Yeah, I'm still alive (sort off) but my hobby life has almost died. Winter has been very rough on me, but I hope that a bulk load of new miniatures and the new-founded 2012 Brush Slave (Painting) League at Chaos Dwarfs Online will kick-start my paintings.
While I've been taking it slow the John Pickford-miniature-industry have been working at full speed.
So lots of miniatures have been sculpt, moulded and cast during autumn and winter - and quite a few of the new casts have now been added to my collection of Pickford sculpts.
Sadly I cant share all I have heard/seen as it will break the confidence I have with the sculptor and the miniature manufacturers - nor can I share the greens I've been shown lately. They will have to be kept a secret, for now - but I can tell you, that they are humanoid, stunty and cruel :-P
But not all is new and shiny. Cause a few old Pickford sculpts will now be seeing the light of day, too. Wargames Foundry has announced that their "new" demons will become available this Spring. The sculpts themselves are probably 5 maybe 6 years old now - and only a few pre-cast have been floating around - but now they're coming and and given an official release.
From their website, a sneak-peek ad:
I'm quite excited to see them out, but to many people they might look old and outdated. Think, they would have had go down well, if they had been released back when they were actually made - but for some unknown reason Foundry seems to be sitting on their greens for a very, very long time before releasing them. And they have more even more Pickford-gems on their dusty shelves ;-)
Of the many new miniatures I've got, we'll have the many new Otherworld's, first. Lot of delays to this batch due to some casting issues apparently, but a few weeks back a big box of OW-blisters arrived at my door step. All the new "toys" (Huge and Giant Spiders and Goblin Wolf Rider Warband) and a small back log of missing Kobolds and Ogres have now arrived - and I'm really looking forward giving them all a good look and documenting them on the Wiki. Perhaps some might even receive some paint, soon.
Next, something very exciting, but also quite rare: The Gaming Cantina's Space Lizard Centaur Bodyguard (see http://clamshellsandseadogs.blogspot.com/2011/11/collection-john-pickford-zoat-for.html) - or shall we just call it a Zoat (for all the Warhammer 40K - Rogue Trader people out here). Showed you the greens back in November, but holding it in your hands makes it even more impressive. An not only is it rare seeing John do a Sci-Fi miniature but with only 50 casts, this will be quite a rare sight on the tabletop, so I'm very proud and pleased to own this copy here:
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Resin! Yes, I know. Hate it and will take some time to clean before I can even start glue the pieces together, but I am actually looking forward painting it. Right now I'm trying to sort out how to use him. As you might be aware off Sci-Fi ain't really my genre - but I am thinking of creating a small display/diorama piece combining this with some GW Eldar. Initial idea was to use him with some plastic Eldar Guardians I had laying around - but I can't neglect the significant scale issues:
The heroic act of carrying the casualty soldier loss its meaning if he looks like a kid.So will try a new idea and I am now planning using some Rogue Trader era Eldar's - like Guardians or maybe Fire Dragons, if I can get my hands on some that is, of course.
Another miniature worth mentioning is the Bugman's Brewery Community Dwarf King. The first batch is now done and have been shipped out to the supporting members.
I also got mine. And I am already working on the first of them. A classic character posed on a small rock, but without use of any of the head gear pieces he came with (he came with 3 sizes of Dragon head visors and some Asterix helmet wings).
So here he is:
Awesome, awesome miniature. Tons of details - and will probably be a nightmare painting - lol.
And with him also came a small present from Matt (the guy, who has organized the hole thing). The present was some small accessories piece also sculpted by John Pickford - or more precise three barrels :)
Nice pieces and will become very useful - but doubt I'll ever hear anyone ask: "oh, and who sculpted those awesome barrels you have over there" ;) - but thanks, Matt - I'm very, very happy with them.
And before I leave you all, I want to say thanks to all the new followers. I'm very glad to see you all here. Also like to give a special thank you to George Georgiou (G2) - not only is he an inspiring painter (check his blog) and a great and supportive member of the Chaos Dwarf On-line Community, but he also masters the magical photo editing art/software and found the time to help out a friend. G2 have made the new (and more appropriated) banners for my blog and for that, I am very grateful. Thanks George :-)
Clam - nice update :) Just a note on the scale issues with the space elf casulty - he was designed and sculpted to match RT era space elves - any issues with scale creep over the intervening 25 years have to be taken up elsewhere ;)
ReplyDeleteJon B
Your very welcome. The amount of time and effort that you put back into the hobby and community, you deserve some nice things to come your way. It was a real pleasure for me to do something for you.
ReplyDeleteThose demons in the illustration are Kev Adams not JP... they are converted from the test models for the War/Renaissance Orcs he made for them. The JP ones are completely different, and there is a massive dude to go with them... if they ever cast it...
ReplyDeleteThank you for that info, as I wasn't aware that the demon range was a joint venture with Mr. Adams. I still am very excited to see the Pickford ones, though. Only one I have see is the Aquizalor, Slayer of Souls (http://collectingjohnpickford.wikia.com/wiki/File:IMAG0083.jpg) in one of Kevin Dallimore's books.
ReplyDelete@G.2 well, it's just my hobby so dont see it as such a big investment - but perhaps my wife does. And I still owe you one :-)