Showing posts with label Mick Beard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mick Beard. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 August 2014

Whiate Dwarf 124: 'Eavy Metal Special


This week we are having a look at the models that appear in White Dwarf 124 and many of them will be familiar to readers of the Lost and the Damned. Within that eldritch tome, two warbands are described in quite a bit of detail (in fact the same article is also present in this issue of WD) and a spread of miniatures are shown off. These models are from that same set of warbands only within the pages of White Dwarf we get to see them in a little bit more detail. 

The first of the warbands to appear is that of Lothar Bubonicus and doesn't it look beautiful - in a Nurgely way I suppose! Some of the models here are obviously part of the previous Studio collection, such as the Mike McVey converted chaos warrior on chaos steed and Skrag the Slaugheter, but the rest seem new to this force. And a lovely varied bunch they are. Stand out pieces for me are probably the most obvious, namely the fantastic standard bearer and the brilliant Palanquin itself. The definitive Nurgle warband published during the Golden Age. 


The arch rival of the Plague Lord is of course Tzeentch and he is well represented by Thunderfist, his champion. As you would expect from a god seeped in mutating magic, there is a little more conversion work to be seen among these warriors of chaos, with the most striking being the quite disturbing chaos spawn. Its worth pointing out here once more that your warbands don't need to be totally preoccupied with 'traditional' chaos units... This one makes great use of orcs! 


If one Tzeentch warband is not enough, here is a second one! This time we have a page chronicling the forces of one Warwing. One glance at him is all that is required to see that we have here one the greatest RoC era conversions ever built, yet alone painted. It really is a triumph! The rest of the band is pretty good too, especially that Tzeentch symbol covered minotaur!  


Genestealer Cults remain very popular to this day. Looking at this page of material it is very easy to see why. You can really get creative with the brood brother units and the limos. I am lucky enough to have seen many of the models arrayed in the photograph at the bottom of the page with my own eyes


Steve Mussared will be a name very familiar to readers of this series and his work is always well worth careful studio. here we are treated to many of his Khorne models, pretty all of which are converted in some way. I love the two fleshounds with the dragon heads and reptile tails and like all truly great conversion these seem to be very simple in execution but the standout piece here would have to be scratchbuilt chariot! I am assuming that the chariot itself was built up with putty and the wheels look to be custom jobs. The charioteer is a converted '80s bloodletter with a bloodthister whip. The draught animals, if animals is the right noun, look to be centaur bodies topped with bloodletter torsos! 

Don't they look properly twisted and macabre? 


Our final page throws up more work from another familiar name to this series - Mick Beard! He makes good work of the Marauder ogres we discussed recently and the unique alpine dwarf. But it is the Advanced Heroquest diorama that really impresses. 

Orlygg

Sunday, 11 August 2013

'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.