Bellerophon Rides Again!

Skeletal Pegasus
Company: Mythic Articulations
Part #:
Sculptor: Brian Richardson
Released: 2014

Oh boy, check out these skeletal pegasi and riders from Mythic Articulations! Sculptor Brian Richardson has begun scaling down some of his larger  inch display models to 32mm for wargaming use. Richardson has taken his original Pegasus skeleton model and added spear wielding riders, as well as modifying the poses. This is set of 5 pegasi/riders contains two different poses, one rearing and one flying. Slap an easily obtainable hoplon on the riders and *presto*! Flying cavalry for my undead ancient greek army.

Bellerophon rides again!

I love Richardson's models because they are a) unique and b) anatomically correct. The typical way to go with a skeletal Pegasus is to give it bat-like wings, like with the Mantic vampire lord on an undead Pegasus or this Ral Partha Necromancer on a skeletal Pegasus. Richardson has sculpted true to life bird wings for these models. Pay particular attention to the massive bird-like clavicle and sternum where the wing muscles would attach.

These models are individually printed in a high detail translucent resin. The age of custom miniatures has arrived. If you can dream it - you can print it!

The Skeletal Samurai Host Gets a Big Addition

Asian Dragon
Company: Mythic Articulations
Part #:
Sculptor: Brian Richardson
Released: 2014

Check it out! I've been collecting a medieval skeleton samurai force for years now. The backbone of the host is those old Clan War skeletal samurai and bowmen. I've also supplemented with old Grenadier and Ral Partha skeletal samurai and ninja as well as filling ranks in from newer companies like Wyrd, GCT and Zenit.

And while Wyrd, GCT and Zenit are doing a good job of giving me some undead creatures; Oni, Gaikotsu and such - I have always wanted to put a dragon in there. Obviously, dragons are integral to eastern society myths, symbolizing power and royalty. Having an undead samurai force that incorporated eastern mythological creatures but lacked a dragon would look completely out of place.

The problem is, despite the fact that I have a TON of skeletal/undead dragons, they are all western style dragons. You can't just plop a western style dragon in a a far eastern army. Eastern dragons are typically portrayed very differently from western ones (You know... you've been to Chinese New Year!). Instead of a large, hulking dinosaur-like reptile, eastern dragons look more like lithe, sinuous snakes with four legs. Unfortunately, no company I know of has ever made a skeletal or undead eastern style dragon.

Enter Mythic Articulations. Sculptor Brian Richardson produces a wide range of models portraying skeletons of "cryptids", weird mythological (or supposedly real) hybrid animals combining features of various species. And he creates them as basically "anatomically correct", coming up with creative ways to fuse the anatomies of say, a bird and a horse (Pegasus). I just recently bought the Asian Dragon to happily fill the void in my skeletal samurai army. At last!

Mythic Articulations isn't actually a producer of wargame miniatures however. Richardson has created these figures as anatomical models of various cryptids that are meant to be display pieces. He sculpts them virtually using Zbrush and then has them printed on a 3D printer to sell on Shapeways or Etsy.

Because they are display pieces, they are printed at a size that is much larger than the 28-32mm standard. The Asian Dragon, clocking in at 9 inches long, is a perfect fit for the skeletal samurai host, however. Also I plan to incorporate some of his other models into my armies, at least the ones that are rightly "giant" creatures - wyvern, minotaur, this lovely depiction of the Jersey Devil (which will make one awesome Major Demon).

But there are other sculpts which I'd love to incorporate that would simply be too big to use in my armies, such as the unicorn, the Pegasus, the harpy and the faun/satyr. Man, It'd be killer to mount a Bellerophon/hero on the back of that Pegasus if it was the right size! Or an Empire style hero on the back of that hippogriff (although - as a giant creature, I might get away with using the hippogriff as an independent monster).

But hello! We are entering the age of 3D printing and custom miniature making. Richardson designs the models on a computer, so he can easily change the scale of the sculpts and create an infinite number of poses. The problem is, the 3D printing technology is not quite at the level where you can effectively print his designs in 28mm. They're too fragile at that scale and the printers cannot print that thinly.

However, Richardson is open to doing some modification of his original design work in order to make the sculpts more robust (but a less realistic) so they can be printed in 28mm scale. Who knows? I might be able to field those skeleton satyr psiloi I've been yearning for faster than I expected!

Gnome Liche

Liche from the Von Drakk Manor set
Company: Soda Pop Miniatures
Part #:
Sculptor:
Released: 2012

Well, what did I pick up today? It's a cute little liche from Soda Pop Miniatures.

Isn't he just precious?

It's a piece from Soda Pop Miniatures, which makes tremendously un-serious lil' folks miniatures.

But looking at it on ebay I immediately thought it would make a good gnome liche, to compliment my entirely serious other gnome liche; Reaper's Kurand the Ever Living.

This is the serious one...

Plus he could serve well my growing stable of undead little people; dwarves, gnomes and halfings. 

Morghasts!

Morghast Archai & Morghast Harbingers
Company: Games Workshop
Part #:
Sculptor:
Released: 2014

Images leaking of some sweet, new (incredibly expensive) models from GW's new "End Times" expansion...

GW calls them "Morghasts" - heralds of the dread Nagash.

I, however, call them GIANT FUCKING DEMONS! Finally, I have some major skeletal demons to field in my undead army of chaos.

Giant Fucking Demons

It may sound odd, but there has been dearth of suitably large scale undead demon models. I have a variety of what I would call "lesser demons" - "angels of death" and such like these:

Yeah bitches!

I have a whole bunch of these, enough probably to make two units worth. But while most of them are suitably kick-ass (especially those Rackham figs), they're all normal sized. I've always been envious of those impressive looking giant demon sculpts. They look devastatingly frightening in those chaos hordes and I've always wanted one or two for mine. But unfortunately, like the long desired skeletal hydra, no company has ever really made any such models.

Now... an embarrassment of riches! The Morghast boxed set allows you to make 2 figures each of either the Archai (the ones with the halberds) or the Harbingers (dual swords, less armor). Combined with the undead demon just recently achieved as a stretch goal on Mantic Games' new kickstarter, I have up to five major demons to field alongside my lesser demons, skeletal chaos warriors and skeletal beastmen in my undead chaos horde!

The Return of Nagash

Nagash: Supreme Lord of the Undead
Company: Games Workshop
Part #:
Sculptor:
Released: 2014

Dammit. GW is going to force me to crack open my wallet again. And it is going to cost me dearly.

But seriously, How friggin' cool is that? The giant liche lord borne up by a spirit host.You can't turn that down.

Nagash is the Ur-liche in the Warhammer^(tm) mythology. But for someone so important in the lore, he's never gotten his due in a model. The only other attempt was that mid-1990's sculpt by Gary Morely:

Cannot unsee!

Yeah. It's pretty much entered miniature lore as one of the worst executed models ever released. It's pretty dumb looking. Although it is one of my four liche giants along with the old Grenadier Lich Lord, Liche Giant and Grim Reaper Casting's Lich Lord.

Now, Nagash has been reanimated (see what I did there?) in a super cool format as part of a slew of new undead minis to support GW's "End Times" expansion. I don't give a flying fig about the lore. Neither do I care about the new rules that will undoubtedly force 12 year olds everywhere to switch to an undead army for official Warhammer^(tm) tournaments since I don't play Warhammer^(tm) anymore.

However, I am powerless to resist the lure of Nagash as a general for one of my legions - perhaps the entire legion. Ugh. I'm done for.

Werewoolf - Ancient Legion XXI Rapax Command

Ancient Legion XXI Rapax Command
Company: Werewoolf Miniatures
Part #:
Sculptor: Krzysztof Jonczyk (design), Marcin Szymanki (sculpt)
Released: 2013

The "Predator" legion raised by Augustus has returned! (Not in the best shape after their tangle with the Sarmatians). These marvelous designs show, once again, the sculpting artistry coming out of Poland these days. It seems the Polish have caught the fantasy war-gaming bug big time.

This pack of three resin figures represent a Roman legion command group. Perfect for my Roman skeleton legion. The designs are pretty sweet, with appropriate undead poses. They look suitably beaten up. The resin picks up the detail nicely. I like the fact that the Werewoolf has provided us with two different signifiers, either of which can be put on the standard; the (cool) bat sculpt or the (more historical) eagle sculpt.

I sincerely hope Werewoolf sculpts some generic legionnaires to go along with this command group because I could use some nice sculpts to fill out my centuries.

Alionas - Undead Legion Signifier

Undead Legion Signifier
Company: Alionas
Part #: 105-001-01
Sculptor:
Released:

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about! A standard bearer for my Roman skeletal legion from the German company Alionas. Useful because if I get some more of these I can place a standard in each of my legion's centuries.

The design is pretty good. The sculpt for the skeleton is pretty standard. I like the lion cloak and the eagle standard.

All the Alionas stuff has been out a long time but I've just recently procured the Roman skeletons because I am filling out my legion.

I had to order him directly from Germany through the Alionas web-site, as I don't think they have an American distributor. That makes shipping pricey - one reason I've held off. Their web store is also a little weird, in that purchase is not immediate. The store emails the owners and they get back to you.

Alionas - Undead Legionarri

Undead Legionarri
Company: Alionas
Part #: 105-001-pilum
Sculptor:
Released:

A trio of 1st century AD skeleton Roman legionnaires from the German company Alionas. Good filler for my Roman skeleton legion. I like the design and the pose, engaging with the pila ready to fly. I fully intend to use the Roman pilum rules in Piquet: Archon whenever I get a chance to field these. I do wish there was more than one pose though.

Alionas - Skeletons

Skeletons
Company: Alionas
Part #: 105-002-Skel
Scultpor:
Released:

A trio of regular skeletons from the German company Alionas. They've been out a long time, but I only recently got around to picking them up because I decided to just go all out and pick up every Roman themed skeletal miniature to finish out my Legion.

They're supposed to represent Germanic barbarians, contra the company's skeleton Romans, but they could represent generic spearmen in any army.

They're ok, but nothing to write home about. A little to "cartoony" in their expression for my tastes, but certainly usable.

You Think Skeletons Are Slow?

Pictured: Sheer Badassery...

YEAH! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, BITCH?! THIS AIN'T NO ZOMBIE PARTY!

Take that weak ass "shuffling undead" shit back to AMC where it belongs.

You come to MY house? I'm gonna go Harryhausen all over your ass!