Game Hunters

After painting the Oathmark Light Infantry as somewhat generic rangers/outlaws, I was drawn to painting something in a similar vein but with a little more character.

I dug out five metal miniatures from the mid-80s which could easily be drafted into a Robin Hood themed scenario or two.

All five of these were released between 1985 and 1987, which means they were probably amongst some of the earliest models I owned, and they also indicate my focus on picking up miniatures related to the games I was playing rather than building armies for larger battles.

These three characters, a gamekeeper and two poachers, were released as part of the C07 Rangers...erm...range (released in 1985), which were clearly designed for use with Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay as several of the models in the range (including the Gamekeeper) are clearly modelled on illustrations in the WFRP rulebook.

Interestingly, the Gamekeeper career in WFRP contained the option to choose to be a poacher instead leadung to slightly different skills and career exits.

So these three models are actually two sides of the same coin in game terms.

I really like how both of the poachers gave evidence of the illicit acquisitions poking our if their sacks.

I also like how one of them is barefoot - perhaps a little bit of social commentary on the idea that poverty can be a catalyst for crime.

The Spy is from the game Talisman, specifically the Talisman: Dungeon expansion, released in 1987.

I've painted the Spy to match the artwork from the game because I couldn't think of a reason to do it differently.

Games Workshop released metal versions of all of the player characters in the game, of which I only had eight: the Orc, the Soldier, the Warrior of Chaos, the Saracen, the Ninja, the Spy, the Highlander and the Inquisitor.

I still have all but the Orc, who went went I sold my unpainted army to a friend. All of the others, except the Ninja, have found homes in different armies and projects over the years.

The final, rather gaudily dressed chap is Rildo the Crafty from the Heroes for Dungeonquest expansion for the game Dungeonquest, also from 1987.

Yes. His name is Rildo. It's poorly stamped on his slotta tab, in a game partially aimed at children.

It was a different time.

The gaudy outfit is based on the official art from. The expansion which provided 12 new metal characters for your games of Dungeonquest.

I still have all but two of them, and most of them have fallen to chaos and joined my Nurgle army. One of the two still unpainted models is, like with Talisman, also a ninja.

If Nippon ever follow Cathay into Warhammer: The Old World, I'll have the start of an army.

I'm not sure how these five will get used, but I'm leaning towards just having a collection of generic fantasy types around for various uses such as Five Leagues from the Borderlands or 7TV.

Mind you, they were fun to paint, so I don't really need a reason.

Acquired: 15

Painted: 115

Lead Mountain: 644

Ranger Danger

The other part of my 7TV Secret Santa gift was a sprue of Oathmark Human Light Infantry, clearly intended to go with the Norman Chest Bearers as outlaws intent on liberating the contents of the chest.

For the poor...obviously...definitely for the poor.

Anyway, I opted to take the lead that was offered and set about turning them into some soon to be merry men.

This was the first time I've had a close look at one of the Oathmark sprues, and they are really nice.

The cloaked figures can be armed with bows or a range of hand weapons and shields and there are a good range of characterful heads. Including three with hoods.

These models could easily be used as peasant rabble, loyal retainers or, as I have done, furtive woodsmen.

I've never been the biggest fan of multiparty plastic models due to the soft details that done suit my painting style. However, I did like how simple these models were, meaning that I could at least get them done without too much fuss.

I've opted for a uniform range of greens and browns - the main tunics are dark brown, rather than black, as they appear in the pictures - as I intend for these outlaws to pull double duty as Dunedain Rangers or even Rangers of Ithilien in games of Lord of the Rings.

As such, I armed one of them with a spear, as both types of Rangers are allowed to use them, and there was only one in the box. I did need to cut it down though as it was clearly intended for use with a banner.

I gave the last of the group a sword simply to allow him to serve as a captain if necessary. The sprue dies include a small amount of pouches, daggers and scabbards to be hung at the belts, but I opted to ignore these for simplicity's sake.

There's clearly a bit more work to do if I'm going to try to play any Robin Hood themed games, so I might look into pick up the 7TV feature pack to give me some guidance about where to go next.

I'll also have a rummage in the lead pile to see what I can turn up that could be used for either side.

Acquired: 15

Painted: 110

Lead Mountain: 649

D'Isigny Villains

A small group of armed tax collectors walking between villages on the edge of Sherwood Forrest.

What could possibly go wrong?

Why on earth am I painting some vaguely Robin Hood themed miniatures?

Basically...I have them.

I was sent a pair of Norman Chest Bearers, along with some plastic outlaw-types as a 7TV Secret Santa gift and if you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you'll know I'm nothing if not easily distracted.

The Norman Chest Bearers are really nice models from Crooked Dice which I would never otherwise have bought. They were remarkably easy to paint with only half a dozen base colours washed and highlighted.

I opted to go for a colour scheme inspired by the Lego Black Falcons (the baddies in the castle range) I had as a child. The idea for this came from this video from the Peachy Tips YouTube Channel - although I chickened out of trying to paint the heraldic falcon.

My only criticism of these miniatures was that the rods that support the box are far too chunky to go into the hand holes, even without the even wider metal caps on the end.

Using thinner metal rod was an easy fix, but I still don't know how they were supposed to work.

Currently leading this group of nefarious tax collectors is a model I got for free from one of the Partizan shows.

It is apparently Sir Walter D'Isigny, one of the Norman followers of William the Conqueror, who not only founded the village of Norton Disney, but also is apparently the ancestor of one What Disney.

I'm not going to grumble about the quality of a free model, but there is a nasty mold line in his helmet and the proportions are quite different to the Crooked Dice models.

I wasn't keen on the positioning and shape of his left hand and so opted to cover it with a spare kite shield I had knocking around.

I've opted to base these in the same manner as my Lord of the Rings miniatures as I plan to have the outlaws pull double duty when I get round to them, and I might even start basing all of my generic fantasy/medieval miniatures in this way to keep things consistent.

Acquired: 15

Painted: 101

Lead Mountain: 671