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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"Don't Let The Nickname Fool You."

Updated: Feb 20, 2023


"The B2-series battle droid wasn't really all that super."

These four 32mm scale B2 Droids are by "Nyverdale Tabletop" and can be downloaded for free as part of Duncan's fifteen-figure strong B2 Droids Collection (Fan Art) of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files on "Cults". Clearly based upon the Super Battle Droids from "Star Wars", they were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.


Having spent a significant amount of time scraping off and sanding down a staggering number of printing 'pimples' on each figure's front (which quite badly battered the odd droid's torso), they were individually based upon 25mm round bases and primed with a coat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I then treated them to a generous application of "Vallejo" Gunmetal, heavily washed them with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed the lot with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal.

"Papsikels Miniatures" WIPs - Three E-800 Exterminators at various painting stages

Whether as a result of me using a flat make-up brush for these 'rough' highlights or not, I disappointingly discovered that the process really emphasised all the pits, dents and deformities of the heavy troops' production, so I initially went back and gave each of the quartet's heads an extra splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil and 'picked out' their softly-detailed eyes with a line of Abaddon Black. Frustratingly, this didn't seem to distract the eye from each figure's flaws, so ultimately I decided to simply apply a second shade of "Citadel" Nuln Oil over the quartet to darken their overall tone.


In addition, I attempted to contrast some of the Baktoid Combat Automata-built robots' joints, heads and midriff with a further application of "Citadel" Nuln Oil (as I did when pigmenting some 28mm plastic Battle Droids by "Wizards Of The Coast" in April 2019. Infuriatingly, this didn't really work either, so eventually I settled upon carefully painting their waists with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and 'spotting' a light-emitting diode on one of their chests using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

"Papsikels Miniatures" WIPs - These E-800 Exterminators have been primed and shaded.

Setting aside all my grievances with this latest submission to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), I have started working on a number of E-800 Exterminators by "Papsikels Miniatures". These models are causing me the odd 3D printing failure on account of some dubious pre-supports. But in the main I've been really happy with both the success rate and quality of the sculpting; especially when you consider how complicated the (not) Terminators are with all their pistons and tubing.


Furthermore, the models are giving me another opportunity to settle down with "Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats" paint range - most notably his winning combination of Sir Coates Silver and Doom Death Black. Hopefully, these futuristic automatons will prove pretty quick to complete, as, having subsequently joined "Papsikels Miniatures" Cyberpunk tier on "Patreon" with a view to using many of the "Shadowrun" styled combatants for "X-Crawl", I am quite quickly building up an intimidating backlog of their figures.

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planetmut
25 de fev. de 2023

Ugh, I feel your pain with the pimple things, I have a large model I'm prepping that is covered in the bloody things. But the droids look good and the Terminators are really well printed and painted; is the one on the left in the second pic holding a Colonial Marines pulse rifle?

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
25 de fev. de 2023
Respondendo a

Thanks Matt. I've actually changed the way I deal with my prints post-print now, in that once they've spent ten minutes in the wash machine, I then put them in hot water for at least five minutes. This tends to make most of the supports literally fall away, but also makes the cured resin soft, so I can cut away any bobbles etc and smooth down areas etc. Divets though are still an issue, which I why I'll probably print any more of the B2 droids stood upright, so the supports are beneath it.


I have got some of Papsikels' Colonial Marines, and these Terminators are carrying a different rifle to them - and the Marines look spot on from…

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undercoat2670
14 de fev. de 2023

Well, it seems the B2 battle droids were a bit of a pain to prep! However, they look superb. Great job on them.

Those terminators look brilliant. You seem to have stumbled on to a great little manufacturer there. I can't wait to see them completed.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
14 de fev. de 2023
Respondendo a

Cheers Undercoat. I think the B2's probably look a little better in the flesh, than in the photos, tbh.


The Terminators will hopefully be finished soon, and there are an awful lot of different ones coming too. "Papsikels Miniatures" are fast becoming my fave STL producer - if only their pre-supports were a little better at times.

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Dai Dead
Dai Dead
13 de fev. de 2023

Considering how frustrating an effort painting up the clankers sounded like they came out pretty cool. Perhaps the rough finish could represent combat vets who’s finish is not so shiny and smooth after a number of sorties versus the Clone Army?


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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
13 de fev. de 2023
Respondendo a

Thanks Dai. I definitely see the torso pits etc as battle damage in my Mind's Eye, so I think you're spot on. I do plan to scrape/clean the remaining four prints I own, and will then see about doing some more (including some with smoke clouds). But any figures who are face down with supports will be repositioned/resupported by myself through Chitubox basic.

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wsd50
12 de fev. de 2023

I think you've done a great job on the B7's mate, when you really look at the photos you can see the pitting on their torsos, but I don't think it's noticeable if you don't know to look..


The Terminators are excellent too, and as Dave said there is a great variety in all the posing, I've got the Terminator genesys starter set upstairs that I bought in a Warlord sale a few years back, for a tenner but I don't think I've even opened it!


Cheers Roger.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
12 de fev. de 2023
Respondendo a

Cheers Roger. From the back, where there were no supports, the B2's looks awesome. So the next time I print some I'll see whether my own supports can do a better job. Now the "Citadel" Nuln Oil wash has been added, I definitely think they look okay on the tabletop.


I've put a few (not) Terminator mis-casts in the every-growing box I'm setting aside for you. LOL!! So there might be an incentive within it for you to paint some up once I've filled & posted it.

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
12 de fev. de 2023

Great work on the B2's Simon, with all the problems you have had with these casts I'll probably stick with the official sculpts for these. Great progress on the terminators, there's a great variation in sculpts in the range.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
12 de fev. de 2023
Respondendo a

Thanks Dave. I have another four B2's printed which were going to be prepped/painted with these but all the pimple/pitting problems have seen them shelved. However, I may well clean them up and get them completed at some point during the AHPC just to clear the space they're taking up.


As part of the STL files there are five B2's flying with smoke billows etc. I might try to print these using my own supports (through Chitubox), to see if I can get a better finish. The backs of the figures - where there are no supports - are outstanding tbh, so I think its just the pre-supports and soft facial detail which has let down these particular sculpts -…


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