Orclord's Beautifully Painted Citadel Giant

There are so many later references to this model on later giants, particularly the use of shields as clothing/armour parts. Is he holding the poor knight on the boxart by any chance?

Hello again, retro-Citadel fans - and how is this for a weekend treat? That's right, it is the famous Citadel giant fully painted and part of the enormous collection of one very well known collector, Orclord. Now, much of his collection has been thankfully photographed and is available for viewing on the sodemons website, and if you have never visited then this is a very good time to do so! 

Richard (Orclord's real name) shared this image, and several others on social media recently and I felt that enthusiasts of '80s lead who don't use the Facebook platform would probably want to see these. So we really need to thank the not at all green Orclord for getting this enigmatic model painted and photographed in such detail. 

But what do we know about the Citadel Giant? Well, for a long old time it was a bit of a myth. The first time I recall hearing about it was in White Dwarf about eight years ago. It was mentioned in one of their 'articles' and I am paraphrasing here but the comment went along the lines that the model was so old no images of it could be found by the White Dwarf team. Nothing at all. They didn't even have a model in their collection!

Fast forwards into the early period of the Oldhammer Scene and a collector called Skarsnik shared images of not one Citadel Giant, but two! Then the famous Harry, of Warseer fame, offered to paint on the said models just for the thrill of handing such a rare figure. At the first ever Oldhammer Weekend, that painted model was on display - though it lacked the multiple heads and hands. It was an incredible moment to come face to face with such a mythical model from Citadel's past too. 

Several years later, Marcus Ansell showed me the Citadel Giant that is part of Bryan's collection. This one is currently missing one of it's arms, sadly. 

But I have never seen a complete Citadel Giant set fully painted until now. Hence my excitement! 

I am fairly sure that the model on the right is the same piece as can be now seen in Bryan's collection. Only here, he has both arms intact! This was the first sight of the Giant as far as I can tell, and comes from White Dwarf 37.

In case you didn't know, the Citadel Giant was sculpted by Alan Perry in late '82 and was released in January 1983. He even signed the inside of the torso! The model was produced at a time when Citadel were really pushing the boundaries of what metal casting could achieve, what with the Chicken Dragon before it. Priced at £29.99 (that is well over £100 in today's money) this was a pricy kit, even compared to some of  GW's modern stuff. Considering that it was made of metal, the box must have weighed in at a hefty weight too!

Hey look, '80s cellotape. Why does it go yellow?

And here is an example of said box. I love the illustration on the front, which can also be found in the Warhammer Fantasy battle third edition rulebook, as I love the puzzled shock of the heroic knight dropping his dagger in surprise!

This illustration shows off the multi-part options of the original model, and illustrates the pieces that Orclord's model does not yet show. It is probably worth pointing out here that these new photographs were shared with a note that they were still work in progress, so I hope we shall see the remaining bits and pieces added later! 

And with that, I shall leave you with the remaining photographs of the Citadel Giant. He may not be so mysterious as he once was, but he remains a stunning achievement of early Citadel's ambition!

Rambo head?

Subotai head?

Oliver Reed head?

Duncan Goodhew head?

A Warhammer Bestiary: Giant

A Warhammer Bestiary is my attempt at painting a model for every race described in the Third Edition rulebook. So, with the return of natural light and some progression towards actually having a 'weekend' I have decided to carry on with my challenge. If you haven't already done so, you may well want to click the link further up this paragraph to have a look at what I have covered so far. If you cannot be bothered to do so, then let me give you the short story.

So far, I have painted a model to represent everything in the 'Intelligent Races' section of the Bestiary. The model I am sharing today, a classic 1987 Citadel giant, is the first model in the 'Giant Races' section of the rulebook.

And what a model it is. 

Firstly, I need to thank The Citadel Collector, Steve Casey, for this model, as he was kind enough to pass him over to me for this project. So thanks again, Steve - my you find your Nuln Spearman one day!

Secondly, I hated this miniature. Utterly. I can remember reviewing the range some time back for my Acceptable in the '80s series. Let's see if we can find a link to that... 

Here's what I said about this model at the time:

"I just cannot stand the model of Bottle Snottle! Its the really, really crap hand, massively out of proportion to the rest of his body, that puts me right off. He looks like he has spent a long, long time in prison with a giant stack of 'magazines of gentleman's interest' and little else to pass his time. The fact that his weapon, a rather fetching stone headed club,  seems rather incongruous to the rest of the model cements the fact that this model is always going to be passed over in my collection."

I can honestly say that my opinion has changed of the sculpt. Though only after some extensive bending and shifting on my part (the model, not me) and some careful placing of his gigantic bone (careful, Chico). The hand that troubled me so much for being a little 'hello sailor' looks much better in its new position and the tilted weapon helps create a sense that this model is self contained upon the base. The example painted up on the original ad (follow the link above if you want to have a look at it) has the weapon dangling down onto the table surface itself. It looks awful like that.

Since writing about the release of these lanky lads, I have heard a tale or two from several ex-Citadel lunatics. Apparently, and this is a BIG apparently, the head of my model was based on Bob Naismith (he of plastic Space Marine fame) and the body, beer gut and all - was inspired by the Goblinmaster, Kev Adams. Now the sculptor of this giant is Nick Bibby, an artist with a reputation of capturing the unwary (often company directors!) in miniature form. 

So who knows - it could be true! The story goes on to recount that neither of the respected sculptors previously mentioned were particularly thrilled with their immortalisation in lead. Perhaps it was 'that hand'?

But this scruffy chap just goes to show that opinions can most certainly change - even about the models you think you totally loathe. Just wait and see... You might see Nagash pop up painted on this blog one day!

Or maybe not. 

So how did I paint him? Well, with paints actually. Though I used quite a range of manufacturers, utilitising modern Citadel Colour, Old Citadel Colour, Coat d'Arms, Army Painter, Windsor and Newton Inks, Citadel Inks and Foundry paints too. The model has stood at the half way stage since last year and only really took of after I had painted up loads of little models. I wanted something different to do.

I started with the flesh like I always do and just continued with the technique I have developed to handle skin. Start with a white undercoat, base with a flesh colour/brown mix and highlight up from there. I used very dark W&S ink to create the shadows in the joins around clothes and equipment. I was particularly pleased with the ginger hair. I used brown and orange mixed together to create the base and highlighted up with orange and yellow straight out of the pot - which is something I don't usually do. But the result was suitably eyepopping and helped me move away from the rather washed out gingers I have recently painted as the highlighters were created by adding Bleached Bone to the mix each time. 

The bone club weapon thing was very straight forwards. I used Foundry's Bone Triad over a Bleached Bone/Brown ink wash base. Quick, simple and effective. Try out some Foundry paint as soon as you get the chance if you haven't yet. The underarm barrel was also fairly simple - with a brown basecoat, brown ink wash and a Bleached Bone drybrush over the top. I painted the metallic rims, washed them in black and then highlighted them back up again. 

The trousers were more adventurous as I tried to develop my tartan painting in light of my McDeath style models. I think the finished result - though difficult to see in the photographs above - is much better than the approach I took with my recent clansmen. The rest of the giant's equipment was very straight forwards, and I used the classic formula of base, wash and highlight for each. I opted to go for quite bright pouches dangling from the belt as a nod to the E Number-like colour schemes of yesteryear. 

So to conclude, I am very pleased with the result. And working on a model of this size after so long was a real challenge. Next, Treemen...

Acceptable in the '80s: White Dwarf 94 Miniature Releases Retro Review and Plague Cart Rules

I really enjoyed the retro review I did regarding the work of Bob Olley and I discovered that there are plenty of Olley fans out there but some agreement that some of his work is a little, what's the word, passable. So I have decided to continue. We are sticking with the same issue as before, White Dwarf 94, and I have reproduced for you all the releases of that month. 

Talisman Dungeon 

First off, a double set; Talisman Dungeon and Mercenaries. Let's start with the models released as part of the Talisman range. I have recently (by which I mean this week) seen a fairly complete set of these models going for about £100 so they are clearly still a popular series of sculpts. Now, those of you who don't know, Talisman was (and still is) a board game in which the players taken of a character type in a quest to gain possession of the Crown of Command. Though the game can be played without metal miniatures, such was Citadel's nature in the 1980s, a set of models was released for the game and the many subsequent expansions. I came late to the party, purchasing the third edition of the game when it was released in 2008, and played many games of it with my wife and it remains to this day the only GW game that she will play. 

The miniatures in the range are varied and well sculpted, I own only one of this series, the red robed inquisitor in the centre of the page, and are full of character. They would make fantastic character models for third edition games as well as interesting painting challenges in their own right. My favourite model? Most definitely the Sprite. I love the tones of green and flesh on this piece and it is certainly a scheme I would like to copy some time in the future. 

Mercenaries

The second set are entitled Mercenaries and are again nice a varied. With fourteen models in this set they would make a very characterful unit for third edition. I have a particular fondness for NOB who seems to be positively waddling forwards ready to engage his next opponent. Sadly, I have never seen any of these on eBay nor do I own any of them. I suspect many of these sculpts were added to the later FIGHTERS range but I have no evidence of this at present. There is little fantasy on show here, which suggests the hands of the prolific sculpting force known as the brother's Perry. The obvious nod to medieval dress would have made these models useful for historical forces as well as fantasy ones. 

Nick Bibby's Giants

Ahh! Nick Bibby's giants! I am a big fan of Nine Fingers and have said so publically before. I think that the model has a wonderful dynamism and its body is perfectly positioned. I cannot say the same for the other sculpts in this range. Wither Wattle, who bears a strong resemblance to a young Bob Naismith, is okay and obviously shares much in common with the Nine Fingers sculpt in terms of positioning but I just cannot stand the model of Bottle Snottle! Its the really, really crap hand, massively out of proportion to the rest of his body, that puts me right off. He looks like he has spent a long, long time in prison with a giant stack of 'magazines of gentleman's interest' and little else to pass his time. The fact that his weapon, a rather fetching stone headed club,  seems rather incongruous to the rest of the model cements the fact that this model is always going to be passed over in my collection.

Plague Cart and its rules

The Plague Cart on the other hand is an absolute must for my Undead army. I have slapped a bid down on this beauty more than once only to be pipped at the post. The wheels may be familiar to keen eyed enthusiasts, for they are the very same ones that appear on the skeleton chariot that I have been working on recently. The model has some interesting rules too.

The cart can be used in any game. You roll a 2D6 at the start of each turn; on a 2 or a 12 the chart appears on the middle edge of the left or right table edge (an equal chance of either). It then moves in a straight line across the battlefield at 4" per turn, leaving through the middle of the opposite table edge. The insubstantial cart may pass through obstructions and even units of troops. It causes fear in all living creatures with 6", and terror in any living creatures through which it passes. It is immune to non-magical attacks. As it goes, the spirits rise from the slain, following it wailing and moaning.

The Plague Cart may be summoned by a level 3 Necromantic spell, summon plague cart (cost 12mps) passing across the battlefield. It gains the following powers when it encounters an undead army.

1) Undead creatures with 12" are immune to instability.
2) Any living humanoid slain with 12" rises as a zombie behind the cart with hand weapon and appropriate rules. Each model is marked (perhaps with plasticine) and is under the control of the undead player.

Plague Cart

M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Int	Cl	WP
4	3	0	4	4	5	3	0	-	-	-	-

Spectral Driver

M	WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Int	Cl	WP
4	4	0	0	4	4	4	4	5	5	5	5

Special Rules: As a normal spectre, the creature is armed with a scythe.

Command Groups

These command groups are ideal for pairing with the rank and file troops of the plastic Warhammer Regiments, a relationship that I have always felt was a deliberate one on the hands of Citadel. I love all the sculpts in this range and own one of two of them. I have the goblin shamen, the elf standard bearer, the skaven champion and elf the musician. I would certainly be interested in obtaining the rest of these models, especially the goblin leader which I feel to be one of the finest gobliniod models Citadel has ever produced. The dark elves are suitably militarilistic and the skaven leader is an absolute classic sculpt of Jes Goodwin that was, until relatively recently, still available to buy from GW.

The paint schemes or these models is also highly inspirational for me. The distinct blue and purple of the dark elves, the bright greens and golden yellows of the elves, the dirty, heavily shaded browns of the skaven and the sickly greens of the goblins are THE colours I like to use in my paint pallete. This is because this page of White Dwarf is one of the best examples of the colour scheme and painting style of three of the most important third edition armies.

The Gob-Lobber and the Gob-Lobber Appeal

Classic '80s Warhammer through and through! The second of the Perry engineered sculpts on today's post. The addition of some gruesome goblin heads turns this from being just another catapult into a wonderfully zany weapon that just begs to be fielded in all dwarf armies. Some of the crew members were recycled for use in other later dwarf war machines, though others were only available with this set - such as the dwarf cook with a pig on a spit (sadly not pictured here) and the pipe smoking commander.

I am lucky enough to have won this particular war machine recently. If I remember correctly for the rather cheap sum of £7. Sadly, I didn't win the crew that went with the machine but they tend to crop up quite often so its only a matter of time until I have my hands on them too. However, I am missing the wheels! I was wondering if any Oldhammerers out there could do me the kindness of lending me a wheel from this model so I can take a cast of it and create some greenstuff copies. If you could, please contact me and I'll be eternally grateful!

Orlygg

The Citadel Giant: Worth the Price Tag?

The Citadel Giant. A 'miniature' that often sits near the top of the Citadel collecting wishlist, though to be honest I hadn't actually seen a good quality picture of one, apart from the add below and a random head on King's Minis.

Well one has turned up on eBay and I'm interested in what it will go for. Sadly, the seller has set a Buy It Now for £850 rather than going for it on an auction. It makes me wonder if the model is actually worth that amount of money?

How much would you drop cash wise for a rare beast like this, eh?

Here's the link!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Rare-The-Citadel-Giant-1982-Errm-Gigantic-/300659338633?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item4600b16d89#ht_5226wt_1185