OWAC VI - More NPCs

I have started the challenge with a clear idea of who would lead this army (Lady Margritte), but no miniature to play the role. I have considered a number of female models (Lucrezzia Belladonna, several lahmias and sisters of Sigmar, some Frostgrave magicians, and even the legendary Lady McDeath), but nothing really convincing. The light came last month through a comment, pointing towards a modest lady in the medieval pack MED209 by Wargames Foundry. The miniature is fine, but I wanted something closer to the scenario illustrations, with a more menacing look or... a hood. Perfect match with Samantha Phox, a sorceress model designed by Aly Morrison in the eighties. I gave her a staff to show her use of electricity to animate cadavers. She also received an undead familiar, probably one of the mutant cats cherished by her mother, Lady baronette Ingrid von Wittgenstein. Finally, since the miniature was a little bit small compared to more recent models, I have fixed Lady Margritte on a small stone stairway. In terms of painting, the final result is not at all what I had in mind: Mrs. Santa Claus and her zombie pet...  

Well, too late for changing plans 😑. 

Among many horrors, Lady Margritte has created the Wittgentsein Monster, a composite being made up from various body parts and internal organs gently provided by the villagers and beggars of Wittgendorf. 

Regarding the miniature, the quest was easy, and (unexpectedly) cheap: the exact model was proposed with the original scenario. Regarding the painting job, we can read the following details: "deathly white skin with green discolorations on the cheeks and lower jaw". I really tried... then followed another path.

The next inhabitant of the castle is Slurd, an old (and senile) retainer of the Wittgensteins, whose left hand has muted into a bird's talon. The original miniature is actually quite pleasant to paint, and the illustration by Martin McKenna helped me to figure out how to paint his claw. With an additional month, I would have probably given to Slurd a few beggars and muted servants, and built another unit of useless fighters. For the moment, he'll be on his own on the battlefield.

 Back to Wittgendorf, and the good doctor Jean Rousseaux. Poisoned by the very warp dust he's pouring in the booze distributed to the villagers and the beggars, his skin has started to flake, and he's hiding his affliction by plastering his face with white powder. The miniature is a previously unreleased Marauder Miniatures wizard, now sold by Wargames Foundry (referenced TWW-07). I have removed the beard with a modelling knife, and tried to keep the chubby face of Martin McKenna's illustration in the first release of Death on the Reik. The flask and the rapier are small additions echoing the equipment of the NPC in the scenario. In terms of painting, the powdered face was an interesting challenge. Not sure it's understandable without the background explained above though... 

 

Lovely characters...

Using Wargames Foundry models (referenced GPR066), I have created another double-headed sheep, used as a mascot for the regiment of peasants. With the time left, I have added a few Wittgendorfers to the band. 

They either come from the C46 villagers, or from the F4 Mercenaries. Except a fixed spearhead, there was absolutely no modification on these models.

That's it for the 6th month of OWAC VI!

Pieter the Pious

To lead my pilgrims to the disaster and conclude OWAC III, one key character was missing: Pieter the Pious.

My initial plan was to add something liked the golden cross carried by the crusaders army Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven movie.

In the end, I found easier to combine the war altar sculpted by Michael Perry, with the bearers of the C22 Slann wizard designed by Trish Morrison.

As you can see on the following pictures, I've slightly converted the altar by adding candles and a little lectern. The not-so-gold NMM is a mix of Battledress Green P3, darkened by VMC Brown Violet and sometimes Dark Sea Blue, and highlighted with VMC Japan Uniform, VMC Ivory and sometimes white. The oxydation is made by glazes of different shades of turquoise, light blue and green-blue. 

Regarding the bearers, I've briefly considered adding them hoods, but the heads and necks are so weird that I wasn't sure about the final result. I've finally painted a black cross on their face, to give them a pilgrim flavor.

Regarding Pieter, I've chosen a Citadel C3 cleric (called Inner Sight) whose posture is close to the altar. I can't say it's a great model (arms a little bit too thick and legs a little bit short), but it'll do the job, I guess.

In terms of points, Pieter is a level 20 wizard: 240 points. So that's it, I've reached the 1000 points in 5 months, right on time to pack all my stuff and move out!

Baron Markus Toppenheimer

After the mysterious disappearance of Baron Olaf Seiktliebe, Baroness Etelka Toppenheimer named another nephew, Markus Toppenheimer, as her new heir. On the battlefield, he often leads the noblemen that are still attached to the former Elector of the Sudeland.

As for the model, I have used the 1987 Battle Lord designed by Mark Copplestone, mounted on a M66 horse (the original one being too thin compared to Trish Carden's sculpts).

His retainers should follow soon.

Commander Baron Ulrich von Bernau, Grand Master of the Söllsguard Knights

In MadAlfred's sourcebook on Pfeildorf, Baron Ulrich von Bernau is the commander of Pfeildorf's garrison. As I intend to paint one or two regiments of MM66 models, I've also made him Grand Master of the Söllsguard Knights to lead them to the battle.

The model is a mix of MM66 (horse and legs) and MB15 (torso) bits. As you can see, they do not fit perfectly, but once painted, I think it works (more or less).

Regarding the painting, I have used on the baron the same colors as for the foot knights of the Söllsguard. As for the mount, I've tried a black-and-white caparison. Could have spent more time on it I believe, but I really wanted to finish it before the end of the month.

I'm really happy to start painting these damn' MM66 models, their mounts are definitely... eer... expensive? Yes, but also small. Really small.

Compare Grand Baroness von Toppenheimer to Baron von Bernau. Who's the boss?

More MM66 knights to come next month!

Baroness Etelka Toppenheimer (Final Chapter)

The general of my imperial army is finally done! Not exactly a Marauder Miniatures model, but she'll do the job :)