A blast from the past.

[Harry]

A BLAST FROM THE PAST (Or Harry paints a bunch of really old stuff)

With the Warhammer Anniversary this year I found myself getting a bit nostalgic.
Seeing this box art in the pages of White Dwarf took me right back to the first time this image appeared in White Dwarf all those years ago ... as an advert for the soon to be released new game.

I was 17 years old, I collected toy soldiers, I played war games and role playing games and I was a huge fan of fantasy. (and a White Dwarf subscriber even then!)

I remember how much I loved the cover art work of John Blanche.
I remember I was sold on the idea of Warhammer before it ever hit the shelves.



The result of all this reminiscing was that I decided to dig out some of my old minis from back then. As I did this I was reminded of just what a lot of wonderful, iconic minis there have been over the years.

It was like meeting old friends. You know ... those friends you have that whilst you may not see them for many years you pick up right where you left off last time and carry on as if it was only last week you saw them?

In this project log I intend to work my way through the pick of my collection, going back to the earliest days of Citadel miniatures and painting my favourite and some of the most iconic miniatures from ‘days gone by’.

I hope to show folks some lovely old miniatures and maybe re-introduce one or two people to some old friends, long forgotten.

I will update this log as often as my other army painting allows.

[Harry]

So what miniature should I pick to start this log?

Who else?

But the man himself.

From 1983 when he appeared in the First citadel Compendium.
Actually he was not called Harry the Hammer at all.
There was a later model that looked a bit like him that was called Harold the Hammer but … This guys name was Uthmog Elvenbane.
He was one of the NEW warriors of Chaos in the "Speciality set 1: Warriors of Chaos"
(These replaced an earlier set of Chaos Warriors in the original specialty set.“Champions of Chaos”)

He was a bit battered. But I stripped him...



Made him some nice new spikes....



and a new base....

[Harry]

And here he is with his nice new paint job.

This is my first ever try at NMM (as I was trying to match the box art).
and he is flippin tiny compared to todays minis ... so go easy on me.

[Arduhn]

Wow, nice work cleaning him up, and the base looks great! As ever, it's nice to see new attention given to old minis.

[silverstu]

Hey looking good for an old fella! Great to see him again- I remember when all the box sets used that artwork- I remember the warriors of chaos box, never got it- ahh, great times. Still have acouple of my old minis kicking about somewhere- in terrible condition. Oh and as always- nice base!

[StormCrow]

Nicely done Harry, i didn't even realise it was NMM until i stopped looking at the pretty pictures and read your comments. Always a good thing in my book. Looks like you got the colours right for the most part, although the green hair is a bit...80's

[Catferret]

Awesome work on the NMM Harry. Especially as you say it was your first try. Having the reference material to hand seems to have paid off nicely.

What's next on the list for an update?

[Harry]

Thanks very much guys.

Honestly, I wouldn't have known where to start with the NMM without the picture.

Whats next?
Actually I have already done next.

I decided to go right back to the start.
Citadel miniatures first started in 1979
They announced the release of their first miniatures a short time later in White Dwarf issue 11!!!
My next mini was one of the ones that appeared in that first selection.

This first release was a strange mix of stuff, much of it was not very exciting, However their were a couple of gems amongst them.

FS5 Old wizard on throne was one of the gems.

FS was the code for Fantasy specials. This was one of the first to be shown in WD and it was also one of the only models to be retained when they remade the fantasy Specials range in 1982. It was however updated with a new wizard which was much nicer than the original and it is this wizard from FS5-2 that I have painted.

Here he is, stripped and then undercoated.

[Harry]

and here is with a nice new paint job.

[Tizz]

Wonderful! The base is especially fantastic! I'm loving this log and cannot wait for more!

[Nephilim of Sin]

This is just one of the many reasons why I love following your stuff, Harry. Not only are your logs fantastic, but it is excellent seeing these older 'gems' getting such a loving treatment. The nostalgia alone is great, but I also love seeing these guys painted up using techniques they did not even know existed when they first came out. It also shows that many of them really can stand the test of time. Great job, and keep up the great work!

[Jedi152]

Harry, as usual you have totally surpassed yourself. Consider me subscribed.

[Arduhn]

Nice wizard! 1982 eh? That's the year I was born!

[silverstu]

Very nice- don't remember this guy at all- but I was 9 at the time- didn't get into minis until i was 11. As always very nicely painted.

[de Selby]

This is a tremendous idea. Looking forward to more.

[Frgt/10]

woah these are awesome

great work as always

[DarkMark]

A pukka pie to you old boy, steak and kidney or chicken and mushroom? Great to see these golden oldies, it just shows how sploit the under-5s are today with their predantic musings over new models. Keep them coming please.

[Lord Dan]

1979? That model is ten years older than I am.

Agh!

Beautiful work as always, Harry. Nice NMM on Harry the Hammer.

Wait, I just thought of something. Harry? "Harry the Hammer"? Is Harry actually your name, or is it a clever nod to the Chaos slayer of Undead?

I demand answers!

[Count Sinister]

Or maybe 'Harry the Hammer' is a clever nod to Harry, Lord of Pies, and all things 'Painting Tale' related...

Harry - fantastic stuff, and a really great idea. There are a lot of people on the forum who remember all those old models, because those are the ones that got them into the hobby. I know that our gaming group (we've known each other for 25 years and more, so obviously we're good friends, rather than 'just' gaming buddies) still has that Warhammer Fantasy box knocking around somewhere. And I remember that original Harry the Hammer too - very nicely painted, and it's great to see it again, getting some love and attention.

Fantastic, Harry. Absolutely fantastic.

[Lardidar]

Just when you think 'that Harry, he can't possibly do anything else positive for the hobby' you go and make this blog.

They are fantastic and I got a new thread to look at .... cheers dude.