Hive Fleet Mastodon / Xenofauna
It was inevitable, I suppose, that when I began collecting and painting genestealers and genestealer-like miniatures I’d also get sucked into some tyranids. It started with re-basing my ambull (mostly because I’d become dissatisfied with the base). Then I got fear of missing out on some very limited edition castings of fan sculpts on Facebook. Then I realised that the “alien” lists at the back of Rogue Trader were intended to use repurposed fantasy miniatures…
Read MoreTertii Imperatoris Cultus
I’m not sure if I’m so much back after another long absence, or if this is just another in an emerging pattern of long, image-heavy posts with months between them. Let’s get straight into it. about a year ago my friend Owen asked if I wanted to play Necromunda. “No”, I replied, “it fills me with fear to think about handling my miniatures after I’ve painted them”.
But whether it’s because I’m quite keen on the ‘new’ Games Workshop genestealer models, or because I’ve rather liked them since the early ’90s, or just because if I’m not going to play a game I’d rather it be by choice than necessity, I started to collect a small gang. And to make that more complicated, I decided that, in keeping with the model-agnostic ethos of the old genestealer army, they’d be a mix of third-party, old, and modern models: Tertii Imperatoris Cultus, the Cult of the Third-Party Emperor.
Read MoreNominus Malus
After taking first place in an (admittedly somewhat niche) art competition on the Oldhammer Forum with my entry “Characters of Chaos“, the sculptor Sjoerd Trouwee contacted me to commission a drawing for his project ‘Nominus Malus’. Sjoerd has sculpted a series of eight miniatures, inspired by Marauder Miniatures’ MM90 Chaos Dwarf range. They’re available to buy online on Sjoerd’s dedicated Evil Little Buggers website and you can read more about the project on his blog.
Read MoreEnter the Otherworld
I’ve written about my love for Otherworld Miniatures a few times before. They produce “28mm fantasy gaming miniatures for ‘old school’ roleplayers, wargamers and collectors”, inspired by artwork in early D&D publications by some of my favourite illustrators. Some of their recent releases are fantastic, and one of my objectives for 2021 has been to paint enough of my collection to justify buying a few.
Read MoreBack from the Dead
After last month’s return to blogging (and last year’s efforts at terrain making) it is at long last time to post some painted miniatures. And what better way to celebrate my return from the dead that with a couple of undead – Heinrich Kemmler (the Lichemaster), and the Devil himself?
Read MoreModelling Workshop
I’ve been away for a long while. Between working overseas, polishing off my master’s degree, and COVID-19 I’ve not had much time for creativity, other than a couple of posts to mop up the last miniatures I painted in mid-2018 and a few drawings in early 2020. If there was an upside to all that, it’s that I was able to think about what I’d do next. Taking inspiration from Mel ‘The Terrain Tutor‘ on YouTube, and old ‘Modelling Workshop’ guides in White Dwarf issues 130, 132, 137, and 140, in the second half of 2020 I set to work building some terrain.
Read MoreCreatures of the Night
I painted these in 2018 and uploaded the photos almost exactly a year ago – but seemingly forgot to write the post until now. What follows may not be suitable for work. Firstly because the creatures are horrifying, monstrous creatures from Citadel’s Night Horrors range (continuing from my earlier post here). And also because one of them is naked.
Characters of Chaos
Over the past year work and study have kept me busy, and I haven’t had much time for creative hobbies. Recently though I’ve been motivated to draw again – it takes somewhat less time to set up than miniature painting, and I’ve been inspired by some D&D characters in the various groups I’ve played in. The timing was good too – I entered an art contest on the Oldhammer Forum – the second of its kind – and scooped up first place.
The Dawi-Zharr
Around their dark city the Chaos Dwarfs sunk mines into the earth, delving deep into the rock and filth in pursuit of the treasures that lie below. They built engines down in the depths…
According to Stuff of Legends, the Chaos Dwarfs first appeared in 1986, but I only really knew them from the 1991 Red Catalogue and 1994 army. All dirt and gloom, Rick Priestly’s introduction, above, contrasted to the maelstrom of red, yellow, and black paint – set against lush green battlefields – that filled the rest of the book and pages of White Dwarf.
Honestly, I was never a fan, and I don’t think I’m alone. The Dawi-Zharr didn’t prove commercially viable and have fallen on hard times, although there’s a rumour that they’ll return in Warhammer: Age of Sigmar: Warcry. But that has all changed for me, now.
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Here be Dragons
“AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!”
Drumin Dragonhelm pulled off his helmet and wiped the sweat from his eyes. They had been in the swamp for three days now, and of the confident band that had set, out only three were left. Or perhaps two.
Today I slayed a dragon. It’s an admittedly small dragon, and not one of the most sought-after. But it’s the first I’ve successfully painted in three sporadic decades of this hobby, and I’m proud of it.
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Shin High Terror! 