2025 - Review Time!

Here we are again for the annual review. Seems to have flown by really and doesn't feel like a year ago I was writing up the last one. The majority of this years' efforts has been taken up with the ongoing Chaos army repaint project which involved the first four months of 2025. The second rank of the broo regiment were the first of the year's offerings.

Then came my army commander, which was represented by the foot and mounted Chaos General from the Citadel C33 Adventure series.

Next was the front rank of the first Chaos warrior regiment which included a very rare unreleased Chaos General model and a converted standard bearer.

This was followed by another of the foot and mounted C33 Adventure series, the excellent chaos hero models

Then came the second rank of Chaos Warriors.

I opted for something larger next, a classic Chaos Ogre, one of two that I managed this year.

Before taking a break from the army, I finally managed to produce a chaos chariot, a long term goal, a conversion of an Iron Claw goblin chariot with chaos warriors used as crew.

Taking a much needed break from chaos, I returned to a project I'd begun four years ago, a Tilean spearman regiment, getting the second rank completed.

After a bit of stalled project attempts, I revisited the chaos army getting another ogre, Skrag the Slaughterer, finished, followed by a third rank of broo.

The following couple of months were spent on half started projects that will hopefully be finished in 2026 but I did make a start on an Empire Mordheim warband, completing the mercenary captain.

The plan was to get one or two warband members finished but the sudden urge for Napoleonics proved too much and so I made a start on a French infantry battalion, another long term goal.

So what's planned for 2026? I've pretty much finished the next section of the French battalion which will be posted up over the next couple of days. The Empire Mordheim warband will need pushing on and I certainly want to be adding to the chaos army (there's a couple of half finished efforts currently on the desk). I'd like to finally get around to painting a rogue trader pirate gang plus maybe more Dixon American Civil War projects. Plus, some kind of vignette wouldn't go amiss. It just depends on whether I can come up with a good enough theme. Finally, I've been so impressed with what I've seen out there this year from everyone else. Thank you all for the inspiration and keep it going in 2026.

The start of a Napoleonic French Battalion - Perry Miniatures

So with many projects ideas in the pipeline and one or two started, I've suddenly had the urge to finally begin a Napoleonic French battalion, something which I've always wanted to do but have never got around to it. The plan will be to take it in stages, adding to it as I feel the urge.

So up first is the 2nd Fusilier Company, wearing the sky blue pompoms. The battalion will be part of one of the most well known Napoleonic regiments, the 57eme infantry regiment, aka "Les Terribles", named after their exploits at Borodino, having captured one of the Russian strongholds, known as the flèches.

I'm currently working on the next section, which is the command base, featuring a mounted Colonel, a drummer and standard bearer. Hopefully I'll have it finished before New Year.

Mordheim Warhammer Empire Mercenary Captain

I've been meaning to seriously take on a Mordheim project using classic 4th edition Empire models for a good, long while now. I've made attempts in the past but never really got that far. I think one of the main issues was not ever finalising the choices of miniatures throughout the warband. This time I think I've got there. Anyway, up first is the leader.

I've decided on the classic standard bearer as my captain with a simple pistol conversion from one of the Empire champions. This model is my all time favourite of the 4th edition Empire range, as it happens.

The plan is to add two or three of the 4th edition swordsmen, a greatsword, a handgunner, a couple of youngbloods and an ogre.

Citadel Runequest Broo regiment - Third Rank complete

It's been three months since my last post. A heavy summer work schedule plus being indecisive on what to paint has slowed things down a little after a progressive first half of the year. I've managed to get one or two projects half finished but decided to take on a third rank for my Chaos Broo regiment.

As with the previous ranks, there has been some diverse figure selection, which is, of course, a prominent feature with the Broo range. The Rhino headed broo was very kindly donated to me by the prolific Jason Fulford from the excellent Rogue Heresy blog. Amazingly, this is the first black undercoat paint job I've undergone since about 1988. This was only due to the fact he arrived with a black base coat and I couldn't be bothered to strip him.

Next is one of the figures from The Broo boxed set, followed by the standard bearer from and the highly characterful crab eyed broo, both from the blister pack range, which can be quite difficult to come by. The last in the rank is from the Attack of the Broo set.

I may well carry on with this regiment and get it wrapped up with the rear rank while I still have the momentum. I'll make a decision over the next few days.

Citadel C23 Ogre - Skrag The Slaughterer

The empire project has taken a bit of a halt for now, due to being a bit indecisive on colours for the next regiment so in order to keep the momentum going, I've dipped back into the chaos army project with another ogre. This time, Skrag the Slaughterer.

This has been a bit of a saga in regards to acquiring one in decent condition. Shortly before I was due to paint my original one, I noticed there was quite a bit of miscasting around the face so decided to search for a more intact one, rather than attempting to repair with green stuff. I managed to get hold of another soon enough but on arrival, it was pretty beat up so the hunt frustratingly continued. Third time lucky, despite initially being sent to the wrong address and me receiving the wrong model, I now found myself in the possession of a perfect specimen.

Despite being a classic citadel personality and a pretty cool model, he's not the most interesting to paint but I am more than happy with it and he pairs up nicely with the Chaos Ogre that I recently finished.

So I may work on some more chaos models while I consider my options with the Empire project; can't fully decide just yet.

Warhammer Tilean (Empire) Mercenary Spearmen - Second Rank

Since taking a break from the chaos army, it's taken a few weeks to decide on what's next. After a couple of ideas were attempted without success, I decided to get back to a project I last worked on four years ago, my Tilean mercenary spearmen.

My Tilean mercenary army has been an ongoing project for several years and it's been great to revisit after so long away from it. I do love painting empire troops but they always take me so long so that's probably why it's been such a slow burning project.

As you probably can tell, the second from right is not the real Nuln spearman but in fact a proxy sculpt by Geoff Sims of Oakbound Studios. It's a damn fine tribute to be fair.

The dwarfs are from The Assault Group dwarf range (formally White Knight) by John Pickford and are an absolute joy to paint. This is the first time I've worked on this range and have quite a few in the lead pile so there are definitely plans for more.

The other models are two from the 90's Empire spearmen range and lastly, on the far right end, Edmund from the earlier Citadel F4 Men At Arms range who works quite well as a young lad, yet to receive the regimental black armour.

So I've one final rear rank to complete the regiment but I think attempting them straight away would be a little overwhelming as they take so long but I'm sticking with the Empire theme and am currently working on a command group for another regiment.

Citadel Chaos Chariot

I've always wanted a chaos chariot in my armies over the decades but it's never quite happened, until now.

I'm surprised there was never a C Series mid 80's one, in a time where other races did have them. Eventually the late 80's Realm of Chaos one was released, with the ginormous plastic non chaotic looking steeds, generic for mounted models at the time, fantasy and 40k alike. I do own that one but wasn't ever really a fan and I don't think it really fits into the earlier chaos range.

One of the primary issues for me with creating a custom chariot, is the choice of steeds. Whenever I've considered creating one before, I've always ended up drawing a blank and giving up. This time, the idea dawned on me of using the lizard horse from the Undead cavalry range. I've always loved that model but found that it doesn't really look at home with the skeletal horsemen it was released with. Now, another bonus is, that there are two variants, one being a two piece casting, the other a single one. There are differences in pose and appearance, which is ideal as I can have two matching steeds but slightly different. Perfect!

Anyway, the chariot itself is a Bob Olley goblin effort, which I think suits the chaos ethic pretty well. As usual with chariots, one of the original wheel scythes had been lost at some point so I've used two halberds from the chaos warrior, Utokh Vilespike. This does sound a tad extravagant, I know but one was damaged and the other has recently been converted to a standard bearer in the regiment.

The crew are two chaos warriors, of course, the driver being Ludmilla Loinripper (her newly acquired whip is from the driver from the late 80's chariot) and Panedal, whose pose is ideal for being stood behind. I'm pleased with how the demonic looking yoke appears to be gripping the reins of both steeds.

I'm wondering whether, after getting this completed, I should give the chaos project a break for now. I'm more than happy with what I've managed to achieve over the past five months and feel I'm at a suitable stage to pause it. I'm not totally decided on this plan as yet. I'll give it some thought over the next few days.