Heroes for Wargames: Dioramas

Today's post sees us delve back into the essential Oldhammer reference book, Heroes for Wargames for one final time. Now most of us love dioramas though few of us have the skill and patience to produce one. The Oldhammer Movement has yet to capitalise on the concept though I expect it's only a matter of time until we see one or two emerge, hopefully in the style of those presented below. I have selected two of my favourite dioramas from the book, both of which I have never seen online before.

Here goes...

I am not sure who, or whom, is responsible for this battle scene but isn't it impressive? I love the way the colours all merge into each other so it seems that you are looking not at a miniatures display, but an oil painting by some old master. Now if I was to put money on those behind this model, I'd say the Perry's. What do you think? The buildings are also evocative and really remind me of the more recent plastic Fortified Manor, so perhaps Dave Andrews had a hand in this one too. Anyone know for sure?

Next , we have a box diorama by Colin Dixon. Loads of classic sculpts in this one too. I always loved the ambient storytelling that goes into displays like these. You find yourself inventing your own stories as you study the piece.

Love 'em!

Orlygg

Heroes for Wargames: Behind the Scenes at Citadel Miniatures Circa1985-6

As regular readers will know, I have just come into the possession of Heroes for Wargames, a seminal publication from 1986, that focused on the rising popularity of fantasy wargaming, painting and modelling. The publication is packed with loads of stuff that will be of interest to the Oldhammer enthusiast; interviews, pictures of miniatures, dioramas and much, much more.

One of the things I found most interesting was the 'behind the scenes' photographs that the book contains. They give us a glimpse of what the studio looked like in the mid 80s. You get a sense of just how relaxed and creative the studio was at this time. The images also contain some fascinating detail going on in the background. It's quite rewarding to try and work out what the Citadel stalwarts are working on in any particular picture. I have a few theories... Have a squint and see if you agree or disagree with me.

This first image shows Aly Morrison working at his desk. I love the pile of lead lying in that cardboard box on the left, which reminds me of what Andy Craig told us how members of the studio having piles of miniatures several feet deep. Have a quick glance around his desk. Anyone recognise the sculpt stuck on a cork next to the lead pile? I wonder what he is doing to those bases? Filling in the slit or something more creative, any ideas?

Here we have Colin Dixon, the original Citadel figure painter, working at his desk. Anyone recognise that building from any of his many dioramas? If you look at what he is painting, and this is easier if you own a copy of the book, you can just make out the Heroic Fighters of the Known World models being worked on. He's even got the original artwork from the box next to him for reference!

I believe that these are the very miniatures that Dixon is working on in the photograph above. 

What the original painting above would later look like as packaging.

And here we have the mighty John Blanche, though I am not sure who is watching him work over his shoulder, though Trish Morrison and Jes Goodwin are visible in the background. Here we can see Blanche busy working with an airbrush on a new piece of art. The piece, which is only in its early stages, could well be the famous painting of a mounted dwarf and ogre champion that was later used as the cover of Dwarf Wars published by Flame.

What do you eagle eyed readers think?

The finished product. This is the painting that I believe that John Blanche was working on the the photograph above was taken.

Looking like he has just stepped off the set of a Wham! video shhot, Goodwin is snapped at his desk working on what he does best, sculpting miniatures. A surprisingly spartan desk compared to many of the others, but if you look closely you can see some greens being worked up on the table before him. Is it just me, or could the green closest to his hand (the one facing forwards with two diagonal brass rods sticking out sideways) be a WIP Slambo, the chaos warrior of chaos warriors?

Here's a WIP shot of my Slambo. Could the original green be on the desk in the photograph above?

The next bench along looks the complete opposite. A cluttered mess, a sure hallmark of the genius at work? Here we have Bob Naismith at work creating models his way. Across that desk is cluttered a vast array of bits and pieces and all kids of modelling apparatus. I am sure that this is a picture we can all relate to, eh? 

And finally, here we have Tony Ackland enjoying a ciggie whilst working on another evocative picture at his desk. A shed load of reference material causes the shelves behind to groan under the pressure of inspiration itself while what look like images from Runequest are pinned nicely on the wall behind him. But what is he working on? Could it just be the illustration use in Slave to Darkness to introduce the pantheon of Khorne?

What do you think?

Orlygg.

Heroes for Wargames: Concept Art

Welcome back to Realm of Chaos 80s. Those of you who regularly frequent the Oldhammer Community over on Facebook may well be aware that I have recently come into the possession of this incredible book; Heroes for Wargames by Stewart Parkinson. The book, which is not a GW publication, was produced in 1986 with extensive support from Bryan Ansell's Citadel Miniatures and contains a wealth of fantastic material.

I was always aware of the book, certainly since I began this blog last year, but I hadn't really paid it much mind, that is until Zhu posted an article about the book in respect of the famous 'Maggie Banner' that is photographed within. He'd linked to copies on eBay and I couldn't help myself and bought a cheap copy (its rather battered and water damaged) that is fit for my purposes. The book doesn't contain much text to further enlighten the knowledgeable enthusiast of '80s Citadel, but the images are enough to blow your mind, especially if you have not seen them before. 

Now, something that I have learnt in recent months is that as soon as we discuss something here in the Oldhammer Community, the items of our concern see an increase in price on eBay. Or, items, which are already limited by their age, become far more difficult to obtain. From what I have heard since buying my copy of Heroes for Wargames is that availability for a decent price is already an issue...

So I have selected a number of areas to discuss about the book. A 'highlights' overview if you will, but I have left enough stuff untouched so that if you do get your hands on a copy at some future time there will we one of two surprises remaining. 

Today's post concerns that excellent range of concept art that the book contains. Pieces by well known Citadel legends Tony Ackland, Jes Goodwin and John Blanche leap from many a page. I have included a few of them below as they relate to actual produced models in some way. This is a relationship I find fascinating: that journey from idea to three dimensional completed sculpt, a process that was physical and didn't involve a computer at all. 

Perhaps that is why these old models have that 'soul' we all love, eh?

The Spined Dragon is, in my opinion, still the finest dragon ever sculpted. A highly sought after model for Citadel Hardcore collectors and second only to the Citadel Giant in price. A gorgeous, gorgeous model. Heroes for Wargames contains the original concept sketch my Tony Ackland. 

Here it is...

What is impressive is just how close Nick Bibby's finished sculpt is to the concept art. Have a look at the miniature below and compare...

This just proves how talented the staff at Citadel were. Ackland captures the character of the dragon in his sketch (which, knowing Ackland, was knocked up pretty quickly) and Bibby's skill not only creates the beast in miniature form, but adds further detail to it in the process. No wonder he went on to become an internationally renown sculptor in large cast bronze. 

Then there is the work of Jes Goodwin. His distinctive style of concept work has never changed. It has always been exquisite, much like his sculpting. If you've spent any time around Citadel miniatures in your time, you will recognise his work on sight, something that is true to this day, though his output is no way as prolific as it was back in the '80s, sadly. 

Well, here we have some early concepts for Chaos Warriors. 

Though elements of these concepts appeared on Citadel models, I don't think (and please correct me if I am wrong) that these two sketches ever became miniatures in their own right. But the core elements are there; horns, oversized boots, fur, dangling chainmail and, dare I say its, spikes... What a shame there are no skulls, eh?

The models shown below were made. Here we have two concepts from the skaven range that Goodwin worked on extensively during 1985. Its the first figure that I am most interested in. I own a converted version of him and used him during my RoC campaign last year. 

Look below for the model that was produced from this concept. Its all there, isn't it?

Even John Blanche's concepts are presented, and there are pages and pages of them inside the book. I have selected this set as it contains a figure that I recalled seeing in Jason Fulford's Slaaneshi warband. Can you spot it?

John Blanche's Runescape Broo concept art.

Jason's Broo.

Could you find him? A kind of 'Where's Wally?' Oldhammer style. 

Orlygg.