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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"Bears Are Typically Peaceful Creatures."


"But they can become unstoppable behemoths if aggravated or threatened."

This 28mm scale resin model of a Bear is produced by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and can be purchased as SKU: MINI 1062 from their Fantasy range. The animal, which was painted in just a single hobby session, is actually an impressive 55mm in length, and resultantly was super-glued onto a plastic "Citadel" 50mm circular base.


The miniature was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being heartily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. It was then drowned in plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and treated to a second, much more delicate, dry-brush of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. Lastly, I finished the beast's basics off by applying some "Two Thin Coats" White Star to its claws and dirtied them up with a splash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"The war began when Ludovico Sforza, then Regent of Milan, encouraged Charles VIII of France to invade Italy,"

The model's snout and eyebrows were given a careful lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. These areas were then 'feathered-in' alongside the surrounding darker fur with a little bit of "Citadel" Abaddon Black being stippled along their edges. The bear's mouth and tongue were 'picked out' using "Vallejo" Heavy Warmgrey and Heavy Red respectively. Both of these areas were later sploshed with plenty of "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. Finally, the figure's teeth were dotted in "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.


Alongside my first completed "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" model of the year, I have also got another 28mm metal Foot Knight by "Steel Fist Miniatures" tabletop ready. As with my other combatants of the Italian Wars 1494-1538, the armoured warrior can be purchased from either the company's Code REN 20 - Foot Knights Deal, or as Code REN 03 - Foot Knights, and is by far my least favourite of Oliver James' sculpts due to its bare helmet, and oddly posed gigantic sword.

"Pendraken Miniatures" WIPs - This Tiger II tank has been assembled, primed and shaded

As with some of my other Renaissance Frenchmen, the miniature was primed using "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently layered in Sir Coates Silver by "Two Thin Coats". It was then treated to a dousing in Duncan Rhodes' Oblivion Black, before the armour and blade were given a thorough dry-brush of (more) Sir Coates Silver. To mark the Knight out as being one of the King of France's fighters, I carefully applied a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and Drakenhof Nightshade to his pants (which are partially visible from the rear).


Lastly, understandably inspired by the bag full of 10mm World War Two tanks I bought from "Pendraken Miniatures" at the recent Colours 2023 wargaming show, I have assembled, base-coated and washed a pair of metal Tiger II armoured vehicles for my Battle of the Bulge campaign. I actually purchased these rather heavy models at Salute 2023, and are just one of several of the Middlesbrough-based manufacturer's blisters I currently have simultaneously being progressed on my painting table...

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undercoat2670
Sep 27, 2023

That bear is a cracking mini! Great paint job too. Some bear sculpts look odd sometimes, but that one is very good indeed.

I agree that this knight is probably the least good sculpt, but at least he would be good at punting a gondola!!

The big guns are coming to WW2!

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Sep 27, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Undercoat. I think this bear is a considerably better sculpt than that one I painted a couple of years ago for Frostgrave. LOL!!!


I strongly doubt I'd have gone with Steel Fist Miniatures for my Italian Wars project, if the sculpts had been as bad as this particular Foot Knight. The figure's paint-job on their website isn't particularly inspirational either. Still, he's done now, and if I ever find/print a feathered plume I might return to it for a conversion...


I've temporarily side-lined the German Battle of the Bulge tanks as I've realised I've little in my painting queue to field as Allied opposition to balance the games, so I'll be focusing on a few British and American tanks…

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Michał Kucharski
Michał Kucharski
Sep 22, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Great work sir!

Love the bear.


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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Sep 22, 2023
Replying to

Cheers Michal. I'm very pleased with how the bear turned out. 😀

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
Sep 22, 2023

Excellent work on the bear and knight Simon, they both look very effective for each type 9natural, and man made) and nice progress on the tanks, I imagine there are many sat on your painting table at the moment.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Sep 22, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Dave. The bear was a lot of fun as I do like a nice simple predominantly black figure from time to time which I can quickly drybrush with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. LOL!! There are loads of Pendraken tanks at various stages on my tabletop currently. But I'm getting through them at quite the rate too. I certainly want to have got most finished before November and Warfare - when I might turn my attention to a 10mm Modern campaign between Nato and the USSR. 😉

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