“Blax the Kleric’s, top ten of 2015”

I’m afraid it’s that time of year again when those expecting yet another of Dick Garrison’s wonderful weekly postings will be disappointed to find that I’m in charge of “Rantings From Under The Wargames Table”, whilst Roger will be writing an entry on my blog “Fantorical”.

This year has proven an especially difficult period to choose my top ten favourite models Roger has painted over the past twelve months as he’s converted and sculpted so many very good ones. Indeed his “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” project was so inspirational that it’s difficult not to simply populate my list with all the models he created from green-stuff during it. However that would hardly be fair upon some of the other wonderful paint-jobs he’s done during 2015, so for parity’s sake I have, in the main, limited my ‘picks’ to just one or two from any particular month.

(10) “Antediluvian Miniatures” – Megalosaurus and Iguanodon

As a huge fan of dinosaurs, Roger’s painting of this Megalosaurus and Iguanodon were simply a joy to behold, especially as the models are based upon Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins’ rather fantastical analysis of the fossils rather than today’s more historically correct interpretation. I am particularly in awe of the way Roger has blended the green scaly hide and sand underbelly together.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/dinosauriousness/

(9) “Copplestone Castings” – Ragnar

As part of his impressive “Frostgrave” warband, Roger took an already imposing “Copplestone Castings” sculpt and converted it into Ragnar the Barbarian. Not only did I find his green-stuff additions impressive, but the green and white piping on the warrior’s trousers really stand out in my books. Coupled with the patterned shield and muted browns, this was by far my favourite of Roger’s party.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/movember-warband-heavy-hitters/

(8) “Games Workshop” – Champions Of Death

Like so many Blood Bowl takes me back to the very roots of my early wargaming, so there’s doubtless a lot of nostalgia attached to this choice. However it’s hard to find fault with any of the paint-jobs for Roger’s wonderfully colourful purple and red Champions of Death, with the Ghouls proving to be particularly gruesome.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/10/23/blowing-off-the-dust/

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/two-mummies-and-some-bones-of-contention/

(7) “Wizkids” – Solomon Grundy

In many ways this was quite a simple conversion of the old “Heroclix” Solomon Grundy plastic figure. But when coupled with the incredibly imaginative paint-job, this undead school boy proved to be an absolutely cracking mini-project. Roger’s colour choice for the green blazer and grey trousers harked back to my own school days and doubtless was an infinitely better Zomtober submission than his initially planned foray with some “Zombie Vixens”.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/little-timmy-such-a-polite-young-boy/

(6) “Hasslefree” – “The Zimmer”

Undeniably this conversion took me completely by surprise when Roger first posted him up. The bent old man hardly conjures up visions of being ‘faster than a speeding bullet’. But the ‘all-American’ paint-job is just stunning, and really brings the generic superhero to life in my books, especially the detail painted onto back of the cape.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/the-tinpot-dictator-the-costumed-clown/

(5) “Wizkids” – Clown

As conversions of old “Heroclix” figures go, the green-stuff work on this model of the Blob is second-to-none in my books, and is grisly as the paint-job is colourful. Indeed I think Roger has really excelled himself with the gore on this gruesome zombie and it quite rightly attracted a lot of praise when it was first posted on his blog during Zomtober.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/send-in-the-clowns/

(4) “Bronze Age Miniatures” – Skeletor

The mind boggles when you realise that this figure started out as an unclothed dolly. Not only has Roger’s sculpting with green-stuff transformed the miniature into the very recognisable form of Skeletor. But his paint-job has really helped bring the tyrant to vivid life. Very much a labour of love, the postings showing Roger’s ‘Work in Progress’ during this mini-project were well worth the wait, and this model is certainly one of the highlights of Roger’s output during 2015 in my books.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/boots-bones-and-furry-undies/

(3)  “Olley’s Armies Scrunts” – “Texan Scrunts”

Admittedly I’m not actually all that big a fan of Bob Olley’s Scrunts range. I’m not sure why as they’re undoubtedly well-sculpted and characterful to boot. However that didn’t stop Roger’s painting of these little fellows from turning my head as he’s done an absolutely cracking job with them all. Indeed I think the consistently high standard of their paint-jobs is these Texans biggest draw, though it’s hard not to smile at their similarities to ZZ Top.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/28mm-sci-fi-wild-west-or-the-good-the-bad-a-touch-of-the-greenstuff/

(2) “Bronze Age Miniatures” – The Sorceress

Undoubtedly Roger’s Magnum Opus for 2015, this miniature is without doubt his best conversion and an incredibly colourful figure in its own right. The sheer amount of effort spent building up her green-stuff wings is mind-blowing and the slight setbacks Roger encountered whilst sculpting on her details makes his perseverance all the more impressive. Of the seven “He-Man” related figures Roger created the Sorceress is by far his best.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/collect-them-all/

(1) “Wizkids” – “Leodonis the Dominator” (Blastaar)

Whilst this repaint of a classic “Heroclix” model hasn’t been converted by Roger, it certainly sticks in my mind as his best paint-job and therefore my favourite miniature of his for 2015. Completely stepping outside the disappointingly dour blue/grey palette of Blastaar, Roger used some wonderful bronze, turquoise and brown to create the original and extremely colourful Leodonis instead; with the Dominator’s dark-skin proving to be especially well highlighted.

https://rantingsfromunderthewargamestable.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/super-bruisers/

There are of course many other great miniatures which Roger has converted and painted over the past twelve months, with his 15mm “Akarr” figures by “Hydra Miniatures” also being well worth a look. However these figures are just the tip of the iceberg for Roger’s incredible output during 2015. Many thanks for reading, and to Dick Garrison for letting me take over this wonderful blog for a moment at least. Normal service will be resumed shortly…

Simon Moore

Please check out my own overview if Simon’s best over at his excellent Blog, “Fantorical” at…..

http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/top-ten-miniatures-of-2015-rantings.html

Many thanks for reading (and for Simon’s writing of course), all the best for the new year everyone.

Cheers Roger.