Hail fellow members of the Old Guard! Back for another installment of nostalgia & refinement! I've been painting some new minis as of late....knowing I was in for a period of fallow between work assignments (Not as much as originally thought!). In doing so I wanted to rehabilitate some old minis that I have...while altering them as little as possible. Here's the results!
In an earlier blog I mentioned how the very 1st Dungeon that I ever adventured in was the "Caverns of Doom" which came with a box set of minis back in 1981. These belonged to a friend of mine who long ago bequeathed them to yours truly. Not all mind you, he kept the Dragon and a few others, but a good portion of the minis....or so I seemed to remember!
These minis had fallen upon hard times over the years...packed away in boxes while I moved around the country. Battered and even broken in some cases. Paint chipped & worn off...time for some serious rehab!
After some serious searching online I discovered that only 2 of the 10 minis from my pal are actually from the "Caverns of Doom" set...the Slime/Mold monster & the Hobgoblin!
All of these minis were given a wash of black...we had no idea of such techniques back in the halcyon days of the 80's. Then they were given a brushed on clear coat...to help keep them in the condition they are currently in!
The Slime after the wash...
The hobgoblin needed a bit of touching up...not much, as I want to keep them as close as possible to "original"...yet covering a few bare spots...
A few bare metal spots still showing...my friend did a pretty crude job painting these...but they have a serious "old School" charm to them.
Now here is where its goes off road from where I expected....a Hill Giant from Heritage Ral Partha circa 1981...Ron Spicer is the name on the base on the mini...so I can only assume he was the sculpture!
This poor old guy has had a horn broken off his mellon....as well as his 2nd club in his left hand! I gave him a wash...no "touch up" as to preserve him "as is"...
We didn't use minis often while playing D&D...but this guy was always around! Great mini!
No info on the bottom of this little guy...a demon or baby Zorn?!? You be the judge!
Now the Minotaur was probably in the worst shape of the bunch...most of the paint on his face, arms & legs were worn off...so he did get some "touching up"....plus the dark wash...as well as some highlights!
I really like the way he turned out...the wash really makes the fur stand out...as well as some lighter highlights!
Time for another left turn...these next few minis are from the Grenadier Co...circa 1982...1st up is this fancy-Dan Cleric with his lizard adorned Mace & Helm!
The wash made the details "POP" again on this one...his arm only need minor touching up!
Same for this sickle wielding Druid...also a 1982 Grenadier mini
This guy really didn't get touched up, just the dark wash...really made a difference in the detail you could see!
Now the Centaur!
Excellent detail on this old mini...something that the farther you go back seems to diminish...the 70's minis are pretty amateurish compared to the modern version! Just a wash & a few highlights for this old boy!
Now the Barbarian with the axe!
Just a wash for this dude...he was well done to begin with...the wash really helped make his scale mail armor stand out! He was also from the Grenadier 1982 bunch!
And then there is the archer...with the bent base!
Reflecting afterwards (I forgot to check his details before gluing him to his new base!) I believe he might actually be from the "Caverns" box set...but that base! He wouldn't stand on his own...so he now stands on a new wood base...just a wash and he looks as good as new!
Now for my own minis....which are a couple of years newer than the ones gifted to me!
No touch ups here...the wash really did wonders to this crazed looking Mage! I do really wonder why I didn't paint the enter figure...30+ years ago or even now! Still...he's pretty righteous as is!
Then is was my Ral Partha 1988 Lord of the Rings minis turn...The 3 I can currently find! I know that Frodo & Gollum were part of the set...probably Sam, too!
All three had some hightlights & touch ups recently...then I did the wash...
Saruman
The was really made the detail stand out on these three...Saruman's hair & Beard...as well as his cloak...really notice the detail! I painted him like the 1978 Bakshi film version...remember that was all we had back in '88!
Durin's Bane: The Balrog of Moria!
The washed made the details jump off of this guy...his abs, fur & muscles! Even being 30+ years old this is a brilliant mini!
Gandalf the Grey
Gandalf turned out well...still like my paint job from all those years ago! I remember painting the LOTR minis around the time my Dad was dying of cancer...working on these minis took my mind off the tragedy around me...if only for a short while! These minis are special to me...hope you liked looking at them and my efforts to preserve them!
And for an added bonus...to those of you that have made it this far...here's a few of the D&D collectibles I've picked up recently!
These two are St Regis folders from 1981! D&D official! I wonder why they weren't "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" as opposed to "D&D"?
And I picked up this map off of Ebay...to the Tom Wham board game "Search for the Emperor's Treasure"! This was included with the 1981 #51 issue of the Dragon Magazine by TSR! Art by Darlene...and as a special point of interest...lettering by none other than my all time fav D&D artist David A. Trampier!
I'll be finding a frame for this beauty as your reading this!
'Till next time...EXCELSIOR!!!
