Knights Panther

It's taken a while, what with interruptions from life, work, and a bout of Covid that went through the whole household - me and the missus are double vaccinated, so no worse than bad flu, although we still both get tired easily a few weeks after.  The Little Miniature was largely symptomless, and managed pretty well considering she was stuck indoors and away from school and friends for two weeks.

Anyway, continuing with my efforts to paint as many as I can of the Empire miniatures from the mid 1990s, here is a unit of the Knights Panther.

I'm pleased with the overall result and look of the unit.  Whilst I generally enjoyed painting them,  they certainly took much longer than the Reiksgard I did a while back, and not just because it's a slightly bigger unit.  The models overall 'look' is much more ornate than the Reiksgard, even thought there are still only a limited number of poses (two knights, a standard bearer and the Grand Master).  The armour has more detail, the crests are much more fancy and complex, and you have those Panther pelts to paint up as well.  Of course I then made my life more difficult with the colour choices.

Speaking of colour choices, it was an issue I spent a while pondering.  The Knights Panther are supposed to be a fairly wealthy secular order, so I used a lot more gold detailing on the armour, on the fluting and on visors etc.  I think they contrast nicely with the more austere and uniform Reiksgard.

Although generally painted with a blue appearance these days, this order's earliest appearances used black and gold themes, starting with John Blanche's well known painting, and then onto their first appearance as a well described unit in the 3rd edition army list published in White Dwarf.  The blue colouring seems to have started to appear when they were first sold as a boxed unit for Warhammer 4th edition, and has stuck ever since.  In the end I went with the blue theme as a contrast to my other Empire units (which mostly use the black and yellow of Averland) and because, well, I just like the colour!

John Blanche's famous image

As represented in White Dwarf issue 147

 

The mid 1990's 'Blue' period

The banner was scanned from White Dwarf 147, printed out and then glued.  I could have gone with a more blue version from later illustrations but, in keeping with aiming for that early '90s vibe, and to provide a contrast to all that blue, I went with this one.

The Knights Panther, a brief history

 

If you're interested in the history of this order in terms of the game fluff and narrative, the Wiki is a good place to start. This is more about there appearances in my own memories of Warhammer.

The first reference I recall to the Knights Panther (and I don't have the book to hand to check this unfortunately) was a very brief line in Ravening Hordes, the army list book for the second edition of Warhammer.  They then got referenced again in the 3rd edition 'Warhammer Armies' - where they were mentioned as one of the secular orders of 'Hohensknechtes' that are a unit option.  It was about this time that the first named Knight panther model appeared, a multi part metal model (torso, legs and arms).  It wasn't until issue 147 of White Dwarf that they started to get a fleshed out background and dedicated range of models, when the Empire got a whole new range of models and army list (arguably the precursor to the modern army list/books).

Panther, Leopard or What?

 

Just as an aside, those hides that the knights are wearing, which are described as coming from Araby, the Old Worlds expy for North Africa/the Middle East, would be more likely from a Leopard.  The nearest real world equivalent we would refer to as a 'panther' would be the jaguar, which is native to South America, the Old World's Lustria.

So why aren't they called the Knights Leopard?  So glad you asked...

The panther actually turns up a lot in medieval heraldry as a legendary creature (sometimes depicted breathing fire).

 

 

Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112849863 

'Panthera' is also the genus (biological classification) that includes most of the big cats.

So well done GW, someone knew what they were talking about on this one!

Knights of the White Wolf next!

Grand Master of the Order of Knights Panther

Exactly what it says in the title.  Games Workshop circa mid 1990s (and still available recently in finecast), this one's metal and purchased second hand.  Not the smoothest job, a few awkward corners, and the surcoat isn't sculpted in a way that takes washes and highlighting that well.  Got there in the end though!  He will be joined by a full of knights from the same era soon (hopefully).

The dratted plastic horse are always losing tails, this one is no exception, and I don't currently have enough replacements.

 

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.

Ogre with a pole

It's not just been about Robin Hood around here.  I've also done another Ogre.  This one is a little more recent than most of my 'C' series ones from the '80's.  I'm not a fan of most of the ones that came out of that period, they're a bit cartoonish, but this fella fits pretty well with the older ones.

I kept the tones generally earthy and similar, as I really wanted the focus to be on the face, and that bright red hooter most of all.  I think I've managed to achieve that.

He doesn't have a rag on his pole yet.  Given the of model I don't think my usual paper flags will look right, so I may have to try some thin metal (from a tomato puree tube or similar), or greenstuff rolled flat.  I'll need to think what should be on it first though!

Quite pleased with the way that nose has come out.

Wanted his sword/chopper/cleaver to look tarnished overall, but like it had also been recently sharpened
 

Robin Hood, Robin Hood (and a rock)

The miniature is very into stories about England's most famous quasi historical outlaw, Robin Hood.  I'm not sure quite how it started.  Possibly the other half reading her some stories.  Definitely nothing to do with living within a short distance of Nottingham and Sherwood Forest.

Whatever the reason, she has just absorbed the stories.  We've watched the Disney version with the foxes, read children's stories, done Tony Robinson's excellent Maid Marion and Her Merry Men.  She's sat through the whole of the 1938 Errol Flyn movie 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' (she calls that "Daddy's Robin Hood") and I've even read her bits of Robert Pyle's 'The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood', which is written in an incredibly dense 19th century take on 'Ye Olde Englishe' (but there seems to be something about the rhythm of the words that settles her down).  I've dug out my old Lego Robin Hood sets, and it would be fair to say that I have also had to play Little John to her Robin Hood on quite a few walks to and from school, avoiding imaginary sheriff's men as we cross the fields between our house and school!

Whatever the reason, I somehow found myself with the (partly self-imposed) task of putting together some miniatures for a Robin Hood game (and writing some rules a 6-7 year old can follow).  Finding suitable miniatures isn't quite as easy as you might think, but I managed to source some from a couple of manufacturers.

Completed first were a nice trio of heroes and villains from Studio Miniatures Medieval Mayhem range.  First up are an excellent Robin and Friar Tuck, very much in the Errol Flynn mode.

 

  

(Tuck definitely having some un-Christian thoughts here)

 

 I've kept the colours pretty close to the original, apart from blonder hair for contrast.

 

Now, I know I've sort of done Friar Tuck once already (here) but: (a) he came in the same pack as Robin Hood; (b) he is such a well done version of Eugene Pallet's iconic performance as the rather martial friar; that I just couldn't resist.  I will admit that I was particularly pleased with how my shading and highlighting of his habit came out.

Time for a villain (boo, hiss!).  And who better than the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham!  The sculpting is clearly based on a certain scenery chewing performance from the 1990s (not sculpted with a spoon, but definitely looks as if he would be into merciful beheadings).  I decided not to go with the film's overall black outfit though, as I felt it would just be a bit too much, and out of kilter with Robin, so I went with a more opulent look. Highlighting on the blue is a bit too scrappy and the blue wash for shade is still too shiny.  Might see what a coat of matt varnish could do for him, but I like the overall effect.

I have a few more on the go - Maid Marion, Little John and Will Scarlett as done by Footsore Miniatures, and a few more from Studio who can stand in as 'extras'.

Finally, I also made use of the Miniature's other hobby, filling my pockets on walks with rocks, to do a quick scenery piece.  No paint at all on the rock, just left as found, and turned into a mysterious standing stone!

Reiksgard knights

Latest efforts are a whole unit.  I’ve always liked ranks of knights in armour, probably why even my warhammer fantasy armies were human.  Probably a misspent youth watching films like Ivanhoe and Henry V.  

As per a previous post, my first proper Empire army was very much based on 15th Century War of the Roses/Burgundian type figures.  When GW first started producing the more early renaissance type models in the early 1990s I was initially unsure about them.  Then when I got back into Warhammer some years later found I developed a real liking for them.  I've since been gradually collecting those ranges to add to my already overly large Empire force.  

These are the Reiksgard (I'm sticking with the 3rd edition cod-German spellings thank you!), the Emperor's bodyguard and standing army.  The 3rd edition fluff hinted at different chapters of the order throughout the Empire, which I sort of reflected in my knight units using the plastic kit.  These however have been painted more 'traditionally', using reds and whites, and hints of the Altdorf claret and blue.

I think they've turned out pretty nice.

I'll admit to a bit of cheating with the banner.  I wanted to stick with an Old School look, so this is actually the one from the original introduction to the 'modern' Empire from White Dwarf issue 147, scanned and reprinted.

 They are also lacking shields at he moment, although to be fair that does mean you get to see the armour better, and shields would be pretty anachronistic with this style of armour.  I will do them, I just need to work out where I've put them!

 I also have units of Knights Panther and White Wolves waiting for their turn, plus some of the older knight models - they're significantly larger models, so will get prepped for their role as 'High Helms' - a secular order of knights briefly referenced in Ravening Hordes as exceptionally tall, but not particularly bright, warriors.

Just wish GW had made some attempt to update the horses since 1992, they do get a bit samey after a while!

And finally...

I had some company whilst finishing these off.  Here's the Little Miniature painting a plastic dwarf.