White Dwarf 119 'Eavy metal Special

Hello and welcome to another 'Eavy Metal special, this time concentrating on the painted miniatures from WD119. I would like to pint out here that, for me anyway, this and the following issues stand sentinel over the greatest era for 'Eavy metal. The reasons I feel this way are clear. There was a great mix between Studio and 'guest' painters, all of whom had quite different styles and tastes. The range of models on offer in the articles were all very different, original and often highly creative. Finally, as these articles were created in the days before colour schemes and painting was standardised, there are some great ideas and techniques that would never be seen today. Certainly not in WD anyway. You really do get the feel that the painting team during this period were letting rip with all the guns and really producing some excellent work.

So WD119 kicks off with another spread of models from Mick Beard. Now, we are used to seeing lots of fantasy models from him but its a pleasant change to see a wealth of Rogue Trader stuff. Especially, Rogue Trader stuff with original retro colour schemes for the power armour. My personal favourite? It has to be the Space Sharks marine in camouflage patterns though the Leman Russ model is also outstanding. 

The stand out piece from this page has to be the skeleton chariot conversion, similar to the rider we saw last issue. Again, green stuff has been used to create the weathered, dry flesh of the horses and the addition of the bridge is fabulous. In my opinion, one of the very best conversions to appear in WD during this period. 

Now Pete Taylor is a name that I am sure many of you will recognise. The page begins with a photo montage of how he set about producing the green chaos spawn model that we have seen before. pete Taylor really was the master of metal and milliput and his work is distinctive and original. Anyone know where he is these days as he would make a great candidate for a RoC80s interview, wouldn't he!?

The bottom half of this page if of particular interest for here we see quite a rare display of models. Miniatures painted by one of the Studio artists. In this case, Paul (no-one drew orcs like me) Bonner. It comes as no surprise that he has chosen the more grotesque models to apply that paint. My personal favourite here? The definitive Skrag.

When you mention Tony Cottrell you would expect to be talking about tanks or some other fantastic machine with enormous firepower. So it comes as a bit of a surprise to see this collection of dragons from him. He really knows his subject though, and this selection of firebreathers is one of the very best I have seen anywhere - including the earlier Mike McVey spread on dragons around WD100. I love the triceratops with the Chaos Warrior mounted on its back, and the dinosaur reminds me of a toy I had back in the 1980s. Dinoriders they were called. I love models like this and they always get me thinking about the wackiest mount (easy, Chico!) I could possibly fathom and what model I would sit on top of it. 

The regular 'Eavy Metal painters show their worth on this page with some stunning work from the forthcoming Waaagh! The Orcs book. Now, many of the later miniatures produced in support of the orc books were terrible, but these are characterful and varied (my two top criteria for a good model) as well as brightly coloured. Of note, is the pump wagon (and I am wondering if this is the Andy Craig version) which has always in my mind been a superb model. And one that has got steadily worse with each new interpretation. the stand out model here is the brilliant skeletal centaur, which is a great idea and like all great ideas, very simple. 

Chaos terminators and multipart Chaos warriors adorn this page, resplendent in crazy designs. The genestealers here, including the famous Patriarch, are all excellent painjobs. The purple and blue classic look is my preferred interpretation of how they should look. A few other Rogue Trader pieces adorn the pages here, including the famous Emperor's Children traitor marine that pops up quite regularly in GW publications around this time, including if memory serves as a scale model for Guy Carpenter's Imperial Walker. So beautifully painted Eldar and a giant scorpion finish off this months selection. I love the painted muddy puddles on the scorpion's giant base. 

Orlygg.

'Eavy Metal: Paul Benson, Mike Beard and Pete Taylor special

Between issues 107 and 111 of White Dwarf, 'Eavy Metal grew up. It lost its 'make it up as you go along' attitude and eclectic contributors (Blanche, Priestley, Sean Masterson etc) and settled down into something we would recognise today. The 'Eavy Metal team were far more visual in the magazine, and it would not be long until their painters would start semi-regular demonstrations in GW stores.

The range of miniatures on show also improves. As does the quality of painting itself, largely due to the arrival of Mike McVey and the employment of various Golden Daemon winners. The quality of writing was also good, with John Blanche and Phil Lewis explaining the artistic approach behind many of the miniatures show cased. Occasionally, guest painters had their work presented, and the extracts that follow contain work from Mick Beard, Pete Taylor and Paul Benson. Oh, and look out for the first appearance of friend to Realm of Chaos 80s, Andy Craig too!

Some inspiring Realm of Chaos miniatures and conversions here, including the famous snake tailed Slaaneshi champion and the unreleased plaguebearer the Steve Casey found in Bryan Ansell's collection.

Work here from a number of 'Eavy Metal artists including some conversions by Blanche. Note the painted version of the unreleased Beast of Nurgle. The converted  minis with the horror arms is one of my favourite models from this period.

Pete Taylor was a Warhammer Third Edtion hero and his Chaos army was legendary. Here we have a wealth of his converted models with distinctive faces.

This page shows how the miniatures reflected the range of games available at the time, with models from Rogue Trader, Blood Bowl and fantasy all gracing the same page. Note a painted example of the Dwarf Firethrower discussed last post.

Citadel's new plastic horses were also showcased with a brief guide to painting them here.

Andy's now famous Eldar models and a range of squats.

A discussion about how to get the best from your horses and, oh look, a young Andy Craig at work in the studio!

Mick's and Paul's work is discussed and the new plastic horses recieve some fantasy riders.

Paul had a beautiful style. Very individualistic indeed. This page represents some of his best work that was ever published.

Beautiful dioramas from Mick. Though I have wondered for years why the bear rider's back is still white.

The Legends of Old Lead: Pete Taylor

There are many myths about the Golden Age of Citadel Miniatures but few true legends. 


Pete Taylor is one such legend!

The guy was a machine of miniatures. To this day I am amazed by his output back in the 1980s and early 90s, truly massive armies, epic conversions (when converting was really, really tough) and wild, wild paint (not pant) schemes. He was rewarded with frequent inclusions in White Dwarf and  immortal appearances in Warhammer Armies and The Lost and the Damned.


Let's hand it over to the man himself to explain what started him off on such an epic journey. 

"As far as I can remember I started collecting fantasy miniatures at age 13 although a small group of us were playing Dungeons and Dragons before this.

2nd edition WFB had just been released, although through a friend I also had access to 1st edition and the Forces of Fantasy supplement so it is reasonable to say I have been in the hobby for most of its existence.

Like many I first came to fantasy via Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings so my first impulse on starting to play WFB was to collect Orcs. In second edition you could take Chaos warriors as leaders of units for any chaotic or evil race (and neutral I think) which allowed a kind of warband feel to the army, I liked this and in my minds eye I always imagine all my chaos and evil armies to be part of one huge chaos horde and one day I would love to play the game with everything I have all at once!"


Play a game with everything at once Pete? That would truly be a 'great and noble undertaking' to misquote Eisenhower. 

"Over the years rules have changed and armies have become less diverse which has led to my collecting forces of various sizes for most "bad-guy" armies.

As the years have progressed I have played less and less but have continued to have bouts of collecting and painting.

I went to the last ever Citadel open day at the old factory and was greatly influenced by a huge display put on by "The Players Guild" which featured a besieged castle surrounded by a horde of evil creatures, to this day I much prefer the sight of huge units and large monsters to small tournament armies with ridiculous amounts of special rules and magic items."


Some important key words here; 'less diverse' and 'small tournament armies'. The very things that are the very antithesis to Oldhammer. Its sad to hear that the giants of the hobby are being cast aside by the tournament heavy nonsense of recent times.

Pete is my number one inspiration when it come to painting and gaming. Firstly, he loved Realm of Chaos in all its 80s glory, he paints prolifically, enjoys huge units and uses colour in an intriguing way. Secondly, his collection is MASSIVE. And that collection is largely PAINTED. Something I'd like to be able to say one day.

Below is a fantastic gallery of a tiny part of Pete's collection, culled from various websites from around the internet. I also have a massive collection of his White Dwarf stuff which I'll post some time in the future. 

Original Fleshounds make up this terrifying unit. 

Juggernauts of Khorne with Bloodletter riders. Really nicely done. I'm looking forward to painting my my Khornate Daemonic legion when the Orcs and Undead are complete. 

Keen eyed longbeards will recognise this as a conversion based on one of the old Fighting Fantasy plastic kits released in the mid 80s. 

This collection makes my pathetic efforts look, well... pathetic really. This horde (there is no other word, is there?) is just Pete's undead army. 

I am going to have to attempt to do a banner in that style at some point! Looks fantastic; I wonder where the chaos warrior found the time to paint to?

Characterful orcs lead these chariots.

Frost Giants! Proper old school Citadel here!

Converted Bloodthirster as Keeper of Secrets. I love the colour of the flesh on this piece.

The famous chaos spawn conversion (built from a Fimir body) that appeared in WD and LatD.

A dwarf knight? A GSOH is essential in Oldhammer. 

Again, a lovely skin tone on this Fimir warrior. I am going to have to copy it myself.

That lovely skin tone used on a standard Keeper of Secrets. 

Plaguebearer. Classic!

Pete's version of the iconic Warhammer ogre by Jes Goodwin. 

Crazy Nurgle Conversion!

Check out more of the master's work here and here.

Be inspired!

Orlygg.