MORE TROLLS

More trolls stampede through a hamlet. Another batch of underbridge dwellers to go with the previous ones I painted. This lot were done with washes rather than hightlighting which is much quicker. A mix of Citadel Fantasy Tribes and some great Asgard sculpts by Nick Bibby (his trolls are scaly which is good).

Below they muster with the older paint jobs.

IMP WAR PARTY

Having finished a few undead units, I thought I would move on to some aerial bods. Ral Partha Imps, looking suspiciously like the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz film (how they used to scare me).

The leader is Ral Partha demon

SPIRITS OF THE BEDSTAFF

In the M R James story "Two Doctors" reference is made to "the affair of the bedstaff", which is left unexplained to the reader (in cunning Jamesian style). A bedstaff seems to have been a wooden pin for securing the bed linen in times of yore, to stop the sheets slipping off.

These bedclothes seem to have acquired a life all of their own, as well as some gardening implements. More lovely Ral Partha figures from 1977, this is one of my favourites, later copied by Citadel in their Fiend Factory range. I decided to stick to the traditional sheeted phantom colour scheme.

I love the way the cloth hangs down over the face, and the hands (or whatever things worse than hands) are covered, so you are not sure if there is anything or not under there.

HOW DOES AN EGYPTIAN DOORBELL WORK?

Just toot and come in. Here we have some well wrapped warriors from 1977 by Ral Partha. The faceless pose is the standard Mummy figure from the Personalities and Things that go Bump in the Night range, but the chap with his face showing I think must be from some boxed sets Ral Partha released in the late 70's, if I remember correctly each box was a little game in itself. I must look them up in White Dwarf when I get a chance.

Very easy paint job....just coat d'arms linen washed with Agrax Earthshade...... 

EARLIEST PICTURE OF A FANTASY BATTLE?

I came across this wonderful picture on Playing at the World blog showing a fantasy battle put on in 1970 at a Miniature Figures Collectors of America convention. The fort (Minas Tirith in the game) is a converted Airfix Roman fort and I can make out Airfix Robin Hood figures there as well. Isn't it splendid?

THE BROTHERS OFGRIMSTOCK ABBEY

I don't have that many undead figures, but I dug this nugget from the lead mountain last year. They are Grenadier figures from about 1985, so fall into the "new-school" category in my collection, but they do have a real 70's vibe about them. The empty hood with raised nodules inside to paint as eyes, the improbably shaped weapon and the coffin shaped shield all remind me of earlier figures, in particular the Servants of Sauron pack by Heritage Miniatures. I picked these up a couple of years ago from EM-4 Miniatures at a show, where they often have rummage bins of cheap Grenadier bits and bobs.

I haven't thought of any fluff to go with them yet, other than the name.

2018 has kicked off to a good start with myself managing to get 2 games in so far and a promise of more to come. The first was a great game of 2nd edition Warhammer, after meeting up with some fellow Oldhammerers who live nearby. We played 3 scenarios from Terror of the Lichemaster which was new to me (although I had heard of it of course), on absolutely stunning terrain made by Geoff of Oakbound Studios. Here are a couple of not very good pictures which really don't do the terrain justice (or his figures for that matter).  Thanks to Geoff and H. (our host) for a great day gaming.

brrr.....that water looks chilly

The other game I had was against my old gaming friend Speckled Jim, facing off 2 Viking warbands using Lion Rampant. I thought I had won this but have just realised that I was claiming Victory points that I didn't deserve....needless to say I haven't mentioned this to the defeated Warlord. Next games in the horizon are a game of Dragon Rampant and a game of The Woods, using Oakbound Studio rules.