Hello everyone,
Some time ago, we began a collaboration with Aubec with the goal of assembling a Dwarf Slayer army for Warhammer: The Old World. Aubec is a passionate, almost fanatical, collector of all things Dwarven. His collection is nothing short of breathtaking : he owns nearly every Dwarf miniature ever produced by Games Workshop, across all eras. Only five or six models are still missing, extremely rare pieces whose prices have skyrocketed over the years. He’s even the proud owner of the legendary gold-plated White Dwarf released for Warhammer’s 30th anniversary, distributed as a single copy per store at the time!
Between this monumental collection and the original release of the Slayer army during the Storm of Chaos campaign, there are at least 300 Slayer miniatures, gathered from all corners of the Warhammer world, currently lying dormant. Some are barely painted, others have never been touched, and a few are in need of a well-deserved restoration. This mighty host now awaits its moment to be brought back to life through the brushstrokes of a painter—ready to once again march onto the battlefields of the Old World.
The goal of this project is to bring visual cohesion to the army through painting, by reworking already painted miniatures and completing those that are still bare. It’s an exciting undertaking, especially because it gives me the chance to work with classic models from another era, many of which still hold an incredible charm in my eyes. Some of the older Dwarf ranges, in particular, have aged remarkably well. Unlike other armies, like the Elves, for example, where older sculpts sometimes show their age, especially in terms of proportions, the Dwarfs have held up surprisingly well. Their stocky, massive builds help minimize that “old sculpt” feeling, making them just as enjoyable to work with today. Another big advantage of that era is the richness and variety of the sculpts. There were dozens of different models available, which really helps break the monotony often felt when painting the same figure over and over. It makes the whole process much more dynamic and motivating.
We had started the project quietly, but it’s high time to step things up! With the release of Arcane Journal : The War of Settra’s Fury and the new Slayer list it contains, it’s only natural that Aubec is eager to test it out on the battlefield. And what could be more magnificent than an entirely painted army ready for the occasion?
Our test miniature for the army is an iconic Dragon Slayer. I still remember how much this model impressed me when I was flipping through my Warhammer Quest rulebook back in the ’90s. What struck me the most back then was its bright orange hair, a strong visual detail that has stayed with me ever since. So it was only natural that I chose this color as the guiding theme for the army’s artistic direction.
This project also gave me the opportunity to test the three shades of orange from the Two Thin Coats range (Rust Orange, Fanatic Orange, and Orange Flare), which I received in Pledge #1. So here is the finished miniature! The base was done in the style of Aubec’s other Dwarf units to ensure visual consistency. It wouldn’t have been my personal choice for basing, but after all, it’s not my army, and what matters is that everything works harmoniously together.
Accompanying this hero is the first unit of 20 Troll Slayers, mixing several generations of sculpts. Once again, we chose a traditional style, with striped trousers and flashy colors, staying true to the exuberant aesthetic of the Dwarf Slayers.
We also chose to incorporate white areas in the beards, a touch that might have seemed bold at first, but which ultimately fits very well within the regiment. It adds variety while maintaining a strong overall cohesion.
That’s it for this first article. We hope these miniatures have rekindled many memories for the veterans of the hobby—or, for the younger hobbyists, that they’ve offered a glimpse into another era of Warhammer Battle, full of character and old-school charm.
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At the bottom of each post, you’ll find a list of all related blog entries, which we’ll update as the project evolves.
- Master of Grudges 1
- Master of Grudges 2
- Master of Grudges 3
- Comming soon…
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See you soon!
