“Who's The Flashy Black Hat?”

“S-T-A-R. Special Troops Arms Regiment.”

This 28mm scale 3D printed resin model of a Sentry Robot is sold under licence by “Twisted Pinnacle 3D” and was sculpted by Mike Tongue (a.k.a. Big Mr Tong). The figure is very reminiscent of Hans Reinhardt's former “number one” automaton S.T.A.R. in Gary Nelson’s 1979 American science fiction film “The Black Hole”, and so was painted up accordingly.

The miniature initially had several small ‘bobbles’ removed from it with a sharp modelling knife and was then primed using two coats of “Citadel” Abaddon Black. It was then cheerfully dry-brushed with “Vallejo” Heavy Charcoal and doused in “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Finally, the android’s eyes and blasters were ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal” and (more) “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

"Twisted Pinnacle 3D" WIPs - These Laser Drones have been primed, layered and shaded

Alongside my Sentry Robot I also received a quartet of Laser Drones as a much-appreciated free gift and have subsequently made a start on two of them. The sculpts are clearly heavily influenced by Terry Nation’s Daleks, so I thought I’d predominantly paint them in the same way as I have previously pigmented the “extra-terrestrial race of mutants.”

In addition, I have built the HQ choice for my 28mm Sons of Horus force for "The Horus Heresy". This model is predominantly comprised of pieces taken from the Praetor with Power Axe plastic kit found inside the Horus Heresy: Age Of Darkness starter box by "Games Workshop", but was then 'converted' mid-assembly using a "Forge World" resin shoulder-pad and a Mark III helmet taken from the Burning Of Prospero board game.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - A converted Praetor with Power Axe

To be honest this was one of the most difficult figures I have ever had to put together. I don't mind models coming in lots of separate parts. However, "Games Workshop" seem to have taken this to a new level with this particular sculpt, as even the individual folds in the space marine's cloak came as small, individual bits of plastic.

Obviously my kit-bashing didn't help matters either, especially when I realised that the seemingly whole bare right shoulder-pad I replaced wasn't actually as complete as I imagined, and had been slightly adapted to fit underneath the Praetor's cloak strap. Luckily, copious amounts of colourful metaphors and super-glue did eventually see the ensemble stuck together, and a well-placed severed head taken from a Bloodletter banner even blocked any sign of the officer's power leads not connecting properly around his Mark VI armour...