Ral Partha Chaos Archers & Crossbowmen, completed, June Reflections

 June has come and gone.  Honestly, I did not get much painting done during the last 30 days.  Quite simply, I was not in the mood.  Since January I have painted 400+ 28mm scale figures of all types and the desire to paint more of this scale is rapidly evaporating.

However, I hate leaving jobs unfinished.  In my box of lead I still had 36 Ral Partha Fantasy Armies Chaos archers to paint.  I already had 48 in my forces but again, leaving odds and ends lying around bothers me.  So, with nothing better to do I finished them off.  It took roughly one week, picking at them one unit at a time during the evenings.  Again, I am going for a Tabletop+ effect.  I simply don't have the desire to paint works of art (like I even can really) on an army level scale anymore.  

Unlike the new editions, older versions of Warhammer Fantasy Battle allowed for Chaos to field missile troops.  This was dropped after 3rd edition however.  Sad.  Having that ability gives many more options other than hack and slash.  Anyway, since I play games other than Warhammer they will see use no matter what the GW gods may desire.

Chaos Archers & Crossbowmen, from Ral Partha Fantasy Armies

Crossbowmen are equipped with Arbalests, steel crossbows.  They were done in neutral colors, usable as mercenaries or in any of my three Chaos armies.  

One unit of archers was done years ago, in a different paint scheme.  They are darker than the other 24.  

The warriors equipped with shortbows are actually quite a pain in the ass to spin off according to Martyn at Ral Partha Europe.  Actually, his exact words were, "...if anyone had ordered a whole unit of them no amount of warm, sweet tea would have been enough to calm me down".

These models can also be used in Kings of War, specifically in the Kingdoms of Men faction.  Although they are on 25mm bases (vs the required 20mm), the frontage of four models is the same as five 20mm models (KoW only cares about frontage and depth).  This allows me to use 12 of these to form a Regiment in KoW, or 8 to form a Troop.  

The longbowmen were done in Slaaneshi colors, silver and pink.

"Archers at the ready!"

The question is what to do next.  I have a major 28mm project to start: my Perry Agincourt army.  However, this is over 400 models and I am not sure I am up for it this year.  Also, I still have hundreds of 15mm sci fi to paint and finish off.  They are much quicker to bang off and perhaps a change of pace would be good for me.  In fact, I am looking at a big box of Khurasan figures right now.....they are calling me.

Warhammer Fantasy - Dark Elf Cold One Knights on Ral Partha Dinosaur Mounts

This weekend I managed to bang off (amongst other things) the last two of my converted Dark Elf Cold One Knights mounted on Ral Partha dinosaur mounts.  The plan is to use them as Cold One Knight unit fillers for Warhammer Fantasy, or as Elite Riders in Dragon Rampant. 

I don't claim to be a great painter.  I do try to keep things neat and tidy though.  I am only shooting for table top standard, which is the limit of my skill.

The pennant is loosely attached to the lance right now.  I need to fix it in place so it does not move around more.

I have another 6 mounts left to do, along with their Ral Partha Ogre riders.  Not sure when I will get around to completing them.  

Ral Partha Bob Olley Cyclops

 Bob Olley is one of my favorite sculptors of fantasy miniatures.  He has a very distinctive style that I can recognize anywhere.  His Ogres and Trolls from Ral Partha are some of my favorite fantasy models of all time.  This guy below also falls into that category.  I had some time yesterday so I banged him out in about an hour or so, finally getting him out of my painting queue.  

Ral Partha Bob Olley Cyclops

This brute is true 25mm scale.  This means he is big, but not on the same scale as a Games Workshop Giant.  He is more modest, around 70mm tall.  He is painted in the same style as my Ral Partha Ogres:

• Reaper Master Olive Skin Triad
• Reaper Master Khaki Triad
• Vallejo Cavalry Brown for the leather, washed with Army Painter Mid Brown Wash.
• Vallejo Model Air Steel for the metal bits.
• Vallejo Ivory for teeth and claws.

He is mounted on a 50mm base.  This allows me to use him as a large monster in many games, or as a unit filler for rank and flank games (possibly as a command group substitute).

Anyway, he was simple to paint and did not put up a fuss.  I might put a rock in his left hand along with some rocks on the base to represent a stockpile of throwable missiles.

Ral Partha - Giant Lizardman

 Who does not love Giant Lizardmen?  These fellows were produced by Ral Partha decades ago.  They are massive models, standing 70mm tall.  

Ral Partha Giant Lizardman

These figures were quite simple to paint (all airbrushed on):

• Vallejo Model Air Russian Green Primer
• Vallejo model Air NATO Green Primer as a highlight
• Vallejo Model Air Camo Black Green on the hair
• Vallejo Model Air Camo Green on all skin areas
• Vallejo Model Air Camo Light Green as a highlight on all raised skin areas
• Light drybrush of Reaper Master Series Cats Eye Green followed by Vallejo Sky Green
• Hair drybrushed in Vallejo Flat Green

These figures could be used in just about any role: generic giants, demonic beings or in Oathmark, as an Eachy, a mythical giant lake monster.  

Ral Partha Fantasy Armies - Skeletal Ballista

Yesterday I discovered that I  have never photographed by these poor chaps: my Undead artillery battery.  Shame on me.

The kit was easy enough to assemble.  Few mold lines to clean up (almost none).  

Ral Partha Skeletal Ballista

These guys are from Ral Partha Europe.  In the 1990s, Ral Partha was bought by FASA.  They subsequently released new miniatures for the Fantasy Armies Range (originally designed for Chaos Wars, Ral Partha's version of Warhammer).  All of the miniatures released by FASA during this period were 28mm scale, vs the 25mm that was common in the 1970s and 1980s.  The detailing is excellent, however they do not mix well with the older Ral Partha ranges...the models are just too big.  

The skeletons are 28mm.  Nothing flimsy about them.  All my skeletons over the last 20+ years are done the same way: primed ivory, then airbrushed Reaper Masters Yellowed Bone, then given a warm brown wash...these days Anthrax Earthshade.  Its nice not having to make my own washes in these modern times.

The crew is held onto the base with white tac.  If necessary they can be removed to fight in melee or as casualties.  I should probably sand the mold line off their metal bases.....all Ral Partha 28mm Fantasy Armies figures come with metal bases.

They are ready for battle....they are always ready.

28mm Fantasy - Ral Partha Fantasy Armies Chaos Imperium Archers & Crossbowmen

 In the 1980s and 90s fantasy wargaming was all the rage.  There were many systems out there: Warhammer, Battlesystem, Chaos Wars (Ral Partha's own massed battle rule set), the list goes on.  Sadly, plastic models had yet to arrive on the scene.  If you wanted to wargame then metal was the only option.  Ral Partha, one of the oldest manufacturers released a whole range of models, branded as Fantasy Armies, specifically for massed battle games.

During this period model ranges usually lacked the diverse number of poses that we have come to expect from plastic models.  Quite simply, at the time, it was too costly for developing a wide range of poses for the same model.  The market was small and sculpting was still done by hand, a very tedious process indeed.  So, if you wanted say a unit of archers, you were likely stuck with one pose (or two, if you were very fortunate).  This was the way back then.  One good thing however, it potentially made painting a lot easier.  There is something to be said for a massed unit of identically painted troops.  

These guys below are from the Fantasy Armies Chaos Imperium range: bowmen, longbowmen and crossbowmen.  They fit well enough into my old Warhammer Chaos armies, specifically for Khorne and Slaanesh.  Back in WH 3rd edition, Chaos was able to field missile troops, which gave them a much needed ranged punch to their otherwise close combat themed forces.  They also served in Battlesystem games for AD&D at the time.  Sadly, I did not play Ral Partha's Chaos Wars during this period.  This is my loss indeed since it is a great rule set.

These models were sculputed by Bob Olley, my favorite sculptor from the 80s and 90s.  

In any case, I have long since divorced from WH.  My Chaos armies are were long ago retooled for D&D, specifically for the Judges Guild Wilderlands setting.  Khorne became the forces of the City State of the Invincible Overlord and Slaanesh morphed into the armies for the City State of the World Emperor.  These models may be clones, but the sculpts are quite detailed and have a lot of extras on them that is easy to miss.  Old does not mean subpar.  Not by a long shot.  

The crossbowmen below  have a lot going on: plate armor, chain, leather and other accessories.  

Due to their helmets, the longbowmen have a very Elvish feel to them.  They were done in a pink to match my Slaanesh.  

The regular bowmen fit best into the CSIO forces, looking far more "martial" than the other two sets.  Yes I even did the eyes.

For many folks, the idea of rank upon rank of identical models is horrifying.  However, for me they bring back fond memories of a simpler time, both in gaming and in life in general.  

They may be clones, but they are always eager to take the field and die for my amusement.

Ogre Christmas Freakshow

 Merry Christmas.  I realized this week that I have never posted photos of my whole Ogre army on parade.

The horde contains miniatures from all manufacturers: Ral Partha, Reaper, Otherworld, Citadel, Grenadier and others.  Ogres, Bugbears, Trolls, the list goes on.

Enjoy the freakshow.

Merry Christmas.