What a big Chopper!

Yes, another ogre.  This time from Marauder Miniatures, the company set up by Trish and Ally Morrison, but cast and distributed by Citadel.  The Morrison's sculpting style is a bit cartoonish, big hands and exaggerated features, but it works well for the range of ogres they did.  The faces in particular are very characterful, and the landsknechte style outfits make for a distinctive look.

 

I used three layers of contrast paints for the flesh, which in hindsight I think was one coat too many.  Live and learn (I did the flesh at the same time as Golgfag, subject of the previous post).  I've not 'rusted up' the halberd and breastplate too much.  The uniforms suggest a but more organisation to these chaps than the more feral 'C' series ogres, I reckon someone is helping them at least keep the rust off.  I tried to use a combination of washes to give the effect you sometimes see on metal that has been treated (usually with some kind of fat) to rust protect it.

 

A surprisingly uncluttered sculpt, considering the clothing style.  This was a pleasant painting job.

Love the detail of the pet rat on the hat!

Golgfag (yes it's another ogre) - and intimidating shields

Did you know I like painting ogres 😁?

This one, whilst perhaps not my favourite pose by any stretch, is a bit special, as it's Golgfag himself!

For those of you not steeped in far too many years of Warhammer Lore, Golgfag's Mercenary Ogres were one of the original Regiments of Renown produced by Citadel Miniatures, and Golgfag himself is a now somewhat legendary figure.  Boxed sets of a whole unit (well, kind of, they'd have barely been noticed in the table in later editions), typically complete with leader, champion, standard, musician and, usually, one type of regular grunt.  They were given backgrounds and stats in White Dwarf.  The first (pre-slotta base) regiment had a pretty good Golgfag, in a rather inspired pose holding his mace aloft (which I wish they'd taken inspiration from for this one), but some frankly really quite poor rank and file models, so they were duly given a second edition.

 

The third edition were horrible campy grotesques from GW's worst period (when everything got painted red), yeugh! 

There's a pretty good write up and history of the models on Stuff of Legends (and here's version two, we don't talk about version three).

This chap is from the second edition.  They came with the plastic slotta bases and were sculpted in the style of the rest of the 'C' series ogres, albeit slightly smaller (originally coming with 25mm wide bases rather than the 40mm I've used here).  The special bit is that fact that he is now the last model from that set that I've collected!  From my brother buying the standard bearer in the '80's to this one being competed has only taken just over 30 years, well worth the wait!

The face was painted with contrast paints, highlighted.  I went with three coats this time and I think it was a little too much, he looks slightly 'oily' in some of the creases, but you live and learn!  The base is a little bare as I ran out of my usual static grass, and the new batch I got looks a bit more artificial than I would like.  I can just about cope with that on single models, but it would stand out here when ranked up with the other models of the regiment.

 

 

 

Rear view.  You will note that the shield is bare.  Do you find that there is some particular thing about models that you find intimidating?  For me it is getting started on any large, flat surface that needs decorating, particularly shields or banners.  It's not that I can't do them (that A Level in Art has to be useful for something), I just get a bit panicky about coming up with an idea for a design, and then suffer a lack of confidence in my ability to pull it off.  I know I will come back to this and sort it, but it will be another day when I feel inspired. 

 

 

Pleased with his chopper (ooer!).  The edge highlight was achieved by scraping my fingernail along the edge to physically remove the paint.

 

And here he is with the rest of the gang.  Painted at different times, with varying paints. techniques (and indeed levels of skill) and materials, but I think they hold together pretty well all the same.

And no, I do not have an ogre problem.  I can stop whenever I want...

 

Finally...

As for the latest version of this fine mercenary...  WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING GW?? (Go on, google it and wonder!).

Chapter 2: Roast Mutton

Finally managed to acquire the third of the former Grenadier UK Trolls.  He was missing his spiked club, and the end of a thumb, but small price to pay for, well, a small price to pay on eBay!

The problem was, what colour to paint him.  The last one I did was green, and turned out very nicely.  Trouble is my oldest one was in human flesh tones, quite well done for when I did it.  I could do the new one green too, but then I would have to repaint the other one.  That would give me three trolls in the same colours, but somehow that didn’t seem right either.  The solution was to make use of the situation and paint the new recruit an entirely different colour!

The club came from the Grenadier Barbarian Giant, but more on that another time...

Pretty pleased with him overall.

And here's the inevitable group shot of Bill, Bert and Tom in all their glory.

Little John and other stuff

Update time!  A few more Nick Lund Dwarves, a late 80’s Citadel Man at Arms, and almost finished Hathersage’s most famous deceased resident!

Great little model.  Perry sculpt I think.

Seven Dwarfs who probably don’t whistle while they work or live in a cottage in the woods. Former Grenadier Models by Nick Lund.

And finally, joining Robin Hood and Friar Tuck, Little John (and his big stick).  Local Derbyshire legend has it that Little John is buried in the Churchyard in nearby Hathersage

Little John is from Footsore Miniatures new 'Baron's War' range. Nice model overall, but he does seem a little slim in the waist, definitely child-bearing hips (or maybe he has his purse hidden under there)!

 

And here's his (alleged) grave in Hathersage. Hathersage is well worth a visit if you find yourself in the Peak District.  It can be a little busy, but it's well placed for some lovely walks.