Friday 3 May 2013

A visit to the Citadel Miniatures Hall, Games Workshop HQ Nottingham

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently visited Warhammer World in Nottingham for a Forge World Open Day event, and took the opportunity to snap a few pics in The Citadel Miniatures Hall, which is well worth a visit if you are in the area. I'm writing a separate thread on the dioramas of Mike McVey which are on view in the Hall; in this thread I shall concentrate on some of the other figures I snapped, both vintage and contemporary (including works-in-progress).

The old stuff (mainly 1980's)










Above: Dark Future Battlecars. Two of these (on the left and the right) can be seen in an advert which appeared in White Dwarf 106:



















John Blanche undead/dwarf diorama

Needs no introduction:









Rogue Trader era/early 1990's Orks

If you flick through the ork books and White Dwarfs of the late 1980's/early 1990's you will discover that the 'Eavy Metal team painted an awful lot of orks during that period. Many of these are in the collection of Bryan Ansell, but a glance through the pics below will reveal that a lot escaped - who knows where else they may reside? I've personally seen some in several collections over the years...








Chaos old and new

Some new chaos stuff, because some of it is really rather nice. Not all. But some. Also some old chaos painted in the "new style." Over the past few years I've visited the Citadel Miniatures Hall a number of times, and I've been to a few events, where I've had the opportunity to see in the flesh a lot of the figures painted by the current 'Eavy Metal team and which have appeared in White Dwarf. I don't know if it's just me but I often find that these figures look much better in the flesh than they do in White Dwarf. I don't think it's the photographs used in the magazine (which I can't fault) but I find the whole think often looks a bit too clinical. Can't really explain it better than that. Anyway, some things which did nothing for me when they first arrived in White Dwarf (e.g. the Jabberslythe) look good up close and I really wouldn't mind owning one.

















Misc stuff




Above: The latest version of Azhag the Slaughterer by Trish Carden. I've read some negative opinions about this but personally I think the wyvern is utterly fantastic. I would go so far as to say it has the character of the Great Spined Dragon. Definitely on my "to get" list.


Forge World Space Marine Dreadnoughts

Me likey:








I think they are a re-imagining of the old Rogue Trader era Contemptor dreadnought:


Forge World

Just some stuff I like:




Forge World works in progress


Above: not sure who this one is by - I think it's either Trish Carden or Keith Robertson.



Above: Merwyrm. Again not sure who this one is by - I think it's either Trish Carden or Keith Robertson.


I love this Troll Mother (designed by Trish). She hopes it will be available over the Summer:



4 comments:

  1. An awesome set of pics as usual! I especially like the Space Orks, I've seen those ones in so many battle reports. I think those particular squads are still in the GW collection because they were painted after the handover, I'm assuming this as the heavy weapons in the boyz mobs were released a few years after the main 1st ed Orks push and the mega-armour, snakebites and warphead were released in 2nd ed.

    Jokaero1 made an awesome post on the history of dreadnoughts which discusses the inspiration for contemptor dreadnoughts here:

    http://adarkuniverse.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/dreadnought-armour.html

    I really enjoy reading your blog Steve, your photo collection is a real treasury. The photos of Blanche's undead diorama are pure gold!

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  2. Thanks for the info and for pointing out the dreadnought blog. I've got loads of pics of the Blanche exhibit - probably worth me doing a post on that alone.

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  3. Some of those lovely old miniatures look like they need a good clean. What is the best way to remove dust from ancient figures?

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  4. That's not something I have attempted myself, but Bryan tells me he just puts them under some running water!

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