Very Early Elf

Ral Partha CS1 Wood Elf with Bow

The minis are getting older! This one is a Ral Partha wood elf who looks smart enough to join the high elves. Originally sculpted by Tom Meier some time in the early nineteen eighties. I reckon I had one of these  back in the eighties but I think it came in a Citadel pack. But then Citadel did produce some Ral Partha minis under license. 

The detail is excellent for a forty year old mini, proving Tom Meier's talent as a sculptor.

Rob 

Ral Partha Cloud Giant Finished

Ok - So I have a Bit More to do on the Base But let's Not talk About That!

I am calling this one done, I want to add a bit more to the base once the first layer has dried but basically the painting is done. Given this mini has been in production for forty odd years it still holds up remarkably well. Tom Meier doesn't get talked about as much as some of the Citadel sculptors but he was knocking out like this one, years before the good people of Nottingham. 

I was thinking some of the detailing around the feet was a bit soft but honestly I am now thinking that the standard has just moved on and I am over thinking this one. 

 

Rob 

The Giant Lumbers On

Finally some Painting

Now  much time for painting lately but did manage to get some more paint on the giant. He is starting to look more human (giantish) after some lighter flesh tones. I decided to get the beard and hair done before any more flesh tones. To see how he looks and if the colours work together. 

I haven't decided which army he naturally aligns with because, I thought he looked quite like a friendly forest giant until I noticed his tusks. So he may be joining the forces of evil... 

 Rob

Up In the Clouds

Five Colours  finished on the Flesh Tones

Finally got round to starting the Ral Partha cloud giant. And now five colours in (Bugmans glow > Reikland flesh tone > Bugmans glow > Bugmans glow/death claw brown mix > death claw brown) on the skin tones and at least another three to go. And probably at least one more wash. He looks browner in the photo than on the painting table. But as I use more ‘flesh’ tones he should get a bit pinker. There is lots of great detail on muscles making them easier to paint. 

 Rob

Get Your Own Treasure!

Treasure Hunting 80s Style

I quite pleased how this one turned out, and really underlines Tom Meier's sculpting skill. Given it was originally sculpted in the 80s and then released by Citadel. It is still available via Ral Partha Legacy in the USA but I got mine from in UK from an importer (https://www.miniature-heroes.co.uk/) for a reasonable price. 

I had originally planned to make the treasure pile from small discs cut from plastic rods to look like coins. But it just didn't look right. So, I mixed the plastic rods with some sieved sand and this created the right mix of sizes and shapes. 

Rob

Side Project Dragon

Another Tom Meier Dragon

I got this Tom Meier dragon last Christmas and it has taken a bit of time to work out how to paint him. This is the second time I have painted this dragon, the first time was in the nineties. The original one, a friend of mine still has, so I am hoping to get a picture and be able to compare the two.

Most of the painting on the dragon is complete, so now focus turns to the base. Which will be the dragon sitting on a small treasure hoard. 

Rob

Thistlewood - Ugrash Ka vs King's Guard

 Making Progress on Thistlewood

Finished off the last three of the King's Guard to complete, the unit of ten necessary for Thistlewood. Also repainted the old (1970s) Ral Partha Hecatron I bought recently, who will be used as Ugrash Ka. leader of the Vile Rune orcs. Given the age of the sculpt by Tom Meier's, it still stands out as a quality sculpt.  

Ugrash-Ka is the toughest character at Thistlewood with a Toughness characteristic of D and 4 wounds. However, he doesn't have very high weapon skill or strength so may struggle to deal the damage against some King Amias' more elite units and characters. 

Grenadier & Fornlorn Knights

I didn't want to paint the new Knights in the traditional silver scheme as they are supposed to the king's guard. An elite unit who are all individuals, hence different colours schemes for each one. 

Rob

One Year On

First New Fantasy Army (For a While...) 

It has been about a year since I seriously started to paint again and about 7 months since I started this blog. Since then  I have painted 278 miniatures. Mostly figures for three fantasy armies: Undead, Chaos & Fae. All of which were new armies for me. First up was the  Undead army.  The Chaos & Fae armies have already been covered in other blog posts so I won't cover these here. 

The middle one is the figure which started the undead off as an army.
As an attempt to paint in the style of the modern LotR army of the dead. 

Undead Army

The Undead Horde in all its decaying glory

As I got back into painting last year. It started with the classic (Oldhammer) Lord of the Rings Barrow Wight and sort of grew from there. It is difficult put a points value on this type of army as a level 5 Vampire (WFB 3^rd Ed.) costs 330 points. But I can easily build 1000 to 2000 points. It is bit unbalanced as an army but fun to paint and I will probably add a few units to balance it out. Notably cavalry  and a few more skeletons. 

This army sort of got overtaken by the chaos army. They started as an allied contingent and then overtook the undead. 

Painted So Far

• 20 Grave Guard  - Citadel / Fornlorn Hope / Lord of the Rings
• 22 Skeletons / Scarecrows / Zombies - Citadel / Mantic
• 1 Zombie Dragon - Ral Partha / Tom Meier
• 4 Wights – Citadel / Marauder
• 2 Banshees – Citadel / Reaper
• 1 Liche - Marauder
• 1 Necromancer - Marauder
• 1 Vampire- Marauder

Ø  Rob 

Zombie Dragon

 Tom Meier's Zombie Dragon

'Bring your pretty face to my axe'

Got this miniature for Christmas and he has been slowing been moving toward towards the finish line. Given I first saw this miniature in the 3rd Citadel Compendium (Circa 1985), I can't believe that you can still buy it new (from a Ral Partha seller on eBay). It still stands out as a great sculpt. 

Sculpted by Tom Meier, this dragon has been a main stay of many undead armies and definite must for my growing undead horde. I enjoyed painting this miniature and decided to go for muted green.   I was trying out a different wash technique on the blood which involved a Citadel Magenta wash from the early 90's (which I found in the loft). Which had a nice shiny look but doesn't come out on the photos too well.

Rob