Basing the Dwarf Engineers

On a recent visit to Warhammer World I purchased a blister pack of four metal Dwarf Engineers. I did baulk slightly at the price of £37.50, nearly ten pounds per miniature. I know it’s been nostalgic when I remember buying a blister pack of five dwarves back in the 1980s for £1.95. These were originally released about twenty years ago. I never bought these, as my original dwarf army comprised miniatures from the 1980s and 1990s.

Within the blister are the four dwarf models, separate weapons and tools, and four 25mm square slottabases.

The first thing I did was clean up the models, sorting out casting lines, and the little bits of metal that are on the model from the casting process.

I then attempted to slot them into their slottabases. Alas the tabs on the models were too wide for the slots. This is something that I remember from days of yore. The main issue is the writing on the tabs, the name and copyright information. It was a simple matter of getting out the file and filing the tabs down to the right size before slotting them into their bases.

I have decided to paint their quite detailed and bulky backpacks separately.

I then added texture to the bases using Citadel Sand. 

I bought my pot of sand years ago, but as I was running low, I realised I wanted another tub, but Games Workshop had stopped selling it. I was lucky in finding a tub on eBay. I like the sand, as it also contains small stones, which enhances the bases.

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

Dwarf Gyrocopter Pilot

I did think I had this model somewhere, however the pilot has turned up.

This was the original Dwarf Gyrocopter and personally I think the best. It comes across more as an autogyro rather than a helicopter, whereas the later models do feel more like helicopters, almost too sophisticated for a fantasy setting.

This is the original pilot, later Citadel did a pilot with a helmet with a winged helm, which you could argue was more fantasy than this pilot.

You can tell there are issues with my modelling here as the seat of the dwarf pilot has a large glob of epoxy glue there, this was when I use that over superglue.

Now I just need to find the Gyrocopter.

Old World Metal Dwarfs

Having bought some metal models recently from Warhammer World, I have been thinking about how I could build my Old World Dwarf army. There are plenty of plastics now available, as well as some metal models.

I did look into my miniatures archive. I knew I had some drunken dwarfs and some metal miners.

The drunken dwarfs were released twenty five years ago in 1999 and were designed by Colin Dixon. There were four dwarfs in the pack, including one miner.

The miners were released at the same time, I have three of them, four if you include the drinking miner.

I also discovered I had three Ironbreakers as well.

Though in theory they are finished I think they’re not and need some additional work.

I know I have a classic Dwarf Gyrocopter as well, well I have the pilot, but need to find his aircraft.

I like my miners and drunken dwarves, so would like to get some more like that.

I am thinking I might have to go to the eBay to get some OOP miniatures. A really challenge is finding some 25mm slottabases, as the newer Warhammer: The Old World models are coming with 25mm bases.

Old World Imperial Dwarfs

I was going through some stuff and I found some Imperial Dwarfs that I have had a few years. This is a unit commander and a standard bearer. I didn’t have the bases, and there was only one plastic shield.

Old World Imperial Dwarfs

According to the copyright information on the base these are from 1987.

I don’t know if I have any more unpainted models of this era in the garage, but I don’t think I have anymore than these two unpainted models, I know I have some painted miniatures, somewhere.

Having bought some metal models recently from Warhammer World, I have been thinking about how I could build my Old World Dwarf army. There are plenty of plastics now available, as well as some metal models. I am thinking I might have to go to the eBay to get some OOP miniatures. A really challenge is finding some 25mm slottabases, as the newer Warhammer: The Old World models are coming with 25mm bases.

Dwarfs of the Old World

On a recent visit to Warhammer World, as well as purchasing some nice new metal Dwarf Engineer miniatures I also took some photographs of the beautifully painted armies of the Dwarfen Mountain Holds in the display cabinets.

Dwarf Miners

Having bought some metal models recently from Warhammer World, I have been thinking about how I could build my Old World Dwarf army. There are plenty of plastics now available, as well as some metal models.

This was very much an impulse buy. I was in my FLGS looking at the shelves across The Old World range and decided I would get some dwarf miniatures.

I went for the Dwarf Miner box, which gives you twenty miners and four miner’s carts.

Dwarf Miners often join their brethren when they march to war. As a point of pride, they wield the same heavy, two-handed mining picks and mattocks they use to carve out tunnels, rather than the axes and hammers typically favoured by other Dwarfs. They are accompanied into battle by sturdy wooden carts drawn by rugged draft ponies to ensure they are properly equipped to face the trials that await them.

I like the candles on the helmets, but in reality how long would they stay alight on the battlefield? You get four large sprues and a bundle of bases in the box.

I am planning to paint them in the same way as some (metal) Dwarf Miners I painted a while back, a long while back.

I am thinking I might have to go to the eBay to get some OOP miniatures.

Unboxing the Dwarf Engineers

On a recent visit to Warhammer World I purchased a blister pack of four metal Dwarf Engineers.

Dwarf Engineers

I did baulk slightly at the price of £37.50, nearly ten pounds per miniature. I know it’s been nostalgic when I remember buying a blister pack of five dwarves back in the 1980s for £1.95.

I was pleased though that these were metal models.

These were originally released about twenty years ago. I never bought these, as my original dwarf army comprised miniatures from the 1980s and 1990s.

Within the blister are the four dwarf models, separate weapons and tools, and four 25mm square slottabases.

These will need to be cleaned up, stuck together and then fitted into the bases. I am planning that these will be painted in the same style as my drunken dwarves.

They have snowy bases with light blue uniforms.

Buying stuff at Warhammer World

I was visiting Warhammer World and decided I would treat myself to something. I did have an idea of the kits I might get, but wasn’t really set on any one thing.

I did consider getting the Macharius Vulcan Heavy Tank, which is one of the models on the top of my wants lost. However it wasn’t in stock. Another idea was the Warhammer World exclusive Land Speeder, but that also wasn’t in stock.

As I toured the exhibition, I decided that I would probably get some more Grot tanks, as I had enjoyed building and painting the ones I had bought before.

Though you can mail order models from Games Workshop (that aren’t available in your local gaming shop or even branches of Games Workshop) there is something about buying them from Warhammer World.

So, before I paid my money I did look around at what else was around. Seeing the metal models available for The Old World, I started to feel a little nostalgic. In the end I bought two models from The Old World Range.

I bought the Orc Warboss on Wyvern.

Orc Warboss on Wyvern

I never had this (originally) metal kit, this version is resin and I did like it.  did think about using it for my Feral Ork army. Though I might paint it for an Orc and Goblin army for The Old World.

The other thing I got were the Dwarf Engineers.

Dwarf Engineers

This was four metal models, which were originally released about twenty years ago. I never bought these, as my original dwarf army comprised miniatures from the 1980s and 1990s.

I was pleased with my purchases and am looking forward to constructing and painting them.

 

Very tempted…

One of the pre-orders next week for The Old World is for Prince Ulther’s Dragon Company.

A true classic returns to the Old World via Made to Order: Prince Ulther’s legendary Dragon Company, first cast as miniatures in 1985! Tasked by his father with freeing their ancestral home from the grobi scum that overran it 4,000 years ago, Ulther took a dragon-carved post from his father’s bed for his banner, and formed the Dragon Company to meet his familial obligations.

There are two packs available, a command pack, and a trooper pack.

The command pack includes Prince Ulther, Borri Forkbeard, a musician, and a standard bearer.

The trooper pack has five miniatures.

I really like these miniatures, and I am sorely tempted to order them next week. They are metal castings and I might forgive the plastic shields.

They were originally released back in 1985 as a Regiment of Renown.

This time though they will come on 25mm square bases rather than 20mm square bases they had in 1985.

 

Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer

This lovely painted Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer was on display at Warhammer World.

Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer

Thorgrim is the descendant of the most ancient and noble of all Dwarf lords. The very blood of Grugni flows in his veins and the wisdow of Valaya sits upon his beetling brow.

Dwarf High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer

Thorgrim Grudgebearer is the current High King of the Dwarfs and the ruler of Karaz-a-Karak. He is a throwback to the High Kings of old — eager for new conquests, mighty in battle, and a merciless enemy. Yet upon his worn brow, there also sits a pearl of great wisdom, and he is able to uphold the ancient traditions as well as to accept, if not embrace these needed changes, such as alliances and new technology. Thorgrim is forever brooding upon how to return his people to their former glory. As the ultimate ruler of the Dwarfs, the Dammaz Kron or the Great Book of Grudges is entrusted into his honourable keeping.

This model was painted years ago (years and years ago). I saw it on display at Warhammer World in 2005.