From SimonM: Sardaukar by "Big Mr Tong" (20 Points) + B2 Droids by "Nyverdale Tabletop" (20 Points)

These four 28mm scale Sardaukar were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon David Lynch's vision of the Emperor's elite warriors as first seen in his 1984 American science-fiction film "Dune", the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Each figure was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The super-human soldiers' belts were then 'picked out using a little "Vallejo" Steel Blue, and their firearms with Gunmetal. Finally, each model was entirely 'drowned' in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and the Sardaukar's distinctive green face-visor realised using a combination of "Scalecolor" White Alchemy and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

Alongside the last of my Sardaukar I have also pigmented four 32mm scale B2 Droids by "Nyverdale Tabletop". These can be downloaded for free as part of Duncan's fifteen-figure strong B2 Droids Collection (Fan Art) on "Cults" and are clearly based upon the Super Battle Droids from "Star Wars". 

Produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, their pre-supported versions are all quite bizarrely placed face down onto the build plate, so resultantly suffered quite horribly from the pimple/acne effect of their struts. Admittedly, the fact the miniatures are so low to the ground does result in a fast print-time, yet this is debatably off-set by their rafts' significant footprints only allowing five models per batch. In future, I may well simply stand them upright (at a 30-40% angle) and supply my own supports using "Chitubox" Basic.

Having based each model onto a 25mm round bases, they were all primed with a coat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and subsequently treated to some "Vallejo" Gunmetal. I then heavily washed them with "Citadel" Nuln Oil before dry-brushing them with (more) Gunmetal. Disappointingly, this process really highlighted all the pits, dents and deformities of the printing process, so I eventually went back and gave the quartet a second shade of "Citadel" Nuln Oil to darken their overall tone.

In addition, I attempted to contrast some of the Baktoid Combat Automata-built robots' joints, softly-detailed heads and midriff with a further application of "Citadel" Nuln Oil. But this didn't really work, so eventually settled on carefully painting their waists with "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and 'spotting' a light-emitting diode on one of their chests using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Four x 28mm scale foot figure = 20 Points

Four x 32mm scale foot figure = 20 Points

Total = 40 Points

From SimonM: Sardaukar by "Big Mr Tong" (25 Points) + Cheetah Aliens by "Papsikels Miniatures" (30 Points)

These five 28mm scale Sardaukar were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon David Lynch's vision of the Emperor's elite warriors as first seen in his 1984 American science-fiction film "Dune", the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Each figure was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The super-human soldiers' belts were then 'picked out using a little "Vallejo" Steel Blue, and their firearms with Gunmetal. Finally, each model was entirely 'drowned' in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and the Sardaukar's distinctive green face-visor realised using a combination of "Scalecolor" White Alchemy and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

Alongside my second batch of Sardaukar (there is a third one coming to finish off the Emperor's forces) I have also pigmented Six 32mm scale Cheetah Aliens by "Papsikels Miniatures". These can be downloaded for free as part of a six-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from their "Patreon" subscription service, and are clearly based upon a species of H.R.Giger's infamous deadly xenomorphs.

Produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, I thought these figures would be a good subject with which to try out Duncan Rhodes' Two Thin Coats paint range. I was recently lucky enough to be sent the entire range to try out by Trans Atlantis Games, so immediately set to work priming the models with a single coat of Doom Death Black.

Originally, I had thought about making the monsters a dark yellow to try and tie them in being spawned from some hapless big cats. But this seemed to be too great a variance to the predominantly black, oily coloured killers shown on the Silver Screen. Then I spotted a statue of a xenomorph on all fours which H.R. Giger had exhibited at the opening of the Austrian Ars Electronica institute in 2013. The sculpture was a deep, dark brown with a solid black forehead.

Having resultantly been inspired I gave my figures a thorough dry-brush of Scorched Earth and shaded them all with Oblivion Black Wash to help make the layer very dark indeed. I then more delicate (re)dry-brushed the models with (more) Scorched, before applying a light highlight of Dust Bowl across all the prominent raised areas. To help better blend this all together, I finally gave the fiends an absolute drowning in Battle Mud Wash.

With the basics finished I set about 'picking out' all the aliens' metal teeth with a combination of Sir Coates Silver and Oblivion Black Wash, as well as applied a coat of Doom Death Black across their foreheads. As a final touch I super-glued some skulls I was sent as a freebie by "Encounter Terrain" to some of the "Citadel" 60mm oval bases, and turned them into semi-bloody trophies using a mixture of White Star. Battle Wash Mud and "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

Five x 28mm scale foot figure = 25 Points

Six x 32mm scale foot figure = 30 Points

Total = 55 Points

Minion Miles: why does the phrase "Nuke it from Orbit, its the only way to be sure" keep repeating in my mind?  Love the Alien feel 

From SimonM: Sentry Robots by "Big Mr Tong" (25 points)

These five 28mm scale Sentry Robots were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon Hans Reinhardt's security forces aboard the U.S.S. Cygnus in Gary Nelson’s 1979 American science fiction film “The Black Hole”, the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

"Silent and obedient", each model was undercoated with a double-helping of "Vallejo" Heavy Red, before being drowned in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. They were then enthusiastically dry-brushed with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Red, and had both their eyes and blasters layered with "Citadel" Abaddon Black." Finally, these areas were ‘picked out’ using a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal” and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

I have previously painted ten on these figures back before I owned a 3D printer, when I bought them from “Twisted Pinnacle 3D” on "Etsy". This made me want to make this particular quintet stand out from the others, so I leapt upon a line from the movie where Reinhardt refers to his second-in-command, Maximillian, having a crack unit which was "outwitted and outfought by some Earth robot and that antique from storage!"

The actual Sentry Robots in the film have metallic panels on the back of their heads - something I never bothered to pick out on my original ten miniatures. But the detail is very clear on the sculpts, so I went back and applied a "Citadel" Abaddon Black base layer to these panels, and then followed this up with a combination of “Vallejo” Gunmetal” and “Citadel” Nuln Oil.

Five x 28mm scale foot figure = 25 Points

Total = 25 Points

Minion Miles: your robots are the very model of efficient painting - well done!

From SimonM: Sardaukar by "Big Mr Tong" (25 points) + 1980's Bonus (20 Points)

These five 28mm scale Sardaukar were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon David Lynch's vision of the Emperor's elite warriors as first seen in his 1984 American science-fiction film "Dune", the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Each figure was undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, and heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal. The super-human soldiers' belts were then 'picked out using a little "Vallejo" Steel Blue, and their firearms with Gunmetal. Finally, each model was entirely 'drowned' in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and the Sardaukar's distinctive green face-visor realised using a combination of "Scalecolor" White Alchemy and the "Citadel" Contrast paint Warp Lightning.

I thought these figures would be a great way to continue my journey through Challenge Studios, as "Dune" was one of my favourite films during the Eighties (and still is to this day), and therefore a suitable subject for the 1980's filming lot.

Five x 28mm scale foot figure = 25 Points

1980's Studio Bonus = 20 Points

Total = 45 Points

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Oh man, this is inspired, Simon. I think this is such an excellent 80's submission (frankly I wish I had thought of it!). I really like the colour of the belt and the green visor glass as a counterpoint to the black battlesuit. Even though I enjoyed the new Villeneuve version, I still have a soft spot for Lynch's baroque vision of Herbert's book (Kenneth McMillan's Vlad Harkonnen is a benchmark in creepy). Well done!

- Curt

From SimonM: Cybermen by "Big Mr Tong" (25 points) + Sci-Fi Studio Bonus (20 Points)

These five 28mm scale Cybermen were sculpted by "Big Mr Tong" and can be downloaded for free as part of a ten-figure set of STL (Standard Triangle Language) files from his "Patreon" subscription service. Based upon Eric Saward's incarnation of the Mondasians as first seen in his March 1982 "Doctor Who" story "Earthshock", the miniatures were produced using "Elegoo" Water Washable Resin on a Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer.

Having been washed, cured and then removed from their supports (applied through "Chitubox" Basic following each figure being rotated at a thirty degree angle), the silver giants were undercoated in "Citadel" Abaddon Black and given a double-helping of "Vallejo" Gunmetal. The models were then washed using "Citadel" Nuln Oil, dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Gunmetal, and treated to a combination of "Scalecolor" Speed Metal and "Citadel" Flesh Tearers Red on their hand-weapons’ power cylinders.

I thought these figures would be a great way to start my journey through Challenge Studios, starting off at the Science Fiction filming lot.

Five x 28mm scale foot figure = 25 Points

Science Fiction Studio Bonus = 20 Points

Total = 45 Points

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Haha! I knew you'd have a Doctor Who themed entry for us for the Sci-Fi studio. In fact, I'm wondering how you may fit Mr. Who and your encyclopedic knowledge of superheroes into most of the themed locations this year. ;P

I have to say I was a bit taken aback as I thought the Cybermen's sculptor's name was 'Big Mr Thong', thinking, 'Now, there's an appellation', but I regrettably my glasses were far down my nose and I misread :). 

Great work Simon!