Citadel C23 Oriental Ogre

 As this Nippon warband has grown, it's been essential that I include the classic Jes Goodwin  oriental ogre as one of the stand out figures.

 He's actually a recent purchase (big thanks to Steve Casey there!) and I can't believe it's taken 30 odd years to finally get around to adding him to the collection.

 It goes without saying that's he's an incredible sculpt; plenty of lovely detail there. I particularly like the skull pommelled sword.

The warband gain some brute muscle in the form of an ogre

 So I've just got three figures to go to complete the warband. Well two actually as I've got one of them squared off already.

Citadel Samurai on Temple Dog

 I've decided to stick with the Nippon theme after thoroughly enjoying the three Oriental Heroes that I painted the other week. Up next is a Samurai riding Temple Dog.

Samurai armed with Yari, riding Temple Dog 

 This wonderful sculpt was, as far as I know, only available on the GW 1989 Easter sale flyer. The samurai was one of three possible riders, the other two being a hobgoblin and a dark elf.

To quote Warhammer Armies:

Temple Dogs are stone statues found guarding temple entrances in the lands on Nippon and Cathay. They resemble nothing so much as a cross between a giant pekinese and a lion. In times of war, the power of the temple gods is channelled into these statues to animate them. It is a great honour to mount this divine animal, indicating that the rider has found great favour with the gods.

The growing Nippon warband 

 Another figure that has been sat in a box for over 10 years, it's pleasing to finally get it painted up. I was unsure whether to paint the creature entirely as stone but in the end opted for a red skin to avoid it coming across as too drab.
 There doesn't seem to be many other painted examples around. I've seen a couple of the hobgoblin variants that have come out really nice but the samurai rider seems a bit aloof.

 I've plans for a small Nippon warband now I've a few painted so I'll stick with the Oriental Heroes while the enthusiasm is still there.

Citadel Oriental Heroes - Wu Jen and Samurai

 I'm all Empired out! There, I've said it. After over a year of pretty much nothing else, it's hit me that I need a change. Over the Christmas period I managed to do little but stare at various Empire figs with zero enthusiasm. I've therefore decided that 2019 will be more based around a 'I'll paint whatever shit that takes my fancy and less themed' procedure. And that's how it should be anyway, right?

 Something I've been wanting to paint for a long time now are some of the brilliant classic Oriental Heroes. I've finally managed to knock a few out; a Wu Jen and a pair of samurai.

 I won't go into all the history of this range as all you need to know and more is over at The Lead Pile where Colin aka Whiskey Priest posted a marvellous piece last year telling you all about them.

http://theleadpile.blogspot.com/2018/07/far-flung-cathay.html?m=1

 I think what has always put me off painting them is the challenging palette that comes with them. I have always found samurai armour very daunting to paint. Most of the ones I own were bought quite a few ago and have spent too long in a box.

Wu Jen with fan

Samurai with katana and wakizashi

Samurai with yumi

 The Wu Jen figure had been a target of mine for quite a while. I'd seen the odd one for sale on ebay for ridiculous prices (40 quid springs to mind) but finally managed to grab one for about a tenner. Then he too joined the others in a box until now. I can't think of a figure I've enjoyed painting so much in recent years.

 I'm really getting a kick out of painting these fellas so I may run with it for a little while longer.

2018 Review time!

 Season's greetings and all that! As another year draws to a close and this blog reaches half a decade, it's time for the annual review.

 The yearly total of posts for 2018 is somewhat lower than other years. I've tended to post more finished units this time than units or warbands in progress.
 The year began with the continuation of the Old World Army Challenge which had commenced at the tail end of 2017; a Border Princes Confederacy.

 After a good start, I began to slow up due to work commitments and had to come to terms with the fact I wasn't going to be able to complete the challenge. I'd managed to add a great cannon, a helblaster volley gun and a unit of halberdiers but work was getting increasingly full on and I had to call that it.

 With less time available, I decided to work on smaller projects. A Realm of Chaos mounted knight and a couple of figures to complete my Tzeentch warband.

 Getting back into the Empire scene, I commissioned the talented Alessio Cisbani to sculpt me an Empire hero based on a piece of John Blanche artwork. Alessio did a fine job; a really enjoyable figure to paint too.

 After making a start on a warband which included another copy of Alessio's model I was then preoccupied for some considerable time (about 2 and a half months) with the largest project of this year, the Forgeworld Landship. More details for that can be found HERE.

 With the year nearing the end, I continued with the Border Princes, add a mercenary spearman warband including an unreleased Empire captain and finally the army's commander, Marshal of the Border Princes Confederacy.

 I've one or two plans for the army for 2019 but after a year that has been dominated by Empire, it may be time to focus on other projects. It's probably the only year where I've not painted anything 40k so there's food for thought.

 I've no plans for a large scale project for next year yet. Some kind of vignette or diorama would be nice but nothing's sprung to mind so far. High praise to all the inspirational work I've seen out there this year, some breath taking pieces as always - and hope to see a lot more for 2019.

Warhammer Empire Border Princes Confederacy Army Commander- High Prince Bela of Styrtia

 Continuing with yet another Border Princes post, this latest offering is a tweaking of the classic Emperor Karl Franz figure - transforming him into High Prince Bela of Styrtia.

High Prince Bela 

"You have a woman's name m'lord!" Any Hungarian would probably beg to differ though 

 The plan is to include three or four of the Border Prince characters into the army with of one them as supreme commander - preferably the most flamboyant one. The Karl Franz figure seemed the most suitable option; getting rid of the hammer of course.

 I decided to give his steed a bit of enhancement as well, using several mould presses as armour details. A bit of a fiddly job was that. The head is of a chaos steed but I've given it a plume from what I believe to be a Blood Dragon horse.

 Overall he was a tricky character to paint; some bitchingly difficult eyes to finish off with as well. With a lot of varying detail, it was crucial to make sure the colour choices were coherent enough. That flowing elaborate sash prevents him from ranking up in a unit with other knights, which is a bit of a pisser.

High Prince Bela accompanied by fellow Border Princes, Duke Beaucamp (left) and Lord Durant.

 I'll try to bash out one more post before the traditional end of year review. Most likely it'll be the start of another unit, possibly cavalry.

Giermund's Mercenary Spearmen of Alfori

 Maybe I should rename The Work of Shaitan, Ed's Empire Blog. Sorry if you're getting a bit fed up with the lack of variety to recent posts. Normally I like to mix things up a bit but I'm riding the Empire wave and right now can't get off. It's nice to stick with something for so long and continue enjoying it as usually I'm keen to change projects all too often.

 Continuing with my Border Princes Confederacy, I've produced a small spearman unit/warband. 

  Now the leader is something rather special, an unreleased Empire mercenary captain. A bit of a white whale figure for me, long on the wish list, I was fortunate to acquire him recently. Many thanks to Steve Casey for that! He's a 1987 sculpt which I didn't realise til I had him in hand but is ahead of his time a bit, resembling the 4th edition Empire range of the early 90's. 

Giermund Brandstätter, mercenary captain and Edmund, boy soldier 

 The 4th edition Citadel Empire spearmen were a nice little range, little being the word seeing as only four were ever produced. It's a pity there weren't a few more variants. 

Stefan and Werner, mercenary spearmen of Alfori

Gregor and Benedikt complete the unit

 I'm aiming to get two or three entries into the army before the end of the year but am not decided on what exactly just yet; there's plenty to choose from. 

 

Warhammer Empire Border Princes Landship - The Mermaid of Sartosa

 If six months ago someone had said me I'd own and paint a Forgeworld Marienburg Landship by October, I'd not have taken them too seriously. This is the main reason my blog has been quiet of late.

The Mermaid of Sartosa

 Back in June I woke up one Saturday after a night down the pub and still slightly drunk I decided on an impulse buy. One landship bought. It arrived fully built which wasn't the smartest idea as it's impossible to paint unless it is in several sections. I then had to stick it in the freezer so I could get the glue brittle and break it up. That worked but not without damaging several pieces so it wasn't off to the best of starts. Furthermore, the other half spotted it on the desk and asked how much it had cost. When I lied and said it was £50, she baulked.

 The first plan was to ditch the crew (which I'm not a fan of by any means) and replace them with some nice 4th edition Perry sculpts.
 I won't lie, this model was an absolute bitch to build/paint at times, especially the rear wheels.

 So four months later (or thereabouts) It's all done - another one off the bucket list.
 Rather than a Marienburg vessel, I've painted it as part of my Border Princes force in particular from the principality of Khypris.

 I'm not sure what's up next. At least I've managed to get my annual large project in which I've been able to achieve for three years running now. It's a lot a weight off the shoulders to see it finished and free me up for smaller more manageable projects to keep the blog ticking along a little more consistently.