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Showing posts from January, 2023

Superheroes: Baroque Boy, Brightside, Scrapper, Magefist

Behold the newest team of superheroes! I've recently put together four superheroes (who, granted, could just as easily be supervillains). Inspired by reading through the rules for Masks: A New Generation, which does not use miniatures nor feature any tactical combat, I put together these fine heroes. Also, I made a lot of supervillains last year, and there are only a few painted heroes to keep them in check. Something must be done to balance the scales of JUSTICE!

In the group picture here, they are (from left to right) Baroque Boy, Brightside, Scrapper, and Magefist!

First is Scrapper. She's a cyborg made with parts from the Stargrave Crew II and Mercenaries II boxes. Her head is resin from the Anvil Industry Female Wasteland Heads sprue. The buzzsaw was a hand weapon with a full handle, but I cut off the handle and glued a nice flat part to the obligatory Stargrave wrist-thing (which always makes it look like Stargrave minis have a Fallout-style Pip-Boy). I painted a rough S on the back of the leather jacket. Green and brown aren't really "hero colors," but they offer a nice warm contrast to the metallic robot parts. She could just as easily--or more easily--be used as a villain. Scrapper is definitely my favorite hero of this batch, and her heavy left arm and cybernetics would make her a great mirror/nemesis for Southpaw.

This is Baroque Boy, sidekick to the Renaissance Man. He's based almost entirely on the pun of the Baroque coming after the Renaissance. The miniature is from Reaper's Bones 5 townsfolk line. He's got a red front cape part and a blue back cape? I don't know what these costume parts are called. He also has a dark gray muffin hat and knee-length tunic. With the yellow mask, he has all the primary colors, and the dark gray keeps everything focused on his face and upper body. With his slightly hunched posture, I think Baroque Boy might still be a bit uncomfortable in his role, needing more time in the hero career to really grow into his heroism.

Next is Brightside, a genius gadgeteer with a flamethrower and a drone. Once again, mostly Stargrave parts with a head from the Anvil Industry Female Wasteland Heads sprue. The drone is attached with a magnet, so it can be removed and put on its own flight stand! Her outfit is largely gray, but that makes the black and bright red really pop. Flamethrowers aren't typical hero tools, but there's no rule that says they can't be. Also, when the drone is mounted to her back, she can use it as a jump pack for maneuverability. Fun fact: the drone is actually a tiny-scale spaceship, the European Federation Comète class Interceptor from Brigade Models, which I had lying around from an old spaceship combat game I built up a force for.

Finally, we have a martial artist. Or a magician. Or a magical martial artist? I don't really know. I just wanted to try a purple and blue color scheme. Let's call her Magefist and assume she likes '80s action movies. The body and head are Stargrave II, while the arms are Frostgrave Wizards II. Blue and purple isn't a color that you see much in comics, but there are a few characters like Galactus and the Sentinels that wear it. It's not really a hero color combination. Still, assuming Magefist is calculating and stealthy, the cool colors work pretty well.

There we go. Four young heroes to keep the city safe from the rogue's gallery I've been building up. Speaking of which, I have pages set up for a Supervillain Directory and Superhero Directory, with links available in the left column.

2022 In Review

In 2021, I painted 127 miniatures, and in 2022, I painted 128. That may be a sustainable rate of increase. My 2022 goal was to paint at least 52 miniatures, which I accomplished by May, so I may need to revise my expectations for 2023. Anyway, let's take a gander at what I've completed this year.

  • Superpowers (25)
    • The Racketeer
    • Boomtown
    • The Augur
    • Claire Volante
    • The Draugr
    • The Draugr in Gorva Mechsuit
    • Henchmen (5)
    • Devil Mayfair Model of the Year Nominee
    • White Hat
    • Gingerbread
    • Thugs (4)
    • Redcoat
    • Chosen Men (4)
    • Spectral Sword
    • Lychgate
  • Gunslinger Doc Muldoon
  • Siegtruh, the Mimic Knight Model of the Year Nominee
  • Scifi (6)
    • SAT-R9 Droid
    • Dragonman Bounty Hunter
    • Drone Controller Bounty Hunter
    • Flying Drones (3)
  • Dragonmen (6)
    • Bludgeoners (5)
    • Rifleman
  • Battlemechs (10)
    • Atlas
    • Commando
    • Spider
    • Thug
    • Grasshopper
    • Raven
    • Annihilator
    • Blackjack
    • Orion
    • Catapult
  • Dungeons and Dark Souls (39)
    • Player Characters (6)
      • Purple Florentine
      • Red Greatsword
      • Orange Sword & Shield
      • Yellow Staff
      • Green Crossbow
      • Blue Staff
    • Bosses (2)
      • Colossal Skeleton Model of the Year Nominee
      • Red Dragon
    • Skeletons (28)
      • Commander
      • Hornblower
      • Tetsubōne
      • Spears (7)
      • Archers (7)
      • Sword/Shields (4)
      • Daggers (6)
      • Dinosaur
    • Other (3)
      • Invader
      • Spiked Copper Ball
      • Mimic (Chest)
  • Ashes of Alexandria (13)
    • Coal Sniper
    • Coal LMG (2)
    • Coal RPG
    • Coal Executioner
    • Ash Assault Rifle (2)
    • Ash Shotgun/Axe
    • Ash Pistol
    • Ash Crossbow (2)
    • Ash Sword (2)
  • Mordheim (11)
    • Captain
    • Halberdier Champion Model of the Year Nominee
    • Blunderbuss Marksman
    • Archer Marksman (3)
    • Warrior Mace/Dagger (3)
    • Poppet (Youngblood) 
    • Parasol (Youngblood)
  • 6Gun (4)
    • Green Headset
    • Grey Gaiter
    • Brown Layered
    • Black Helmet
  • Corporate Security (12)
    • Sergeant
    • Agent (3)
    • Gunner
    • Sniper
    • Trooper (5)
    • Hazard Trooper

I basically started and ended the year with supervillains, with a mix of other projects in the middle. "Dungeons and Dark Souls" (which was mainly skeletons) was the largest project, easily so when including the terrain board as well. A lot of the other projects expanded old forces (the Ashes of Alexandria, the Mordheim warband expanding on the Noble Retainers, the Battlemechs, etc.).

This year I've picked the Colossal Skeleton as my Model of the Year. It's a giant, detailed miniature that features a little diorama on the base. There were a few other contenders, but the epic nature of this figure (or figures) made it the clear choice.