"During Millions Of Years Of Hibernation..."

"...The reactivation machinery has deteriorated."

These three 28mm metal models are produced by "Black Tree Design" and are available as part of the 'exclusive' seven-figure strong box DW1015 Sea Devils from their "Doctor Who" miniatures range. Related to the Silurians, as they are "just like those cave monsters we met in Derbyshire", the race of reptilian humanoids made their first appearance in Malcolm Hulke's 1972 six-parter "The Sea Devils".

All the models were initially undercoated with a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. Their Maggie Fletcher-designed costumes were then enthusiastically layered in "Vallejo" Verdigris, drowned in "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade and finally dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Verdigris.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - These four Uranian Guards have had their guns finished

The Sea Devils' webbed feet, arms and heads were subsequently painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst their belts were carefully 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star and shaded in "Vallejo" Pale Grey. Finally, each of the "ocean demons" hand-guns were treated to a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

I had actually considered submitting these classic monsters from Jon Pertwee's era into the Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC) as a third attempt to 'qualify' for its Challenge Library's Local History bonus - as the television serial was mainly filmed locally around Portsmouth, H.M. Naval Base Portsmouth, and No Man's Land Fort. However, as I decided to leave the AHPC just before they were completed, they are instead now simply destined to be used for some upcoming games of "7TV" by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio".

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Three Magma Apes base-layered in "Two Thin Coats" White Star

Speaking of the Lincolnshire-based manufacturer, I have also managed to make a little more progress on a quartet of their Uranian Royal Guard figures I own. I was planning on simply pigmenting the rest of these "Flash Gordon" inspired Villainous Extras with "Vallejo" Heavy Red. But now plan to 'mark out' their gloves in a richer ruby colour, before dousing them in my tried and trusted "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, and applying a patient dry-brush of their base colour over them.

Furthermore, I've splattered my previously primed resin Magma Apes with some White Star" by "Two Thin Coats", to help me visualise whether they'll work as Emperor Ming's cyclopean incarnation of a Mugato - "large horned ape-like carnivore" seen in the original Sixties "Star Trek" television series. These furry fellows still have plenty of work to be done on them, yet shouldn't take too long to finish once I've 'black-lined' around their clawed hands, feet and bare chests...