"The Bizarre Insect-Eating Vermilepus."

"He's a real nowhere man, sitting in his nowhere land..."

This 28mm scale metal model of a Vermilepus is sold by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought as part of their Alien Pets deal. The animal is only 18mm tall and is designed to be used with the company's other "Colony 87" sci-fi civilian miniatures "for any RPGs and tabletop wargames."

The miniature was initially undercoated using "Vallejo" Heavy Violet, before being soaked in "Citadel" Druchii Violet and dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Violet. I then set about pigmenting its feathery throat and chest with a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson, but this proved surprisingly difficult and time-consuming as I couldn't quite make out where the plumes actually started just beneath it's head.

"Atomic Mass Games" WIPs - The Black Widow and Venom

As a final touch I decided to 'spot' the long-eared extra-terrestrial's eyes with a dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre, and shade them using a little "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade. All in all, I found the Vermilepus a really frustrating model to pigment, and actually went through other two colour schemes before settling upon this predominantly dark one. In addition, I quickly realised that my basing had completely covered over the overly-long claws of the alien, adding an extra layer of frustration to what should have been a straightforward paint-job.

Speaking of perplexing projects, I have persevered with the white spider markings on my Venom by "Atomic Mass Games" for a couple more hours, trying to follow the emblem's super-soft detail with my brush-tip. Luckily, the idea to wash the motiff's thin wavy lines with some "Citadel" Nuln Oil has really helped me follow the sculpt's edges enormously, but I'm still not particularly happy with the wobbliness of the final result.

"Diehard Miniatures" WIP - The Bounty Hunter has been assembled, pinned and primed

Fortunately, I'm finding the Black Widow figure from the "Marvel Crisis Protocol" Core Set much more fun to work on, even though I'm attempting to paint Natasha Romanova in her alternative all-white costume. Indeed, I've already completed the miniature's detailed base and started slowly 'picking out' all the super-spy's various straps with "Citadel" Abaddon Black...

Lastly, I was rather pleased to receive a small consignment of models from "Diehard Miniatures" following their recent Black Friday Bounty Hunters webstore offer, Of particular interest was their excellent multi-part metal sculpt of a Brando-Elite fugitive recovery agent, who, having been assembled, pinned and primed, has gone straight onto my painting table for some tender loving care.