Finally, the Ass Cannon got painted

I've been wanting to do in a loooooooong time, but I also know very well how these kind of projects tends to drain my (hobby) energy. But I got through it and I'm still enjoying painting :) My Demon Cannon from Old School Miniatures by John Pickford is done.

Short after receiving my prototype copy I started building him a scenic base, but for a long time its been sitting here unpainted starring at me (or rather point his rears at me) like this.

However, with the new-found energy for painting (mainly due to new glasses and a set of Rosemary & Co.Series 33 brushes) I've finally begun painting this huge piece. Those following me on facebook would have seen a few VIPs of the thing, but now it's all finished I shall reveal it on here, first.

So here it is (and I apologies for the huge amount of pictures, but I am actually rather proud of this one - and I might have been a bit over-enthusiastic when I brought out the camera) and I'll give you a photo-tour around the scenic piece and after that, a few individual shots of the five miniatures..

Old School Miniatures: Demonic Cannon

First the diorama as a whole

And then a few zoomed in details

Cleaner

Loader

Pusher

Master Engineer

Master Engineers controlling the situation at safe distance

Grey Crow

Loose Cannon Ball

Trophy rack

And last, shots of the stunning individual models:

A wierd creature called Finngálkin

Those of you that follow my adventure into miniatures making will know today's painted piece, as it has already been released as part of my Ewal Dvergar project.

This one is a rather strange creature. Definitely not a classic evil dwarf creature being part Dvergr, part Pony - cause yes, he is actually a "pony centaur" - I know, a  rather stupid concept isn't it?

Back in 2005, when I returned to the Chaos Dwarfs (after abandoning them in the mid '90s), Like many, I began scratch build Chaos Dwarfs from WFB 6th edt. Battle for Skull Pass (BfSP) dwarfs.

I was rather hooked on the project but it lacked a good alternative for the elite cavalry. Some began using the Bull Centaurs from the 5th edt Big Hats but I'd never really fancied the cow-approach to Chaos Dwarfs and I didn't really think it matched the cheap, scratch building, diy BfSP-Chaos Dwarfs army project, so I started looking into alternatives.
I played around with Goblin Wolves and Orc Boars, but I never found a strong enough concept. I began looking at what others have done and saw they had turned their eyes at the pony wagons found in both the BfSP and GW Dwarf Miners boxes. I've seen much during those years, but I think the idea of a "Pony Centaur" was what nailed it and made me bag the scratch building project for good and made me start re-collecting the true original chaos dwarfs/mini chaos warriors again (those Citadel and Marauder Miniatures made in the mid/late'80s) again. Pony Centaurs .... that's the stupidest idea I'd ever heard of - and definitely hadn't anything to do with evilness and chaos (IMHO) :-)

During the Ewal Dvergar devolepment I've spoke with John Pickford about making centaurs for my project - and I was rather choked when he dared suggesting: "Pony Centaurs". At the time he and White Knight was building the wonderful Dwarf Pony Cavalry and as he had some left overs laying around, John asked me to sent my favourite Ewal Dwarf body, and he'd prove that the concept could work.

Out of that came Finngálkin  - and with the permission from White Knight this beauty has been borned:

And it certainly forced me to eat my words again as I think John really got the best out of it - helped along with the humours Cow-masked and Pony-visored helmets. Absolutely brilliant.

Clam Mini: Finngálkin

Arnórr - Evil berserker

I'm really enjoying painting with my new Rosemary & Co, Pure Kolinsky, Series 33 brushes and I have also put paint to Arnórr, the Ewal Beserkr - an evil warrior John Pickford have sculpted for my range of Ewal creatures.

Arnórr is sculpted in a true old school style and I love his heroic proportions and straighten looks a lot. And it wouldn't be a Pickford-miniature without signature demonic faces on it. John managed to fit 6 of them on this small guy - Impressive - and mad it even more fun painting :)

John did me 3 heads for this one. I went for the Spatan styled helmet on this one, but tempted to try do all 3.

Clam Mini: Arnórr, Ewal Beserkr

Bunbun, Nubnub

An old friend of mine, all way back from the heyday of Chaos Dwarf Online, Mattt Baaij/"Bolg" has sent me a little present and I've finally found the time to pay this little gift some attention.

Mattt became know in the Chaos Dwarf community for building armies out of almost anything - and was especially well-know for his "cheap-skate" Warhammer armies build out of Kinder-eggs, scrap bits and large quantities of putty/modelling clay and a dose of great talent.

However, Mattt greatest passion is drawing - and especially drawing comics. And for years you have been able to follow the "cute" little rabbit "Bunbun" - in his very own web-comic

(click banner)

And Bunbun is certainly a cute little thing, but it's in that sexist, pervert, chauvinistic kind of way cute - that gives it a slightly bitter taste in your mouth :) But his is drawn with such great humour and passion that you can't help but loving the poor little guy.

Over his lifetime Bunbun also got a female companion, Nubnub - someone to take care of his rough edges, so when he sees her for the first time he hugs her to death, of course. But she kept appearing at has become a raw girl-power character and Bunbun has to work hard for her love.

Now, what has all that to do with "a present", you might ask. Well, over the years Mattt has combined the two thing - Bunbun and wargaming - and has created a very unique Bunbun warhammer army - and during the process of turning the 2D comic hero into 3D - Nubnub has been materialised and turned into a true metal miniature

- and Mattt has kindly granted me the opportunity of painting her. So here she is - the lovely, but lethal

Nubnub - sculpted by Mattt Baaij

Thank you, Mattt - such a pleasure painting - now please do me a Bunbun - she's rather lonely :)

And if you'd like to know more and read the Bunbun comic you can find it here:

http://www.illumatie.nl/bunbuns

or follow him on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Bunbun.Carrots.Included