Champion of Khorne for Nick

Hey There!

Nick and I have been doing an annual figure exchange for quite a while now and for this year I promised him something 'Old World' themed. 

So here we have a Champion of Khorne, a model that was released way back in 2004. 

I think I got this guy from a Games Day in Toronto (I went to a few when we were out East), but I can't be sure of that. He has been lurking on my paint desk for two decades now, so I thought it high time for him to get painted, and what better reason than as a gift for a good friend.

You usually see these guys in classic red Khornate armour, but I thought I'd keep him a little more subdued and down-to-earth in brass, bronze and steel. 

I hope you like him Nick (if not he'll happily take your skull).

Thanks!

- Curt

Anne, Nancy and their Backup Singers

Hi Everyone!

Like many of us I've been making my way through the February doldrums. I lost a bit of steam for a few weeks, which recently included a bad bout of flu and a cold, but I did manage to push along with few more entries and here is one of them.

These gals are a some new recruits to my Sisters of Battle collection.

First up are two heavy weapon Sisters, one armed with a multi-melta and the other with a heavy flamer. These models are from Wargames Exclusive and were an absolute joy to paint. The designer really embraced the gothic aesthetic with their armour, especially with their chimneyed backpacks. These two ladies will be my submission for 'Heresy' as they are the physical embodiment of the Emperor's punishment, created to expunge the heretic in heat and flame (or at least thats whats written on their underwear).

When I first put them side-by-side for my photos it immediately struck me that they look like two epic rockers posing on stage in the midst of a guitar and bass riff, and what better rocker sisters than Anne and Nancy Willson. Maybe I'll go back and put a Heart symbol on their cloaks. :)

The other contingent is a small group of Sisters Repentia with their attendant Mistress of Repentance. The Repentia are older GW models and I love them (made even better as they were gifts from IainW). They are so beautifully sculpted, finger-pokingly crisp and having that wonderful heft of metal.

The Mistress was a bit of a disappointment, and I feel that someone at GW got the short straw in having to sculpt her. I've never been a fan of the quasi-S&M feel of some of the Sister models and this is one typical of that (though the Madonna bullet bustier kind of cracks me up).

Thanks for popping in for a visit!

Curt

10mm Empire Crossbowmen

I'll continue on with my gratuitous Empire schtick with a unit of plucky crossbowmen.

The original GW models for these units were designed around 2-man strips, which look great on the small Warmaster bases, but I wanted to take advantage of the larger real estate of the 'To the Strongest' style bases I'm using. These allow me to array them in a more natural looking (at least to my eye) ragged skirmish line.

Again, I found the base with just the figures on it to be a little wanting, so I quickly printed off a ruined cottage and a small field to give it some oomph. (I'm sure there are some turnips in there somewhere.)

A pic of the force as it stands now. 

Next up will be a horde unit.

Thanks for dropping in for a look!

- Curt

10mm Empire Artillery

Yes, it's me with yet another Empire entry, weee!! Today we have another support unit in the form of a battery of heavy artillery.

In the world of Warhammer, the army of the Empire is pretty much made up of regular baseline humans, so that means no troops with fancy inherent martial abilities, or huge scary monsters to fall back on. The regiments of the Empire must instead rely on iron discipline, a fatalistic faith in their cause, and lots of firepower. Lots and lots of firepower. Some of that firepower comes from the Steam Tanks, Volley Guns and Handgunners, but its the Empire's artillery park that are the long distance heavy hitters. Even an ancient dragon, a hulking giant, or a monstrous daemon is going to feel it if they get a direct hit from a 36 pounder. Guaranteed, it's gonna smart.

So, here is the first base of what will be several batteries of heavy guns for my Imperial force.

For the most part, this base is made up of old GW Warmaster castings, which I think still look great after all these years. Such fun to paint. 

I had fun with the base with the earth scorched dark by the fire of the guns.

While the gun and crew models are great, they are a bit bland just by themselves on the base. So I tarted them up by popping on an ammunition wagon, a 3D print from MinRat, and a tree from Thingiverse. 

And here is the collection to-date. Now, that's starting to look like a decent-sized detachment, or perhaps a wing of a larger army. Sure, there's more work to be done, but it's nice to see it beginning to come together.

Next we see some crossbowmen for the collection!

- Curt

'Toot! Toot! Parp! Parp!' 10mm Steam Tanks

Hey There!

Another day, another unit of wee Empire guys to add to my slowly growing army. Today's reinforcement is a trio of Steam Tanks, fresh from the artificers and foundries of Nuln.

I have a soft spot for the Steam Tank as one of these was the centerpiece of my Warhammer Empire army for many a year. Granted, it usually blew up spectacularly, but it was always entertaining to have puttering around on the tabletop.

While there are some lovely 3d prints for the Empire Steam tank, I still love the heft (however slight) of the white metal originals, so I ran with a handful of them instead.

I quite like that the base size for To the Strongest allows me to place three of these beasties chugging away. I figure a trio of them are a bit more imposing than just a single vehicle, especially with these massed units on the tabletop. 

And here are the steamtanks arrayed with the rest of the existing Empire contingent.

Have a great upcoming week, everyone!

- Curt

10mm Pistoliers for Warhammer Fantasy

Okay, this post number three to my ever-expanding Empire army. Today we have a regiment of Pistoliers trotting into line as reinforcements. 

These guys are basically the Warhammer equivalent of Renaissance 'Reiters'. Historially these chaps would use their heavy pistols to roll up and attempt to break up enemy formations, softening them up for the charge. Usually they would be in fairly tight, regimented formations called a 'caracole,' but these fellows are in a more flexible, skirmish formation. 

Again, I put in a clump of trees for a bit of fun (and it saves me from filling the base with figures). 

Aaand a gratuitous, as-it-stands-now, group shot of the force.

Thanks for popping in for a look. Maybe see you tomorrow with another reinforcement for the Empire!

- Curt

First 10mm Units for The Empire

Hi All!

I've always been a big fan of Warhammer Fantasy's 'Old World'. This goes way, waay back to the 80s with my first introduction to the setting. While the rules themselves could often leave me cold at times (depending on the edition), it was the Old World that I always drew me back. The gritty, ersatz Renaissance aesthetic ticked off so many boxes for me - the heady mixture of plate armour, crazy magic, puff & slash uniforms and early gunpower weapons - it was just so cool.  I won't even start on my opinion on GW's inexplicable decision to blow up their own IP and replace the Old World with The Age of Stinkmar, other than to say it was an atrociously bad one.

Anyway, the Old World is wonderful source of nostalgia for me, and I always enjoy visiting it from time to time, either through role-playing (we had a fun time last year playing the 'Enemy in the Shadows' campaign), the occasional mass figures game (using the excellent 'One-Page Rules'), or just painting scads of 10mm stuff like I'm showing here today.

I really enjoyed Warmaster when it was released, as the figures were so innovative, and the rules brought a breath of fresh air to GW's stable (they are the fountainhead for Warlord's 'Hail Caesar', 'Pike & Shotte' and 'Blackpowder'). My interest was renewed a few years ago when I came across some old unopened blisters in storage. After re-reading the Warmaster rules, I decided to instead follow a different path, using a fantasy variant of  'To the Strongest' as the basis for my reboot. One of the selling features of using TtS are that the rules allow for large single bases for units which I really enjoy as it gives room for mass and creating little vignettes. Over the past two Challenges I've managed decent inroads with my Wood Elf and Tomb King armies, but now I have a new force to add: The Empire!

For me the Empire is the quintessential Warhammer Fantasy army. It has that wonderful mix of traditional units such as knights, halberdiers and spearmen, along with some esoteric oddities such as flagellants, volley guns and steam tanks. It really has something for everyone.

I have a bunch of stuff completed, but I'm going to show what I've been up to at a slow drip, with an entry a day until the close of the Challenge. 

First up is our General and two units of doughty Halberdiers. 

The casting of the General is quite impressive, astride his faithful Griffon, issuing orders to his troops. 

Nonetheless, the overall model wasn't quite as imposing as either my Tomb King or Wood Elf generals on their dragons, so I printed off and rescaled a ruined tower from Hagglethorn Hollow for him and his mount to perch on. Much better, I think.

Like the General, the Halberdiers are venerable GW metals. With my larger bases, I have the room to place the equivalent of two standard Warmaster units on them. I really like the massed look that this conveys. I also LOVE the heft of these things when compared to resin models. It really appeals to my lizard brain. :)

One of the blisters had been opened and I was short two strips of figures. To make it up I decided to use my terrain cheat and include a small structure to make up for the loss of space on the base. 

Again, I like doing this from time to time as it adds a bit of visual interest and gives players something to grip on to when moving the base around the tabletop.

I'll have another Empire unit up tomorrow. I hope you stop in for a peek. 

Thanks!

- Curt

'Sukiyaki the Inscrutable'

Here's a classic for you. 'Sukiyaki The Inscrutable', a Games Workshop chaos warrior, first released waay, waaay back in 1985, and then advertised in White Dwarf 81, September 1986.

I've done him as a Japanese demon, an Oni, or at least a flamboyant multi-chromatic one! As a bit of fun, I indulged myself with portions of his lacquered armour, using some riotous shades from Greenstuff World's 'Colourshift Paints'. After that, I thought a bone breastplate, helmet and sword would be suitably creepy, and provide a counterpoint to the rest of his flashy kit.

'Sukiyaki' is a gift to my good pal, Sidney Roundwood, who is madly working on his to-be-released samurai skirmish rules (which we've already been treated to a tantalising preview). I know Sid has a great affection for Aly Morrison's early Samurai models, so I thought he might enjoy 'Sukiyaki' capering around, causing mischief in some future game.

- Curt

Additional Units for the Tomb Kings Army

Hello Folks!
Here are a few more units for my 10mm Tomb Kings army. Similar to my previous group, these are based-up for 'Monsters & Magic' a fantasy variant of 'To The Strongest'.

All of these are venerable GW metal castings which are a real joy to work on. Sure, 3d prints are great, the variation is welcome, but my lizard brain can't help but enjoy the substantial heft of a nice-sized base of metal castings. This all being said, I did include some 3d printed statuary to add a little set-dressing to the bases.

A couple units of skeleton archers

A regiment of undead cavalry

A unit of bolt throwers

A flock of Undead Carrion Flyers

...and a handful of Tomb King leaders to keep the whole horde-of-bones shambling in the right direction.

Combined with my first submission, this should provide me with a decent enough core to play with. Here's a group shot of what I've managed to get done this Challenge. I'm pretty pleased with the progress so far.

I have a few more Tomb King units primed and waiting in the wings, but I feel the desire to work on another race in this setting. Hopefully I'll have more on that later.

______________________________________


Thanks for dropping in for a look!

- Curt

A LOTR Cave Troll and a Mordor Armoured Troll

I recently finished the last book of 'The Lord of the Rings' and so am quite jazzed with all things Middle-Earth. So, for the Gallery of Ancestors I did up a venerable Cave Troll and his beefier, younger cousin from Mordor.

This fella GW produced upon the release of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' back in 2001. Yep, twenty years ago folks, can you freakin' believe it?! 

This guy's old, grumpy and all metal. Bless 'im. 

He's a repaint from a 'move failure' I had when we relocated across country. He originally has just the hammer and chain, but I've given him a nasty long hafted glaive to make him extra fearsome. While I wax nostalgic about him, he was a bit of a b@astard to put together, with more than a few pins and some green stuff required to make him presentable. Still, I quite like him.

Next is his even larger cousin, an armoured Mordor troll from the 'Battle of Pelennor Fields' boxed set. He comes as a fairly simple plastic kit. While I'm usually not a big fan of plastic models, seemingly always shaving down seam lines or filling gaps, I have to say that this guy is quite well engineered, with lots of nifty build options.

Everyone seems to do up this brute with the huge war hammer, so, ever the contrarian, I went with the big honkin' spear instead. I kinda like this pose. I think he has a bit of a Greek hoplite look to him (if a hoplite were to weigh 800 pounds, have three fingers, and carry a Buick's worth of sheet metal on him). 

'This. Is. Mordor!!'

Sure, this guy's cool and all, but I don't think he's as interesting as the older, metal version. The venerable cave troll has more surface texture, and his 'I'm going to clobber ya' pose seems far more dynamic to me. That being said, the two of them provide a neat contrast in design and production over the past two decades. 

Next: Hmm, I think I need a teleport to The Tomb. Time to rustle up another female figure for the Sorceress.

- Curt

Saruman And His Fighting Uruk-Hai

For the past year I've been slowly re-reading (and in the case of some of the more esoteric titles, reading for the first time) the entire Tolkien oeuvre. I think I'm at six or seven books now, and am just finishing 'The Two Towers'. Gosh, they're just so darn good - it's kind of humbling to reacquaint oneself with the fountainhead of epic fantasy literature.

Reading Tolkien is a complete nostalgia trip for me as I have very fond memories of reading the trilogy while on a month-long family camping trip in the Prairies. I keenly remember burning out several flashlight batteries reading late into the night. So good. Anyway, here we have Saruman and four of his Uruk-Hai orcs (the nasty ones, you know, the ones with serious anger management issues). Such great models due to the fact that they are the old, rare metal ones which I adore. The colour scheme for the Uruks are from my good friend Nick who gifted a few of these to me a couple years ago.

Next Up: A Sci-Fi take on a Golem.

- Curt