Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Ockius on 01 March 2024, 04:06:57 PM

Title: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 01 March 2024, 04:06:57 PM
For a little while now I’ve been researching the models for an Empire army. I already had a few of the 3rd Edition WHFB Perry Empire sculpts, but looking on EBay it seemed the asking price for collecting any more of that range was too high. As a result, this army will mostly be ‘proxies’ for Empire troops, especially from various historical ranges of landsknechts, and especially from the one by the Perrys themselves for Wargames Foundry.

All in Talabecland livery.

Here’s the first one, a Foundry captain:

Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: JollyBob on 01 March 2024, 04:28:20 PM
He looks splendid.
Nice idea for a project.  :)
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: v_lazy_dragon on 02 March 2024, 11:48:30 AM
Looking forward to seeing more! I have a proxy empire army in the works, although it has been sadly neglected the last 18 months or so
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 02 March 2024, 02:27:56 PM
Thanks both. Here’s one of the Citadel figures in the mix: a classic 80s model who will be a hero in a unit of infantry. Really like this guy, but as I painted him I found the armour a bit far-fetched (I’m more used to painting historicals, so I quite like armour and weapons to be plausible).
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: nickdives on 03 March 2024, 12:13:04 PM
My Italian Wars chaps often substitute for Empire types, likewise my Feudals, early medieval and WOTR have all appeared on the fantasy battlefield.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 04 March 2024, 04:43:40 PM
My Italian Wars chaps often substitute for Empire types, likewise my Feudals, early medieval and WOTR have all appeared on the fantasy battlefield.

That’s the plan with these actually - to use them for Italian Wars skirmishes. I’ve got a lot of 15mm Renaissance figures that I’ve done campaigns with so I thought it would be cool to be able to insert 28mm scale skirmish events into the campaigns.

Here’s the next guys, still in a gloss finish and with bases incomplete - all Foundry landsknechts with Taal banner for the Talabecland flavour
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: mweaver on 05 March 2024, 01:45:23 PM
You are off to an excellent start, and I look forward to following your progress. 
-Michael
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Basementboy on 05 March 2024, 08:26:54 PM
Lovely work! Looking forward to seeing more on the thread :D
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 12 March 2024, 03:48:13 PM
Thank you both!

Next post. By the way these initial posts are bits I had already painted; I’m not painting these this fast!

Here are some swordsmen, for which I have used the Wargames Atlantic conquistadors box set. I’ve focused on the armoured bodies and the less Spanish-looking helmets (there are lots of morions in the set, which are a no-no for the Empire). They do the job quite well, though there are only two armoured body variants, and not enough sword arms to do the whole box as swordsmen.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Basementboy on 12 March 2024, 06:18:39 PM
They certainly look the part! Thanks for sharing :D
By the way, where is the terrain in the background from, it looks fantastic!
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 12 March 2024, 08:16:48 PM
They certainly look the part! Thanks for sharing :D
By the way, where is the terrain in the background from, it looks fantastic!

Thanks! It's by Conflix by Bachmann. Highly recommended - they are very good value but come painted. The price is similar to a lot of the unpainted resin casts you can buy, so it's pretty exceptional. I have several pieces now, and have improved the paintjob on one of them but not bothered on the one in the shot and it looks fine. Up close it's pretty rough and basic, but the effect at a distance is very good. They stock them in my local hobby shop, so I pick one up whenever I'm in there just to support the place.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Basementboy on 12 March 2024, 08:32:36 PM
Thanks! I’ll be sure to check them out ;)
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 17 October 2024, 08:37:05 PM
Still adding to this army, with quite a lot I haven’t posted. Here are some old Citadel figures, now sold by Foundry. Really enjoyed painting these!
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 17 October 2024, 08:37:39 PM
Two more
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: fred on 17 October 2024, 09:25:34 PM
What a great project!

Really like the most recent additions - those look like some classic C series Citadel figures - interesting that they are now available from Foundry. Could be tempting.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: anevilgiraffe on 18 October 2024, 08:20:41 AM
they must be tiny though, being old Citadel...
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: jon_1066 on 18 October 2024, 08:33:32 AM
they must be tiny though, being old Citadel...

Compared to what?  The Perry sculpted Foundry stuff will be similar sized and the newer Perry stuff may actually be a bit smaller.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: HerbertTarkel on 18 October 2024, 08:49:39 AM
Compared to what?  The Perry sculpted Foundry stuff will be similar sized and the newer Perry stuff may actually be a bit smaller.

Indeed! And considering that Foundry are about to have a price rise, this is a great time to grab these “small”  lol classic minis!

Brilliant paintwork on these - love them!
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Kanto on 18 October 2024, 03:47:34 PM
Really nice painting (freehand coat of arms on chest of captain's jacket is a great touch!) and landsknecht ranges fit the bill of empire troops perfectly. Talabecland's red and yellow colour scheme has always been one I've liked a lot, such a striking combination.
Looking forward to see more!

they must be tiny though, being old Citadel...
Old Citadel stuff have loads of character, personally I'd consider size as smaller problem compared to proportions and general style of sculpting; Citadel ones are more cartoonish with big heads and hands, whereas what Perrys sculpted for Foundry (and their own ranges, of course) are way less exaggereted. Just my opinion. :)
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Frugalmax on 18 October 2024, 06:10:46 PM
Awesome stuff- I love the old Empire guys with all of the character in their faces. I've also expanded my empire force well outside the GW/Citadel range. There are some really nice other historical and quasi-historical miniatures that fit well, and it's easy to add some bits to make historical miniatures more fantasy-esque if you want (skull on a string bit, we're looking at you). Great painting!
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Metternich on 18 October 2024, 08:39:44 PM
Wonderful project.  I also like using 16th century figures as Empire troops.  I also like including Landsknecht/Conquistador style Ogres in my fighting force, as they are among the toughest mercenaries the Empire can field.  Have you considered such?  Wargames Atlantic has a nice box (I have a unit, mostly in Morions) (below are not mine):

   https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61S8k1UWMOL.jpg
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Von Trinkenessen on 18 October 2024, 08:58:44 PM
Great ideas and painting.
You might like to look at Athena miniatures Landsknects as they do some very characterful figures , also I use the Warlord games ones and some of the casting room but not all of the are good.
for bulk Old Glory and Warlord games plastics.
Steelfist do a great mix of halberds and zweihanders together with some great foot knights (reiksgard) and command figures.
Good luck with the project and keep the faith ( Taal).
GuyT
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 18 October 2024, 09:21:24 PM
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the encouragement!

Regarding those ex-Citadel now Foundry figures:
Size-wise they are a pretty good match for the Foundry landsknechts and also the Wargames Atlantic swordsmen I have - they aren't as small as, say, some of the Foundry medievals. I visited the Foundry shop and saw all the stuff in cabinets and noticed that at a certain point Citadel/Foundry are basically 25mm, but these are definitely 28mm. The faces and hands are huge next to some historicals (as Kanto said), so they are definitely 'heroic' and need to be in a separate unit to the historical figures I have.

I'll have them be a unit of militia in more rustic colours compared to the state troopers in uniform red and yellow.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: anevilgiraffe on 21 October 2024, 11:42:27 AM
Regarding those ex-Citadel now Foundry figures:
Size-wise they are a pretty good match for the Foundry landsknechts and also the Wargames Atlantic swordsmen I have - they aren't as small as, say, some of the Foundry medievals. I visited the Foundry shop and saw all the stuff in cabinets and noticed that at a certain point Citadel/Foundry are basically 25mm, but these are definitely 28mm. The faces and hands are huge next to some historicals (as Kanto said), so they are definitely 'heroic' and need to be in a separate unit to the historical figures I have.

Thank you, not quite sure how that comment seemd to set folks off, but I too remember the time when Citadel were pretty much 25mm
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 30 November 2024, 09:57:09 PM
Two more militiamen from the ex-Citadel range produced by Foundry.

They’re a real hodge-podge. I think the danger is that they don’t look like a cohesive unit on the table when gaming, but the variety makes them well-suited to a more skirmish type game.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Hitman on 30 November 2024, 11:03:55 PM
Those look amazing!! Well done. You certainly mastered what I find the 2 hardest colours yo paint...red and yellow. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Hitman
😎
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 01 December 2024, 08:12:02 PM
Thanks! For red, I recommend Citadel Blood Angels Red Contrast paint - either on its own over a white/cream base coat,  or diluted a little as a wash over a red base.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Frugalmax on 03 December 2024, 07:26:10 PM
Very cool- also neat to see a minis from before they had strongly distinguished the Empire and Bretonnia into "renaissance fantasy" and "late middle ages fantasy" styles. Nice painting!
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 07 August 2025, 10:45:43 AM
Empire foot knights from a unit I’m building to field as either greatswords or Reiksguard. These are Grenadier models I believe, from whoever sells them in the UK.
They’re a little bit small compared to the Foundry, Perry and Citadels I have elsewhere, but not overly so.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 07 August 2025, 10:48:20 AM
Citadel marauders/militia, sold by Foundry.
Each one of these has a lot of character! Highly recommended for the Oldhammer fans.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ockius on 07 August 2025, 10:51:05 AM
My wizards. Both Jade wizards, to fit with being from Talabecland where worship of the nature god Taal is common.

I can see these two at Glastonbury or on a New Age Traveller site in the 80s-90s.
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Ragsta on 07 August 2025, 11:12:14 AM
Lovely lovely work here, so nice to see the older stuff in glorious .
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Battle Brush Sigur on 07 August 2025, 04:22:44 PM
That's a great collection of figures! Looking forward to more. Great mix of units and Foundry stuff. :)
Title: Re: Ockius’s largely non-Citadel Empire project
Post by: Frugalmax on 08 August 2025, 01:00:21 AM
Great work!