I am not planning on painting the whole army yet, but I wanted to paint a few test miniatures. These were just to get a 'feel' for painting the ranges. I enjoyed painting them. Why green? Well I used to play a lot of the computer game Civilization 3, and when I played the Japanese, the Samurai icons were always green, with some blue. So I thought I suited my idea of a fantasy Nippon. Also, in my mind it is going to be a fantasy army as I did'nt just want to paint a Samurai army with an added Ogre and Wizards, but to give the Nipponese army a slightly different feel to an historical Japanese army.
As for the army itself, I am planning to base it on the 3rd Edition Warhammer army Empire list. This gives me some good infantry, archers, cannons, a Dragon, and access to mercenary Ogres. However I have other things planned before I paint them, and I still need to finish off the army list. As a clarification, I have based the miniatures on 25mm square bases, rather than the standard human sized 20mm. The reason I did this was that many of the miniatures, especially the Samurai, were too squashed and crowded on 20mm. Building a regiment seemed less fun and more like and exericse in tessellation. I think it suits them fine, and won't really impact gaming.
For reference, the Oriental Heroes ranges can be found here:
http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Oriental_Heroes
and
http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Oriental_Heroes_-_C05_(solid_base)
with many currently still for sale at Wargames Foundry,
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/samurai
and
https://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/ex-citadel-games-workshop-modelsThe pre-slotta C05 miniatures and later OH ranges are sculpted by Aly Morrison. The Ninjas are the work of the Perry Twins.
Enjoy :)
OH2 Samurai with two swords.
He is one of several sculpting variants, this one with facial hair. I like this, and the other two sowrd miniatures. I have read that they were also a crossover range with Citadel and TSR's joint 1980's AD&D range.
They are quite bulky. As a test model I think it turned out well, but I might add a little more colour to the armour and sash, and pattern detail to the clothing when I paint the rest of the army.
He is one of several sculpting variants, this one with facial hair. I like this, and the other two sowrd miniatures. I have read that they were also a crossover range with Citadel and TSR's joint 1980's AD&D range.
They are quite bulky. As a test model I think it turned out well, but I might add a little more colour to the armour and sash, and pattern detail to the clothing when I paint the rest of the army.
Rear view.
OH3 Rampaging Ronin.
Again another nice sculpt, one of several variants, from the OH range.
Again another nice sculpt, one of several variants, from the OH range.
Rear view.
Nippon cannon!
The cannon itself is an old Citadel sculpt, re-released by Wargames Foundry. Two of the crew are spare crew from the C22 Nippon Rocket, the third being a pre-slotta C05 Samurai.
Citadel did'nt release a Nippon cannon, so I bought two rocket crew from e-bay, and added the Samurai commander to made a third.
I think the cannon works well as several early historical Japanese cannons were of European origin.
The cannon itself is an old Citadel sculpt, re-released by Wargames Foundry. Two of the crew are spare crew from the C22 Nippon Rocket, the third being a pre-slotta C05 Samurai.
Citadel did'nt release a Nippon cannon, so I bought two rocket crew from e-bay, and added the Samurai commander to made a third.
I think the cannon works well as several early historical Japanese cannons were of European origin.
Pre-Slotta C05 Oriental Hero Goro Tokimane. This is one of my later Foundry produced ones.
C22 Nippon Rocket crewman with lighted cord.
C22 Nippon Rocket crewman with fan. I assumed he is the commander waiting to giving the order to fire.
The C23 Ogre, 'Oriental Ogre', sculpted by Jes Goodwin.
He is a great sculpt, like all of Jes Goodwin's Ogres, and sculpted to look in a Japanese style.
I have painted him blue to suggest a large blue Oni from Japanese Folklore.
He is a great sculpt, like all of Jes Goodwin's Ogres, and sculpted to look in a Japanese style.
I have painted him blue to suggest a large blue Oni from Japanese Folklore.
Rear view.
I am not sure what my next update will be on. I have several projects current at the moment.
My primary project is a 3,000 point Dwarf army of Renown and Legend, composed of 1980's Dwarves from the Regiments of Renown, led by the Dwarves from the BC3 Dwarf Lords of Legend. Another project is a re-visit to the Slann of the Magnificent Sven Scenario. A third project nearing completion is my collecting of a 2nd/3rd Edition miniatures for a Kislev/Dolgan Raiders army (complete with Centaurs!). If that was'nt enough, I have been collecting Undead and Characters for the Terror of the Lichemaster/Vengeance of the Lichmaster scenarios.
I also have a regiment of 20 Runequest Baboons to paint at somepoint!
My primary project is a 3,000 point Dwarf army of Renown and Legend, composed of 1980's Dwarves from the Regiments of Renown, led by the Dwarves from the BC3 Dwarf Lords of Legend. Another project is a re-visit to the Slann of the Magnificent Sven Scenario. A third project nearing completion is my collecting of a 2nd/3rd Edition miniatures for a Kislev/Dolgan Raiders army (complete with Centaurs!). If that was'nt enough, I have been collecting Undead and Characters for the Terror of the Lichemaster/Vengeance of the Lichmaster scenarios.
I also have a regiment of 20 Runequest Baboons to paint at somepoint!
Great work on the test pieces Lee, the ideas for other armies sound very interesting too
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI am working on a lot of different army ideas at the moment, but these are the ones that are forefront on my mind at the moment. I plan to do an blog update on a list of all the projects at somepoint.
You continue to inspire Lee, on another note are you coming to Salute this year?
ReplyDeleteHope to see you there, Paul
Thank you.
DeleteI can't make Salute this year as I was unable get the time off of work. :(
Sorry hear you can't make it, but earning a crust and keeping the wolf from the door is something we all have to do. How about BOYL? As there's plans for a large Rigg's Shrine game.
DeleteI have'nt booked the time off, but I might be able to move my holiday to the time. I heard something about a Riggs Shrine games, sounds fun.
Delete