2016 Review Time!

 Well it's that time of year again folks; a recap of what I've brushed over the last twelve months.

 It's probably my most proactive year for a long time actually with no real breaks so let's take a look back at what went on.

 It was a bit of a slow start to the year and I was almost through the whole of January before I managed to get something finished; a nice Chaos Warrior from the Collect Counter series. Something straight forward to ease me back in gently.

 The idea of a Tilean warband had appealed to me for a while; I had a lot of fun with figure selection with this one with a mixture of Eternal Champion and classic fighters.

 I rounded off my Star Reavers Space Marine chapter with a riding lizard unit. I'd always wanted these guys in the army and was very happy to finally get my wish.

 2016 marked my first ever collaboration projects as well; Chaos warbands in both 40k and WHFB with the hugely talented Rochie Rochfort. There's a little bit for us both to finish off here and there but I had a lot of fun doing these (and I think Rochie did), generating the warbands, bouncing ideas off each other and seeing his take on things. If you can find someone to buddy up with, I wholly recommend this!

 Next up was a converted Confrontation Venator leader. Where there are only four Venator ganger figures, I fancied trying to fill the leader vacancy.

 My most absorbing project of the year, or should I say ever, was my undead diorama which I began at the end of 2015 but completed this summer.

 Originally devising the idea way back in 2001, I finally decided it was time to make it a reality. I won't cram this post up with too many pics so here is a link to its original post where there are more images available to see. I can undeniably say that I'll probably never embark on a project on such a large scale again (well, maybe - watch this space).

 I also made a start on an Orc army which I intend to take my time on and slowly add to when I feel the need.

 I finally managed to finish a confrontation gang thanks to a challenge issued by Colin from the Facebook group, The Palatine Hive. With plenty of gang choices to choose, I opted for the Helmawr Clan.

 Finally this year, I've resumed work on my old Chaos army that I hadn't really added to in recent years. After a few chaos warriors to kick things off again, I've been concentrating on building up a unit of Broo and beastmen. I'll be continuing this project into the new year.

 Looking back I'd have to say this has been my favourite year of the 32 that I've been involved in the hobby. Completing the diorama was very rewarding in particular.
Looking at last year's review I managed to tick off a lot of the boxes for projects I'd planned to get finished this year and the Oldhammer Community has played a large part in that due to keeping my momentum and enthusiasm going. There has been some phenomenal work from you guys out there this year; dare I say it, better than any other year? 2017 will be no exception I'm sure!

 So happy new year to you all and I look forward to seeing what beautiful and inspirational works of art you produce over the coming months.

More Beastmen/Broo join the unit

 As with most of you this time of year, painting and blogging can't always be fitted in around the festive nonsense but I have managed to get another three beastmen finished over the last couple of weeks.

  The trio are a mix of pre slotta Runequest  broo and C27 beastmen.

 Known as Blob Head, this guy is one of the more bizarre beastmen. As far as I know it's a Perry Twin/Trish Morrison hybrid sculpt, with the body originally starting life as a pre slotta broo.

 Two Head has to be even more extreme. Another Perry/Trish Morrison hybrid, its body was originally another from the broo range. This is perhaps my favourite of the C27 beastmen.

 The last guy was from the Runequest blister packs; his torso and legs were originally used in The Vile Broo set.

 So that'll be the last paint jobs I produce in 2016 but I'll be continuing with this unit at the beginning of the new year. In the next couple of days I'll be taking a look back over the year at what I've managed to get done.

Broo/Beastman Unit Leader - A Mighty Beastlord

 I wanted something a bit special as my unit leader and originally had settled for a Chaos Champion but realising how I needed an excuse to paint this fellow, I opted to use him as the leader. 

 Now he is in fact a Half Troll Chieftain from Asgard Miniatures but I think he suits the role of a beastlord very well. I think I'm right in saying it's an early Nick Bibby sculpt from his time at Asgard but I may be wrong. In my opinion this miniature is the jewel in the Asgard crown; a lovely sculpt for its time.

I've chucked in a Jes Goodwin sculpt to make it a full front row. 

 He was a bit worn in places (acceptable for his age) and a little miscast here and there but he'll do.

 So it's back to the Broo for the next installment and there should be some ready to post before Christmas . 

Chaos Beastmen/Broo Unit Underway!

 Fancy a Broo? Well how about 3? Actually you could say one is a pre slotta beastman if we're splitting hairs.

 These old pre slotta beastmen and broo have been overlooked by myself in the past, I'm ashamed to say. Before, if I were to think beastmen it would be Jes Goodwin's Realm of Chaos era but I nowadays I feel there's just a bit too much order to them, too symmetrical - if you know what I mean.

 Over the last year I've started to slowly build up a collection of the pre slotta beastmen and I've paid a lot of attention to Bryan Ansell's beastmen from his classic chaos horde as seen on page 75 of Warhammer Armies.

 The plan, in time, is to produce a couple of 20 man units. One will be led by a chaos champion and one by something quite different, which you will be able to see in my next post.

 On the left is the Bird Woman from the C38 beastmen range and two broo from the Vile Broo Runequest box set although the standard bearer was actually released later in blister format with its own head whereas the box guys came with separate ones. The guy on the right looks like he's wearing a Victorian costume jewellery necklace.

 So expect to see more beastmen/broo of various shapes and sizes over the next few weeks plus the mystery unit leader sometime this coming week.