Gladius

Another Heroic Fighter mostly complete (shields will be a job for the end). Four down.

Ulrik Ulrikson

Another Heroic Fighter joins the fray - the vaguely Norse themed Ulrik Ulrikson.

He still needs a shield, but I don’t seem to have any of the old plastic GW shields of the right size.  A few are winging their way to me from eBay.

Lord Aquila and Manfred

Time for an update on the Heroic Fighters set.  First up, I present Lord Aquila!

Arguably one of the weaker models of the set, the pose is quite static, but on the other hand - just look at that massive crest!  The weapon choice is unusual - it looks crude and primitive compared to the armour, almost Skaven like (they were both sculpted by Jes Goodwin after all)!  Perhaps a trophy from a defeated rat thing clan leader that he now carries around to intimidate them with.

Here’s a reminder of how he used to look.

I’d say my technique has improved at least a bit.

Second is Manfred.  He already got an updated paint job around 15 years ago, and sort of represented my breakthrough on effective shading and highlighting.  So all he has had is some chips tidied up and painted.

It’s odd how his pose is nearly identical to Lord Aquila, yet feels much more convincing.   Or is that just me?

Old Bones and Heroic Fighters

 It’s been a while since I last posted, partly as I’ve not really had time or space to paint or game - although I have spent quite a bit of time reading the new Old World rules and Army books (more on which another time).  I am trying to get a bit more done though, so here’s a quick ‘work in progress’ update.

First up: skeletons.  I’ve dug out my old skellies from the attic.  Most of these are a good 40 years old, going back to my early Warhammer days and plans, with a few eBay acquisitions over the years. Some have very poor paint jobs, many have never seen any paint all.  I did a batch a while back, but decided to have another go.  Paint jobs are quick and tabletop standard - they won’t hold up to close scrutiny, but I’m happy enough with them.

Inspiration came from the YouTuber Jordan Sorcery, who recently published his own Christmas themed Scenario pack, ‘Dead King Wenceslas’.  Maybe I’ll finally have them ready for a game next Christmas…

I’ll also admit that my mind has turned to a ‘Barrow Kings’ themed take on Tomb Kings for Warhammer.

Above is the full box, almost all originally from Grenadier Models.  There’s a funny story to this as well; just before lockdown I lost my glasses, had to get a new pair.  Those broke when my daughter sat on them, and I’ve had no glasses for about two years now. Dug this box out of the attic just after Christmas, opened it… and there were my dratted lost glasses!  At least I can see properly again.

Also about to take their place in the projects queue are the models from the Heroic Fighter of the Known World box set produced by Citadel many moons ago, which I have finally reunited from the various boxes they were stored in.  More on them another time but, for now, here are the very varied paint jobs they currently have from the old days (no giggling at the back, I was very young at the time).

Sir Brut, Manfred, and Harald the Hammer.  Manfred got an update in about the 2010s, and is still probably some of my favourite blending and highlighting work, so he will likely remain largely as is.  Sir Brut’s not bad either.  Harald was painted by my brother, so will mostly get a tidy up as well.

Ulrik Ukrikson and Gladius.  Ulrik’s already been consigned to the Dettol pot…

Vlad Krakhead, The Moon Duke (probably my favourite model of the bunch) and, last but not least, Lord Aquila - who has also taken a dive into the Dettol to remove that lovely Humbrol gold enamel paint.

Viking!

 For a little while I lost my painting and gaming mojo, but I’m trying to get it back (and I promise I will catch up with and comment on all your blogs too).  a few things have helped:  GW releasing Warhammer the Old World,  Jordan Sorcery making a old style Wargames scenario that got me putting some paint on some skeletons (I’ll do another post on that) and the miniature going back to school and finding this term’s project is Vikings!

What else could I do but get on eBay, find an old Citadel Viking, and paint it for her as a surprise? First Viking I’ve ever painted.

On her first day back at school for the new term, when they arrived in the classroom,  it had been ‘ransacked’ by Vikings, who had raided the class, turned over the tables and chairs, and stolen the pencils!  A great way to grab their interest.  

She got interested enough to find out about Viking runes (the ‘Futhark’ apparently!), so the runes on the shield spell out her initials.