Hasslefree Miniatures Kindred/Halflings.

Growing up in the UK in the 1970's and 1980's meant that there were always a lot of old World War Two films on TV. One of my favourites from the British 1950's era was Dunkirk, with John Mills as a British Corporal leading a squad of soldiers through Northern France to the coast, and being chased by the advancing Germans.

 Now when Rogue Trader was released in 1987 with the Space Orks looking very Wehrmacht in their in Stahlhelms, it instantly fired my 13 year old imgination. It was'nt a short leap of my imgination for the relentless Wehrmacht to be transformed into Space Orks. This is why I painted Luggub's Drop Legion in a World War Two fashion here: http://goblinlee.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/rogue-trader-orks-luggubs-drop-legion.html

However, apart from actual World War Two historical humans, I never found a suitable looking opponents for the Orks. The Imperial Army/Guard always looked too 1980's or American (good for Kelly's Heroes) so I never bothered. However a few years ago now Hasslefree Miniatures started to produce a small line of World War One Halflings, known as Kindred: 
 http://www.hfminis.co.uk/shop?category=miniatures~kindred-%28weird-war-halflings%29

 So I thought when I get around to re-painting the Space Orks I will look at getting some of the Halflings. I finished the bulk of the Orks a couple of years ago, but never got around to starting the Kindred. With Orkober I decided to finish off the odds and ends of the Orks, and buy a few of the Kindred for the fun of it, which I purchased from Tritex Games as they had a few cheaper old stock from the initial release of some years ago ( http://www.tritex-games.co.uk/ ).

In line with the World War Two looking Orks, I painted my Halflings up in World War Two British colours, rather than World War One. The uniform cut with it's tunic rather than Battledress, although World War One, was similar to the early war uniform Battledress of 1937. And anyway, they are Halflings fighting Space Orks, so I was'nt too concerned with too much exact accuracy, as long as they looked about right.
I also bought a 1/72 scale Airfix kit of a 'Matlida II' tank to convert up and accompany them. 

In other things, I am continuing to paint up the Space Ork Assault Grenadiers, with only seven left to paint, and then base and varnish them all. Then onto the Wartraks and the Sleazy Rider.
However, I have not started on basing the Skaven, but will soon.
I did paint up 8 Halflings, a Tank, and 14 Space Orks this week though. :) 

Enjoy :)

 Eight Hasslefree Miniatures Kindred/Halflings. 

Painted using Vallejo World War Two English Uniform (unsupringly) for the uniforms. I used Vallejo Violet Brown (which is a Green!) for the equipment, and mixed a little with black for the helmets.

I am pleased with how they look, but they are really tiny, even for Halflings.

Scale size next to a UK Penny (about the same size as a USA 'One Cent', and a '10 Cent Euro').

Scale size next to Rogue Trader Ork (in Stahlhelm!).

The details of the Halflings are excellent, and they are very characterful, as are a lot of Kev White's sculpting. However when placed next to Space Orks, even old Rogue Trader ones, they really do look tiny. I had planned on buying a little (excuse the pun) army of them, but not so sure now. They really do suit their Toughness 2 characteristic.

 On the left, Captain Freddy Bagshott, officer in command. 

Next to him is Sergeant Stan Gammage, with a dinky 'Lewis Gun'.

 Rear views. 

I love the detail of the spare 'Lewis Gun' ammo.

 Left is Private Barney McGrew, right is Private C Dibble.

I like the little bolt action rifles.

 Left, Private P Yew, and Private H Yew on the right. 

Those who grew up in the UK might recognise the names given to them by Hasslefree Miniatures as similar to the Firemen from the children's TV programme Trumpton.

Rear view showing the equipment colour and detailing.

 1/72 Airfix 'Matilda II' British Tank, used from 1939 and all through World War Two.

I have converted it up to have a Las-Cannon, from the Catachan Heavy Weapons set, and added the power pack on the back, and some pouches on the turret.

I love the fact with tanks named 'Tiger', 'Panther', 'Sherman', etc, we named our main tank 'Matilda'! 

 Right hand side view with a Halfling for scale.

I wanted to convert up a plastic tank kit to accompany the Halflings in a Rogue Trader style. I did'nt use Rogue Trader parts as they Kindred are'nt Rogue Trader themselves.

 Bang!

 Space Orks of the Assault Grenadiers!

4 Orks from the Space Ork Raiders set being lead by Squad Leader 'Smiler Bogit'.

I have chosen a paint scheme to mathc the Luggub Drop Legion's Wehrmacht look, but also keep them slightly seperate. So I have opted for black uniform, but with Vellejo World War Two German Uniform Green for the flak armour and leg wrappings. Adding the green stopped them looking too bland and black, and also too much like the later Goff Clan concept.

 Second Squad, all from the Ork Raiders box set, including a Heavy Bolter Ork.

 Squad Leader 'Gog the Gogler' flanked by two Space Ork Raider miniatures.

  The albino Ork Captain Ulruk of Mergabenurga. leader of the Ork Assault Grenadiers from the Scenario 'The Battle of Jadeberry Hill' in White Dwarf #94. The miniature is the 'Buzzy Bazzacks' model I have used to represent him as he is similar to the Thrugg Bullneck model from the Space Ork Raiders box set.

I don't think it's too obvious to point out the similarity to Michael Moorcock's albino Elric of Melnibone?

 

Close up of two random Ork Assault Grenadiers.

Next weeks update will be on the finishing off of the Space Orks. I will be basing up the Skaven as I go, but I want to start a new project, and so will decide what to tackle over the next week or two and update accordingly. :)

British Telecom Goblins, Skaven army 'completed', Mark VI Marines, and Orktober.

I have been having problems with my internet over the last week or so, hence the lack of Blog update in the last week. BT assured me it was a hardware problem, internet junction box or something, but I recognise the work of mischievous Goblins when it see it! ;) I only got my internet back late last week, and have been too busy with work to update over this weekend. However, with my day off today, here's a slightly delayed Blog update.

The lack of internet has meant I have got on with some painting and I have now completed all the models needed for my Skaven army. Over the last week and half I finished 5 Command groups, the Army Standard Bearer, Skaven Mage, and a regiment of 20 Stormvermin. I now only have to base the over 200 Skaven models in the army.

When not painting I was sorting out my Rogue Trader Mark VI Space Marine army. At some point soon I want to tackle my ' Rogue Trader Horus Heresy' project, which is to organise and paint my Rogue Trader Space Marine, and Chaos Space Marine armies. I will be organising the loyal Space Marines according to the Space Marine detachment army list first published in White Dwarf #105, and later on in the Compendium, as well including the seperate Terminator add-on lists.
I have organised two loyalist detachments so far. This gives a total of 28 Squads of 10 Space Marines, and also 32 Officers/Medics/Libarians/etc. I have several Techmarines as well to look after the 6 Dreadnoughts and support weapons. I probably have enough models for about half of another detachment. The main two detachments will be painted as Ultramarines as I feel they are the iconic Rogue Trader Loyal force which was more often than not shown in the artwork of the time. The 'half detachment' I have to sort out I might paint up in a different colour scheme for fun, but not sure which one yet.

For the Chaos forces I intend to split the army into five parts so I can have a variety in the Chaos forces of Horus. One part will be the full detachment list for the World Eaters; the second part will be the detachment for the Emperor's Children, both lists coming from the 'Slaves to Darkness book'.

To be able to use Tzeentch and Nurgle forces I will use the lists from the 'Lost and the Damned'. However as the list are open eneded, and the squards only 5 marines strong, I will take the number of squads for the army according to the sacred numbers of the Chaos power. So, the Death Guard of Nurgle force will be 7 squads strong, the Thousand Sons Tzeentch army will have 9 squads.

For the Sons of Horus/Black Legion, I will represent the Legions presence using the Chaos Terminator list. It means I don't either have to mess about spliting the Terminators into seperate Legions colours; allocating them all to one Legion; or collection lots more Chaos Terminators; or even collect another full Chaos Detachment of 192 Chaos Marines.

But before all that there is Orctober, or Orktober if you're are tackling something 40k. The aim is to complete an Orc/Ork project for October. I was going to do a small Autumnal Orc army for Warhammer 3rd Edition Fantasy, but I will no longer have the time, and I want to proceed with other projects. Instead I am going to take this opportunity to finish off the odds and ends to my Rogue Trader 'Luggubs Drop Legion', found here:

http://goblinlee.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/rogue-trader-orks-luggubs-drop-legion.html

I have to finish off the 'Ork Assault Grenadiers' force from the 'Battle of Jadeberry Hill scenario in White Dwarf #93. This was the attacking force of 21 Space Orks which were similar in equipment to Thrugg Bullnecks Orks in the 'Battle at the Farm' scenario. Consquently I have chosen to use the Space Ork Raiders miniatures, swapping the Thrugg model for another.
I also have three Wartrakks and the Limited Edition Sleazy rider to paint too.

Enjoy :)

5 Skaven Command Groups, Mage, and Army Standard.

 I always liked the album cover of 'Rattus Norvegicus' by the band 'The Stranglers', so...

 ... I copied it and painted up as the my Army Standard. 

Incedently, I painted the fur of the Skaven blue as I have painted all the Character models in this Skaven Army with unsual coloured fur, suggesting either dyed or mutated.

 Level 20 White Seer Skaven Mage.

 The Command group for the Clanrat regiment 'The Blue Meanines'.

 Close up of the leader, C47/27 'Flench Packlord', and standard bearer.

 In situ.

 Clanrat command group for a regiment of spear armed Clanrats.

 Second Clanrat command group for a regiment of spear armed Clanrats.

The 2 leaders. On the left is 'Malis Manwrack'.

I added a Hasslefree shild to the one on the right.

 Standard bearers.

 Slave Skaven Command.

 Second Slave Skaven Command.

 Leaders of the Slaves. 

The one on the left is listed as Iron Wielder under the C47 Ratmen listings, and 'Steelrat' under the C27 listings. 

The Skaven on the right has a Hasslefree Miniatures sheild.

  20 Stormvermin. 

I went for purple to distinguish them from the rest of the army.

Unit Leader, 'Throt the Unclean'. I think no 3rd Edition Skaven army would be complete without him. 

Also another standard, with a greenstuff banner.

 Rear view of Throt, and Musician.

 The regiment is equiped with double handed weapons and so I used metal Skaven with double handed weapons, spears, halberds, and hand weapons for the regiment.

 2 Skaven sculpted from similar master model.

 'Glave', and spear armed spearmen with Hasslefree sheild.

 On the left 'Warthrall', also listed as 'Skuttle'; and a double handed weapon Skaven.

 'Clan Retainer' also listed as 'Goar Headwrecker'.

On the right is 'Lair Warden' also listed as 'Vermyn'.

In theory this model is a Mage, but I put him in the regiment as he has a spear and I needed one more model. If I expand the army or tinker wit it and add another Mage, I will use him as such and get another Skaven to replace him.

Mark VI Loyalist Space Marines.

 A mix of my old Crimson Fists Marines, and the odds and ends I have bought over the years. They will all be painted to Ultramarine colours. 

Here are pictured (just under) 16 Squads of Tactical Marines.

 Side view.

One of the Detachment Commanders. 

The other one is the 1990 Games Day Space Marine.

 The Ork Assault Grenadiers.

To keep with the World War Two Wehrmacht theme of my army, I will paint them up in black uniforms with Vallejio German Army Green flak armour and helmets. As the bulk of the army is in German Field Grey, and Thruggs Raiders in Afrika Corps Khaki, the black will give a slight SS look to them.

 The "moody albino Ork Captain Ulruk of Mergabenurga, leader of the dreaded Ork Assault Grenadiers".

The model was released under the name' Buzzy Buzzacks', but as he is very similar to the Thrugg Bullneck model. As I am basing the Ork Assault Grenadiers on the Space Ork Raiders he makes a good rival Ork Captain to Thrugg.

In the scenario it was possible swap the Ork Grenadiers for Thruggs force, so I consider using the same models, just painted differently, to be apt.

 3 Wartrakks.

I might mount them on different bases.

LE24 Sleazy Rider.  

 Next update might be on the completed Skaven army if I get around to basing them all. Also if I get started on the Orks there will be a progress report. I have done a small mail order of something too, which I might be able to preview, depending on the Royal Mail.
As I am working weekends at the moment, I will proably be updating my blog either on Sunday evenings as before, or Mondays now. :)

50,000 blog views!! And back to blogging and painting. And a Goblin, some Orcs, and some Skaven too.

First of all I am pleased to announce that my blog has reached 50,000 views (51,620 as of today) since I started last year. I would like to thank everybody who has taken an interest in my blog. I still have a lot of stuff I that needs to be added. 

I like Goblin's :)

Secondly, I have taken a bit of a break from blogging over the last fortnight, but now intend to return to both blogging and painting with renewed focus. Recently my time has been taken up with the writing up of the 3rd Edition Warhammer battle report and the painting up of a few Slann for the battle before. Added to that a very busy time at work has lead to me doing very little painting recently. I did manage to finish 10 Gutter Runners though.

 10 Skaven Gutter Runners, all from the C47/27 series Ratmen/ Skaven, or the later 1980's Citadel releases.

Unlike the rest of the Skaven in the army I have painted them with black fur to suggest their more stealthy lifestyle of hiding in shadows, and of course gutters.

 Left to right, Skaven with Club and Shield, 'Skewer', and Skaven with Slingstaff.

On the left, 'Canker Darkspire', centre 'Skurge Hooknet', and right 'Ashish the Black'.

 My plan is to finish off the Skaven army finally, an army which started way back in July. I only have about 30 or so Skaven to finish off, so I intend to complete them this week for next weeks blog update.

 5 Command groups left to paint.

 20 Stormvermin, the Army Standard, and Wizard. 

Other than the Skaven I have another few projects to consider. Justin and I are planning another large scale 3rd Edition Warhammer Fantasy battle, about 6,000 points this time. He will again use his lovely Wood Elf army, whilst I am unsure whether to use the Slann again or use another army. I would love to use a Goblin only army based on a modified version of the Warhammer Armies list. To do that would require ignoring the requirements to take Orcs, and the maximum limits on the number of Goblins to be taken. However, if we are to stage a game in the next couple of months the Goblin army won't be ready in time, and the Slann will have a chance to fight again! It will also give an opportunity to paint up some Goblins, something I have missed doing of late.

Now for those of you unaware it's 'Orctober', where people are encouraged to concentrate on their Orc (or Ork) armies during October: http://ernysplace.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/orctober.html

Now however tempting this is I am still going to finish off the Skaven as the project has dragged on long enough. I have though got an idea for using the remainder of the Orcs I have which I did'nt include in my 3,000 point Warhammer Armies Goblinoid army. I still have several hundred Citadel Orcs from the 1980's, and so my plan for them is two fold:

Firstly to increase the current 3,000 point army to 6,000 points so it can stand against Justin's Wood Elves, by adding enough Orcs to the army to do this. I want to keep it a largely Orc army, keeping the Goblins to a minimum, giving the army a tougher feel and character. And anyway, I want to have the Goblins strike out in their own army.
The modification of the army will require me adding another 10 Boyz, 20 Big Un's, 20 Savage Orcs, 20 Savage Orc Archers, 40 odd Archers (which I want to do using about 20 crossbow armed Orcs as well), some more warmachines, and about 30 Boar Riders. I have all of these and it just requires me sorting them out and glueing/basing them, and then painting those which require it.
I will sort out a prescise army list for them a little later.

 Most of the 220 Orcs needed to expand the army.

 There's a mix of painted, need to be re-painted, and unpainted Orcs. 

28 Orc Giant Boars. 

I have more than nough riders for these, and I only need two more boars. I think I have some more somewhere, otherwise I might use a couple of spare Giant Wolves. 

35 Crossbow armed Orcs. 

Pile of Orcs which still need sorting! 

Secondly, once I have seperated the Orcs out needed for the above project, I want to use the remainder for a fun little 3,000 Orc army idea. Last year I painted up an Autunmal Wood Elven Army, which can be found here: http://goblinlee.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/autumnal-wood-elf-army-completed.html

 I wanted to have a companion army to oppose my Wood Elven army, whilst keeping and sharing the same concept. Therefore I plan to paint up, ideally this Autumn, an Autumnal Orc army. This will use a mix of 1980's Citadel, Marauder, Grenadier, and 1990's Harlequin Orcs and Goblin's I have spare. Again, I want to make it an Orc heavy army, and also an archer heavy army to suggest the Orcs taking on the methods of their Elven foes, albeit in a cruder fashion. 

A test model 'Autumnal Orc' I painted this afternoon next to one of the Elves from last year.

Other than that, I have still been buying Great Goblins/Gnolls from e-bay, and I am steadily adding to them. I did buy a Gnoll/Great Goblin mint in his packet a few weeks ago and have been waiting to open him so I could post it on the blog. 

 Still mint in packaging after 30 odd years! 

An FTG 2 Gnoll/Goblin attacking with Hand Weapon.

Variation 11 according to the Collecting Citadel Miniatures Wiki. They also list the code as FTG, not FG as on the packet.

http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Gnolls_/_Goblins_-_FTG_Fantasy_Tribe_%28solid_base%29

I am not sure how other people feel about the suggestion of keeping things unopened and mint in packaging. Personally, concerning miniatures I think it is almost a shame not to open them up and paint them. It might be a different case for other types of collectables (I have never considered my miniatures to be 'collectables' as such), but for miniatures, epsecially Goblins, I feel almost duty bound to set them free!

...afterall, if they are stuck in a packet, how can they be mischievous?

 Free at last!!! 

He has a shorter, probably slightly miscast, sword than online references suggest. I have found that this can be a common occurance for the Gnolls/Great Goblin ranges. They sometimes have slight miscastings, especially on weapons, but it does'nt detract from the character of the models. 

Next blog update will be painted Skaven, and an update on the Orcs.