Iron Claw Goblins (part three).

This is the third and final part of my look at the Iron Claw Goblin range designed by Bob Olley.

 Apart from the Iron Claw Goblins I would like mention that as of this evening I have reached 35,445 views on my Blog! Thank you again to everyone who has viewed and continues to view my Blog.  :)

The last release of Iron Claw Goblins happened in White Dwarf #106, in October 1988. It consisted of  32 Goblins, meaning that from July 1988 to January 1989 Iron Claw released 90 Goblins, one Catapult with three crew, and a Chariot with two crew! Personally, I think that is an outstanding achievement, especially considering that Bob Olley and CItadel/Iron Claw were producing Iron Claw Squats, Black Orcs, Space Pirates during 1988 too, and after producing most of the rest range in 1987.

These Goblins are the same style of sculpting and basic model types as the other two releases, which, along with the small time frame, suggests Bob Olley sculpted them as an ongoing project. In this release there are even more Goblin fanatics, and an awesome standard bearer. I have all but three of this release, missing numbers 06, 21, and 31 at the moment.

Enjoy :)

 Release page from White Dwarf #106, October 1988 (page 78). 

 The Goblins on the magazine. 

 Goblin numbers 1 and 2. 

 Goblin number 1 is one of three standard bearers in the range, and personally I think not only the best in the Iron Claw range, but detail wise one of the best from Games Workshop during this era. The head is highly detailed and looks like a horned Goblin. I painted it up to suggest the look of a 'Green Man' as that is what it reminded me of. 

Not to be overlooked, Goblin 2 is a great looking dynamic Goblin in a conical helmet with polearm.

 Close up of ther front of the head. 

Note the two little heads on the crossbeam.

 Rear view of the head revealing... another head!

I like the way the front head is stern, the rear one happy.

 Goblins 3 and 4, both wielding double handed axes, with Goblin 3 with a shield on his back, and also note the really good detail of the rope on his axe. 

 Goblins 5 and 7. 

Goblin 5 is a lot more heavily armoured with a great natural pose that suggests he is holding his double handed mace with intent of use. 

The archer, number 7, is another great example of an Iron Claw Goblin shooting his bow.

 Goblin 8 and 9, archer with a taller bow, and spearman also with a short sword. He has a characterful Goblin faced belt buckle too, reminicent of other Goblins in the last two releases.

  10 and 11, a pair of Goblin fanatics. 

They both seem to have similar faces, although 10 has an eye patch adding to his moodyness.

 Goblins 12 and 13.

Number 12 has a cutless with fancy basket hilt and concial helmet. I thought he looked a bit like a sword and buckler Goblin, so gave him a brighter paint scheme.

Goblin 13 has a hammer and a broad bladed spear. 

 Close up of the Goblin headed basket hilt.

 Goblin 14 and 15, another archer and a halberdier in a fancy helmet.

 16 and 17, an archer with larger bow, and detailed shoes, and 17, a swordsman.

Goblin 18. 

This is a lovely detailed Goblin wearing heavy armour and concial helmet, and of course armed with a double handed axe. The right shoulder pad armour is a great detail...

 ... Bob Olley sculpted it in the shape of a face of a Goblin.

 19 and 20, swordsmen. Again a lovely concial helmet. 

The shield is from Harlequin Miniatures.

 Side and rear views.

 22 and 23, armoured spearman and left handed axeman with lots of teeth.

The spearman looks quite happy, it must be because of the great looking scale armour he's wearing.

 Number 24, a Goblin fanatic, with a hole in his shoe,  who seems to be being strangling himself with his ball and chain.

Number 25 is a Goblin with hammer and pointy helmet.

 Rear views, showing the chain wrapping itself around the poor unfortunate Goblin.

 Number 26, an armoured archer, and number 27, a Goblin with a pick.

 28 and 29. 

Both Goblins seem to also have similar faces, and pointy helmets. 

Goblin 28 has a slighty more battered helmet than other Iron Claw Goblins, as well as scale armour.

 Rear views.

 ..and finally, Goblins 30 and 32, a pair of Goblin archers. Both are great shooting poses, and 32 has a nice fancy belt buckle. Love the expressions on thier faces, and their long noses.

Rear view showing the quiver details.

And that's the Iron Claw Goblin range. 

90 excellent Goblin Infantry and two warmachines, with superb detailing which I think have real individualistic looking personality, and with sculpting touches that you don't often get in other ranges. I am a great fan of Kev Adams Goblins, but Bob Olleys Goblins provide an interesting alternative take on Goblins from this era.

I am unsure what next weeks blog update will be. I have'nt done a great deal of painting in the last few weeks due to work. I have put the Slann army on hold as I feel I want to paint some other projects rather than be locked into one vast project. I might photograph one of my armies I have'nt looked at yet, or focus on a new project and start a WIP update.

Iron Claw Goblins (part two).

This week is the next part of my look at the Iron Claw Goblin range designed by Bob Olley in the late 1980's. The start of this weeks update is concerned with the second release of the Iron Claw Goblin infantry, the end part is a look at the Iron Claw Goblins Chariot. 

The second release of Iron Claw Goblins was in August 1988, in White Dwarf number 104. It was a release of 28 Goblins, which is pretty good going considering that the month before Citadel/Iron Claw had released 30 Goblins for this range. Like the previous release there are a lot of similar Goblins, and a mix of infantry warriors and archers. However in this release there were a lot more Goblin Fanatics.

I assume that both releases were produced in the same time frame and then released over the two months. Like other Citadel ranges there are similarites between the Goblins. Many seem to be based on several original sculpts and then are 'converted' from the first designs. Many seem to share the same heads, bodies, and carry the same weapons. There are however always differences between them which makes them more individualistic and more than just variations on a few base model types. The simiarites give them a co-herence, but the 'conversion' sculpting gives them their own little personalites.

Similar to the first release, there was a caption box above the photograph saying:

"Coooorrrr! Lookit all these new Iron Claw Goblinz! That Bob Olley'z bin bizzy, an' no mistake! Jus' wotcher need fer yer WAR'AMMER armies, all stickin' an' slashin' an' spikin an' crumpin' an' ev'eryfink! An' there'z ... cooorrr - there'z lotz! 'Ere ... be a good name fer a tribe, Iron Claw, wunnit? "

It's amusing when you read it, and I am amazed by the Goblin's use of apostrophes. :)

I have 27 of the 28 of the Goblins in this release, missing only number 22 (who incidentally has the same looking helmet as the catapult leader). Unsurprisingly I have several multipules of some of the others. Like the last update, some of the Goblins are painted, some in need of repainting, and other unpainted but ink washed to show the details.

The Chariot is unpainted, in need of a nice new chariot base, and held partly held together with bits of green stuff for the photographing, and is a recent e-bay find.

In other news, I still have done very little painting of the Slann army due to work. I have however been converting up a few more Slann Cold One Riders, and am in the mood for really finding time to get some painting done. I am however a little reticent and undecied as to whether to keep ploughing on with the Slann at the moment. It's a large project, and in the time needed to complete it I could probably finish off two or three other different projects. I'll muse on it.

Anyway, here are lots of lovely Iron Claw Goblins:

Enjoy :)

White Dwarf #104, page 70.

 Goblins on the White Dwarf magazine.

 I did this so I could match up the ones from the Goblin collection to those on the page.

 Goblins 1 and 2, both wielding pole arms. 

The one on the left reminds me a little of 'Hans Klopek' from the film The 'Burbs.

Goblins 3 and 4.

 Rear view of 3 showing the detailing on his hood, and a side view of 4 showing his face.

 5 and 6. 

5 has a shield knob on his back, the shield I used is a Hasslefree miniatures one. 

6 is another of those great aiming archers prevelant in the Iron Claw Goblins releases.

 Goblins 7 and 8.

 Goblin Fanatic and archer with a pointy cone shaped helmet.

 Rear view of 8.

 9 and 10, another Fanatic and speaman. 

The Fanatic is either pulling a face, blowing a kiss, or whistling.

11 and 12, Goblin swordsmen. The short sword of number 11 is quite dumpy, almost looking like a farm/kitchen implment, like a bill hook.  Perhaps he cuts chives with it?

 Rear views showing the details. 12's left hand sword is quite cutless like.

13 and 14, archer in a coat and another Fanatic peeking out from under his hood. 

 15 is another archer, but this time left handed. 

16 a swordman in another pointy helmet.

 Rear views of 15 and 16. 

15 has the same quiver design as other Goblins from the last release. I think the ragged looking chainmail on the back of 16 is a nice addition.

 17 and 18.

17 has the same sort of short short as Goblin 11. 18 is one of my favorite Goblins, with an extra detailed pointy helmet, 'Klopek' face and teeth, and a great pose based on Goblin number 24 from the previous months release.

 Close up. For a static pose he has a lot of latent dynamism in that he looks like he's thinking before drawing his bow. The helmet detail is excellent.

 19 and 20. 

Goblin 19 should have a shield attached to his left arm, and carries another short fat sword.

The archer 20 has a helmet shape that is occasionally used in this range, and is really detailed  and textured to suggest etching.

 21 and 23 (alas no 22 as of yet!) . 

Again a static but dynamic looking Goblin, defending with his short sword and shield.

Rear views showing 21's chainmail and helmet plume, and the circular decoration on the quiver of 23.

Goblins 24 and 25. 

24 a great looking characterful face, nicely detailed helmet, and a left handed archer again. 

The mace on 25 is excellent, with 21 studs on the head, nice wood grain effect on the haft, gloved hands for holding the two handed weapon, and is based Goblin 19 from the previous release.

 Single arrow quiver, and close up of the face of 25. 

26 and 27.

26 is wearing the same sort of helmet as Goblin 20. 

27 is the fourth and final fanatic in the particular release.

 Rear view of 26 shows a scultped face on the quiver and the last arrow! 

27 has the chain from his ball and chain wrapped around himself. His death may be imminent as he seems to have rolled a double for his movement! :(

Last but not least Goblin 28.

He is an archer with a serrated 'bladed type' bow, and a face full of charm and charatcer. 

In addition he has an excellently detailed Goblin face belt buckle.

 Rear view showing the four leaf design on the quiver.

 Iron Claw Goblin Chariot. 

First released in January 1989 in White Dwarf #109.

 Crew memebers: Driver, and Shaman.

 Front detail of the Shamans staff.

 Rear view of the Shamans staff, with a freaky looking eye on it!

 Close up detail ofthe banner pole head.

 The monster figurehead decoration on the yoke. A great design touch is the the hands of the figurehead are desgined to hold onto the harnesses of the wolves.

 A better side view of the head details and the hands holding the harnesses.

 Side panel sculpted like wings of a bird. Both the left and right one are the same style.

Front of the Chariot.

The front part of the side wings rest just ontop of the front section. 

The front section has a skull face, the lower part of the jaw forms the base of the shaft. 

Two moons either side add to the Goblin design feel. 

Next week will be the final part of the Iron Claw Goblins updates, looking at those listed in White Dwarf #106, in 1989, as well as a comparison of the similar design themes throughout the whole range.