Oldhammer Weekend 2017: Forget Daenerys, Here Be Bryan Ansell's Dragons!

My wife forces me to watch Game of Thrones. I can tolerate the programme I guess, but it suffers terribly (despite the endless grinding of a million dollar marketing machine) from not being as good as Lord of the Rings, in both print or celluoid. Not being as good a wide range of other fantasy in fact. Much like the Harry Potter novels; how much is the global spread a result of the author's skill and imagination and how much the result of a relentless, exorbitant and cynical advertising campaign?

The dragons are rather blandly conceived too, feeling more akin to the computer-game polygon constructs of Skyrim than the mythical, grandiose flying lizards of yore. Thankfully, the beautifully defined dragons I saw preserved in art during the Oldhammer Weekend were quite the opposite. Colourful, characterful and beautifully executed by an artist Bryan Ansell couldn't really remember. Anyone know the chap's name? 

If the above image rings the bell of recollection that is because this painting was printed on the front of the famous Blue Dragon boxset released way back when in the 1980s. To ease those memory synapses, here is a quiet reminder of what that packaging looked like. Any of you buy one of these?

Some years ago, the award winning Steve Casey snuck Welshly into Stoke Hall to capture its collection of ancient metal figures. This was in the days 'before Oldhammer' and happily the Citadel Collector snapped away, serendipity resulting in the very same dragons (the White Dwarf studio ones) being captured digitally. And here the Blue Dragon is, in all it's damaged, dusty glory. 

No sign of the sorceress, mind you. Perhaps she married a dothraki?

Back in the 1980s the Blue Dragon may have been a popular purchase but it wasn't the badger's nadgers of the box set world. That title could only be bestowed upon the Great Fire Dragon - after all, we all know that 'red wunz goez fasta!' 

Well, that painting was also on display...

You probably remember this dragon as 'the one with those bloody hard to paint wings with bloody holes in them' model. I never could quite fathom the purpose of the holes - had the dragon been suffering from a dose of wing rot? Or perhaps the majestic, red beast had a run in with a eighteenth centure ship-of-the-line who mistook the red wings for the sails of an enemy ship? Pummling a dragon with chainshot certainly conjures up some exciting images, does it not?

It seems that the painting was flipped when the packaging was put together and I can't help wonder how such a trick was pulled in the late '80s without all the computer trickery we have now. It still remains the most striking of the three boxes, and the bright red colouring certainly cements this. The pose of the heroic knight also helps, bravely (or perhaps foolishly) deflecting that bolt of flame with his shield. 

As you can see from another one of Steve's photographs the original model has also survived, only this one seems to have been posed like a mid-ranking doorman looming large over the threshold of a Nottingham Greggs, rather than a sophisticated and arcane creature. Nice paint job though, don't you think?

The Green Dragon's painting is by far the superior piece of art, at least in my opinion. And I love the characterisation of the dwarf, nipping off to safety carrying his no doubt looted loot. Looking at him in more detail made me realise that he is somewhere in my leadpile, sadly without the Green Dragon, so he must have made good his escape. 

The artwork remained unchanged on the packaging of the Green Dragon and the model itself is the most closely matched of the three. As you can see below. 

Looking at the three models makes me wonder how they were originally based, considering that all three of them seem to have a grey, lavafield look to them. I didn't notice these models on the new and improved shelves of the Wargames Foundry, but that doesn't mean they are not there.

Did anyone spot them?

Popping over to Orclord's Solegends in always a rewarding experience. And his collection did him proud once again when I found this lovely photograph of the same menagerie, complete with infantry figures. A lovely collection of dragons I am sure you would agree, and not a gratuitous nude scene in sight! 

Orylgg

Nick Bibby's Great Spined Dragon

As regular readers will recall, my favourite miniature of all time is this beast: the Great Spined Dragon by the incredibly talented Nick Bibby. Considering that the model is approaching 30 years of age makes it even more remarkable. No other sculptor has produced a better model, and as you will no doubt be aware, there are some truly incredible dragon models out there.

Now, I have written at length about the creation of the Spined Dragon before and that article can be found here for those of you who are interested in hearing more. Today, I want to talk about the painting of my dragon. a task that has taken up the majority of my painting time over the last few weeks.

Here is a shot I took of my original model after I purchased it last summer. I paid about £70 for him, though I had allowed for a top bid of £120. If you are interested in acquiring one of these models after reading this post, this really is a fair price range to work from. Mine was in poor condition. The front leg was snapped off, the back leg (which is a detachable piece) was badly twisted and many of the wing bones were seriously damaged. It was clear that the model would need serious repair work and restoration to ensure that it remained whole into the future.

The broken leg was an easy fix. Using a 1mm drill I added a steel pin to the stump and glued the piece back on. It was quite straight forwards really, especially when I stuck the main part of the body onto an oval base for additional support. The tail and head for attached in a similar way, though I used two part epoxy resin for extra strength here. My problems lay with the wings. After working on the model for a few hours the left wing became increasingly more fragile and in the end I decided to snap the piece into two pieces and do a full repair. Again, steel rod was inserted for about two centimetres into the stump and used to rebuild the wing and add strength. However, this still wasn't enough to produce sturdy wings.

I solved the problem by using very thin plasticard to build the membrane of the wings. I laid the damaged wings on the top of this and stuck the lead down using superglue. I then used green stuff to build up a strengthening layer over the top of the plasticard and around the edges of the wings. Serendipity came into play at this point, as my fingerprints helped add texture to the wings where previously it would have looked very flat and smooth.

With the model built, my young son (aged only three at the time) helped me undercoat the model in white in the back garden. He thoroughly enjoyed it and still talks about it now, but I began to feel a sense of trepidation at painting such an enormous model. My feelings were re-enforced when I tried to undercoat the thing (I originally chose red) and I found myself giving up shortly after! I packed the model away in my draw and worked on my Khorne Army.

And so the model sat there until recently. Having overcome my painting lethargy with some Slanneshi chaos warriors I felt ready to do something completely different. So I pulled out the Spined Dragon and got to work, this time with a green colour scheme. After about five weeks work, on and off, the dragon is pretty much complete and I worked on the finishing touches today.

What do you lot think of my efforts?





Frontal View: I limited the colours I used for the body and was largely inspired by the 'look' of various crocodile species. I found that using plenty of natural world images I could bring out the realism in the sculpt.

Top View: The wings were painted with a mix of drybrushing, ink washes, fine point work and speckling. I was trying to capture an aged look to the wings.

Back View: The back of the dragon saw the closest application of the crocodile colour scheme. This is most noticeable in the black stripes that run across the back of the model.

Back View Two: I used colour harmony between the yellow underbelly and the green skin/scales. I found that this helped bring the two colours together in a more satisfying way.

Top View Two: I felt that a base of this size would look a little plain without something breaking it up so I included a casualty from the Fighters range. I liked the way the fallen knight adds a little narrative to the model, after all is the dragon protecting the wounded knight or is it preparing to eat him?

Side View: Taking a decent shot of the underneath of the model was a challenge but this is the best I could achieve. I used red inks to make the buboes a little more angry and add contrast. The spot colour also helped link the dragon with the fallen knight.

Well, with such a huge beast finished I am now looking around for another 'big 'un' to work on. This is most likely to be my Marauder Giant, which I also started work on last summer but gave up on. I feel a lot more confident about handling bigger miniatures now and feel like I can do the classic model justice.

As always, please feel free to comment on my restoration and paintjob.

Orlygg.

Imperial Dragon AKA Chicken Dragon for Sale on eBay!

Good evening fellow followers of old school Citadel and all things 1980s Games Workshop. It has come to my attention that one of the rarest miniatures produced by Citadel during the Golden Age has cropped up on eBay recently and I thought that followers of this blog would be more than interested in seeing how the sale progresses. The miniature (as you will have guessed by now) is the famous Imperial or Chicken Dragon sculpted by Micheal Perry in 1982 and moulded and cast by none other than Richard 'GW's Forgotten Genius' Halliwell! 

The model is huge, hence its name, and is said to be of similar size to an actual chicken! Now I have never seen one for sale before so I am intrigued by how much it will sell for. I am sure that Steve Casey from Eldritch Epistles would probably be able to give a more informed estimate by I am going to go for a price between £1000-1500 for this monster.

During the Oldhammer Weekend at the Foundry last September, I was told an amusing, and dare I say rather unprintable, story about the creation of this model by Rick Priestley and John Stallard. The picture they painted was of a far more rough and ready Citadel Miniatures than the one that would become so successful later on in the 1980s and beyond. Looking back, you really have to be impressed by their ambition as the model is absolutely huge, even by today's resin monstrosity standards. Also, remember that these were the days before CAD allowed slot together models on a grand scale and a little bit of (or in this case a lot of) modelling skill was required to build some of the more ambitious kits. Having personally restored a Great Spined Dragon in recent days I can certainly appreciate how difficult building and painting such a model would be. So here's hoping this beast is bought by a collector who actually intends to build and paint the dragon as a model so we someday get to see the monster in the way its creators always intended!

Anyway, here's the eBay link and a scan from Solegends of the guide paperwork that went with the model.

eBay Imperial Dragon AKA The Chicken Dragon


Good luck indeed!

Orlygg.

'Eavy Metal: Ancient Gems

Hello fellow followers of the antiquus malleus.

I wonder how many of you are aware that 'Eavy Metal was not the first painting article in WD about the joys of miniature painting? That a regular series of articles predated the famous painter's column. If you were there man, I wonder if you could recall its name? I am talking about Tabletop Heroes. And before you ask, I wasn't aware of its existence either. Not until I read a post (I forget who by, sorry) on the Bloodforum that suggested going deeper into the WD archive in search of hidden gems of ancient antiquity. 

So I did!

Well the first article I am going to share with you is an edition of this aged regular column of the mid 80s. Interestingly, it was written by Joe Dever and Gary Chalk of gamebook fame.

No NMM here.

Funny how the article ends with a reference to Citadel's new LotR miniatures. Times don't change. 

The standard bearer is a converted Fighting Fantasy 60mm plastic kit. While the Rider of Rohan, with the blue, yellow and orange shield, is an early contribution from 'Eavy Metal painter Paul Benson. 

What did you think of the models? They are beautiful and imaginative are they not? Produced before this age of pathetic rules (hey mate, you are painting your Space Marines the wrong colour) and petty traditions. The dioramas look natural and character full. The miniatures themselves are intricate and detailed. Even though these models were cast and painted nearly 30 years ago, they do not resemble toys. Which cannot be said of much of the chunky, souless  plastic of contemporary days.

The 'art' is there because the sculptors and painters were passionate enough about putting it there. Many modern painters on the CMON scene have incredible technical skills, but one paint job merges very easily into another and there seems to be little scope for personal style or real innovation. 

Talking of innovation, how incredible are these painted '80s dragons? This article represents the greatest collection of them anywhere. Sure the photography and printing are a little primitive, but my limited knowledge of the publishing process in the mid 80s tells me that a spread as detailed as this would have taken some real effort.

Just compare the love and care taken over these articles with the reams of bland models that choke the pages of modern White Dwarf. These models were considered works of art, and were treated and presented as such.

Colin Dixon's dragon mounted on that skull is one of the most dynamic dioramas I think I have ever seen!

Awe-inspiring.

More awe.

I have posted these dioramas before but its nice to see them presented in a different way with a
little written background. 

These dioramas just re-enforce why I prefer metal models over plastic. Its the depth and variety of poses.
These sculpts are all individual models that look like separate entities, not bland generic poses ranked ad nauseum . 

Finally, an '80s double page 'Eavy Metal spread from the master of miniature painting. Just look at this spread. Image how difficult a job setting this collection of his work out would have been in the mid '80s! There are quite a few pieces from Blanche in here that I have not really seen before (as well as a closer look at that classic diorama) and his work just proves my point that an artist's individual vision will over ride technical brilliance every time. 

There are a 1001 painters out there whose skill far exceeds Blanche's, but the far majority (think 99.999%) lack his understanding of art itself. 

Technique can never be a replacement for soul.

The Mona Lisa appeared in many of Blanche's '80s pieces, both on canvas and lead. 

The twisted and wonderful. '80s Citadel (and other manufacturers) in Blanchitsu glory.

Hope you enjoyed these.

More soon.

Orlygg.

Acceptable in the '80s: Elven Animal Keepers, Bugman's Cart and Dragons!

Fresh from the Wastes with warpdust still clinging to my chainmail jeggings, I present to you some lovely Citadel old school goodness from WD96. Here is the quick glimpse at the classic cover of this particular issue when GW actually used decent art on the front of the products rather than that awful 'house style' blandness the enthuse about today. 

Notice the amusing mistake on the front cover? 

Elven Animal Keepers and Bugman's Cart

I am sure that all of you are familiar with these releases. Classic is a word used too often to describe many of the releases from this era but these two products certainly deserve to be described so. Starting with the elves then, the sculpting is obviously Goodwin and the 80s themes prevail. Long, slender legs with spandex style trousers, the big hair and the handsome, angular faces. Any of these elves could have slipped on stage with Skid Row, Guns 'n' Roses or Bon Jovi and fitted in perfectly. The posing is interesting and varied and these sculpts are packed with enough character to keep even the most jaded of painters happy. The animals too are intriguing, with bears, boars, cheetahs and dogs all available to throw at the enemy. Though these lack variation, suitable colour schemes (like shown here) can make the models appear different. 

On to the painting itself... The first thing that strikes me trying to look at the models with fresh eyes are the subtle tones used. They are very naturalist and make the animals seem lifelike. The colours are very woodlike and you'd probably see these shades on a woodland stroll in any autumnal forest from England to New England. The quality of painting , particularly the shading on the bear and boars, is exceptional and, to me anyway, suggests the hand of Mike McVey in the painting of these beauties. If I ever manage to collect this set I'd do a straight copy of these schemes and I think that are remarkably effective. 

I cannot remember if this is the first or second version of Bugman's Cart. Whatever version it is the model doesn't lack for amusing character. Though the sculpting is less refined than the animal keepers this piece has the simplistic charm you would expect of the period. Additionally, you can just tell that some sculptor turned up on Monday morning and said "I'm going to make a dwarf beer cart" and went on their merry way and got on with it. It has that sense of spontaneity about it, don't you think?

The animal keepers and the animals themselves are fairly regular guests on eBay and can be sources quite reasonably. Bugman's cart however, despite being the poorer sculpt tends to go for a fair old price, usually around the £30 mark. 

Paint Yer Dragon...

I included this 'Eavy Metal article in full because it shows off some of the lovely 80s dragons that were available at the time. These days, certainly on the blogging scene, we don't seem to love the long tailed beasts as much as those gamers of yesteryear. Perhaps that is something that should be rectified?

I have never actually painted a dragon and for many collectors a project like one of these beasts is likely to result in one of the largest painted finished pieces in a collection (unless you are Skarsnik and pick up a giant that is..!).

I love the red and green colour scheme of the Great Imperial Dragon. very Citadel ! This one, if memory serves, was painted by the enigmatic and mysterious Sid. Where do he go, eh?

The first page of Mike McVey's dragons. Here the man shows off his considerable skills with the spined beasts. Each  dragon is different in shade and character while the blending is nothing short of phenomenal. My favourite? The young fire dragon.

More of McVey's dragons. The dragon ogre is a strong favourite of mine and I have been after this sculpt and the other one with the eagle for some years. These models would make excellent character models for a Dragon Ogre warband in Realm of Chaos.

The article also contains detailed instructions and tips to aid the modeller and painter with the ardous task of doing a decent job on one of the incredible miniatures. 

So? Who's got a dragon in their collection and who has actually painted one?

Orlygg.