Mikael Jacsen, Ranlac the Black, and Gim Grendel

Yes, I know I said I was starting with Gimbrin's Mine, but these models were calling to me. I think I'm going to use an armored skeleton model I already own for Ranlac the Black, so all I need are a few dwarves (I'm in the process of gathering the models for them as I wanted adventurer types rather than rank and file soldiers).

I picked a 3rd or 4th edition Vampire Counts shield for this hero because Gary Chalk's illo shows a corner of Jacsen's shield with some manner of clawed wing. I didn't like the purple and the red I chose is featured on many of  the undead models in my army.

I think I'm going to use this guy as Ranlac the Black...

It is obviously different from the official model, but I've probably sunk enough money into this collection for now. I have an unpainted Krell model, but I'm not sure I like it in comparison with some of the other models I have with double handed weapons. He may end up with an axe or scythe in my games.

Switching gears to the first of my defenders of Fruglehofen, here is Gim Grendel!

This is one of my favorite models from the early range and I bought him several years ago. The tiny sword blade was broken when the model arrived in the mail. I ended up cutting away the whole right hand and replaced it with a plastic hand and sword from a plastic Empire soldier, cut and filed down to an appropriate length. I still want to do something with the shield, but haven't decided on heraldry or maybe some sort of  hand-daubed graffiti which might be more appropriate for the tiny village.

As long as I'm at the keyboard, I also added a model to my larger undead army, Darius Crowe...

He joins the Lichemaster and Dread Dalgath to provide magical support for the army, ensuring plenty of chances to cast Dance Macabre!

More as I get them painted...

Chaos Hounds

This has ZERO relationship to my last post, but I've had these models finished for a while. I have enough hounds to make a second pack, but no more handlers... I'll have to add that to my list of models to acquire!

Terror of the Lichemaster

When I got back into collecting classic Citadel miniatures, one of the first things I did was start gathering undead models to replace one of the first armies I'd ever built. To launch things right, I went and spent way too much on one of THE classic models to lead them.. Henrich Kemmler!

eBay being what it is, this was probably a recast, but when I was just getting back in I didn't even know that was a thing. Maybe I got ripped off, though honestly I don't care as I have the freaking Lichemaster painted and standing front and center among my undead collection.

So fast forward to today. It's been a while since I visited the Old World, but I still try to keep up with the blogs in the community. Rochie's current project over on Buried Under Lead inspired me to dig through all of the Oldhammer stuff I have hidden away with an eye toward starting a new project.

In case it wasn't obvious, I have always been a fan of the Terror of the Lichemaster. I've owned the original campaign boxed set for years. The simple campaign (and the follow up Vengeance of the Lichemaster in the Citadel Journal Spring 1986) is a fun set of games with a large variety of models - dwarves, skeletons, townsfolk, etc. Looking through my models, I already have much of what I would need to play a version of these.

Besides the dreaded Lichemaster, I have Mikael Jacsen (another stupidly expensive purchase). Although I can easily find the other undead champions on eBay, I'm not really a fan of the models. I already have a pile of badass undead characters and they can be called into action in their place. I already have plenty of skeletons and zombies too, though I may need to paint a few more for summoning.

On the other side, I can press Bugman's Rangers into service for the dwarves of Gimbrin's Mine. I also have a pile of Wargames Foundry Medievals to field as the villagers and I'll mix in some Citadel Fighters and Villagers for variety. I actually have a few of the 'named' defenders of Bogel's Farm and Frugelhofen including Albi Schutz, Antonio Epstein, Riolta Snow, Gim Grundlel and Samgaff. Many more are available and can be found cheaper when listed as "C46 Villagers and Townsfolk" rather than under any search for "Lichemaster" (Thanks to Matt for listing this information on his Lichemaster project on Oldhammer in Toronto as I was unaware most of these models were generic). Some of these, don't match their description. For instance, the Bogel menfolk are all armed with crossbows, but the models depict them in their farming finery. Again, these were obviously pulled from the generic ranks of townfolk, but I will end up substituting models to fit into my little corner of the Old World.

Along with collecting and painting the models, I'm going to build custom boards for the battlefields. Gimbrin's Mine and Bogel's Farm will be quite small, maybe no more than 2x4' given the number of models needed for those games. I'll be looking at keeping them modular, so there may again be differences to fit my needs. For Frugelhoffen, I doubt I'll try to represent every building as I only think it necessary to outline the path of the roads, but there needs to be at least enough room to cram in 50+ models for the defense.

This will be a long term project, but I intend to work on the campaign in stages. Gimbrin's Mine will be first which means I only have to paint about half a dozen models, but I will need to construct the cliff so that might take a while!

Waaagh Rogue Trader!

Something I did manage in 2019 was to add a pile of new painted models to my Rogue Trader era collection...

These models are original, purchased in brick and mortar stores decades ago. They've been biding their time in various boxes and cupboards, moved from home to home, waiting to release the Waaagh!

I think I'm going to add a base to the buggy. Even though that's not how it was done back in the day, it makes sense to protect the model and make it blend in with the rest of the collection.

I still have another 20-30 Orks, another buggy, and an Ork Dreadnought tucked away. I'd like to get another Dreadnought to be able to build the second variant. Hopefully I can get around to adding them to the painted pile this year.

So far, I've been avoiding anything after the Book of the Astronomicon (1988). Apart from an Oldhammer Orc Shaman (Ork Psyker) and the prospect of converting some 'captured' Bullock Jet-Cycles, Landspeeders, or Vincent Blackshadow Bikes, there aren't a lot of options. It might be time to hunt for one of the old Battlewagon kits for a centerpiece and venture into the 1990-91 era of plastic arms for things like Madboyz and Stormboyz... hmm... I think have some of those original metal Ork jump packs around here somewhere. I still feel like the three Ork books fit into the Rogue Trader era, but the aesthetic of the models changed. There's a lot of variety in the originals so it will probably be fine, but I'll have to actually paint up a few to see (yes, I have a pile of those too).

Stay tuned...

Happy 2020

I'm not doing a retrospective for last year - my post count was dismal even though I managed to paint quite a bit. I just haven't been taking photos. I mean to set up a game table in the near future and just throw my entire Rogue Trader collection on the table in a massive scrum.

In the meantime, I've had this model on my desk for a while now - the BOYL 2018 Null Steersman, sculpted by John Pickford. No, sadly, I wasn't able to attend, but I know people.. IMPORTANT people. Ahem.. anyway, something moved me to make the model the first addition to my collection for the new year.

For those who don't know, this model was inspired from sketches developed for Space Fleet by Jes Goodwin. Will Beck was commissioned to create a new concept sketch for the model based on those.

When I first got my hands on the model, I sat down and made my own drawing to work out the color scheme, based on Will's original art.

I just new hazard stripes had to come into somewhere! In my Rogue Trader universe, this lad will join the crew of the Rogue Trader, Marco Steelknife. If he's good, he might be able to get in on the away team aboard Natasha's Luck..

I hope to post a little more often in 2020, but I maintain three other blogs and my mood isn't always the determining factor in deciding which one gets the most attention!