JohnR's Dwarf Month 4 - Rank and File (459points)

April was tricky this year - work became increasingly busy, there were several family birthdays and I was flattened by COVID for 2 weeks. 

So that's the excuses out of the way :) let's see what I managed to get painted:

 

Prince Ulther's Dragon Company - 25 Dwarf Warriors, Hand Weapons, Light Armour and Shields. Full Command and Level 10 Hero - 379points.

Ulther himself is missing of course as he was painted many years ago. After some consideration and helpful advice about shields I went with heater shields from Foundry (I already had some in the bits box) and dragon transfers from Etsy.

 

 

 

Four Dwarf Cannon - Light Armour - 80points.

This is the third of these dwarf siege guns I've painted and they're easily my favourite dwarf cannon.

So no character this month but I did get an army shot:

 

 

 

Adrian's dwarves - Wrap Up of the unnoficial sequel of Snow White's tale

Army wrap-up post.

The army finally return home with the seven dwarf engineers and Snow White.

"Doc": Hey, it was not that difficult to escape with at least part of the treasure.

Ulther: Ahem.

"Doc": Well, it took some help.

King Kazador: Hey, you were seven at the start of this mess, didn't you? where is your other friend?

"Doc": That's right, what will be Dopey doing again? where is he?

"Sneezy": I *achooo* I have seen him walking up the northern path fighting the orcs.

"Doc": At this point I think he must have reached the chaos wastes.

Another month, another OWAC finished!

Some of the last six months were a bit intense, the typical treacherous miscalculation of the available time here and there. Several working trips. But in the end, planning ahead saved the day again. That and the lack of painting fatigue as my motivation was pretty high.

Again like my eldars, this is my main fantasy army after all. Many of the models were sitting in my desk for ages waiting to be finished. I wanted to give 'em a coat of paint finally.

The OWAC has turned in a mix of opportunity to work on lots of unfinished projects...but the temptation to start new ones or add new units.

The objective was clear, adding several oldhammer units to my multi-edition dwarf army. However, the main army colour is mainly greens and that was slightly wrong if I wanted to add Kazador, so I changed my mind with the main army no #1 rule about colour variation. That was the reason to alter the blueish to teal of the armours, shields and banners that sits perfectly with my main host as it represents single units.

I would lie if I said that it was just as planned... I simply started painting and it was like the perfect colour.

With each unit as it own "clan" inside my dwarf hold, I think I can mix them well and will probably guide toward that direction with some of my other unfinished units of the pile of shame. 

Don't worry, you'll probably see the next batch, there are like several hundreds of unpainted dwarves where these lads come from. Unfortunately nothing so awesome like the Dragon Company. For now?

One of the rarest units in my collection. I started way back in the last days of 5th edition and early days of 6th. Too young to see these on the shelves of a citadel store. I was a curious dwarf collector, so I had a glimpse into the oldhammer catalogues...

I first asked Mariano about some bugman rangers that I missed in my collection... he came with an opportunity to add the Dragon Company to my ranks... and here I am, even I have now a bunch of preslotta dwarves here and there and finishing in my third edition of the Challenge. It needed to be treated some additional care.

Lovely unit to paint. As I said in June, I'll come back to the banner and some small unfinished details but I think that so much effort expent in that unit is pretty rewarding, because not only it pops-out, it is also a satisfying unit to paint despite the small amount of different sculpts.

So, lets summarize

The Host of King Kazador

King Kazador of Karak Azul - 494 points

Runesmith - 78 points

14x Dwarf warriors with full command - 244 points

10x Hammerers with standard bearer - 202 points

10x Troll Slayers with musician - 141 points 

Prince Ulther (Hero) + 14x Dragon Company Iron Breakers and full command -  430 points

Organ Gun - 65 points

Flame Cannon - 119 points

Baggage train - 100 points

Snow White

A mine

Total: 57 dwarfs, 1 human, 1 pony, 1 unanimated pile of rocks, 1873 points

Now, time to prepare the next OWAC. I have an idea in my mind, as I wanted to jump into the Horus Heresy and it seems that beakies are the new black.

Until then, Adrian’s out!

Adrian's dwarfs - June last rank & file reinforcements (430 points)

Rank & File Month

 Who need a dragon when you have an entire Dragon Company.

Ulther: We will be eternally in debt for your kind help and guiding our company in such a dangerous adventure.

Snow White: I accept your gratitude and there is no need to worry about the perils of our journey. I am very happy to help my friends, your brave companions… and abandon such a boring fest. You know, I love my husband but do not expect me not to run away after four days of such boring court fests.

Ulther: Well, lucky we were there during the fests when the news about the orc advance reached the castle. Without your assistance, we didn’t know this path to the valley and probably won't reach our friend Lord Kazador in time. 

...About your friends… we will avenge those seven brave engineers, my lady.

Snow White: Do not worry also for my friends, if I am also showing you this path is because maybe we need to reach fast and help king Kazador even more than my friends. Specially if they have deployed one of their… how to say, creative solutions. 

Remember that story when my stepmother tried to poison me?, my friends chased her along the valley and in the end a rock fell by accident over her... Let’s say that I knew very well our home deep in the forest and I do not remember having a trebuchet in the garden before I fell asleep.

 
Ulther: Do you think that they may have repelled the mighty and unglorious orc warlord Gorfang?

Snow White: I suspect more than you want to know. I hope there is still a mine shaft and not a giant crater instead when we arrive there.

...

King Kazador: We must start to retreat to our lines. We can barely resist their massive waves.

“Doc”: My lord, but if we retreat now we cannot bring with us the part of the treasure that has not been sealed in the lower levels.

King Kazador: And what exactly do you expect me to do in order to stop these filthy orcs? Bring a dragon to burn ‘em all??

[bang bang bang]

A dragon! A Dragon!

King Kazador: Well, Doc, that’s your dragon. Now let start loading that frigging gold and run away from this damned hill.

Ulther! My friend! Your help is more than welcomed! Now show those beasts how does a proper dwarf shieldwall work!

 
The last month requires a final bang before saying goodbye to the current edition of the OWAC. And this unit was the perfect candidate for such an honour.

Thanks to Mariano, this unit was my introduction to the oldhammer community. It has travelled (almost) all around the world before settling into my desk. Probably 5?Even more years ago? Unfortunately , they were still in their box, untouched, eager to be deployed.

Let’s finish the OWAC with a regiment of renown.

Besides of the legendary miniatures, the Dragon Company awesomeness allows me to completely break my previous painting scheme, like I did with the Jes Goodwin's eldar pirates from the last year.
I will probably follow this strategy in order to not getting burned during a challenge/painting schedule.

I got catch by The Lost and the Damned painting of the Dragon Company and tried to replicate the approach to the shieldwall heraldry, but with a not-so-small twist. Adding an patterns to their imperial dwarf tabards and armour styles too, so almost every dwarf is unique.

I loved the opportunity to paint checkers, halved patterns, etc. and bring out their armour. The repeated sculpts are not so easily recognisable and therefore not a problem at all in the final result.
So, less talk and show you the migh of:

Prince Ulther (dwarf hero) and 14x Dragon Company with full command (count as Iron Breakers) - 430 points

Yes, yes, the last month I was 100% legal and didn’t claim the slayer hero because I didn’t paint him in the leader month. But Ulther needed to be with his fellas, doesn’t he? I am not cheating, did I?

I am not totally proud of the banner because at this point I was running out of time as I needed to finish everything one week ago!!

Probably I will touch it again in the future. Improve the dragon and add several motifs.

At least I had spare time to bring to the ranks this little friend that was magically recovered when me and his proud seller thought it has been lost in the UK mail system. Two months later it pops up, returned to the sender! So I wanted it anyways and in time before the challenge ends.

Also, there is now Seven Dwarfs without Snow White. Another year, another great idea by Lissane in the comments that I NEEDED to include in the army. I had this civilian laying around and thought, spot on for the cause!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the freehand on my dwarf warrior banner, a personal shame that I should finish when I improve the Dragon Company banner or else take the slayer oath!

And with those words, let’s see you in the recap.
Until then, Adrian’s out!

Adrian's tale of angry dwarfs (or are they dwarves?) - Intro post

Adrian’s here prepared for another OWAC. My third owac in a row, this time with a fantasy army again. With a fantasy army that it is also part of my main collection and not another distraction on my quest for completing the pile of shame! (until more orcs get into my hands)

In the World Edge Mountains slopes there was a mine run by a company of seven dwarves. They were industrious and they have amassed plenty of rare ores and gems. But they wouldn’t have become well know merely by these mundane achievements alone, by the standards of a successful dwarf miner. No, these dwarves have become known by they remarkable deeds. First, by saving an empire princess from a conspiracy from her reckless step-mother. Then, by digging up to the treasure chambers of an ancient karak abandoned during the turmoil of the goblin wars. The later spreaded over the mountains like a wildfire.

But in the World Edge Mountains, fame attracts also unwanted attention. Gorfang Rotgut have heard of the treasures of these bunch of brave dwarves and was an opportunity to plunder and improve the morale in his clan, after a long retirement after the attack on Karak Azul. 

When the explorers reached the fortress with the notice of the march of a large orc army and a vanguard leaded by Gorfang himself, King Kazador jumped from his throne in a mix of anger and excitement. This was an opportunity to set his grudge with the orc. Set it with a swing of his hammer. He gathered his armies and send messengers to spread the news and calling for allies. 

But the rally of the clans would take time, and unwilling to lose the opportunity to battle the mighty orc warboss, he run to the dwarf mine with a group of dwarf adventurers. The vanguard of both armies will battle in the mine while the armies come to the valley. 

So here it is, the theme of this year. Let’s see what’s in the workbench ready for this year. I will be using Dwarf army book from 4th Ed. for the shake of simplicity (King Kazador profile, etc.). But I have prepared a bunch of dwarves that may reach 1000 points in whatever edition without stretching too far my goals. I learnt my limits from that please-no-more-goblins month! 

14x Dwarf warriors leaded by Hammergrind, a dwarf champion. Complete command – 257 points

 

9x Hammereres accompanying King Kazador himself, with a standard – (217 + 494) points 

 9x Slayers, one is a musician, and Snorri the Giant Slayer – 193 points

 And to their aid they came Prince Ulther’s (dwarf hero) and 14x of his mighty dwarves of the Dragon Company, full command. 

Count as Ironbrakers – 430 points 

 A baggage train with the treasures recovered from the ancient treasure chambers.

And of course, the seven dwarf engineers, which count as an Organ Gun (65 points) and a Flame Cannon (119 points) 

 

For a total of 56 dwarves and 1775 points. 

Wait, did I say seven dwarves? … 

Ah, yes, the silent Dopey. 

He got a bit “special” after an accident which also cost the destruction of an entire shaft trying to chase a bunch of goblinoids. He has become a slayer-engineer. He is also my overlord offering.

Dopey trying to get rid of a group of rats sneaking into the storage cabin to get onto the crew’s cheese supplies. 

 Hope I can get everything on time and that you enjoy the story as much as I enjoy painting every bunch of angery dwarves. 

Bad news everyone, there are no gemstones this year. 

 See you in the next post. 

Adrian’s out.