Mordheim: Chaos Dwarf reinforcements

Desolation Hexx.

I recently started to create a Chaos Dwarf warband for Mordheim. Rather than extensively convert the warband, like I did with my Sister's of Sigmar warband, I wanted to create this one using old miniatures from the 80s, leaning into the Oldhammer theme. Last month I trimmed and assembled the first three models for the warband. This month I continued the process and added three more dwarves to the warband!

90's Marine Challenge: Dark Angel

Two Space Marines models from the 90’s, one just painted (left), the other when we just got into the hobby (right), circa 1997.

Over the last few years I have been painting Dark Angels Space Marines in honor of them being the first Space Marine Chapter we ever painted when starting in the hobby. Although it started primarily with Primaris Space Marines slightly converted to be true-scale Space Marines, I started to paint some older models to capture how Space Marines have changed over the years, including some Rogue Trader models, a MKIV, and a MKVI Space Marine. So when Darren Latham of Games Workshop fame started a 90’s Marine Challenge to paint a plastic 2nd edition Space Marine in a Chapter of your choice, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to paint one of the classic statuesque power armored warriors. Admittedly we did paint a bunch of the models when we first got into the hobby and got the 2nd edition boxed game of Warhammer 40,000. Space Marine models have come a long way since the 90s, and I am happy to say that I think I have too, at least in terms of painting!

The Unforgiven: Oldhammer Dark Angel

A Dark Angel amongst a decaying city scape (created by Totally Not Panicking).

I am continuing my quest to paint Dark Angels, and after talking with Koltti on our podcast I decided it would be fun to paint another Rogue Trader era model. It also marks a year since painting my first Oldhammer Space Marine for last year’s Olden Demon. Space Marine models from the 80’s are quite fun to paint, due to how simple the one-piece models are. Furthermore, it is amazing how inconsistent the old Space Marine models are, from different sized hands, feet, and even different helmet designs. I am really happy with how the model turned out, and hope to paint a few more to go alongside them.

Oldhammer: Rogue Trader Space Marines

A trio of Rogue Trader era Space Marines!

Earlier this year we interviewed Koltti on our podcast, where we talked at length about his various Oldhammer projects. Towards the end, he proposed a challenge where we all found a Rogue Trader era Space Marine and painted it. We are always looking for an excuse to get and paint new Oldhammer models, so we jumped at the opportunity to get some Space Marine models from the 80s. After scouring eBay, we were able to find three characterful Space Marines from the late 80’s, including one with a shuriken catapult! Although the models were in good condition, they took quite a bit of effort to prepare for painting. This required the careful removal of moldlines and sanding, as well as some sculpting work to fill in gaps and make elements of the armor more symmetrical. Now that the models are built we can consider painting them!

Mordheim 2022: a recap

One of Jimmy Henriksson’s cultist brethren gazing over the squalor of the City of the Damned.

After all of the anticipation, planning, converting, and painting, Mordheim 2022 has come and gone, and it was glorious! Hobbyists from all over converged in Houston, Texas to celebrate the skirmish wargame Mordheim. The level of talent and passion involved was staggering, mirroring Mordheim 2019, which celebrated the game’s 20th anniversary. Mordheim 2022 was too large to be adequately covered in a single post, as it spanned three days, and was accompanied with too many excellent people, so we plan to separate our coverage of Mordheim 2022 into multiple posts, including covering many of the games we played, the terrain we played on, and hopefully a podcast or two! This initial post is going to be a short one, including a few photos in an attempt to capture some of the magic of the long weekend. We also wanted to express our thanks to everyone involved in the event, especially Bill Ford (@the_ruin.501) for making it all happen and thinking of us when considering who to invite. Words cannot adequately convey how fantastic the event was, filled with inspiring models and towering terrain, and some of the best people in the miniature hobby. It was wonderful to meet old friends and create new ones, bonding over a shared love of Mordheim. And while the event may be over, our excitement for the game, hobby, and continuing to connect with the hobby community could not be stronger!

Mordheim 2022: Elf Ranger

An elf ranger next to Mad Meg!

Continuing on the theme of Mordheim, since the Mordheim 2022 event in Houston, Texas is less than a week away, I wanted to showcase an old model I found when looking through the models I painted before starting Between the Bolter and Me. Specifically, I am referring to one of the Hired Sword models Games Workshop released alongside the other Mordheim warbands, the elf ranger. Although I was not playing Mordheim at the time, I painted the model some 15 years ago simply because I liked the model. Upon reflection, the model is a little wonky, with an odd pose and proportions, but I still generally like the model, and even think the paint job holds up. If I were to redo the model, I would give the elf a smaller sword, more befitting his lithe frame.

Oldhammer: Olden Demon 2022 Knight

Empire Knight next to Slambo, warrior of Chaos.

Just in time for chilvers_industries Olden Demon 2022 painting competition, I finished painting the ancient sergeant model from the Death on the Reik line of models I selected earlier in the month! I decided to base the paint scheme on a piece of John Blanche art, giving me the opportunity to practice painting yellow, along with my freehand.

Oldhammer: Olden Demon 2022 Dark Angel

Space Marines have come a long way since the 80's!

I selected a Rogue Trader Space Marine for chilvers_industries upcoming Olden Demon 2022 painting competition. Although I wanted to start painting the model weeks ago, it took me a while to find a 2nd edition style backpack for the model. Eventually I was successful in getting one via eBay and was able to start painting! I decided to paint the model to fit alongside the other Dark Angels I have been painting over the last year or so. Although the scale is quite different to new models, with a similar paint scheme, I figured the model would fit in, and be a good testament to how GW models have changed over the years!

Oldhammer: Olden Demon 2022 model selections

A Rogue Trader era MKVI Space Marine (left) that will be repainted, next to a MKIV and Primaris Space Marine.

It is that time of year again, and chilvers_industries is holding Olden Demon 2022, a painting competition that asks you to paint an old metal model, making sure to paint the base the nostalgic Goblin Green (as was prevalent in the 90s)! We participated for the first time last year by painting an old Space Ork emulating the style of Nicklas Pilhlstrom. This year both Adam and Eric decided they wanted to try to paint something, and spent some time deliberating on what would fit the theme. After painting a Rogue Trader model last year, Adam decided on painting an ancient knight from Warhammer Fantasy Battles, from the Death on the Reik line. When looking through an old case of miniatures, Eric found an old MKVI apothecary Space Marine, which was actually from the second blister pack we ever purchased in our youth. Seeing the model rekindled old memories, and with the upcoming new plastic MKVI marines, it seemed an ideal model to repaint to a higher standard. Now that we found the models, we just have to paint them before the end of May!

Oldhammer: Oldenhammer 2021

A Rogue Trader era Imperial Guard model next to an ork of the same era.

Although we are usually quite focused on converting models to improve their proportions and improve their weaponry, it is fun to put that aside sometimes and just paint an old Games Workshop model, celebrating a time before digital sculpting. In 2017, we found a small game store selling blister packs of Rogue Trader models and purchased a bunch of them and have been slowly painting them. Last year, I painted Slambo, and last month I painted an old Imperial Guard model to honor Commissar Molotov. Towards this end, we saw that chilvers_industries was holding a painting competition again this year called Olden Demon 2021, that asks you to paint an old metal model with a green base (as was prevalent in the 90s). Having not participated last year, we were eager to this year, painting another one of our collection of forgotten metal models!

Oldhammer: Commissar Molotov

The scale of models has changed a lot over the years!

Over the years, our blog has put a lot of focus on INQ28, from the Pilgrym to working on Zone Secundus. Its focus on creating characters and telling stories stands apart from the vapid battles that typify Warhammer 40,000. The INQ28 scene has been built and fostered by so many people since the release of Inquisitor some 20 years ago, but Commissar Molotov played a critical role in getting the idea to take root, with his forum presence and INQvitationals. He continues to be a huge proponent for INQ28, and in 2018 he started the #INQ28th initiative, where hobbyists share INQ28 models they are building on Instagram, using the aforementioned hashtag. Inquisitor_sharpe realized that on April 28th 2021, it would be the 28th month of the initiative, and reached out to us and others to help celebrate Commissar Molotov’s continued contributions to this dark corner of the miniature hobby. To do this, he suggested that people create miniature representations of Commissar Molotov himself. We thought this was a wonderful idea, and decided to paint an old Rogue Trader Imperial Guard/Commissar model in his honor!

Oldhammer: Slambo

Procession of Ancestral Brutalism

Although I love plastic miniatures, periodically, I get the urge to revisit old metal models. There is just something so charming about Citadel’s old range of single piece metal models, from the awkward poses to the sometimes odd merger of fantasy and sci-fi. Years back I painted an old Ork Tinboy and a Imperial Guardsmen from the Rogue Trader era, and Eric painted Hess Poison Breath just last year. I recently came across my copy of the original Slambo model, one I had modified slightly with greenstuff to improve his boots, which had been set aside after I had experimented with making silicone molds with him. Seeing him again, still without paint, and after I had finally painted an old Imperial Guard model from years back, made me come to the conclusion that now was Slambo’s time to be finished.

Oldhammer: Hess Poison Breath

I have no regret. The clues are numerous, and it is reasonable that the truth should exist in proportion to their number. -Kōbō Abe

When building my Undead warband for Mordheim 2019, I got my hands on two ancient Citadel miniatures sculpted by the legendary Jes Goodwin. Both were Chaos Sorcerers from the mid 80s. While one, Sli’ith Ironlung, was converted slightly and turned into a dreg from the undead warband, the other, Hess Poison Breath, was left unused. A month or two ago, I started to paint some of fantasy miniatures we got from Ana Polanscak’s Kickstarter, and realized the model would fit nicely alongside of them as some manner of necromancer. With this in mind, put the model on a base and decided to paint him/her!

Oldhammer: Rise of Rogue Trader

Confrontation on the red wastes!

Games Workshop has come a long way in the past 10 years in terms of miniature production, taking advantage of new technology to create more dynamic models that are easier to assemble and trim. You would have a hard time arguing that the older metal Keeper of Secrets holds up to the newer plastic one. Despite this, I often find myself looking back at many of the older models, from 2nd edition 40k and Rogue Trader, with special fondness. This is partially due to nostalgia from back when I started with the hobby, but also due to the wonky charm present in many of the earlier sculpts, sculpts that were not aided by computer design or even the internet for reference material. Recently, I have tried to incorperate some older models into some of my conversions, as a way to celebrate the venerable models, particularly with my my Pilgrym warband. You can imagine my excitement when I found a local shop that was selling a whole assortment of old Rogue Trader blisterpacks! It seemed to be an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, and I purchased a whole bunch of them, ranging from Imperial Agents to Orks. I have long admired the work of exemplars in the “oldhammer” community like Don Hans (Realm of Citadel), Alex (Leadbaloony), Axiom (Magpie and Old Lead), and Warburton (Warhammer 40,000 2nd Edition), just to name a few. And having found all these Rogue Trader models I decided it would be fun to build two small warbands of the models, with the goal of playing some games of Rogue Trader in the future!