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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"Prince Dracula! The Turks Are Falling Back!"

"They retreat! Sultan Mohammed is defeated!"

This 28mm scale Vlad Dracul is produced by "Wargames Atlantic" and can be downloaded for free as part of a multi-piece set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from their "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon the Voivode of Wallachia seen in Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 horror film "Bram Stoker's Dracula", the miniature was produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.


Sculpted wearing the Prince's iconic suit of Southern Carpathian armour, the figure was assembled and primed using a double-helping of "Vallejo" Heavy Red. Unfortunately, despite being desperately delicate with the warrior's lenghty spear whilst putting the blood-thirsty ruler together, it was at this point that disaster struck and I inadvertently snapped off the top of its shaft.

"Mongoose Publishing" WIPs - The Midnight Surfer is slowly having his details 'picked out'

Cursing my awkwardness, I did initially consider trying to super-glue the two parts back together where they broke - something which can ordinarily be quite easily achieved where "Loctite" instant adhesive and "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin are concerned. However, I figured a stronger join might prevent future accidents - especially as the hand-weapon was intimidatingly long. So instead snipped the spear-tip off and filed down the pole in Dracul's hand.


Whilst this re-positioning did add to the weapon's wobbliness, it also allowed the blade's head to slightily snuggle into Vlad's hand, and create a much stabler connection. Following these repairs, the figure was shaded in "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, carefully dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red, and had its helmet's eye-slits 'picked out' using "Citadel" Abaddon Black. Unsurprisingly, the spear tip itself was pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whereas the shaft was treated to some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - These Iron Brigade troopers still require some detail work

Alongside my second 'Count Dracula' miniature, I have also started working on some dust-covered 28mm scale metal models originally manufactured by “Mongoose Publishing” as part of the company’s infamous 2012 “Judge Dredd Miniatures Game: Block War” Kickstarter. I'm hoping to clear a few of these "2000 A.D." comic book characters off of my painting desk before the start of the Fourteenth Analague Hobbies Painting Challenge (AHPC), and decided to go with the Midnight Surfer first.


Finally, I've set about progressing a fourth five-man strip of Union soldiers by "Warlord Games". These particular 15mm Epic scale figures come from their "Epic Battles: American Civil War" range and represent the North's Iron Brigade. Sadly, the little metal infantrymen appear to chip incredibly easily, and resultantly require almost endless 'touch-ups', so my enthusiasm for a massive force of the Black Hats has significantly stalled during the past few months...

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undercoat2670
Dec 22, 2023

Great armour on your Dracula, shame about the spear, but your corrective work like fab. Mongoose Judge Dredd minis are a blast from the past and I will be interested to see what it turns out like.

Those epic ACW look amazing so it is sad they have been chipping etc, so keep going as I want to see the finished result!

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 22, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Undercoat. I'm rather pleased I was able to salvage Dracula despite the mishap with the spear.


Tbh, I keep getting tempted by Warlord Games' new(ish) Judge Dredd game. So when I feel the urge I try to sate it with some of the Mongoose stuff instead - and I do own an awful lot of it. LOL!!


Next year I'm determined to assemble enough Iron Brigade stands for a small game against my Johnny Rebs. One of several projects I have planned. 😉

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Michał Kucharski
Michał Kucharski
Dec 19, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Ah! Love the Vlad, the Dracul!

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 19, 2023
Replying to

Cheers Michal. Much appreciated. It's a terrific series of STLs imho.

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
Dec 19, 2023

Vlad turned out well Simon, nice progress on the surfer, although the sculpt looks like it's got boobs ! Can see why you would loose enthusiasm if it's constantly chipping

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Dec 19, 2023
Replying to

Thanks Dave. Bit of a rescue mission on this Vlad to be honest considering the broken spear. But I do enjoy painting the armour - so have a third pose waiting in the wings.


I think its the camera angle for the pics of Chopper which might be deceiving your eyes, as the model looks fine to me in the flesh so-to-speak. Some of the old Mongoose sculpts certainly haven't aged well. But this Midnight Surfer mini isn't one of them, imho.


I'm actually pleased the Iron Brigade are metal rather than WG's resin - which I believe was the originaly plan. However, just the simpliest of knocks seems to make the paint chip off of them, no matter how…

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