Tuesday 12 June 2018

C22 Creatures and other Oldhammer delights

Hello, today's post is a mishmash of recently painted Oldhammer miniatures that have been sitting on various drafts for a while and I don't really have enough content for their own separate blog posts. 

You may notice that some of today's photos have a fading (gradient?) blue background, these are my newer photos as I am currently experimenting with a more Oldhammer looking background, any tips are welcome.

First up we have the 'Chaos Demon' from the Citadel Miniatures C Series 1985 C22 Creatures.  This is a hideous creature with two horned heads mounted on worm like necks which are connected to want appears to be an upside down bloated human female body, a vagina between the heads and warty backside while saggy breasts dangling between the muscular arms the propel it.  As the description above portrays I think you will agree it is a grotesque creature that would be well placed in any Nurgle chaos army, it reminds me of the terrifying creatures from the The Thing 1982 movie.  As for the paint job, I used original Citadel Colour Rotten Flesh as a base and washed it with various browns, purples and greens then highlighted with Vallejo Game Color Dead Flesh, simple job really.

If only Games Workshop had the courage to make such miniatures today.



C22 Creatures Chaos Demon - front

C22 Creatures Chaos Demon - back

Next we have another 1985 C22 Creatures miniature, a 'Werefox' this miniature was painted last year for the Night Horrors Facebook Group Halloween painting competition which is always good fun as rarely get a chance to go through my Gothic/Night Horror miniature boxes.  This miniature is tiny and was quite a challenge to paint, the legs are as thin as pins, I went for dirty flesh tones as I imagine she lives in the forest and googled fox faces for the head colours.  The red squirrel on the base came as a freebie in a trade from a OTC member, I can't remember who but I thank you.  I have plans to visit this miniature when I acquire some brass etched leafs.


C22 Creatures Werefox - front

C22 Creatures Werefox - back



Following on we have two Chaos Hounds which also carry the C22 C Series code, the C22 Chaos Hounds and Handlers were released in 1987 and had ten hound types and appeared with 3 different handlers, a Chaos Warrior, a Chaos Dwarf and a Dark Elf.

Below we have Weirdspike and Saberwolf the only painted two so far but others will come soon as it was quite enjoyable. I went for a flayed flesh look for Weirdspike and rotten flesh for Saberwolf.


Weirdspike and Saberwolf - Chaos Hounds

Weirdspike and Saberwolf - front

Weirdspike and Saberwolf - side

Weirdspike and Saberwolf - side


I am also still slowly working through my Pantheon of Chaos miniatures by Knightmare Miniatures I picked these up during the Kickstarter campaign but if you missed this campaign you can now buy these from their webstore.

First we have Pantheon of Chaos Beastman PTB08 'Arnak Ghuul' this towering beastman makes the perfect Khorngor champion.  He was sculpted in the style of the original Realm Of Chaos artwork, heavily armoured, carrying a massive chopping weapon and adorned with trinkets, talismans, etc  There was only one colour I could possibly paint this one, red.


Arnak Ghuul - front

Arnak Ghuul - back

Arnak Ghuul - side

Arnak Ghuul - side



Another Pantheon of Chaos miniature recently finished, this time a Chaos Champion PC06 'Zz'andor' a favourite of mine as it's obviously a tribute to 'Zygor Snake Arms' the 1983 Mark of Chaos miniature featured in the Citadel Compendium One.  He carries a multitude of weapons, an axe, spiked mace, stone hammer, some sort of sword and has a magic potion in his belt, would you fight him? I certainly wouldn't :D

A nice and bizarre miniature to paint which truly represents the hordes of chaos to me, for the flesh I went for Citadel Colour Titillating Pink base then Citadel Expert paint set no.6 purple and then brought to life with various Vallejo pink shades.  I may revisit the weapons soon as I am sure I never finished them off, they look ok in the cabinet but under photographic scrutiny they need more work and I may paint the flesh in 'Ardcoat' for a slippery wet effect.

Zz'andor- side

Zz'andor - front

Zz'andor - side

Zz'andor - back


Thanks for reading, stayed tuned as some Bob Olley Space Pirates are coming soon.


J

Tuesday 29 May 2018

Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader First Releases

Hello, I finally finished a very personal project to myself the Rogue Trader 1st Flyer miniatures, some of these I have already blogged about and others are coming soon on this blog but for now please enjoy the results of a project that has taken many years :)

My latest version of the 1st Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader) releases - March 1987 Flyer
1st Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader) releases - March 1987 Flyer
1st Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader) releases - March 1987 Flyer Miniatures

1st Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader) releases 


Tech-Priest Zon/Telepath, Ground Combat trooper/Souther, Piscean Warrior/Saharduin, Space Dwarf/Squat Irn Bonce
Telepath blogged here
Ground Combat trooper/Souther blogged here
Piscean Warrior blogged here
Space Dwarf blogged here

Imperial Garrison Trooper/Kylla Condotti, Space Goblin/Gretchin, Imperial Light Trooper/No-Face Fargo

Imperial Garrison Trooper blogged here
Space Goblin blogged here
Imperial Garrison Light blogged here

Imperial Bodyguard, Imperial Psycher/Astropath Yerl, Pirate, Dark Elf Space Trooper

Imperial Bodyguard blogged here
Imperial Psycher blogged here
Pirate blogged here
Dark Elf Space Trooper blogged here

Imperial Heavy Trooper/Fast/East-Star John, Space Orc with blaster/Ork, Imperial Heavy Infantry/Space-Dout Sam

Imperial Heavy Trooper blogged here
Space Orc with Blaster blogged here
Imperial Heavy Infantry blogged here



Hope you enjoyed
J

Rogue Trader Inquisitor

Hello again,  finally got around to finishing another draft and today's Oldhammer treat is another classic Citadel Miniature that is much loved and blogged about the first standalone Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader Inquisitor.  This miniature is often referred to as 'Inquisitor Obiwan Sherlock Clousseau' as he is obviously based on the Martin Mckenna illustration on page 142 of Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader rulebook.

Sculpted by Bob Naismith (which he confirmed today 30/05/2018 on the 'Emporium of Rogue Dreams' Facebook group and released 1988 appearing on this Rogue Trader flyer, it's quite an interesting sculpt with irregularities in the coat which you have to try and paint out, this has been pointed out on Axiom's excellent blog here, I think that's the reason the miniature wasn't around for long and certainly not available in the later back catalogues, I think the casting process was probably to blame for the coat fault.  In the illustration he appears to be welding a Chainsaw, the sculptor has interpreted it as some sort of ranged weapon on the miniature although the handle and lower part appear the same, I was thinking combat shotgun or railgun.  A resculpt of Rogue Trooper Major Magnum and Judge Dredd Chimichunga.

I went for the classic look most interpretations of this miniature go for with the ying-yang symbol necklace and blanchitsu checkerboard around the coat hem as per illustration.  He appears to have penal arrow sign on his coat or a sign similar to the 2000ad Torquemadas Terminators sign on his coat.


Rogue Trader Inquisitor - front

Rogue Trader Inquisitor - back

Inquisitor Obiwan Sherlock Clousseau - Page 142
Inquisitor Obiwan Sherlock Clousseau - Page 221

Inquisitor Obiwan Sherlock Clousseau - fluff


thanks for stopping by
J

Thursday 26 April 2018

SFD Giant Robots - Scavenger

Hello,
For today's post another classic Citadel Miniature, one of the SFD Giant Robots this time called 'Scavenger'.  Sculpted by Bob Naismith in 1984, the SFD Giant Robots had a limited release in 1987 via the Spring 1987 mail order flyer for use as Warbots in Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader, see page 42 in the  rulebook.

This is my third robot finished from this range, I went for a different approach and painted it very difference compared to the other two I have painted previously which were sharp and bright.  I went for a really waethered, dirty, damaged appearance to reflect it's name Scavenger, started off with the colours of a JCB or CAT plant vehicle and then distressed the paint job with washes and weathering powders to extreme levels, luckily here in Birmingham UK it's been like a building site for years so I have had plenty of reference material and everytime I made it dirty it just wasn't dirty enough compared to what I was seeing on a daily basis.

You can read my previous post on the first two I painted a couple of years ago here and you can read some of my ramblings and own theories on these Robots here.



SFD Giant Robots - Scavenger - front

SFD Giant Robots - Scavenger - back

SFD Giant Robots - Scavenger - front

SFD Giant Robots - Scavenger - back


I hope you like my latest work please come back and enjoy my take on more classic Citadel Miniatures and get following lots and lots of Oldhammer projects on the go.

J

Tuesday 17 April 2018

Rogue Trader - Mercenaries Part 4

Hello, Today's we have the final 2 miniatures from the RT502 - Mercenaries code so I am happy to say that's another Oldhammer project complete.  As you know I completed the Rogue Trader RT601 - Adventurers a while ago and now this code is complete I need to decide whether a do the Bob Olley IC301 'Iron Claw' Space Pirates featured in White dwarf 93 or the RT601 Space Pirates from White Dwarf 103.


My final 2 RT602 Mercenaries


For we have 'Kylla Condotti' another Warhammer 40'000 Rogue Trader 1st Flyer miniature who found his way into the RT07/602 - Mercenaries code and Imperial Army blisters.  Originally listed as an Imperial Garrison Trooper and another of those miniatures with a sculpted on backpack which I know you all love. His tab says 'Low Tek Trooper'.   This miniature ended up in several blister codes over its lifespan.  His name is based on the famous historical mercenaries the Condottieri for anyone interested.
The only variant of this miniature is another Mercenary and 1st Flyer miniature No-Face Fargo/Imperial Light Trooper.


Kylla Condotti/Imperial Garrison Trooper - front
Kylla Condotti/Imperial Garrison Trooper - back

Imperial Garrison Trooper on page 165 of the RT rulebook


Next we have 'Catachan Luke', I have painted this miniature many times as a Catachan Jungle fighter like his name suggests, there are variants of this miniature in the Mercenary range and these are Hacker Harris and Breakout Con.  I went for an Afro-Caribbean race for him as I did this for my Catachan Jungle Fighters in my 2nd Edition Days.


Catachan Luke - front
Catachan Luke - back




One day I will treat you to my 2nd Edition Jungle Fighter units but I currently can't get through the clutter guarding them in the loft.

Thanks for dropping in, another project complete.
J

Rogue Trader - Mercenaries Part 3

Greetings, an end is in sight for one of my current Oldhammer projects the RT502 - Mercenaries featured in White Dwarf 95. (I must confess this project is finished I am just publishing another of the ten drafts queued up 😳)

Not the greatest week for photography it was the 'Beast from the East part 1' here in the UK and I think the pictures reflect that.


Another two done, two more to go

Here are my latest offerings.

First we have Breakout Con a cool dynamic looking miniature, storming forward with his modified Bolter, I like this sculpt especially his heavily augmented head, that appears to have eyes, ears, nose and brain modifications. 

Breakout Con - front 
Breakout Con - back

Breakout Con


This miniatures variants include Hacker Harris and Catachan Luke and his head is also used on RT01 Space Marine Brother Dimshade, all Bob Naismith sculpts, it was common for him to reuse base miniatures and parts, it would be interesting to know if he precast certain parts like they did with weapons or did he simply hack the part of a pre existing cast miniature.


I think you will agree that the image the Necromunda Orlock below bears a striking resemblance to Breakout Con and it's nice to see he was rocking the slotted shade look long before this Orlock (and Lady Gaga).



I also remember that the Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader rulebook featured a squad of these Breakout Con's, is that Communication Officer Orinoco administering Frezon to penal troops? I am sure it is.


Breakout Con unit - Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader rulebook Page 161

East/Fast-Star John another 1987 1st Flyer miniature sculpted by Bob Nasmith, originally he was listed as Imperial Heavy Trooper but like many other seen on previous posted recoded into the RT602 - Mercenaries and as his tab suggests, he eventually turned up in Imperial Army blisters too. 


Fast-Star John - front
Fast-Star John - back


Fast-Star John


A variant of Imperial Heavy Infantry/Space-Dout Sam but this time he has a sculpted on backpack instead of a flightpack.  I own loads of copies of this miniature and have painted him multiple times over the years but this time I went for an Imperial Army appearance, I was tempted to paint the backpack as a medipack but resisted as I have plenty of Imperial Army medics.

Only 2 more Mercenaries to go which are painted now just not photographed and then project complete.

Thanks for reading.
J

Thursday 12 April 2018

Slocombe's Warbots - Part 1 - Sam

Hello, today I have a classic Oldhammer miniature that I hardly know anything about! 

This is my first post on Slocombe's Warbot's the 'Sam' Type Light Wardroid, released on the Citadel Miniatures October 1987 Flyer and sculpted by Tony Slocombe.  I am lucky enough to own all 3 miniatures from this range and I am enjoying breaking open those 'Limited Edition' TSF15 WARBOTS blisters open to give them a lick of paint like they should have, 2 other warbots accompany it in the range the MkII 'Sprinter' Assault Droid and 'Deathblow' Class Heavy Droid which will also be receiving a paint job before the year is out.

Now we get to the controversial bit, I have always been a Battletech fan and played it 1988-92 and I found all these warbots reminiscent of the Battletech mechs so when I posted a work in progress photo on Twitter, a friendly follower @Leaky_cheese replied with a Battletech image by  Duane Loose that was almost identical and other followers pointed out a likeness to the Battletech Vindicator mech, yeah, yeah I here say so what, continue reading...

Well this train of thought lead to me having an idea on the origins of this range and I am happy to hear your thoughts. Like the other obscure Rogue Trader robot range released in October 1987, the 'Limited Edition' SFD Giant Robots, well while I was painting some of these lovely Bob Naismith sculpts I noticed they had GW 1984 date stamps on the bottom which harks back to a time when Games Workshop were still producing miniatures for licensed games i.e. Judge Dredd, Eternal Champion, Dr Who, etc, 3 years before the decline of the licensed games so my idea is were the Slocombes Warbots and maybe the SFD Giant Robots created for an early attempt of 1984 Games Workshop acquiring the Battletech license and failing to do so is why we see these Robots incorporated into the Rogue Trader universe and released 'Limited Edition' maybe trying to claw some money back from this endeavour?

Or it could be just wild ramblings of a mad robot fan.

I went for an Imperial Army type colour scheme with lots of rust and battle damage it seemed fitting, added a few old transfers from various kits and distressed them, added a bit of colour to the power source and visor.

Anyway enough nonsense here's the picts.



'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid

'Sam' Type Light Wardroid



TSF15 Warbot blister about to broken open

TSF15 Warbot open and ready to assemble

Twitter followers asked for a size comparison so here you go, a very tall miniature that would make an excellent robot for Inquisitor as it is slightly over 54mm high.


Size comparison



Thanks for visiting,
J