The 12th Doctor is played by Peter Capaldi whose first appearance was way back in 2008 when he played a Roman citizen in Pompeii during the eruption. His appearance here is the 12th Doctor's classic look with red or black cloak, black sonic sunglasses and electric guitar. This miniature was nicely done and easy enough to paint (though the guitar was a little tricky with such small details). Unfortunately the sunglasses bled a little onto his forehead and I need to repaint the face when I get the chance.
The first companion is the crossover companion from the 11th to 12th Doctors, Clara Oswald played by Jenna Coleman. She is also the main companion of Doctor and finished her last show at the end of last season (2015 as there was no show in 2016). She has since moved on to play the title character in the British historical drama Victoria. I was initially disappointed in the sculpt like I was with Billie Piper's Rose Tyler, feeling the face did not do the actor justice. Looking at it now I feel the face is much closer to Jenna's then Billie's sculpt, I just need to keep working on my skills. She has a simple outfit for this one and I am very much looking forward to her version with the 11th Doctor.
The next three companions are known as the Paternoster Gang and make their first appearance in the 11th Doctor episode "A Good Man Goes to War", a very good episode. The group makes various appearances throughout the 11th and 12th Doctor series but never stay long. They are present when at the first appearance of the 12th Doctor following his regeneration.
Strax is a member of the warrior Sontaran alien race. Strax was forced to serve as a nurse, healing the injured as a punishment for being defeated by the Doctor during the Sontaran invasion of Earth. This is contrary to the Sontaran's warrior instincts and mentality and as such, Strax has been known to occasionally slip back to his Sontaran ways and mannerisms. In "A Good Man Goes to War", he states that he is nearly 12, suggesting that this is quite old for a Sontaran. A running gag is Strax's inability to tell the difference between genders and his obsession with using violent tactics. Strax is played by Welsh actor Dan Starkey and is seen in his butler outfit from his second appearance.
Madam Vastra is a female Silurian warrior from prehistoric Earth who was awakened from hibernation in the 19th century when her lair was disturbed during the construction of the London Underground. Initially enraged, she slaughtered five commuters before being pacified by the Doctor. She eventually overcame her race's hatred of humans and joined London society. She became a consulting detective to Scotland Yard, and a possible inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes stories. Among her unseen adventures is her capture of Jack the Ripper, whom she eats (she mentions in "A Good Man Goes to War" that she found him "stringy, but tasty all the same"). She hired a maid, Jenny Flint, who assists her in her investigations and who is also married to her. Madam Vastra is played by the Scottish actress Neve McIntosh.
Jenny Flint's backstory in "The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later" shows she was turned away from her family because of her "preferences in companionship", and saved from attackers by Vastra, who took her on as an employee. The Doctor was present at their initial meeting, during which Vastra recounts in "The Name of the Doctor" that he saved Jenny's life. She shows herself to have acquired extremely formidable skills as a hand-to-hand combatant and a swords-woman. She is shown in all of her appearances to be entirely comfortable with post-19th century technologies, time travel, and she is repeatedly seen using technology devices, and in the episode "Deep Breath" she is seen wearing and using the Sonic Gauntlet designed for that episode. She is played by Welsh actress Catrin Stewart.
Next week I will start showcasing the Goblin Town starter set miniatures from Game Workshop's Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game. I have finished all the goblins (1 post) and through a quarter of Thorin's Company (14 plus Gandalf and Radagast) which will have a post for each model so the blog should return to its normal weekly posting!
