Mars Miniatures

Mars Miniatures

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Goblin Raiding Party & Saruman

This time we got Citadel White Box SS4 - Goblin Raiding Party

and Saruman with his personal bodyguard of Citadel 80s LOTR Half-Orcs.

The White Wizard approaches.

"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us!"


 Citadel White Box SS4 - Goblin Raiding Party

 Warlord Ubar Earbiter, Goblin Chieftain & Urag Legeater

 Discipline Master, Snurd Hideflayer & Bulbug Orcleaver

 Ubar's Lieutenant, D'glish Sharpcut & Norgus the Flatulant

 Shaman Pogo Wildchant & Gigblad Childsplatter

 Zurgush Wartpicker & Goblin Champion, Torg Dwarfsmasher


~~~

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, we now present for your viewing pleasure... the Wizard of Isengard...


 Saruman!
And his Half Orc bodyguards.

Step right up, folks.  Dont be shy.

See the amazing White Wizard who can see into the future!
He can see things near and far, everywhere... with the help of his magic crystal ball...  err... Palantir, that is.

Mandatory Citadel Codes:  Citadel ME-62 Saruman The White

His Half Orc bodyguards always keep a watchful "eye" (of Sauron?!).
OK, how about they are always close on "hand" (of Saruman... much better!)

 Mandatory Citadel Codes: ME-43 Half Orcs


Saruman:  A new power is rising! Its victory...is at hand!  We will drive the machinery of war with the sword and the spear and the iron fist of the Orc.  

Warlord Ubar Earbiter:  Where are we attacking, mi'lord?  Rohan?  Gondor? 

Saruman:  No!  The land will be stained with the blood of stunties! March to Moria! Leave none alive! TO WAR! There will be no dawn... for Dwarves!


~~~

As if things werent bleak enough for the Dwarves facing the Balrog...
Now they must fight the forces of Isengard as well?!

OK, what did Saruman see in his Palantir that makes him want to attack Moria before Rohan?
Perhaps he broke Gandalf in interrogation?
Poor water-boarded Gandalf...
Does Saruman know about Frodo and his funny little Ring?!

Questions... questions that need answers...

But the most important question...
Does Sauron know who holds the One Ring? 

Cheers,
Mar

Next Post:  Springtime in Mordor!








Monday, April 23, 2018

Dwarf King's Court, Citadel White Box SS2

Buddies,

Another Dwarf King and his entourage arrive on the blog.

I believe that takes us to 10 Dwarf Kings about to be fed to the Balrog!

This time its the box set known as Dwarf King's Court - Speciality Set 2.

Group shot of the stunties

King Dumin Ironbeard & Queen Asabelle Dragonsmiter

I wonder if the Queen secretly wears the pants in this marriage.
Her smirk can definitely smite a dragon.

Orizard Oldrock, King's Champion & Quintin Limpfondle, Queen's Champion

Ahh, the Royal Champions.
Limpfondle is a disturbing name if ever I heard one.

Corbit Shortstuff, Gnome Jester & Cyril the Bear, the Royal Mascot

I love the Jester, and the bear is like "huh? what? me?"

Fungil Wisebeard, the Sage & Bomban Ironbeater, Royal Armourer

I dont know how many Dwarf wizards we got, but here is one more.
Actually, I think all we got is Nindalf, so now we have two!
The blacksmith is anxious to get to Moria and see the famous Anvil of Doom.

Sergeant Dimgol, Royal Banner Bearer & Mimbrin, Royal Guard

Sergeant Dimgol had a broken weapon, so I upgraded him to a banner bearer!
I enjoy repairing broken old minis and giving them new life.
I have a couple of minis that people have remarked to have never seen that variant before.
I should gather them together for a post - its like rescue pets, but rescue minis!


~~~


Moving along nicely, we got one more White Box in the next post and then...
We turn our focus to the Dark Lands... of Mordor!
dun Dun DUN

Cheers,
Mar


Next Post:  Citadel White Box SS4 - Goblin Raiding Party




Sunday, April 22, 2018

Night Elf Patrol, Citadel White Box SS3

We got 3 Citadel White Boxes in the next couple of posts.
This first one has Night Elves.

 Here is the Citadel White Box known as Night Elf Patrol SS3 - Speciality Set 3.

 Group shot of the Drow

 Commanderess Zelosa Forestburner & Lieutenant Kraal Hearteater

 Priestess Lillith Child-Impaler & Vard Demonslayer, Night Elf Champion

 Dyreel Dwarf-Flayer & Dosadi Warchild

 Yasl Spriteslayer & Ezron Nightstrider

 Nzandra Devilconsort & Qulla Darkfaith

 Princess Karla and Priestess Lillith

Princess Karla:  Thank you Priestess for waking me.  We shall reconquer all the lands in the name of Lodoss and Menzoberranzan!  But first we must raise an army worthy of the Drow.

Priestess Lillith:  We shall take you to Naggaroth, the land of the Dark Elves.  I am certain the Lord and Ladies of the Cold Lands will recognize your title and authority.

Princess Karla:  They must!  But if they refuse, do not fret, I am a sorceress-princess and I have other means to raise armies.

Skitters and Commanderess Zelosa

Commanderess Zelosa:  Whoa, Garthim!  Back off!  What did I tell you about getting too close to me!  Your Confusion Aura affects both friend and foe!

Skitters:  (coos for affection)

Commanderess Zelosa:   Ahh... poor beastie.  To be so unsettling to others, even to your loved ones... I suppose we must bear your vertigo nature (scritches the Umber Hulks neck) Your creators - the Skeksis were immune to your bewildering aura.  I wonder if any of those demonic vulture creatures still exist in Middle Earth?  I hear they were masters of the Chaotic magicks of Tzeentch.

Skitters: (makes strange clicking sounds)


~~~


Who would have guessed that Skeksis were Tzeentchian, or that Umber Hulks were Garthim?
What really happened in Lodoss long ago?
Did the Gelflings rise up and overthrow the Skeksis, taking their magic and their servants - the Garthim?
But most important of all... what happened to Aughra's Observatory... that wondrous mechanical astronomical machine?
Guess I better get myself that Age Of Sigmar - Numinous Occulum afterall... sigh.

Also, if you look at the black and white pics at the top banner of this blog, you will see the Night Elves in the right pic.
Slowly, the minis pictured on the banners are ending up in my painted collection...
Maybe someday, I will be able to recreate the above illustrations with minis.

Cheers,
Mar


Next Post:  Citadel White Box SS2 - Dwarf King's Court




Citadel AD&D Umber Hulk And Oldhammer Evil Princess

This post we got some old school 80's Citadel minis.
An Umber Hulk from Citadel's AD&D line.
And a pre-slotta Fantasy Adventurers - Evil Princess.


Because this blog loves Citadel Codes, here are the mandatory Citadel Codes:
ADD77 Umber Hulk & FAC23 Mounted Evil Princess


On this blog's LOTR campaign this figure is now known as Karla, Night Elf Princess of Lodoss.

Princess Karla is the last survivor of Lodoss - an ancient Drow Kingdom of Sorcery.
Many millennia ago, the Kingdom of Lodoss was facing annihilation because of the Great Wars between Chaos, Dwarves, Humans, and Elves.
The Seers of Lodoss saw the destruction coming for all civilizations and a long period of darkness.
Princess Karla was placed in stasis-sleep in the hope that one day she would wake in a better world.
Her pet Umber Hulk named Skitters was also chosen to accompany her.
Skitters was content to dream for ages next to his beloved master.
And so the ancient world fell, and darkness reigned for ages.
More time passed, and Lodoss became a myth and Karla's chamber was buried deep and forgotten by time.
Numerous empires rose to glory and fell to obscurity, and still mistress and pet slept on.
Until just recently, thousands of years later, the Night Elf Patrol have found the ancient stasis chamber of Karla and awoken her from her long slumber.
The Night Elf Patrol realized that the ancient myths of Lodoss were indeed true and have embraced Karla as royalty.
Karla has reciprocated and declared that the Night Elf Patrol would be her personal entourage and royal bodyguard.
Would the Dark Elves of today accept her ancient claim to rule?


Umber Hulks are subterranean creatures and are excellent at digging tunnels.
They have 4 eyes and can create Confusion among its foes.
In Warhammer terms, I made these stats and special rules for the Umber Hulk...

Movement: 6
Weapon Skill: 3
Ballistic Skill: 1
Strength: 6
Toughness: 5
Wounds: 3
Initiative: 1
Attacks: 4
Leadership: 8

Special Rules:
1) Confusion:  All enemies in melee with Umber Hulk suffer a -1 To Hit modifier in Close Combat

2) Tunnel:  Umber Hulk may Deep Strike instead of deploying normally at start of game.

3) Umber Hulk Causes Fear.

~~~

So there's the latest post and I am glad to finally include these minis in the campaign.
Lets see how well Queen Morathi receives news of this ancient Drow Princess being awoken.
Will they get along... or will it be a Dark Elf Cat Fight!


Also at the top of this blog's banner, in the left pic, to the right of George the Giant you will see Princess Karla.
I consider those black and white illustrations and their respective minis as icons of Oldhammer.
Many more of those figures will be showing up in the next few posts.
Such as the Night Elf Patrol mentioned in the above fluff.
In fact, we have a trio of Citadel "White Boxes" coming up.
Keep on Oldhammering!


Next Post:   Citadel White Box SS3 - Night Elf Patrol

Cheers,
Mar








Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Full Mithril Jacket & Hobbit Bunker Pub

Buddies,

Oldhammering in Middle Earth has returned from the realm of Nagash.
Had some health troubles that prevented painting and gaming.
But my prayers to Sigmar have been answered and we are back in business!

We got some new pre-slotta Dwarves, some terrain, and some nice fluff.
There is one more Dwarf Quest that needs to be posted, but we will hold off on it for the moment.

Instead, we take you now to our story, in Dimrill Dale, a nice fertile valley outside of Moria's eastern entrance...


 New recruits have come to join the cause for freedom and beer-dom.

Its a rag-tag line of Dwarves who have come far and wide across the lands to help Moria in its hour of greatest need.
But have they come too late?

They are vintage pre-slotta Citadel Dwarves.
Some of them are coded from the old "Fantasy Tribes" line.
But some are collected and coded into the line known as:  C06 Dwarf Fighters /Dwarf Adventurers (solid base)

 As they enter Dimrill Dale they see a strange sight... a Hobbit hill home.
What in Durin's beard is going on here?
Wasnt this supposed to be a Dwarven colony?
This looks more like an idyllic halfling vacation resort!

 They see a Dwarven Engineer scolding some rascally looking Hobbits.

 Burlock Damminson:  Hobbits!  You were tasked to build a bunker.  That looks nothing like a fortification!

Pippin:  Yeah... but its cozy and there's crumpets and tea inside...

Burlock Damminson:  Crumpets are not a military feature!

Merry:  They can eradicate hunger though!

Burlock Damminson:  But will it repel an Uruk-Hai assault?!

Pippin:  It might... did I tell you about the beer cellar?  There is an ice cold tap that Nindalf magically enchanted to be at near perfect temperature for a nice tall Bugmans draught.

Burlock Damminson:  (wipes his sweaty brow, looks up at the high noon sun, licks his lips)  Hmm...  no.  But I am willing to inspect it... for military soundness, of course.  Lead on, lil' Hobbits.


 The front entrance of the Hobbit Bunker Pub.

This is a Ziterdes terrain piece, of course.
I didnt know the front piece was sold separately though.
So its rather plain looking at the moment, until I get one.
There is a choice of two fronts, I plan to get the one with proper Hobbit round windows and door.
I should remember it, now that Ive blogged it, since its been sitting there for nigh a year without a door.


The top of the hill has a winding path that leads to its summit.
Is that a pony at the top of the Bunker Pub?
And why is there a pony up there?
The Hobbits would reply:  Why not, eh? 


 Ah, its Bill the Pony!
Brave companion to the fellowship!

 Side view of Pub Hill

 On the other side of Pub Hill there's a side door, guarded by a Hobbit with his bow (and fried chicken drumstick!)

 The new Dwarves continue onwards and are greeted by a welcoming committee!

The pre-slottas are approached by 2 dwarves of legend - The Baron, Lastro Lupinthral, and their entourage Cheery and Fifer.
Lastro checks his clipboard and points at the newly arrived dwarfs and says "Thats them alright."
Fifer plays a merry tune, Cheery cheers, and the drummer drums.

 Left to Right:  Fifer Dwarf, Cheery Dwarf, Banner Bearer, and Drummer

The Banner and Drummer Dwarves are new to the blog.
They arent pre-slotta but they are 90s metal Dwarves.

 Left to Right:  The Baron, Lastro Lupinthral

The Baron:  I am The Baron, your senior drill instructor.  From now on, you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your sewers will be "Sir".  Do you maggots understand that? (Sir, yes, sir!) If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Middle-Earth.  Now let me see your war-face! (AAAAAaaaa!) You dont scare me, work on it.

Lastro Lupinthral:  (whispers in the Baron's ear)  But sir, these are pre slotta dwarfs i dont think they need training!

The Baron:  Nonsense! Lets see how well they handle... beer training!  Test out that Hobbit tavern there!  Attack those tankards of frosty cold brew!  And those fresh baked tasty cakes with kingsfoil frosting!  And smoke those recently arrived stocks of Hobbit pipeweed!


 Left to Right:  Angst Fleishmann, Gitas the Brazen, The Baron, Lastro

As the pre-slottas prepare to enter the pub to combat thirst and hunger, 2 of them talk to the Baron and Lastro.

Gitas the Brazen:  Hail and well met Baron. and Sir Lastro!

The Baron:  Good to see ya buddies!

Gitas the Brazen:  I hear there are lots of Dwarf Kings gathered here.

The Baron:  Yeah and one Queen too.  Lets see, there's High King Thorgrim of Everpeak, Slayer King Ungrim Ironfist of Karak Kadrin, Thorin King under the Mountain, Queen Helgar, Prince Ulther of Karak Ungor who should be king now that his father passed away, our fellow Lord of Legend King Gorin, King Alrik of Karak Hirn, and well there is that White Dwarf fella who they say might be Grombrindal.

Gitas the Brazen:  So why aren't we "in" Moria again, what are we doing outside in Dimril Dale?

The Baron:  Minor setback, theres a Balrog in Moria.

Gitas the Brazen:  Oh...

The Baron:   Well, he is coming out and about to descend on us with the full might of all his minions.  Should be exciting...

Gitas the Brazen:  Well, looks like we came just in time.

The Baron:  Aye, now lets get in that hobbit tavern before the cakes get cold.

Gitas the Brazen:  Do we have time for that?  You know... with the Balrog coming and all?

The Baron:  Dont worry.  They got that all figured out, we cant be attacked before the 3 quests are done and return.

Gitas the Brazen:  Quests?

The Baron:  Ahh shhhh. (elbows Gitas in the ribs) top secret stuff.  The High Command sent 3 teams to locations unknown - to get our Silmarilion swag on!  Magic weapons, treasures, and maybe some allies too!  Im sure it will work out, Balin is out there. Good bloke, that Balin.  And his chaos dwarf buddies are just a bit misunderstood.  Moody lot, but good in a scrap!


~~~

Now for some close ups of the pre-slotta Dwarves!


 Left to Right:  Bantar One-Eye, Olaf Thorginson, Sgt Kalassa

Im pulling the names from a White Dwarf ad called "the Original Dwarfs Flyer"
Bantar One-Eye is a female Dwarf.
Sgt Kalassa is an eastern Dwarf.  I wonder if he is an Easterling then?

  Left to Right: Landor Heavyhammer, Bambar Lumpmace, Eupractus Warrior Maid


Eupractus is a formidable female Dwarf name, if I ever heard one!
Bambar Lumpmace is a great name too, try yelling BAMBAR at the top of your lungs and see for yourself!

These Dwarves have battled the foes of the Dwarves even before the "C Series" came to be slotta based. 

 
They are grizzled old veterans from "a thousand psychic wars"... they are Citadel pre slotta Dwarfs!


~~~


So, there's the post!  And a happy 3rd year anniversary for the blog.
And with a fitting nod to the great R Lee Ermey as well.
Dwarven handgunners and cannons... 3 round volley for the honorable dead.

Ah theres also a Moorcock reference there at the end via Blue Oyster Cult.

We need to get the result of the 3rd Quest out there.
The pics and game were taken awhile ago, I just need to put fingers to keyboard to post it.
And I tell ya, its a doozy!


Also, I do have alot of pics of painted figures and terrain to show off, just need to find the words to accompany them.


Cheers,
Mar