New Etsy Listing: Curse of the Mummy

I added a new listing on Etsy this morning, a Mummy!

It's a Reaper sculpt, metal this time, giving it a satisfying weight. I tried to make it look like some of the actual mummies discovered in Egypt, very dried out and decaying.

It would serve well in many games, not only fantasy games, but pulp fiction and horror as well. I got a double for myself that will be showing up in the Dark Tower and against Professor Cooke.

Check out the Etsy listing here:

Cthulhu Fhatgn

That which is not dead can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die...

H. P. Lovecraft

My last post has stirred him in his sleep, and now he emerges-

Cthulhu!

Investigators of the Uncanny

The Victorian era saw great advancements in technology and science as humanity multiplied across the globe. With such great upheavals, and the exploration of hitherto forgotten regions, things began to stir from long slumber, and take notice of man. Most who were unlucky enough to encounter these terrors shunned them, and spent the rest of their lives trying to forget their existence. Others, however, saw the great risk posed by these creatures, and sought them out to protect the rest of humanity, including Dr. Hesselius, Sherlock Holmes, Carnacki the Ghost Hunter and the newly created Torchwood Institute. Lesser known among these brave souls was Thomas Cooke, professor of archaeology at Glasgow University, and his assistant Una MacDonnal.

Prof. Cooke, originally from Somerset, became well known as an archaeologist during excavations in Mesopotamia, and was hailed for his meticulous craft while still a young man. However, after discovering the buried ziggurat of Anu, he suffered a strange breakdown, and vanished for several years. He reappeared strangely aged, although exhibiting the same sharp mind and insight, and soon accepted Glasgow's offered professorship.

Professor Cooke, Reaper's Benedict Baker, is a great looking miniature, and I had fun adding lots of detail to his clothes, including a Cthulhu pattern on the waistcoat. He holds the Fool card from the Tarot pack featured in Charles Williams' novel The Greater Trumps.

Ms. MacDonnal, a medical student at Anderson's College, assists the Professor on many of his investigations. She hails from the Outer Hebrides, and her knowledge of both farm life and folklore is a boon to Cooke, who is often impatient dealing with the people around him.

Originally intended as Pathfinder witch Nella Cailean, the miniature painted up well as Ms. MacDonnal, the less historical leather pouches at her waist serving well as a medical kit. She had a cat, who was playing with the feather in her hand that I have yet to paint. The shoulder cape is painted in the ancient Donald tartan.

This was a really fun and different project to work on, and I enjoyed writing the background to their investigations. Having the ability to create a story around each model, and then watching it unfold, is what really appeals to me about both tabletop and RPG gaming, and I love to blur the lines between the two!

Reverse the Polarity of the Neutron Flow

At last, the Doctor!

After being put on trial by the Time Lords, and sentenced to an exile on 20th century Earth, the Doctor regenerated for the second time. This Doctor was played by John Pertwee, already well known for his comic roles. The most 'action hero' of the Doctors, he soon became UNIT's scientific advisor, helping avert the threats of many alien species before his exile was lifted, and he traveled the universe again.

The miniature came from Crooked Dice, labeled as Hugo Solomon. It's a great sculpt, very dynamic, and the likeness of Pertwee is incredible. It's a real pity that he's no longer available. Behind him is a TARDIS from Reaper, which has an unfortunate habit of attracting dust, as can be seen in the picture. I'm still trying to fix that, so far unsuccessfuly.

Check out my Etsy Shop for custom orders and pre-painted miniatures.

Toothed Trunks and Monoliths

Lately, I've found myself painting a good many miniatures from my favorite books and films, my growing Doctor Who collection being a good example. So, having just finished the last of these, I'll share a few non-Who models, including a scratchbuild.

First, from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, none other than the enigmatic Monolith. This was a scratch build, a piece of foam cut to the 1:4:9 formula, with tape around the edges to smooth it off. It may actually see service in Dark Tower, although the miniature was just a size comparison.

One of the foundations of science-fiction is the 1927 film Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang. The sets and visuals from this, especially the iconic workers buildings, were actually a big inspiration for my Dark Tower game setting. Perhaps the best known character from this film is the evil robot duplicate of Maria, which Reaper makes as a miniature.

I enjoyed painting the all-silver color-scheme, it really stands out on the tabletop.

The base was simply painted grey, but I did add a pentagram to it. That's a recurring image in Metropolis, especially around the robot, and the mad scientist Rotwang's laboratory.

Last, from the late Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, the Luggage. A thousand-toed, homicidal suitcase with teeth, the Luggage attaches itself to Rincewind, becoming a constant companion of the magically challenged wizard.

I altered it from a Reaper Mimic Beast, adding the necessary pink feet on the base with green stuff. The Mimic was surprisingly close to what I wanted, even with a large mahogany tongue and store of tempting gold.





Have a particular favorite character you want re-created in miniature? Check out my Etsy Shop for custom orders, and a growing range of pre-painted miniatures.

Ice Warriors from Mars

Ice Warriors, the ancient inhabitants of Mars, have met the Doctor on several occasions during his second and third regenerations, also reappearing in the Eleventh Doctor episode Cold War. A race of honor-bound warriors, they are often at odds with the Doctor, and his less violent means of conflict solving.

The miniatures are from Harlequin/Black Tree Design's original series range, and are good representations of the on-screen Ice Warriors, standing a head taller than the average human.

They were easy to paint, one overall green and a handful of details, but I like how they turned out.

In addition to the standard warriors, I got Ice Lord Izlyr from the Third Doctor adventure The Curse of Peladon to lead my Warriors into battle. Certainly one of my campiest paint-jobs!

A slight issue with the Izlyr model- on the show he has claws similar to the Warriors, not gloved hands. Still, I'm pleased with them, they were enjoyable to paint, and make a good, classic villain for any Doctor to face.

As always, check out my Etsy Shop for custom commissions, and pre-painted miniatures.

Rapiers and Snakes

It's been a while since I've posted! The holidays were, as always, very busy for me. Since than I have been able to get a good bit of painting done, and starting to get back on my posting schedule, and since most of my other models are awaiting basing, I'll start with these two Reaper Pathfinder models...

First is Vencarlo Orosini: painted as a mix of Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride and a friend's SCA Character. It was a pretty simple paint-job, although I did arm him with the six-fingered sword from the movie.

The base is also from the movie, the ruin-littered top of the Cliffs of Insanity, where Inigo fights the mysterious Man in Black.

Khavith, Serpentfolk evoker:  I tried to give him a middle-eastern nomad feel- with dusty robes and an embroidered scarf.

I'm not sure what I'll use him as, he'd make a good Beastmaster or demon hunter in Frostgrave. Regardless, I like how he turned out.

Check out my Etsy shop for custom orders and pre-painted miniatures.