Warhammer Fantasy - Chaos Daemons Bloodletters of Khorne circa late 1990s

I have a thing for the Chaos Powers in Warhammer Fantasy.  The history and conversion opportunities captured my imagination early on.  In particular, Khorne, followed by Slaanesh was my go to for Chaos.  Their contradictory nature was always a big draw to me.  

In any case, I present my Bloodletters of Khorne, the demonic foot soldiers of the Blood God.   The legion, The Sons of the Axefather”  is 50 models strong, and done in a red gore and brass theme, with demonic blades to help speed up your demise.  They have never known defeat   Men, Elves, Dwarves and Ogres have all fallen under their axes.  There is no hate in their hearts....only the love of Khorne and his axe.  

Chaos Daemons Bloodletters of Khorne

These bastards make an appearance in a number of games: Dragon Rampant as Bellicose Foot and in Oathmark as Orcs or perhaps Undead Revenants.

Sometimes innocents fall to their axes as well. However, like Khorne says, “When you chop wood, chips fly.”  

To die in battle is glorious.  To die in a one’s bed is disgrace. 

They are ready.  They are hungry....they prefer High Elf blood though.   Their skulls also make good lamps and ashtrays   

Otherworld Miniatures - Hobgoblins & Owlbear

This weekend I realized that these boys below have never had a photo shoot: my Otherworld Miniatures Hobgoblins and Owlbear.  Today, they finally have their day in the sun.  The band consists of 43 models, 1 wizard,  12 arches and 30 infantry.  

I painted these 10+ years ago, to go with a Warhammer 3E Chaos Warband that I was building.  The numbers quickly increased from a dozen to several.  The line consists of several different poses, with both hand weapons, spears, polearms and bows.  

Otherworld Miniatures Hobgoblins

Originally, I had planned for them to be part of a Chaos Khorne warband, hence the skull standard.  However, the band is now large enough to use in stand alone games of Dragon Rampant, or as a small allied contingent in Warhammer or Oathmark.

Hobgoblin Chiefs lead from the front, flanked by his personal guard

They are not works of art, but it was the best I could do at the time.

The Owlbear make a perfect Indrik for Oathmark.

Otherworld Miniatures Owlbear

Hobgoblin Shaman

One dozen archers is the perfect size for almost any game.

Hobgoblin Archers

Today, I would never amass such a horde from Otherworld Miniatures.  The models are now $5 GBP each, far too expensive for army level games.

Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elf Cold One Knights on Ral Partha Dinosaur Mounts

This weekend I managed to bang off (amongst other things) the last two of my converted Dark Elf Cold One Knights mounted on Ral Partha dinosaur mounts.  The plan is to use them as Cold One Knight unit fillers for Warhammer Fantasy, or as Elite Riders in Dragon Rampant. 

I don't claim to be a great painter.  I do try to keep things neat and tidy though.  I am only shooting for table top standard, which is the limit of my skill.

The pennant is loosely attached to the lance right now.  I need to fix it in place so it does not move around more.

I have another 6 mounts left to do, along with their Ral Partha Ogre riders.  Not sure when I will get around to completing them.  

Reaper Miniatures Cthulhu

HP Lovecraft is my favorite novelist, so when Reaper Miniatures released this figure decades ago I of course picked it up.  He has been in the back of my display case forever, so feeling bad for him I thought he might enjoy a Sunday photo-shoot.  I took his silence on the matter as acquiescence.  

Reaper Miniatures Cthulhu

When I painted him I was only just beginning to start painting miniatures again regularly, after years of not painting a thing.  He turned out ok...nothing special really.  I added some fire effects to add color and interest.  There were no GW washes in existence during this period, so I used my own homemade Reaper Walnut Brown wash.  

I could repaint him to a higher standard today, but in general, unless there is a compelling reason to, I do not repaint figures that I have already done.  I keep them as a testament to my skill level at different periods of my life.  From recollection, I used Reaper Master Series paints, with a lot of drybrushing and some wet blending on the tentacles.  There is more definition on the skin than is shown in the photos...bad lighting....must improve that in future shots.  

He is mounted on a 60mm x 60mm base.  He was a bit big for 50mm and 60mm is perfect for Hordes of the Things (which uses 60mm frontages for all units, with base depth varying according to the unit type).   

Anyway, he makes a good Demon Prince or otherwise unpleasant thing for my opponents to face.  Sadly, like many of my miniatures he does not get a chance to play with others that often.

Reaper Miniature - Kaladrax the Dracolich

 Kaladrax needs no introduction.  He exists, and if you meet him, you will not.  

Reaper Miniatures Kaladrax the Dracolich

I managed to scoop this model up years and years ago, for $25 USD.  A song!  I painted him...but I don't remember how, mainly because I was terrified while doing it.  

"These two fools don't even make a satisfying snack...they are too small!"

Kaladrax has new friends! [aka slaves]

Mortals tremble, for Kaladrax is here. [whimper]

Ral Partha Bob Olley Cyclops

 Bob Olley is one of my favorite sculptors of fantasy miniatures.  He has a very distinctive style that I can recognize anywhere.  His Ogres and Trolls from Ral Partha are some of my favorite fantasy models of all time.  This guy below also falls into that category.  I had some time yesterday so I banged him out in about an hour or so, finally getting him out of my painting queue.  

Ral Partha Bob Olley Cyclops

This brute is true 25mm scale.  This means he is big, but not on the same scale as a Games Workshop Giant.  He is more modest, around 70mm tall.  He is painted in the same style as my Ral Partha Ogres:

• Reaper Master Olive Skin Triad
• Reaper Master Khaki Triad
• Vallejo Cavalry Brown for the leather, washed with Army Painter Mid Brown Wash.
• Vallejo Model Air Steel for the metal bits.
• Vallejo Ivory for teeth and claws.

He is mounted on a 50mm base.  This allows me to use him as a large monster in many games, or as a unit filler for rank and flank games (possibly as a command group substitute).

Anyway, he was simple to paint and did not put up a fuss.  I might put a rock in his left hand along with some rocks on the base to represent a stockpile of throwable missiles.

Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elf Converted Cold One Knight

 I managed to paint this bad boy up the other day: a converted Dark Elf Cold One Knight.  The mount is from Ral Partha, and the GW metal Dark Elf fit perfectly on this monstrosity.  The mounts have been in my inventory for years (10 of them), but until now I did not have a reason to paint them or their Ogre riders.  That will likely change now.  Stay tuned.

Since Dino is so long I mounted him on a 100mm x 50mm base.  He can be used as either a chariot or as a unit filler of 4 models for Warhammer Fantasy or Oathmark (in a block of Cold One Knights of course).  I could have perhaps mounted him in a 50mm base, but the overhang would have been rather large on both ends of the mount.  That would have bothered me a lot.  I prefer models to have bases that are appropriate for their actual size. 

The paint scheme was simple enough:

• Vallejo Model Air NATO Green Primer
• Vallejo Model Color Lufewaffe Camo Green (airbrushed on)
• Vallejo Model Color German Camo Bright Light Green (drybrushed)
• Vallejo Model Color Golden Olive (light drybrush)
• Reaper Stained Ivory, Yellowed Bone, Creamy Ivory and Vallejo Model Color Ivory for the horns
• Vallejo Model Color Leather Brown for the saddle and straps, highlighted with Vallejo Tan Earth
• Vallejo Game Color Earth for the sacks
• Reaper Graveyard Bone for the skull
• Vallejo Model Color German Camo Black Brown for the saddle fur
• Any flesh color for the head trophy
• Vallejo Model Color Mahogany Brown for the axe.
• Vallejo Model Air Steel for all metal bits
• I only used washes on specific areas: teeth and sacks.  My go-tos are Army Painter Soft Tone and Strong Tone for  most things, with GW Reikshade Flesh tone for mouths and gums.

I have added a shield to this fellow since taking these photos.  

Now, go forth and slay High Elves!

Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elf Corsairs

 A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to inherit several Warhammer Fantasy Armies from a friend  (we shall call him Chris) who no longer plays or dabbles in the hobby.  Dark Elves, Chaos Warriors of Nurgle and Ogre Kingdoms are now mine (for a price of course $$$).  Chris was a very good painter so I am quite lucky to have an opportunity to have his stuff in my collection (especially since he was my prime opponent, I am quite familiar with these forces, having faced them in battle many times).

Most of Chris's forces were painted, however there were some which were either partially done or in a virgin state.  The unit below, Dark Elf Black Ark Corsairs were virgin models.  Last weekend I attacked this unit, determined to paint it up in the same scheme as the rest of his army (which I will showcase soon).  

Warhammer Dark Elf Black Ark Corsairs

These models are old...all metal.  Overall they were an easy painting project.  I decided to go with green Sea Dragon Cloaks....although a black might have looked better from an "evilish" standpoint.  

The models had a simple scheme:

• Vallejo Black Primer
• Vallejo Model Air NATO Green Primer
• Vallejo Steel for metal parts.
• Sea Dragon Cloak drybrushed in Reaper Master Naga Green & Cats Eye Green, Vallejo Green Sky.
• Clothing was done in Vallejo Game Color Hexed Lichen, Vallejo Model Violet Red, Vallejo Game Color Warlord Purple and Vallejo Model Color Magenta.  Basically all wet blended together.
• Skin was done in Reaper Master Series Tanned Skin Triad.

Lokhir Fellheart leads his regiment of Corsairs to capture High Elf slaves.....he is a believer of zero unemployment for High Elves.

Corsairs were one unit which I never saw much on the field.  Chris rarely played models which were unpainted.  Now, after more than a decade in storage, they are ready to rumble.  

Dark Elf Supreme Sorceress

This will be a quick post.  This girl was dying for a paint job.  How could I say no?

She came from a friend...not sure of the manufacturer.  Looks like a Reaper miniature.

 

She is ready to play.......