Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game" (MESBG) main rule-book. Resultantly, the entire piece was treated to a couple of coats of "Two Thin Coats" White Star, splattered with some heavily watered-down "Vallejo" Neutral Grey, and dry-brushed with (more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats".

"Games Workshop" WIPs - Three of four Uruk-hai armed with crossbows currently on the painting table 

Now admittedly, this may well seem like a bit of a waste of a model to some. However, behind the scenes it provided me with a rare opportunity to experiment with a variety of "Citadel" Shades to establish whether I could suggest that 'ethereal creatures' (such as The Army of the Dead or the "Dead faces in the Dead Marshes") were actually wearing coloured clothing.

Having covered this miniature in a cunning combination of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, Nuln Oil, Carroburg Crimson and Reikland Fleshshade though, and subsequently started giving the halfling a dry-brush of (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star, it disappointingly became clear to me that my plan using fading inks wasn't going to work. I therefore decided to sadly re-prime Frodo with (even more) White Star by "Two Thin Coats", and apply the far simpler two-tone colour scheme I mention above.

"Trench Stench" WIPs - Three of five Dirt Knights currently being worked on

In addition to providing my Fellowship with a distinctive-looking Ring-bearer, I've assembled, undercoated and progressed a handful more Uruk-hai armed with crossbows too. This all-metal orc unit by "Games Workshop" will be added to my already quite-sizeable Isengard force for MESBG, and also contribute towards the Angry Piper's "Forced March" painting event over on his "Dead Dick’s Tavern and Temporary Lodging" wargaming blog.

Likewise, I have dusted down the five 32mm Dirt Knights by "Trench Stench" I printed and began painting back in October 2025. Recently I've been producing quite a considerable number of the manufacturer's "Trench Crusade" inspired models on my "Elegoo" Mars 5 3D printer, and thought I had better start getting on top of this fast-growing pile of grey before things get too badly out of hand...

"If I Die, I'm Going To Die Historic On The Fury Road!"

 "Do not, my friends, become addicted to water. It will take hold of you, and you will resent its absence."

"Hello Speed Freaks, and welcome to our latest broadcast of Cars, Crashes and Carnage, where we reveal all the latest news concerning the vehicles racing across our barren, post-nuclear landscape. I'm your host with the most Rex Wonkers, and alongside veteran roustabout-turned-roughneck Lance Sourdough, I'll be taking a closer look at the four latest competitors to be announced for the Juice Cup."

"To open with we have the super-sleek Solar Eagle III, which largely consists of the identically-named die-cast vehicle produced by "Mattel" between 1998 to 2001. It's believed that the 20mm scale metal "Hot Wheels" model was purchased loose at a second-hand stall a couple of years ago, and having been kitted out with a couple of forward-facing machine-guns taken from the plastic Implements of Carnage One sprue by "North Star Military Figures", was subsequently super-glued on to a "Citadel" plastic 90 x 52mm oval base."

"Mattel WIPs" - This Duck N' Roll car has been converted using "North Star Military Figures" bitz 

"It was then that the lightweight, teardrop-shaped car was primed in "Vallejo" Heavy Red, shaded using some (disconcertingly gloopy) "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade and dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red, Rex. The driver's viewport was subsequently layered with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whilst the 762 terrestrial-grade silicon solar cells and weapons were treated to a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil."

"In addition, you can't forget the rear-mounted mercenary riding 'shotgun'. The 20mm metal figure was selected from the NSPIoC13 - Corporate Team (Drivers & Passengers) set by "North Star Military Figures" and predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. However, the machinegun-toting lookout also had his helmet picked out with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson."

"That chap's going to have hold on very tight should the Solar Eagle III start accelerating up to its top speed of forty-three miles per hour, Lance. Of course, this solar car isn't the only headline grabber for this show, with the local Police Department's announcement of their 'Duck of Death' vehicle. Based upon the chassis of a "Hot Wheels" Duck N' Roll, this monstrosity will come armed with a formidable tesla cannon."

"North Star Military Figures" WIPs - Two more 20mm plastic motorcycles are on the painting table

"And let's not forget we also have another pair of 20mm plastic motorcycles found on the Implements of Carnage One sprue by "North Star Military Figures" dropping their dog-tags into the hat too, Rex. These boys are far more reliant upon their bikes' great speed to help them survive the tournament. Though I did spot one of them sporting a gatling gun at the front of their machine."

"Well that about brings our latest transmission to an end, Lancey Boy. So it's goodbye from the pair of us, and we look forward to speaking to all you wasteland survivors again in the next edition of Cars, Crashes and Carnage..."