Down the Hill came ...

... a Troll - and more precise a Foundry Hill Troll Champion.

Cause I've been doing a bit of painting, again. And this time its actually a rather large piece. Started working on him 6 to 8 weeks ago, and worked on him on and off - but finished in time for entering him at the painting challenge (maleudfordringen) @ powerfist.dk - which was all about doing skin - and must admit, there is a lot of skin on this one.

Wargames Foundry: BSTR003 Hill Troll Champion

This guy here is 1 out of 5 Hill Trolls John Pickford has done for Wargames Foundry. This guy he is "the Champion" - but in the range you'd also find a rock throwing one, one throwing a goblin Paraglider, a grabbing troll - and one armed with a huge axe. All made in this great retro fantasy style.

Fun piece doing - but time consuming he was - think i have had 30+ colours on the palette to do him :)

Should probably have take a comparison picture to really show his size - but he is on a 50x50mm base - and 14-15cm tall - will look enormous on the battlefield - but should scare most enemies away, don't you think.

Collecting John Pickford: TFF Halfling Chef

Once again I have been gifted with one of these "event-exclusive" pieces John is rather well-known for.

This one is another piece for the people at talkfantasyfootball.org. Last year, "Axiom" did a little fantasy-football for the participants in The Legasy Team. This year, he went for something much bigger :)

The Legacy Team is a painting event that have been running for more than 10 years, now. Each participant paints up a race specific miniature and then a lottery is held to draw a winner who gets the team. The race for the 2013 Team was "Halflings" - so what better excuse could he get for having John doing him a Halfling Chef. And didn't stop there - no, the little Chef comes with camp fire and a ball on a roasting stick, too :)

Here is the little master piece:

TFF Halfling Chef

Magnificent, don't you think?

Cast in resin. Limited to 50 casts. Mainly sold to the people taking part in "The 2013 Legacy Team" and other members of talkfantasyfootball.org.

Really like him, and he will go so well with the Foundry Halflings - and '90 Citadels.

Collecting John Pickford: More Dwarf Knightly Orders

Guess most of you have already seen this at the White Knight blog or on the various forums and social media they have been posted on.

But this release will also have relevance on here as well .... :) - cause White Knight and John Pickford have been doing  probably made the most significant release for the Renaissance Dwarf range till day - the knightly order upgrades.

Back in May, White Knight released the first heavy cavalry/Knights for the dwarf range. A great release, with knights wearing helmets and big feathers etc. - nothing wrong with with that of course, but especially the command set reviled that more knightly orders need to get done.

And they are here - and certainly worth waiting for. 3 new knightly orders are coming:

The Order of the Great Bear, aka the Templar Knights of Ursa Major 

The Order of the White Boar

The Order of the Raven, Templar Knights of the God of Death

This release leave me speechless. Don't really know what to say - other than 'when'?

Incredible work, John an WK :-D

And for more information and pictures - check out the White Knight Miniature Imperium-blog

Collecting John Pickford: Interesting observations from Wargames Foundry

Those that have been following the developement at Wargames Foundry will know that the Ansell's have taken over full management of Wargames Foundry, again.
Not only have they been re-releasing lots and lots of miniatures thought "lost" - but the Ansell's (Bryan and Marcus) have also been willing to share lots of information about Foundry, the Foundry history and all the miniatures they have moulded over they years. It's been a great joy following.

At Facebook/Pinterest I came cross these interesting pictures and comments from Bryan Ansell - relevant for my collecting quest :)

Certainly news to me. Know that there's some Orc Comannd figures (to go with Kev Adam's Orc) out there that John had his hands on, but not 100% sure which ones - nor am I sure that John remember's, either!
And I haven't even got all the current available Pickford Foundry's (I know of) yet - and now these Dwarfs ....! Well, shouldn't complain really - as it's only just more stuff to collect :-D

Goblin Rocketeer

It's been one long dry season for new paintings from me, but Kick Off of the 3th Brush Slave League season - should really kick start my painting, I hope.

First round entry was a mix of all the things I like the most - scratch building and converting with a twist of Pickford.

I have, of course, bought the John's GoblinAid contribution - the Gobbomobile (now available from Ral Partha Europe as "the Green Baron"). The Gobbomobile has a nice Fantasy vibe to it - and therefore perfect for some Goblin Air Support :)

Build a small ramp out of plastic strips and balsa wood - and posed the Gobbomobile like it just ready for being launched.

RPE/GoblinAid: GA24 John Pickford's Green Baron

From some spare Foundry Spear-Goblin I build some ground personal as well: 

- and the hole unit can now proxy as a Goblin Doom Diver or another goblin air support device.

Really enjoyed doing this - and pretty pleased with the end result. But, what do you think?

Collecting John Pickford: Iron Mask Ogres

I've been given the chance of looking more closely into the KS Musketeer Ogres from Iron Mask Miniatures.

A bit embarrassing not posting these sooner - as I've had them laying here for quite some weeks. So sorry, Gary :-/ - you give me such a great opportunity and then I can't find the time giving them a prober review.

First the main bodies. There is 4 different poses. 1 static guard pose, a attack/"I'll jump on you" - pose and 2 dynamic "one the move" - giving you a good diversity and the chance for making some rather unique looking miniatures - should you go for multiple sets.

 .

All are sculpted in a classic puff and slash clothing style and with lots of tiny little clothing details. Looks real nice. On all of them, you have the unique musketeer tabbard that float very nicely over the bodies.

The set will come with 4 different heads. In my "pre-view" set I got 3 different ones. 4th one can be seen on the Iron Mask Blog.

It's a great set of head paying homage to the classic classic Ogre figures of the ‘80s *cough*Marauder Miniatures*cough*. All with the classic Capitano/Cavalier Hat, of course - and some very nice big feathers.

I haven't assembled any of them yet, as I will probably paint these separately. But here is a few pictures of how they look on a body. A perfect match if you ask me :)

And like all the other Iron Mask miniatures Gary have had a shed.load of hands made. I have got thirteen different ones, but head that in the final sets there will also be some daggers (converted from the Rapiers)

Halberd, closed and open hands and dragon pistols

Rapiers - 3 left hands 3 right hands

So many options it will get hard choosing with ones to use :)

So, for those that got these .... they are certainly worth the money.

Collecting John Pickford: Football Beastmen ... they are here .... almost!



Anyone remember this little company?

Well I do, and the good news today is that they have been released - or almost released.

Jon has posted some great painted samples @Beast Face Miniatures

- and on there you can also find details on "how to get some" - if you (like me) can't wait any longer :)

Also posted was this great piece of art:



Concept art by Roberto Cirillo

We should see this beast materialized by John around New Year 2013, if all goes to plan :)

Brush Slave League - the 2013/14-season

It's been a long dry summer 2013. Not only did the garden suffer from it - but also for my wet palette and paints - hardly dare to open them to see :-)

Well, I need to get back on the track - so why not jump into it by announcing that the 2013/14 Brush Slave League is now officially open.

There has been a few tweaks on the rules - but still a monthly challenge with points, scoreboard and beautiful miniatures.

You can find all the details here at ChaosDwarfsOnline

But the challenge is open for all members - also new members ;)

And yes, I do know that the current banner is awful - but that's how far my skills goes. Must see if I can find G2 and bring him back to the site/competition - or perhaps someone want to give it a try?

Oh, almost forgot there is a Mad Painter and a trophy for the winner

- but don't do it for the prize, do it because you like painting miniatures.

EDIT:
G2 stopped by and did this spectacular one instead:

Thanks you, so much, George  :)

Collecting John Pickford: Iron Mask Miniatures Dwarf Musketeers on Kickstarter - part 2

The Iron Mask Miniatures hasn't reached their initial goals yet, but I'm confident that they will, cause who can say "no" to these Ogres? :)

Such beauties are hard to resist, ain't they? And so many options that you probably need two sets of them ;)

The campaign has reached 80% of its goal, and to give it the final push they have just announced that every $30 backer will receive this limited-edition Dwarf in the Iron Mask figure:

The Dwarf in the Iron Mask will be limited to a production run of 200 copies. For Kickstarter backers only, each figure will be packaged with a card-sized reproduction of the Dwarf in the Iron Mask concept art, individually numbered and signed by the artist, Colin Upton.

And should the campaign be fully funded before 3th August everyone at the $59 pledge level and higher will also get the Dwarf Cardinal. So empty your pockets ladies and gentlemen, cause I'm in the need of a Cardinal :)

We might not see all the stretched goals achieved (unfortunately), but lets see if we can fund just a few of them, shall we?

Now who wouldn't like:

a King?

Roquefort?

or Jussac?

- and it wouldn't really be a Musketeer Game without Dart Onion would it?

So, go find your credit cards and pledge here, please :-D