Iron Claw Space Pirates: Part 3... Guest Post by Geriatricus

Modern wargamers make me vomit. Back in the good old days, when we wanted to play Warhammer 40K, we didn't use army lists or codices. Do you know what codices are? The. Plural. Of. Codex. The only codex we had was the Codex Vaticanus, and it couldn't be clearer on the topic of kids these days: "Take up a lament on the barren heights," spake the prophet Jeremiah, "for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation".

No, when we wanted to play 40K, all we had was a copy of Rogue Trader. You opened the cover and the spine shattered like it was held together with spittle and icing sugar, scattering loose pages across the room. Gathering them up, you were ready to assemble your army. You just looked at your collection of miniatures and that was your force: squats and marines and orks and space pirates all in one army? No problem. In the grim darkness of the future, no one will bother with homogenous armies. They're too busy rat-fucking each other!

But our games were always fair, unlike today. Nowadays, kids die of heat exhaustion as they sprint to the gaming shop for the latest army list, hoping to outdo each other in an endless arms-race. We lived in a more evenhanded time: we just eyeballed each miniature and assigned him the equipment he appeared to be carrying. If it just so happened that all my marines were carrying laser cannons, and all your guardsmen were carrying stub pistols, that was just the way it had to be. It was fair, the same way that getting t-boned by a cement truck is fair.

No one ever cried because Games Workshop stopped supporting their army of choice. Boo hoo! I can't bring my Bretonnians to tournaments anymore! Jesus Burger-Flipping Christ, we didn't have tournaments at all! It was ludicrous to imagine playing Warhammer out in the open, against strangers, in public. In the halcyon days of my youth, Warhammer was something that you were ashamed of. You hid away, in dank basements, in the dark, playing with like-minded people with whom otherwise you wouldn't be caught dead. The stigma was what made it fun.

But all that's gone now. You had to make it popular. You had to have a net flicks. And now there are no more space pirates. Yours is truly a generation of swine.

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Sorry for the guest post. That guy is a real downer. I've got to stop letting him take over the blog.

Here are the final 7 miniatures from Bob Olley's IC301 Space Pirates (1987) from the golden age of Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader. One of the (many) things I love about this range is Olley's choice to portray several old (and apparently) cranky men.

A prime example of men well past their prime is "Pop Stewart". He's balding, he's pouchy and he's ready to kick ass:

This range of space pirates is apparently led by "Captain Dunbar". He's bucktoothed and dressed in a onesie, but he is carrying a rather large gun:

The face on "Attitude Gorman" is the distilled essence of Bob Olley's sculpting style. With his beaked nose, recessed eyes, and gaping grin, he reminds me of one of Da Vinci's groteques:

"Nixan" is an equally strange miniature. We it not for the gun, he would look like a B-list superhero called Torpedo Man:

For another stumpy and bearded oldster, may I present "Little Rigo":

Another splendid example of Olley's skill at creating uniquely grotesque people, we have "Psycho". He's like what Rambo would be, if Rambo had a dyed blond perm, pimples, and a girdle. I especially enjoy the fact that, unlike almost all Citadel miniatures, he's not wearing boots, but has instead chosen a sensible pair of orthopedic sneakers.

And finally, the oldest and crustiest space pirate of them all, "Dambo Kweltz". You can almost hear the clack of his dentures, smell his eucalyptus chest ointment, and feel the tremor in his hands as he tries to aim his archaic weapons. You get 'em, gramps!

Well, my friends, I hope you've enjoyed this tour through Bob Olley's masterpieces! I certainly have!

You'll notice that I've put a link to a permanent gallery of this range on the right, under Miniature Galleries. 

Rogue Trader Space Pirates by Bob Olley: Part 2

Space pirates were a big part of WH40K in its early days. In The Book of the Astronomicon (1988) we learned that eldar, orks, humans and even squats engaged in piracy. That tome also provides a splendid army list for a pirate band, "Crangor's Buccaneers", which allows the player to assemble a band including squat ensigns, eldar void-dreamers, and recce squads on flying surfboards (aka power boards). 

Rogue Trader had to include space pirates. There wasn't a sci-fi trope that Rogue Trader didn't include, and space pirates have been an integral part of space opera since Ray Cumming's Brigands of the Moon (1931) or Buck Rogers battling Black Barney (1939). Leaving out space pirates would be like leaving out laser guns.

Of course there are space pirates and then are space pirates. Some versions rely on high camp (with parrots, cutlasses and Cornish accents) and some are a little more normal, i.e. "violent criminals with a spaceship." Bob Olley's version is somewhere in the middle: both eccentric and scary.  Personally, I think his version of space pirates owes a special debt to Doctor Who. Colourful yet menacing space pirates loom large in "Meglos" (1980) and the "Pirate Planet" (1978), not to mention the incomplete serial "The Space Pirates" (1969). 

Today I wanted to share six more painted miniatures from Bob Olley's fabulous IC301 range of Space Pirates (1987). 

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First up is "Star Raven". With his mix of cybernetics and fantasy-elements, this is a thoroughly entrancing sculpt.

Second "Vaal the Asharian". The big lips, fat head, and warty skin, make this sculpt 100% unfiltered Olley. I also detect a whiff of Matt Groening's animation style, although that may be anachronistic of me.

Third is "Verrington Kosht". This is another of Olley's splendid aliens. I particularly like tumescent weapon that he is carrying.

"Banzai Jones" seems to be straight out of a 1940's pulp adventure with his leather bomber and aviator cap. His name nods both to Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Adventures of Buckeroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984). An interesting pairing! Both had budgets of approximately $20, but one made back $6 million at the box office and the other $390 million.

"Zandar" is another one of Olley's random aliens. He carries a fabulous dragon-patterned gun of uncertain type. Olley's delightful penchant for inventing new alien species and new forms or armament was another thing that put him out of step with the homogenizing trend of Games Workshop in the late 1980's:

And finally, my all-time favourite space pirate, "Nightwing". I love the bionic arm, the flowing cape, and the sinister facemask:

Stay warm, my friends!

See the first post in this series here. And the next post here.

Rogue Trader Space Pirates by Bob Olley

Bob Olley's Iron Claw was an offshoot of Citadel Miniatures operating briefly between 1987 and 1988. Olley operated in a different visual language than all the other sculptors at Games Workshop, which was why (I suppose) it made sense to give him his own label. His figures were fungoid, stumpy and melodramatic. When other sculptors modeled heroes or villains, Olley sculpted character actors. His figures stood out like mold on bread.

If there was one range of miniatures particularly suited to the Iron Claw treatment, it was Space Pirates.  They allowed a sculptor like Olley almost unlimited scope to use his warped vision: motley crews composed of cyborgs, robots, and off-brand aliens; jury-rigged equipment and bizarre weaponry; and a fusion of fantasy and sci-fi tropes. And so the IC301 range of Space Pirates was born, with 17 models released in 1987.

The very characteristics that would make the IC301 Space Pirates charming are also what doomed it to obsolescence. Olley's playful and uninhibited approach meant that ranges like the Space Pirates had no place in Warhammer 40K as it evolved into a tournament game with well-defined races and regimented army lists. 

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First up is "Col. Vlad". Bulbous head? Check. Half-digested face? Check. Weapon growing tumors? Check. Yep, that's a Bob Olley sculpt!

Second is "Loritta". I love the way she is holding that gun: half Rambo, half Nita Strauss.

Next is "Ooglorg the Cruel". Well, you'd be cruel too if your momma called you Ooglorg.

And finally for today we have "Venk." He carries a resonant Star Wars vibe (a thing not uncommon in the Rogue Trader era).

Stay tuned for more Iron Claw madness! Thanks for coming by!

How Many Miniatures Can You Paint in a Year?

I kept track of my output this year and find I painted 135 miniatures in 2024. How was your painting?

The last time I kept such careful records was in 2017, when I painted 220 models. The decline is merely superficial because I painted only during the last six months of this year. During the first half of 2024, my attention was entirely fixed on writing a new rules set for a solo-miniature game (more on this in future posts). After the rules were polished and packed off for editing and playtesting, the paint brushes were finally able to get back into action. 

A dozen or so monsters from the late (and very lamented) Otherworld Miniatures was a particular high point. Painting these models is like stepping back into the pages of the AD&D Monster Manual. Look at this gorgeous WE38 Chimera (sculpted by Drew Day-Williams):

Another beautiful sculpture is Paul Muller's DM47 Night Hag, complete with elongated breasts and protruding bones:

Besides miniatures, I also painted some serious scenery, including this gorgeous 3d-printed Norman Castle (from the King and Country line):

I continue to cling to the same two or three elderly, attenuated, and abused brushes. By now, they are all as thin as Charlie Brown's hairline. I began the year thinking they were past the cusp of total failure. Yet over 100 minis later, and I'm still forcing these pensioner to work. They have the only point that I trust and can control. I guess they'll die at their post. And what will I do then? 

Perhaps I will turn to necromancy. Does it work on paint brushes?

I hope you have all had a lovely 2024. My year has been brightened by the very faithful companionship of Bertie the dog, who snores on a chair next to me whenever I paint. He's next to me as I write this, keeping an eye on my wordcount.

May you and all your dogs sleep soundly in 2025!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 5... Stargrave

I've always loved Rogue Trader, but the impetus for my recent push to paint all of Citadel's RT601 Adventurers was the publication of Joseph McCullogh's Stargrave (Osprey, 2021).

I see Stargrave as the true heir to Rogue Trader. In some ways, the two games couldn't be more different. Rick Priestly's masterpiece from the '80's is dense as a Bible, with hundreds of illustrations, a sprawling backstory, and detailed rules governing everything from orbital lasers to cavalry charges. Stargrave is smaller, devoid of flavor text, and much more targeted: it provides rules for running a crew of 10 interstellar freebooters, and that's it.

A game of Stargrave

Beyond the cosmetic differences, the similarities run deep. Both are attempts to re-implement fantasy rules into a sci-fi setting: Rogue Trader from Warhammer Fantasy Battle, and Stargrave from Frostgrave. The common origin in fantasy gives the games an aura of whimsical space opera, even though both introduce dark doses of apocalypticism to create a complex mix (Stargrave's tagline is "Science Fiction Wargames in the Ravaged Galaxy" while 40K's is "There is only WAR"). 

Most importantly, Stargrave and Rogue Trader incorporate elements of roleplaying. In Rogue Trader, it comes through the game master, who runs a scenario with hidden information, elaborate subplots, and campaign continuity. In Stargrave, the captain of your crew becomes your player character and develops better abilities from session to session. In both games, the feeling of roleplaying puts a special emphasis on character -- especially characterful miniatures. In that sense, it's no surprise that the same sculptor, Mark Copplestone, provided miniatures both for Stargrave and for the RT601 Adventurers.

Well, let's see the last seven miniatures in the RT601 range!

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First is RT601 "Pilot Rav". If I had to guess, I'd say this was a Copplestone design, because of the clean lines, open face, and aroma of pulp adventure.

Second is the RT601 "Space Pirate", later renamed "Lan Duval". 

The curious thing about the above miniature is his startling resemblance to a design from the same period by Trish Morrison, the Talisman Timescape "Space Pirate" (pictured below on the left). Citadel is well-known for basing two or more sibling miniatures on one prototype (i.e. Kylla Condotti and No Face Fargo) where the basic pose is the same but identifying traits are switched out (usually the face and the weapon). However, in this situation, the Space Pirates share a similar face, a similar weapon, and similar outfits, although all the minor details are different. Maybe Aly Morrison and Trish Morrison decided to each sculpt the same fellow in an excess of marital bliss.

Next we have the RT601 "Cyborg".

The above miniature also bears a striking resemblance to the Talisman Timescape "Cyborg" by Trish Morrison (below on the left). Once again, the identifying traits are all quite similar, but the details and the poses differ. It just goes to show that when Rogue Trader first came out, it was not so different from a zany game like Talisman Timescape to prevent the miniatures from being mutually compatible.

Below is the RT601 "Bandit". Methinks he bears some relationship to the Talisman Timescape "Archaeologist".

This is the RT601 "Ship's Officer". On his slotta-tab is carved the alternative name "Astronaut". It will no longer surprise you to learn that he shares many traits with the Talisman Timescape "Astronaut" by Trish Morrison.

Behold the RT601 "Imperial Assassin". She was the last of this range to come into my collection. I thought she'd never arrive. All Praise to the Emperor - the Emperor Provides!

And finally, the last miniature in the RT601 range is the "Mad Punk". I saved her for last because I think she's my favourite paintjob of the lot: a nice, clean lick of paint.

Many thanks for staying with me over this long series of posts!

Rogue Trader Adventurers: Part 4... The Art of Bob Naismith

 

The 32 miniatures in the RT601 Adventurers range for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader were sculpted by four top-notch artists: Aly Morrison, Mark Copplestone, Jes Goodwin, and Bob Naismith. We have those names only because they were all included in the page devoted for this range in the 1988 Catalogue (where the range was re-designated as 4004 Adventurers).

Artist Bob Naismith

Bob Naismith was the old-hand of the bunch, having started working at Citadel in 1981 and having hundreds of sculpts under his belt. We know (thanks to an interview done by Axiom at Magpie and Old Lead) which six models in the RT601 range that Naismith carved: the Imperial Scout, the Ex-Tech, the Scum (aka Space Eunuch), Astropath Koth, the Hero, and the Hive Worlder. After that, it becomes foggy on who sculpted whom. I'd bet good money that Aly Morrison sculpted the Pirate Captain because he's so damn ugly. But my powers of guesswork fade after that.

If any of you have any information or insight into which sculptor is responsible for a given miniature in the RT601 range, please let me know in the comments.

It strikes me as a true shame when we can't assign a model to the responsible artist. If you take miniature sculpting seriously as an art form (and I do), proper attribution is essential. How else can we discuss a particular sculptor's style, evolution, and influences?

In any case, for today's post, let's look at Naismith's six models in the range. As a group, they showcase his talent for varied poses and his imaginative use of details to tell a story about the miniature.

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First comes my personal favourite, the RT601 "Scum". This miniature is also known as the "Space Eunuch" because that is the name carved on his slotta-base tab. And a Space Eunuch he is, what with his bare bum cheeks, bald head, and leather boots. I tried to enhance the effect by giving him Marie Antoinette facepaint, including heart-shaped lipstick and a beauty-spot.

Second is "Astropath Korm". Like every member of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, Korm was led before the Emperor so his mind could be fortified in the hideous rigour of the soul-binding ritual. Did you know that, according to the WH40K: Rogue Trader rulebook, this doesn't merely make all Astropaths blind -- it also deprives many of smell, touch, or hearing? In Koth's case, I tried to illustrate his wretched state by showing his eyelids sewn-up like a shrunken head.

Third is the RT601 "Ex-Tech". I'm not sure what his name means. I suspect he used to be a ship's technician before an encounter with hostile aliens forced him to abandon his toolbox and take up flame-throwing for a living. In any case, this is a great sculpt: lots of emotion and activity!

Fourth is the RT601 "Hero" (or, according to his slott-base tab, "Feral Hero").  Look at that leopard-skin loincloth! What a beefcake!

Next is the RT601 "Hive Worlder". The equipment in this model tells a story. He's wearing a knight's plate armour from the hips down, a biker's leather jacket, and carries a hand-crossbow that's jury-rigged with something that looks suspiciously like a micro-missile launcher. But the main attraction is his hair. No matter how bad things get on this fellow's homeworld, he always takes time to wash and condition.

Finally, we have the RT601 "Imperial Scout". His exotic equipment and world-weary expression shows that this fellow is a seasoned traveler. To my eye, he seems to be wearing a still-suit out of Dune, complete with tubular breathing apparatus and skin-tight membrane. Another great sculpt from Bob Naismith!

Thanks for coming by!