Cartel agents: Crockett, Tubbs and Broccoli

It's been a while but somehow X-mas / new year's eve period was devastating for the hobby. At the end of every year there's more work to be done asap and mostly it drained my life force which I could spend on something more pleasant. Besides I've been thinking a lot (again... 🙄) and conclusion is I am just tired. Got to get my shit together fast.

Since the last post I was deeply hoping for annual (bi-annual actually) Warzone game which would be base for battle report. but somehow me and my opponent couldnt match out calendars. Not mentioning the fact my opponent sold his Cybertronic force, so I had to paint some do-gooders which could face forces of Darkness.  

So far I had solid squad of Cartel Agents but I've found some more of them on the bottom of shame-bucket: agents Crockett, Tubbs and Broccoli. Plus re-animated Bauhaus hussar. These models were casted ~1996 but they are still lots of fun to paint. Bring back lots of memories. I read somewhere when you are starting living your past you just got old. 

That might me true.

So here's the whole team. Must check if there's any other corporate team on the bottom of one of the buckets, so I can field something decend against hordes of Darkness:

Here the agents are trying to arrest pitiful undead legionnaire:

And here's Agent Broccoli. Painting this one with olive and green made it perfect field agent. That combined with deadly eye gaze and plasma cannon is all you need when heretics leave their lairs!

Seeya.

Carter Special Agents (Nick Michaels & Quatto)

After crossing off the list Cryx robo-chicken hybrid I decided to take a step back and work on some old farts from oldie Warzone line. I still have lots of these beauties waiting for some care but this time I decided to save something really ugly from the abyss of oblivion: 

special agent Nick Michaels and field medic. They both are going to reinforce RPG based Cartel Agents squad.

It took me about a week to start painting after these two were dragged out from acid bath and undercoated. For years, I mean like 15-20 years (!) I was pretty sure Nick Michaels is one of the most horrid sculpts from Warzone line ever made, so I had no steam even to point a brush in direction of that piece. 

Thank Satan I was just so wrong!

After working a bit on it turned out there's pretty cool, oldschool model there! Sure it's kinda static but who cares? It was spawned in 1996! It's weapons are clumsy but hey - just check armament in WH 40000 world 🙄 And it has Dune Nukem's face!

The other guy is supposed to be Michaels' sidekick / team medic. It's pretty simple sculpt but pretty evecathing - bright armour contrasting with dark elements always looks cool. It's face is kinda weird though - reminds me Quatto from original Total Recall movie. See? 😁

Really looking forward to find some more corporate models from Warzone line to add some more Doom Troopers to the team! The family pic: death squad supported by Mishima merc:

And just below: Doom Troopers trying to stop deadly praetorian stalkers from breaching the bunker's entrance: 

See ya in the past!

Demon hunter (Mishima)

I was actually hoping for painting some more undead legionnaires for nephatire warlord's squad, but instead decision was made to work on rather unusual piece for my taste: 

not only alive but also pretty bright 😁 My latest victim was demon hunter from late 90's.

Mishima models are just supercool. The idea of sci-fi samurai faction supported by cool models is something you cannot pass without turning back. Sadly when it comes to playing games I am monogamic and my sould has been sold to forces of darkness long time ago, so don't think I will command Mishina force ever. But that doesn't mean I cannot paint something from that range for a change.

Until I started working on the piece I wasn't sure about the sculpt: I used to think it's just medicore. But I changed my mind just after applying undercoat - model is simply great and not just for oldschool standards. As for color choice I tried to keep it less cartoony then official Warzone paintjobs. Initially the blade was supposed to be painted bright silver but then I thought Ki-force ensorcelled, hot as hell blade is way more suitable to face monstrocities like Alakhai the Cunning:

Here demon hunter is dealing with remains of local secret kohorts:

The model is actually gift piece so it might see some combat tomorrow night and after that it starts the journey to the recipient. And next time: evil machine should roll in... 👾

Mishima vs Legion battle report

After dealing with Cybertronic invaders in 2021 and 2022 my peace loving Dark Legion was brutally attacked by Mishima expeditionary force. So once again local nepharite had to defend everything Algeroth and Dark Apostles stands for (whatever it really is 😈).

About week ago my one true foe has finally got over 1000 pts Mishima force painted, so it was time to test new toys in the field. It turned out getting old samurai models it pretty hard task nowdays, so my opponent decided to gather rather elite force, hoping to expend the army in the future. Really would like to see force based on samurai warriors and ashigaru in action one day.

Initially the plan was to test some home rules to make 1st edition of Warzone game more dynamic. Or just dynamic, even by tiny bit... 😋 But after both armies and beers were unpacked on the battlefield decision was made to use basic rules with no crappy modifications. Nostalgy factor turned out to be way too strong to resist.

We were both taking pic hoping to assemble detailed game report, but the next day it turned out lots of photos were just f#cked, so it's rather overall relation then detailed report. Who cares anyway - we all know the only thing that matters are pics of painted models in action.

So here's overall view on the battlefield.

Dark Legion force has been deployed in the corner with a pond (most probably toxic), so Mishima invaders started the game in the opposite corner:

Horde of necromutants and cultists are emerging from forest torched by those heartless Mishima bastards... 🤬 There are some rules of war, you know? Bastards!

And here are the torchers - cold, heartless battle droids supported by inquisitor! I bet it was his idea! Goddamn Brotherhood! Just look like happy they look!

Squad of suicide warheads covered by crimson devils unit emerging from field of cosmic rice:

Whole bunch of these anime-devils emerging from deployment zone:

Line of elite Dark Legion commandos trying to reach enemy with long range weapons:

Solid training, bit of luck plus long ammo belt and razide gave crimson devils what they deserved. I'm guessing trees should now grow better in this area:

At the same time cultists of Algetorh are sneaking behing boccage towards enemy positions:

Suicide warheads detected squad of necromutants led by mighty nephatite of Algeroth. They rushed towards the servant of Darkness to perform deadly attack but they've managed to inflict only 3 wounds! Nepharite got a chance to fall beck behind necromutants to regenerate:

Crimson devil specialist covering battlefield with fire from his heavy machine gun:

While rest of his comrades are reaching safe positions in the ruins:

Squad of cultists is preparing to take over statue and altar of Ancient Evil. This is actually staged photo - Mishima battle droid were dead long before my trusty cultists reached the altar. Yet it's still cool picture and the hobby is all about looking at nice minis 😊

It was fun to see Warzone alive once again. Despite all drawbacks of the 1st edition seeing these old, clumsy sculpts staggering on the battlefield is just pure joy. At this very moment group of the last 3 cultist is standing on the painting desk, so maybe next time I'll be able to field 2 squads from secret kohorts range. Really want to get them done as soon as possible - I am getting sick from these rapsberry/red rags... 🤢

Alakhai the Cunning

Alakhai is well over seven feet in height. His armor is forged of petrified human souls, it's surface etched with runes telling of the atrocities he commited to acquire such protection. 

His piercing eyes cast a fiery glow across his thin lips and sharp teeth, which are always visible through his maniacal smile. 

Always accompanying Alakhai onto battlefield is the Meat Wolfer, his huge battle sword...

Well that shit freaks me out! 😱
And those tiny guys on the pic below most probably have already fouled their panzer pants after they noticed it's Meat Wolfer's feeding time... 🥶

Anyway I've finally done it - after all those years my Dark Legion got worthy commander!

This model is kinda special (most of Warzone models I have are kinda special): 

official Paul Bonner's artwork was one of my very first Warzone pictures I spotted back and on that very moment I just knew that was it. That second I was sold to the Dark Soul...

No matter how cool the artwork is, model is just... Well - oldschool Warzone style: maybe cool but also kinda goofy. Color choice was based on "official" paintjob I spotted in Mutant Chronicles zine. The plan was to add more red elements (like armor edges) but dropped it - I am more then sure such thing would look just flat. Red cloak is test piece: I want to add unit of acolytes wearing red robes. They should look striking especially on grass green battlefield. The final result is ok, but next time I'll use violet instead of dark brown the shading.

Like most models I have this one is second hand. I got it slightly damaged - the rim on right back shoulder pad. The top of the horn was also broken so I cut it off and replaced with greenstuff prosthesis. I made it bigger then original horn: it makes Alakhai even more badass and besides we all know what do girls say about nepharites with big horrrrrrns...

I'd love to ask the sculptor about the gem on left knee. No idea what was the idea behind it but my guess is round piece of greenstuff was left there by chance. Accident at work. On the other hand - old Warzone sculpts were specific and gem on knee ain't most weird thing...

And since this one is painted it's time to modify army composition for the coming game...

The cave

So it's finally done - took a while but I'm really glad I can now move back to painting something "normal". And preferably Warld War II related....

As for the current project I wanted to execute such "flat" diorama for a long, long time. I think I've seen something similar in old White Dwarf zine. And because I try to paint few oldie Warzone range models every year there was a chance to combine both ideas.

What you see below is Mishima Lord Moya's Guard team (kinda super elite, dark future tunnel rats) dealing with some undead legionnaires emerging from an abandoned underground bunker, secret lab, mine or whatever. 

It took some planning to get the thing done, especially about constructing the cave, assembling the bunker door and making all elements fit the box. Looking at it now I think I should've added something under the cave roof - maybe some spider webs or some flying bats (eeek-eeeking fearfully) but I might keep these for the next piece.

I am very glad I could work with plaster and try something new in the painting / modelling field. On the other hand I am very not glad because too much rusty pigment was applied at the very end so the bottom looks bit like mud. 

Or rather like some Mishima guys took a crap watching the might ov Dark Legion warriors...

And some wips:

Glass added:

Hanging on the wall:

Cat for the scale:

Teaser

Apparently real life has striked me hard once again so there's nothing fresh painted so far. But since the bloggy is just everhungry I decided to throw it little something: 

teaser of what I am working on right now:

Hope to see it finished soon so I can move to Warpainter's jeeps... 

Praetorian stalkers - all done!

Apparently my COVID isolation is getting over tonight. I've always considered myself homebody, but being forbidden to leave the flat was getting annoying... 🙄

Nevertheless I tried to spend that time the best way possible, best way for the hobby that is. So after finishing M8 Scott howitzer for online painting contest decision was made to finish pair of oldie praetorian stalkers for oldie Warzone game. 

While preparing this post I realised ramaining stalkers were painted over 5 years ago! Therefore I am more than happy I could finally make the family of evil complete... 😈

I found finishing project after 5 years long break is kinda difficult, but tried to keep similar color choice to make whole unit coherent and still referring to official artwork.

New (or rather: "new") models are much smaller than stalkers painted already. And that's because these come from Target Games' RPG which was realeased even before Warzone game. This makes these two true gems in my collection - pieces of hobby history!

Hope you like them:
both those old and those older 😉

Behold! Algeroth's finests led by mightly nepharite!

Latest addition to the evil force:

And size comparision. Models from RPG are not only smaller (about size of ordinary human model in Warzone) but also are much less detailed then later version: no carving on armour, much less details on the gun and face:

While working on these praetorians I was also having kind of time travel - again actually...
Back to the careless mid 90's when I discovered the hobby. Praetorian stalker was one of the very first models I've seen ever so these have special meaning. I spotted it in Polish edition of Mutant Chronicles zine, added to old fantasy magazine, which my bro used to read. I still keep Warzone dedicated pages!
In the winter 1995 there was a tutorial about painting the stalker and Bauhaus seregant - maybe one day I'll try to paint another praetorian, much more colorful, based on oldie tutorial.

But that's plan for another time travel ⏱

Take care!