A MONSTER MANUAL MYSTERY

Here is an interesting figure. I got this in about 1975 from a newsagent in Morecambe, Lancashire, where my Grandmother lived. At the local newsagent, there was a box of various monsters (2 others I have/had are a wingless red dragon standing on it's hind legs and a sort or green concertina like lizard) and I was already showing promise by buying one each time I went with my Dad to get the paper.

It's clearly the same as the Bulette illustration from the Monster Manual, but in production before the book was published

Having typed this, I have just found this fascinating thread in which one of the inventors of D and D (presumably Dave Arneson) explains that Gary Gygax based the monsters on the plastic figures. Answered my own conundrum thanks to the wonders of the internet.

THE IMPERIAL GUARD

More figures for the King's army, the Imperial Guard

figures by Garrison

click here for the same figures painted in a more retro style!

I popped up to Warfare at Reading which was a very good show, and managed to bag a box of 1970'S Ral Partha figures and a Fantasy Tribes Troll (50p!!) at the Bring and Buy. It was nice to see old figures like this still appearing among the mountains of Space Marines and Newhammer detritus.

LOYAL DWARFS AND ELVES

More of the King's army finished and based. The loyal Dwarfs and Elves.

Dwarfs by Garrison, sporting a traditional Dwarf standard, so I can use them in LOTR games.

Elves by Minifigs, finished last year but rebased to fit in with other MDF warbases.

FOOT SOLDIERS OF THE ROYAL ARMY (or arrow fodder)

Here are the mainstays of King Amias' army, the footsloggers.

Macemen (flails were the nearest thing I could find)

Pikes (the old interpretation ie. halberds)

Swordsmen armed with bows as well

All figures by Garrison. I had a varnishing mishap with these, most noticable on the Pikemen, with some of the varnish "frosting". I can only assume this id caused by temperature or humidity, but it's very annoying. Another reason to use shiny yacht varnish.

DOOMGUARD LOCATED

After my post lamenting a missed ebay auction, I quickly located another Archive Doomguard , from the original seller who had another in stock. So here he is displayed on the original catalyst to get him 34 odd years ago White Dwarf 16 (not 17 as I said previously).

For some reason, I am unable to rotate the picture, so rotate your pc if needed.

THE LOYAL CENTAURS OF KING AMIAS

After a long break involving a broken pc, viewing secondary schools and other things that only happen in the real world, it's nice to drop back into ToySoldier land . The idea of getting my Thistlewood game finished by the 30th anniversary flew out of the window as I suspected it would, but I have been plodding away at it and now only have about 10 figures to paint before starting on the terrain.

Here are the Loyal centaurs by Garrison Miniatures. Certainly Old School and still in production (just). I have been fiddlearsing about with the bases and although not entirely happy with the final results I have gone for this slightly Autumnal look.

 A chance comment on another blog (sorry, can't remember which one) mentioned that older style bases with little or no extra flock or detail enhanced the figure and I completely agree. Unfortunately by that time I had already started basing my troops like this, but have another project brewing which will be really old school....plain bases, gloss varnish and no figures later than 1980...here is a taster of Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age

A Nemedian spearman leaves home to join in the invasion of Aquilonia

I have to say the shiny finish (I used Yacht varnish) and lack of heavy shading makes the figure much brighter (and considerably quicker to paint). Not everyone's  cup of tea, but I like the toy soldier look. Again, a figure from Garrison's bespoke Hyborean range.

THE FATHER OF WARGAMING

Normal service will resume here soon (once I get my laptop back from the repairers and take some pictures of the latest figures)but I have just read that Donald Featherstone has died so thought I should post about it. I am pretty sure many readers were set off on the wargaming hobby by this gentleman. I shall raise a glass and a paintbrush/some dice in his memory this evening.