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Thursday 6 September 2012

A Little (Big!) Bit of History...

I am sure most of us with more than a passing interest in Warhammer Fantasy Battle 3rd edition will be familiar with this image from the rule book -


Its a great diorama for many reasons - the spectacle of Ugezod's (strangely the Death Commando version of Ugezod) Mothercrushers in ignominious flight. The Kwae Karr Orcs of Orc's Drift fame similarly fleeing from Wood Elf Wild Cat handlers, swarms of skeletons being mown down by the Elf Attack Chariot, a Dragon Ogre, Minotaurs, Goblins...

... and the big guy with the Essex tan!


Well guess what was in the last package to come through my letterbox.


I've mentioned the exploits of the Eternal Privates before and his brilliant idea of recreating the battles pictured in the 3rd ed. rulebook and he was certainly part of the inspiration behind tracking down this character. I  don't want to steal any of his thunder so there won't be a replay of this eclectic battle, although I do intend painting him up in a similar style to his 80's day-glow glory.

I was always intrigued as to what this mini was, as I'd never come across it in any of the catalogues. It was only in the past couple of years that I found out he was actually part of a small range of 54mm plastic minis produced for the Fighting Fantasy range - You can see the rest of them on the back of the battered blister he came in.


Clean-up should be interesting as there is the mother of all mold lines running up and down his sides and the plastic is that slightly bendy stuff that doesn't file down. Once I've got the 4A Goblins done (nearly there!) I'll get stuck in - can't wait!


23 comments:

  1. YES!!! What a fantastic score, Thantsants!!! I want to fast-forward the days so I can see him painted up by you!

    As for thunder, thank you, but let's all thunder-share and all of us stage and play through these inspiring battlephotos. It would be so great to see multiple takes on all of these classic scenes. I would especially look forward to seeing your version on it. Even more so now that you have THE GIANT! Anyway, congratulations on your magnificent score.

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    1. Right then - you're on! Definitely need to restore the reputation of the Mothercrushers and Kwae Karr, fleeing indeed!

      Just need to build a monastery by the looks of it...

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  2. Great find! I remember having the skeleton warrior back in the day! Painting 54mm can be a bit if a challenge all those wide open spaces. Look forward to seeing your progress!

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    1. Yup - there's some nasty flat looking bits on the sides, where the molds joined and the detail has become stretched. Might have to get creative with the putty somehow.

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  3. You bugger! I have that head but the body of the one I have is of the more orange Cyclops! I've had him a year or two since the last time we discussed this particular giant.

    Tell me the other head you got was the Cyclopes one and I will offer to swap an alternate hairy head for it!

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  4. Amazing, I love this figure someone at my local game store back when I was 13 had one of these with a tree in his upturned hand.
    I have one of the other body variants and two of the same head, did you get two different heads in your blister? Can't wait to see this painted up

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  5. Thantsants, we could have stayed friends, but now I have to come to your house, kill you, and steal that giant.

    What a find!

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    1. That is entirely understandable Mr S, however, in return I would have to haunt your games room and ensure you rolled naught but snake eyes...

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  6. Wow! I have wondered at the likelihood of someone getting hold of that giant for years! Now I see someone has managed it! Can I ask? Are you going to copy the original colour scheme or try something new?

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    1. Strangely enough he was on a buy it now when I caught sight of him, browsing ebay for FF game books.

      I certainly will be going for the original colour scheme - just wish my Hobgoblin Orange and the rest of my old Creature paint set had survived!

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  7. HeadnHalf and Erny - I did get some spares but not heads.

    I ended up with two blister packs for the price of one, which was nice, containing two of the same body, two weapons (axe and club with nails) and only the one head. I'll be posting something up on the BLOOD forum market place tomorrow - probably keep the nail club but the second body is going spare.

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  8. Cool, I have the head, I have the axe, just need the body! Hopefully could come to some arrangement. I have spare wood elves.....

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  9. Great find. I think I had the orc figure once many years ago, cheap way to field giants.

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    1. Cheers Scotty - he'll do until I can lay my hands on the old Perry giant ;)

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  10. Yes! Best find ever! I am New to oldhammer (I started with 4th ed when I was 11) but after owning 2nd & 3rd for only 2 weeks I have been totally converted and am insanely jealous! Love the blog too btw. Are you based in York UK?

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  11. Thanks - think I was just ahead of you having played 3rd ed for a while before a friend decided to try out 4th a year or so after it came out.

    Glad you like the blog and yes I am in York :)

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  12. Great find- as usual I'm jealous :)

    Am I right in thinking that there was an article in one of the old compendiums or journals about using these figures as giants in 2nd edition.

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    1. Thanks and sorry ;)

      Haven't heard of that article - would like to though.

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  13. Nice find Steve! Interestingly enough, I had mine out yesterday to keep wee-lad occupied. Tell you what, how about we race to the giant finish? =) Last time we had a race, I won. Remember? ;) I've got a few Doom Forgers on my desk right now being painted. Once they're done I'll get cracking on my giant/ogre/whatever... first to post a finished model wins virtual glory and interwebs fame. GO! ;)

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  14. Ah you bugger - still got my Four A Gobbo's to finish and a bad case of narcolepsy since going back to work!

    You're on anyway - interwebs fame is mine - all of it ya hear! Mwahhahahahaha

    Right after I've taken the dogs for a walk...

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  15. Congrats on the find! I wasn't aware of the FF line of figs and had thought that giant was sculpted from scratch. Now I'm grooving on the other figs in the line as well. Look forward to seeing this guy painted up.

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    1. Thanks - I'd never really heard of them either, despite having read the FF books avidly as a kid.

      He should make a nice change to the little Gobbo's I've been painting recently!

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  16. the whole picture and Regiments were virtually all mine...
    and you identified them correctly.
    Wayne Millard

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