Restoring the Skeleton Army (Part the Third): Phil Lewis and Colin Dixon shield tributes

Good evening all...

The radiators have been ripped out and we stand ready to skip the bathroom. Tomorrow is the last time I'll have a shower and toilet for a while (eek!). The plumber reckons two weeks to finish the new bathroom and while he is working, we are having the wiring in the front room sorted while we await the new French doors. With thick, oak flooring due and new plasterwork also enroute it is going to be an expensive couple of months!

It is also going to be a busy couple of months. We have the school inspectors in AGAIN next week. The religious type this time rather than OFSTED, who we dealt with back in October. I work in a CoE school and every five years or so our religious implementation is examined. Additionally, the school reports are due in a couple of weeks to boot. Basically, not much time available for Orlygg to Old School. 

Still, I used the time I had this afternoon wisely. A few days ago I was moving boxes around ready for next week when I found the small stack of donated White Dwarfs. Plucking up issue 101 reminded me that this is the issue where John Blanche waxes lyrical about '80s shield painting techniques. Way back when at the start of my blogging career this issue was highly influential in me developing my 'Citadelesque' painting style... in fact the famous tutorial on the first page that let's you into the secret of painting an 'Ogre Face' was what finally made the penny drop for my freehand painting.

Flicking through, I noticed a couple of nice shots of two plastic skellies from the original Skeleton Horde set by the looks of it. One painted by Phil Lewis and the other by Colin Dixon. Such a clear presentation of two classic paintjobs inspired me to have a crack at some tribute shield decoration while strengthening my freehand skills. 

Dazza36 suggested I experiment with Acrylic Resin with my press mould a few weeks back. Well, my order arrived and I've been testing this new material out. Though not as tough and hardwearing as original greenstuff, it does pick up the detail like nothing else I've tried. So far, I've cast up a couple of shields as you can see in the second picture. I'll be moving to this stuff once I've worked through all of the greenstuff shields I've made as its faster drying. If there are any experts in this stuff out there reading - can you mix more powder than water and get a stronger material? Does this stuff even work like that?

MisterC - he who donated the incredible Skeleton Army - also sent a fair few paints with the boneyard boys. Truth be told, I've been rather too excited with my new forces of undeath to investigate too closely at the paints. Having now done so, I've been pleasantly surprised to find the other three paints from the Metallic Paint Set. They are all still quite useable, save for what I assume to be Burnished Gold which has separated and clumped together like many a shiny pot from the past. 

So, once again... MisterC... I salute you for these wonderful additions. I could be wrong, but I am fairly sure I now have all of the original early Citadel paints sets completed. Just need a modern Goblin Green from Coat d'Arms to replace my dried up one. 

Anyway, on to my skellies and their shields. In the images below you can see the original inspiration and my attempt at the design. I didn't want to straight copy but get a feel of the design. I lack the skill of these two classic painters of yore sadly. 

This one is by Colin Dixon and I've dubbed it 'Hair Skull'. I'm not sure if the background is actually a nice barnet for a grinning boneface but I'm going for it all the same. I painted the skull first using my usual method and then added the strange swirls. Looking back, I see I need a darker brown background to this design (I plan to have another crack and this at some point) and I need the 'hair' to taper at the bottom of the shield rather than circle round. But I'm pleased with the result. 

Phil Lewis, the former lensmith of WD, is responsible for this cracking design. I've called it 'Blue Hair Skull'. Again, I wouldn't mind another attempt at this one soon but I'm fairly pleased with the result. Sure, my example is more Jim Robinson from 1980s Neighbours than Phil's big toothed troublemaker. And my pupils are much too large as well. Though the keen eyed of you will notice that I've added the bronze studs too. 

And here they are, alongside the other motley lot from my Restored Skeleton Army. So far its just four fairly mixed figures. With twenty-six more models to go I'm going to have plenty of opportunities to try out those classic shield designs as well as source a few more. Of course, if you've got a shot of a decent design from an old WD please do send me word of where to find it. I'd love to try out some more vintage ideas from the masters.

Orlygg

The Return of the Elven Animal Keepers

 

Games Workshop have re-released the old Elven Animal Keepers as part of their ongoing 'Old World' range of products and my order was waiting for me on my doormat this afternoon as I arrived home from work. 

I hadn't expected them until Wednesday.

To be honest with you I was skeptical of the release and of GW themselves. Being an enthusiast of the Citadel of old when you could ring up mail order and buy individual titan guns from years previously, surely modern GW couldn't offer old Orlygg anything?

I'm happy to say that I was wrong. 

It is a great release and I'm really pleased I took the plunge and bought a set.  Let's have a closer look...

Obviously the packing is not on par with the glory of the '80s cardstock, but I wasn't expecting it to be. And as you can see, polystyrene (can that even still be used?) inserts to protect your beautiful models have long departed in favour of a plastic case where your models slide around and bash each other. No difference from a blister pack of old I suppose. Even so, I loved opening up the box and seeing all the models for the first time. I was trying to remember the last time I bought something from GW... I think it was the Famous Familiar set they put out 10 years ago or more, along with the elementals. 

For a second, the weight of the box mislead me to thinking they were resin versions but a quick rattle of the delivery box allayed my fears. As you can see here, the figures and beasts are just as crisp and engaging as there were way back in 1987 when Jes Goodwin first sculpted them. 

And look at that tab!

GW1987... it is brilliant to be able to buy models from our era fresh from the casting room and this will be a real blow to the eBay scalpers. The bear figure alone goes for far too much money. I am glad the gamers old and new now have access to these models. Interestingly, these figures are totally new to me. I never saw them back in the day or owned them myself. I think I can remember seeing them amongst Bryan's collection, I will have to check my photos. 

The full set. Gorgeous models and a real surprise. I have to admit to being impressed and I'm tempted to order the Bugman's Cart (incidentally, also on the advertisement I've used to open the post) next. Obviously for someone without a leadpile of any significance, such a release is a godsend. I'm now in a quandary as I'm supposed to be working on that Skeleton Army... 

Steady Orlygg... don't get carried away.... 

Obviously, a set like these needs painting up in tribute of the Citadel originals. But that will be a project for the summer holidays when I've been driven mad by bone, rust and skulls. 

If any of you are on the fence about these I'd heartily recommend picking up a set. It is not often that I say this, but 5 stars to GW for releasing these models and getting them to me so quickly. 

Orlygg.