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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"I Was An Instrument Of The Service."

Updated: Dec 9, 2023


"So if I'm guilty of murder, of mass murder, then so are all of you!"

This 28mm scale Federated Security Command figure was sold by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio". But is now available as SKU: FED02 Psychotic Renegade from "A Beast In The Broch". The sculpt is clearly inspired by actor Brian Croucher's vicious incarnation of Space Commander Travis, during the second season of the BBC science fiction television series “Blake’s Seven”.


The miniature was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black. It was then roughly dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal, before being drowned in "Citadel" Nuln Oil. To slightly break up this incredibly dark colour scheme though, I subsequently applied some "Citadel" Abaddon Black to the model's boots, cybernetic eye-patch and belt.

"Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" WIPs - Four Uranian Royal Guards primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Red

In addition I 'picked out' flesh of the "career officer in the Federation military" with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, splodged his hand-blaster with a dollop of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow and carefully traced out the soldier's chest insignia using a line of "Vallejo" Gunmetal. Lastly, Travis' hair was given a layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and darkened with a liberal wash of (more) “Citadel” Nuln Oil.


Sticking with both "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" and classic sci-fi, I have dug out the four figures which make up the Lincolnshire-based company's Uranian Royal Guard for the upcoming Fourteenth Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC). This quartet were one of several 'add ons' unlocked during the March 2022 "Rick Rhodes And The Pirates of Luna City" Kickstarter, and will hopefully be the start of a focused push to get as many of my rewards painted from that campaign as possible over the next few months.

"The Lord Of The Rings" WIPs - Three Black Numenoreans undercoated with "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black

Heavily influenced by both Mike Hodges' 1980 movie "Flash Gordon" and Universal Pictures' 1936 superhero serial film, this project is doubtless going to cause me to get neck-deep assembling an (Arborian) Marsh Beast, a horde of Mechanical Men, a Uranian Death Ray and even a huge resin Rocket Ship. Plus I aim to 'field' plenty of Forest Fighters, Uranian Troopers, Otherworldly Guards, lion-headed Shieldmasters and Alien Legionnaries if time (and enthusiasm) allows.


Furthermore, I've continued basing more of the twelve Black Numenoreans from "The Lord Of The Rings", which I recently purchased from "eBay". Despite first appearances, these 28mm 3D printed 'cruel oppressors over the more primitive Men of Middle-Earth' are not officially licenced figures for the "Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game" by "Games Workshop". But should still serve as suitable-looking proxies for the "fallen group of Númenóreans" in my Barad-Dur army...

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undercoat2670
Dec 09, 2023

Travis looks awesome. I think the face and eye are outstanding. Fabulous.

Those Flash Gordon guards look terrific so I can't wait to see them painted up and more LorRs stuff is always a treat.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 09, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Undercoat. Not sure why it took me so long to do Croucher's incarnation of Travis - especially after meeting the man himself earlier this year. I do have a lot of Flash Gordon figures in the pipeline, and a dozen of those Black Numenoreans to base/prime too.

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Michał Kucharski
Michał Kucharski
Dec 08, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Great! Looking for new LOTR stuff painting :)

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 08, 2023
Replying to

Cheers Michal. I don't own any of Games Workshop's Black Numenoreans myself, so went for these as I thought they had the same aesthetic as the figures shown on their LotR range website. Now though, I'm pretty sure they're actually the same sculpts, so I'm eager to get hold of some 'official' models and see for myself.

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
Dec 08, 2023

Great work on Travis Simon, he was always a stand out character in the series for me. A lot of prep work going on in preparation for the AHPC as well, hope the enthusiasm lasts through the challenge for you.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 08, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Dave. Having met Brian Croucher I'm not sure how much acting was taking place when he took over as Travis, as he's as grouchy in real life as he was stern-looking on the small screen. LOL!!


Loads of stuff being prepped for the AHPC, as I'm trying to get some projects going which have lain dormant in my drawers for far too many years. Fingers crossed I can get a few of them done over the next three plus months.

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