Wednesday, 8 May 2013

RT601 - Adventurers - Stocktake

Hi Folks, 
I thought it was about time I did a stock take on what RT601 Adventurers I own, what are painted and what are still to complete, what I missing and looking to trade. Painting my Adventurers collection is coming on slow but steady as most of my efforts have been diverted into my miniatures for the Oldhammer Event and I have to admit, I am really enjoying the wild variety of miniatures on offer while painting Chaos thugs and Beastmen especially to someone who wrecked them all first time round and most ended up on EBay.

These guy's remind me of  many of the characters I have discovered in various space operas while painting and listening to Sci-fi audio books, like Foundation, Dune, Hyperion Cantos, the list goes on.  They were created during Games Workshops/ Citadel miniatures most creative era and you will never see this sort of variety again, designed by Trish and Aly Morrison, Bob Naismith and Mark Copplestone.

The full original range can be seen here.


Original Advert from White Dwarf 99, March 1988
Like the Rogue Trader rulebook and other RT adverts Metal/Thrash music and other pop culture influenced quotes featured in the advert,


"Death sells... and you're buying" Attributed to Pirate Mustaine.  A homage to the song 'Peace Sells' on the 'Peace Sells.... But Who's Buying?' Album by Megdeth.

"Can you hear the sound of an enormous door slamming in the depths of hell" Attributed to Calvin Morris.  A homage to Thrash Punk band 'Discharge' from the song 'The possibility of life's destruction' on the 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' Album.


The later extended range can be seen here and here.

Now here is what I have painted so far.


Halfling Cook, Pilot Lorgar, Astropath Yerl, Female Warrior Jayne, Female Warrior Gabs

Space Amazon, Hero, Extech, Mad Punk, Pirate Captain

Testbred Slave, Cyborg, Ventolin Pirate, Imperial Official

Here is what I have left to paint, hopefully by years end at a push.


Squat Engineer, Imperial Scout, Psyker, Imperial Assassin, Tech Priest Schlan

Scum, Scum, Squat Miner, Pilot Rav, Tech Priest Zon

Hive Worlder, Hive Worlder, Old Pirate, Old Pirate, Ships Officer

Space Pirate, Punk, Halfling Cook, Bandit, Imperial Official

Whoops, I almost forgot this guy who is on my painting desk being prepped.

Navigator


Here is what am I missing, only two miniatures remain to complete set.


Eldar Trader


Astropath Korm
If you have either of these miniatures and want to trade for any of my RT601 - Adventurers doubles feel free to contact me.


Hope you enjoy








Saturday, 4 May 2013

Warband Progress Part 7

Hey Folks, my Khornate chaos warband is progressing nicely, I have 21 nicely painted miniatures to choose from so far and more on the workbench, here are the latest additions.

The first miniature is catalogued as Bull headed beastman with sword and can be seen here.


Bull headed with sword
My second beastman today is an earlier miniature 'Gizilgig' half Boar, half man beastman and can be seen here and the orignal range from the third citadel compendium.

Gizilgig (Boar-man)
Right onto the latest Chaos Thugs I have painted this week, full'ish' range can be seen here 0210021102120213, WD82.

The first Chaos Thug is armed with a Mace with a birds skull head and a shield, other nice features of this sculpt is the birds skull also on the dagger and sword (maybe a potential follower of Tzeentch?)

Maniac
Here's another attempt at an 80's style shield but I won't despair as practice makes perfect. (See Orlygg's Ruinous Blog for more inspiration)


80's style shield

Here my second Chaos Thug of the week I call him 'Hellboy', you got to admit there is a striking resemblance, not sure what all the jesters garb is all about I sense a resculpt of an existing citadel miniature here which was also the case for many of the Chaos Thug range.

Horn-head (Hellboy)
Now some of your may recognise the shield, when I was stripping these miniatures I pulled all the shields off and most had Arcane Armorials shields transfers applied, I have always loved this design so I pulled the old shield out of the bits box, repainted the torn areas and chucked it on, I hope you like?  (Check out Erny's great blog to learn more about applying these transfers, oh, Orlygg do an great article too)

Shield of Khorne
thanks for reading
J

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Female Warrior Jayne - RT601 - Adventurers - Adeptus Sororitas

Hey, Today's miniature from my Rogue trade collection is Female Warrior Jayne of the Adeptus Sororitas and in running order the first battle sister miniature.

You can see the original advert over here on Solegends RT 601 Adventurers.

Here is my painted miniature armed with a Powersword and holstered Laspistol and non-standard marine design power armour. Now I have mentioned before that I love that the power armour has high heels but when painting this one I noticed another feature on the armour was a power armoured thong!!!

Female Warrior Jayne - front

Female Warrior Jayne - side

Female Warrior Jayne - back


Female Warrior Jayne

Jayne and Gabs together again



Just case in think I am making it up Powered Armoured high heels and thongs

'Nun with a Gun' art from the Rogue Trader rulebook portraying a Adeptus Sororitas,  now I asked you what we thought the ram shoulder device signified and the debate opened up with my readers.
Now the ram shoulder device got completely replaced with the Fleur-de-lis I think because it represents female virtue and spirituality.  The ram device was then recycled and sculpted on later Space Marine Librarians, I think this may have been influenced by the ancient Greeks who used to sacrifice rams before battle and have an Oracle read the entrails to tell the future portents but this is just my interpretation, I am would be happy to hear more of your thoughts on this.



If you missed my post on Female Warrior Gabs, here it is.

Hope u enjoy,
J

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Warband Progress Part 6

Hi Friends, more Chaos Thugs for my Khornate Warband, you have got to love the versatility of the Chaos Thug miniatures they could be used for lots of roles in cultists, mutants, horrors, post apocalyptic bandits, the list goes on. I love painting these miniatures they are all so different and were sculpted by a throng of different citadel staff of the times.

Chaos Thug Range: 0210, 0211, 0212, 0213, WD82

Octo
Korsitt Deathglare
(also listed as Mad Axe Martin on some catalogue pages but he doesn't have an axe?)

Ghoulface

WIP - Secret Warband Guests

Chaos Goblins, If I ever warm to their disgustingness (is that a word?), they may end up being conscripted into my warband, well it is for FUN! 

The original advert can be seen here

On another note...
These latest audiobooks I have listened to while painting these last couple of weeks

Thorn and Thorn - http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/thorn-and-talon-mp3.html - 3 short stories Can't say much about this one without giving the game away. Great naration and sound effects, it quite nice to hear the voices of the characters we know and love to read about.

Thorn and Talon (MP3)


Hyperion Cantos - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_Cantos

Space Opera extraordinaire you will not be disappointed, these are the most engrossing audiobooks I have listened to in years, truely epic.

Hyperion - http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B002V5BLIW

Hyperion | [Dan Simmons]

Fall of Hyperion - http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sa_2?asin=B002V5D34W

The Fall of Hyperion | [Dan Simmons]

Endymion - http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sa_3?asin=B002V0PW3W

Endymion | [Dan Simmons]

The Rise of Endymion - http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sa_4?asin=B002UZDVW2

The Rise of Endymion | [Dan Simmons]

Enjoy
J

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Remembering those we have lost - R.I.P John Garland

R.I.P John Garland

John questioning the save ability of a Space Hulk Terminator after being shot by one of his Space Orks on the ramparts. Check out the Acid Reign T-Shirt.
This picture is of my best Friend John Garland who passed away aged 39 on 17th April 2012 after a long and brutal battle with cancer.  He used to play Warhammer and 40K with me back in the 1980's before he became really enthusiastic and concentrated his efforts on RPG's, Boardgames and other independent wargaming products.
He owned 100's of RPG's and Boardgames, he was a die-hard RPGer, GameMaster and had one of the best NPC voices ever, he still dipped his toe into wargaming on occasions and I remember him coming second with his Orc team in our 12 man BloodBowl league even though he said he was only making the numbers up.  He loved to paint miniatures although I am sure he had an unhealthy interest with the colours Titillating Pink and Bilious Green as every miniature he painted had one of these two colours somewhere on them..


I hope all you OldHammer fans enjoy this Photo of John in 1988 as we test out the Warhammer Siege 40K rules with my newly acquired Mighty Fortress.

I could talk for hours about John but it is hard to transfer his life to words on a brief blog post.

If any of you out there knew John feel free to let me know and share memories of this great man, he was mental for Thrash Metal and could always be seen down Edwards no8, the Hummingbird or the Barrel Organ Alternative Pub sporting the latest Anthrax T-Shirt. He was quite fond of the computer section in the first Birmingham Games Workshop and would be always checking out the latest text rpg game.

Unfortunately it is a photo of a photo as my scanner is in the loft. 

Thanks
J

Monday, 15 April 2013

RT601 - Adventurers - Mad Punk, Testbed Slave

Hey,  Today's miniatures are more from the classic RT601 - Adventurers range, we have the Mad Punk and the Testbed Slave. On the slotta mount of the Mad Punk it reads Space Punk.

Here she is the Mad Punk, unfortunately I think miniature was discontinued and not incorporated into any of the later ranges which is a shame as she would of made an excellent RT Guardsman.
Mad Punk (Space Punk) - front
Mad Punk (Space Punk) - side


Mad Punk (Space Punk) - back


Next we have the Testbed Slave, A nice early servitor miniature that also died with the RT601 - Adventurers range, I never saw this miniature relisted under another range.

The story behind this miniature is that it was a 'PRO' painted ebay purchase and I again the 'victim' (idiot) purchased with the intention of dettol stripping it in the near future but because it was 'PRO' painted it would do for now and might see light in some games. Well when it arrived I was not a happy bunny again as only the raised surface detail was painted and all of the under out of camera shot areas were bare metal (this is not the first time this has happened to me) so I used what was painted as a base coat, filled in the bare metal and painted over the top of the miniature.

Testbed Slave

Testbed Slave - back


My RT Cyborg has someone to play with now, more RT servitor to come over the coming year.

BTW before you all cast me out of your circles for being insensitive to the original owners painting ability I shall say that I am a amateur hobbyist too but I believe that if we are going to pay the high prices GW charge us for miniatures they should be properly prepared, undercoated and all the detail the sculptor has worked hard to add should have at least lick of paint. Sorry if I have offended someone out there.

Enjoy
J

Friday, 12 April 2013

Warband Progress Part 5

Hi Friends,

Here are my latest additions to my Khornate chaos warband for the OldHammer Event, I have not finalised my warband yet but you can see that I should have quite a miniature pool to choose from.

My Chaos Champion of Khorne story.

I have named my Champion "Khordred" after the King Arthur's son in John Boorman's movie Excalibur, he was a spiteful little sod who was quite handy with his great spear, played by the late Robert Addie of Robin of Sherwood fame. (Did you know that John's Boorman's son Charlie Boorman played the young Mordred and still owns the golden helmet)

Khordred is the bastard son of the Albion "King Arthur Pundragon" and his Slaanesh worshipping sister "Whorgana", from their sordid union. When he came of age, living in shame, he found there was no place for him at the kings court and eventually was cast out by his father, he spent his time living a animal like existence wondering the chaos wastes, eventually the warping effects of the chaos wastes took it toll on the young Khordred and his face started to mutate into that of a dog.  Observing him the chaos god Khorne could not believe his luck, a son of Slaanesh's perverse union ripe for the picking. Khorne wispered promises of great power and revenge in return for blood of his kinfolk, Khordred was seduced and Khorne gifted him with Brass chaos armour with a helmet fashioned for his disfigured face and a mighty two handed hammer "Hate Bringer". He was last seen leading a chaotic warband across the chaos wastes in the direction of Albion, after infamously slaying Slaaneshi champion "Sir Perv'cervix" all Slaaneshi warbands of the wastes follow in his wake hoping to make contact and have their diabolical revenge.

Khordred in all his glory

'Khordred' chaos champion of Khorne


Messing about with camera, feedback welcome

Original miniature can be seen here.

My inspiration for Khordred, the spiteful boy Mordred.


"You seek what Arthur wants? That thing they call the Grail?"


"He's no good, Mother. Take him to the tree."

Mordred miniatures.



Another Chaos Beastman for my Warband, I cannibalised this miniature for it's sword years ago so I had to drill a hole and insert a spear.

Original miniature can be seen here.

Khornate Beastman

  p.s I have run out of highland tufts for the bases and have to order some more from Warlord games.

Hope you like
J

Monday, 8 April 2013

A sad day indeed - Maggie Orc Banner


Photo of Orc Warbanner immortalising the late Margaret Thatcher taken a minute ago from my Heroes for Wargames book. (link here)

Probably Britain's second greatest ever politician and a force for womankind everywhere.

Painted by Colin Dixon


And here in White Dwarf 81


Please no derogatory remarks or political debates, it's too soon and as a sign of respect for the dead too.

***UPDATE (20:25)*** someone has just PM'ed me pointing out that Zhu done a wonderful article on this banner so here is the link
thanks
J

Sunday, 7 April 2013

Guess what came in the post?

Hey Friends,
If you said RT adventurers you guessed wrong, please enjoy this photos of me suffering a hangover after Friday nights Rammstein tribute gig pulling my best chaos thug face, I picked up these two babies for a steal at  RoC StD £39 and RoC tLatD $31 (plus outrageous US import duty), I just had to do it as I sold my tobacco stained pair for £80ish each 5 years ago, I regretted the day I sold my old ones to make a raise for a decorator to come in.

Me pulling a 'camp' chaos thug pose holding my latest loot. (removed original photo as I am being spammed on this post)



Just got replace that hard earned cash now
J

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Warband Progress Part 4

Back again,
Day off today so while on a roll, I think a second post is in order.

More finished miniatures for my warband for the Oldhammer Event, As I am running out of Realm of Chaos Beastmen I though it would be nice to regenerate some truely old school miniatures and add a couple of pre-slotta Beastmen to my warband.

Here are the latest additions.

Iguana Headed Broo. See Broo range here. For those of you who have no idea what a Broo is, they are the original half man half beast from the Runequest universe that sowed the seeds for all chaos beastmen created ever since. Fine Miniatures for 1983.



Next we have Walrus Man from the C38 - Chaos Beasmen range, I also have the Beastmen Cavalry somewhere in the loft so better get mooching.  Another great sculpt, he has loads of layers of blubber and a really cool skull design on his shield.


I have also recently painted a Chaos Thug, Skull Helm (third from left) and rebased the other the three which I painted up many years ago for the Slaine RPG I was running at the time.  Many more of these to come and I still have to get around to taking a photo of my doubles to trade.

Chaos Thug Range: 0210, 0211, 0212, 0213



Now I am not a big fan of Dwarves (probably because I am rubbish at painting them) but I had a go anyway, heres my attempt at a 'Stunty Sven' the Chaos Dwarf.

Chaos Dwarves

And my attempt at an 80's style citadel shield (see Orlygg's blog for a great guide on 80's citadel style shields), I guess practice makes perfect.


Hope you enjoy
J

RT601 - Adventurers - Pirate Captain

Hello RT Fans,
Today I treat you to yet another miniature from the classic citadel RT601 - Adventurers range, a Pirate Captain.
To me he looks a bit like Vanilla Ice with a cutlass, gold necklace and all.

Pirate Captain - front

Pirate Captain - back


Pirate Captain

**Update 15/04/2013** Pirate Captain with reworked flesh colour for better photgraphy colour, I felt the old colour was to dull when I posted the shot.


Pirate Captain

I am concentrating on my Oldhammer Event Khornate chaos warband at the moment so Rogue Trader miniatures are coming on slow but steady but more importantly not forgotten, I have a Navigator stripping in Dettol as I painted him in 1988 in enamels and a Mad Punk undercoated and ready to go, lots more to come.

Stay tuned
J