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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

“This Nest Of Wingless Mole-like Mammals…”

“…Hover through a mild form of telekinesis.”

This 28mm scale white metal model of some Owl-Shrews is sold by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought as part of their Alien Pets deal. The tiny animals are actually only 6mm in length individually and are designed to be used with the company's other "Colony 87" sci-fi civilian miniatures "for any RPGs and tabletop wargames."


Sculpted by Andrew May, the diminutive critters were initially undercoated using "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, and shaded with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. They were then dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, before having their main bodies darkened with an extra application of "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade. Finally, all of their eyes were ‘spotted’ with “Citadel” Abaddon Black.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - The Uruk-hai Crossbowmen have had their shoes and legs layered

Alongside the last of my Alien Pets, I have also been making steady progress on a small unit of Uruk-hai Crossbowmen for my 500 point strong Isengard army. One of the more interesting mechanics of the Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game by “Games Workshop” is that armies have a bow limit due to “the many hundreds of arrows” needed during a confrontation, and as a result only one third (rounding up) of each force’s warrior models may be equipped with a bow.


In the past I’ve actually just used a small contingent of normal Orcs equipped with crude bows as the evil White Wizard’s missile troops. But this time round I thought I’d supply my initial scouting party with some much more thematically-based crossbows - which whilst significantly more cumbersome than my previous archers due to not being able to move and shoot in the same turn, will fire bolts twice the strength of an arrow when unleashed.

"Rocket Pig Games" WIPs - The Grave Gnasher's "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna weapon has been replaced with Gunmetal

Lastly, I’ve made some major inroads on my Grave Gnasher by “Rocket Pig Games”. This bizarre-looking 3D printed resin figure has actually proved a bit of a head-scratcher palette-wise as I’ve been in two minds as to whether it should be bedecked in precious gold or silver. My original plan was to use the 32mm miniature as the magical leader of Nature fighting off the mechanical machinations of a Clockwork Mage.


However, as the creature is clearly aligned to Death, I’ve already been contemplating using him as the commander of a third force firmly formed around the Undead. This change in the project’s direction has caused me to abandon my initial idea for the earth-based fiend to be wearing colourfully rich bracelets and weld a massive golden hammer, and instead re-paint the figure using a much more muted steel hand-weapon…

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planetmut
21 de mai. de 2021

I like the little shrew things, they're kind of cute, but I wouldn't want to be swarmed by them! The Grave Gnasher is a great sculpt and I cant' wait to see the fully painted figure.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
21 de mai. de 2021
Respondendo a

Cheers Planetmut. The Owl-Shrews were a nice simple quick project. The Grave Gnasher has taken a lot more time but is now finished too.

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wsd50
21 de mai. de 2021

Yep have to agree with what the others have said, the Owl shrews are very cute, there are some nice mini's in the Alien pets range.


Cheers Roger.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
21 de mai. de 2021
Respondendo a

Thanks Roger. I'm looking forward to Crooked Dice expanding the range - rumour has it later in the year(?) - and to them adding to their security guards too (which I hope to use as futuristic Pet Catchers).

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undercoat2670
19 de mai. de 2021

Those owl-shrews are cute. Good sculpting as they look very owl-like for such small minis. Good progress on the Uruk, looking great.

I like what your doing with the grave gnasher. It is an interesting sculpt that could be a lot of things depending on how you paint it. An intriguing mini indeed. I like it.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
19 de mai. de 2021
Respondendo a

Cheers Undercoat. Finally the end is in sight for the Uruk-hai as I've already finished one of the Crossbowmen, and probably the most difficult too. Three more to do, and then as a treat I'll tackle the evil White Wizard himself.


The Grave Gnasher is now finished, so hopefully the next few Rocket Pig Games sculpts will prove just as interesting.

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
19 de mai. de 2021

Very nice work on the swarm Simon, The Uruk's are progressing well, and like the direction you've gone with for the Grave Gnasher

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
19 de mai. de 2021
Respondendo a

Thanks Dave. The swarm was really dinky, so I was pleased even a simple dry-brushing seemed to work out okay on them. I've already finished the first of my latest Uruk-hai so that should be posted up soon, and the Grave Gnasher is actually finished too - just don't have enough postings in the week to get them all on the website at once, LOL!!!

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