Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Bob da dowg on January 01, 2014, 03:56:57 PM
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First of all a happy new year and all the best for 2014 to all here in the community.
Has been a long time since I posted the last. Anyway ...
... it took quite a while to come to this decision but I think it is the right one.
I will shut down OBELISK MINIATURES on the 31st of January 2014. At the same time Back Cat Bases will stop to sell my ranges and the moulds incl. all rights for the models will be up for sale to anyone interested (those interested in them please contact me via the shop).
You may wonder why this is happening. The reason behind is a very simple one - health and age. In the past years I've had 3 heart attacks - the last one in June - and was dead for 10 minutes from a standstill of the heart in 2010. It's very quiet on the other side - no heavenly choir, no lights at the end of the tunnel but it felt kinda cosy and warm - as far as I can remember after being revived with these funny eletrocuting pads ;) (no offence meant to people who experienced something different). It takes quite a while to cope with this and you never get the thought out of your mind totally that there definitely will be an end to all.
Being 58 in a couple of days and having a real hard job as a teacher in a secondary school here in Germany there's nearly no time left to do the business as a sculptor poperly.
On the other hand there is a real mountain of madness of lead accumulated in more than 30 years that has to be dealt with. I'll never be able to paint all this not to speak of gaming with them. As I have no family or direct heir I have to sort out what to sell and what to keep. I mostly bought the minis to find out hiw the scuptors did them as at the time I started sculpting there was not such a wealth of tutorials to be found how to do it. So look out for any "sales" postings in the coming months.
I had good times and bad times in the miniature scene and all I can do now - let's do it a bit pathetically - is to say farewell to all of you as I will step back and slowly disappear ;-).
Cheers,
Josef Ochmann
Obelisk Miniatures
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Dude, sad to see you drop the company but seems like a good call to me. Please live life to the fullest and enjoy your life (hobbies included.)
Best wishes in your endeavors.
Gracias,
Glenn
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Sorry to hear about your health problems. You have some great figures and I hope they find a good home. Best wishes.
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Sorry to hear this, as a teacher retiring early this year I can't help asking if you don't have ill-health retirement in Germany?
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Very sorry to hear about your health problems Josef. Also sorry to hear you will be shutting down. I own quite a few of your miniatures and really enjoy them. But you have to do what is best for yourself. Remove as much stress from your life as you can, enjoy your time with family and friends, and live your life to the fullest. I wish you good health and a long life!
Darkoath
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I can only echo the other's feelings. Many of your sculpts in my own mountain of lead. Live long and prosper.
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Josef,
Sorry to hear about your continuing ill health. I have no doubt that you will get better and jump straight back into the hobby that owes you so much. I'm sure I am unaware of all your sculpting accomplishments but your Metal Magic, Foundry and Obelisk stuff is amongst the best, you leave a legacy that will not be soon forgotten. I remember first gaming with you, along with Bob Hornsby, Julian Lander et al, in the attic of the old barrack blocks in Winterbourne Barracks, Muenster between 1984 & 1986 - it seems like yesterday!! I will never forget those map drawers full of expertly painted miniatures - the ultimate in eye candy.
Take care my friend
All the very best
Pete
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Josef;
My heartfelt thanks for all of your contributions to the hobby. You have left a legacy of great sculpts, figures and miniatures that will be difficult to replace. I wish you well in both health and in continuing with your hobbies at a pace that will suit your health.
Best Wishes...you will be missed!!
Regards,
Hitman
8)
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I can only wish you the very best Josef, your sculpting has furnished many an hour of fun and entertainment in my gaming and you and your talent will be sorely missed
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Thanks, folks, for the kind words.
It is really a strange feeling. Especially when I read Pete's posting. Yes, I can remember that great time I had when gaming with the squaddies in Münster. It was them, two Scotsmen (Graham Smart and a very nice fellow nicknamed fruitbat, can't remenber his real name), who tought me to do it right in '76 - only gaming allowed with painted and based models ( which meant lots of trouble with the girl-friend as the nights were spent painting ;) for the next Saturday night's game). Later Bob and Pete joined and I really had a hell of a time - never again since then . And the game-cons in Celle were as well a great highlight in my life, especially the Renaissance finals when I drew with "Dagger" who got champion with that game. I really loved it.
Those were the days, my friends. But I nevertheless hope you will enjoy your hobby - there are a lot of other, different great minis from other great people to be painted and toyed with.
And I will miss it ...
Cheers,
Josef
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You're still young, Joseph!
We'll have plenty more years of metal magic yet thanks to you. :D
Viel gluck.
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Josef,
Best of luck with your health. Your Tong figures are some of the most treasured in my collection.
Lon
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Sorry to hear about the health issues, I hope some 'de-stressing' can help you out. I know a guy who was diagnosed with heart issues in his early thirties, not expected to live past 39... he's in his 60s now, so you really never know.
I've loved your figures for quite a while, and am ashamed to say I don't own any that I know of... the Baluchi zombies have been on my 'buy list' for years and years...
I HATE to ask this... but Black Cat has had some problems themselves and have been called out for non-delivery on several forums over the last year or so... if I wanted to get some Obelisk while I can, are they currently okay to order from?
Good luck to you.
EDIT: I may as well just order what I can direct from you, webstore's still open :)
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Hope your health improves and you get another chance to enjoy painting and gaming.
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Adopt me?
But seriously, stay well to enjoy your latter years. I have had some (email) conversations with you and found you to be a very genuine person. I wish you all the best and as one who retired over 2 years ago from the Education filed (albeit mostly bean counting), I wish you well if you continue in that field, it is tough these days. Some of my bean counting was done in schools and I saw the daunting tasks facing teachers which made me glad I was not one of them.
On the gaming figure side, I hope your figures find a suitable new home, I have the Tong and some of the animals. I think they are superb, I am particularly fond of the Tong and I plan to use them in several periods/eras.
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i wish you all the best
some of my first painted minis were form metel magig line you did
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Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope all goes well.
Your figures were a blast to paint. :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/orctrader/Obelisk/TongGang.jpg)
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Very nice PJs Orctrader! I do really like those figures, they'd be great for my Old West and Victorian settings. Shame I'm skint!
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Really sorry to hear about your health issues Josef. You'll be solely missed in the hobby as I'd mentioned on the SD forum.
Now, are there any greens that never got released for the samurai you sculpted for Black Hat miniatures? ;)
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They really look brilliant and I enjoyed very much to see some of my sculpts painted to that great standard. And I have to aplogize to you, orctrader, for never using this pic you sent me. But it was during that time when I had great difficulties to find my real way back to the here and now.
Sorry to hear about your health issues. Hope all goes well.
Your figures were a blast to paint. :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/orctrader/Obelisk/TongGang.jpg)
To Ray Earle - There are no greens as there were issues. But I've had in mind to do some more ronin and mounted ones - as in "The seven Samurai" - for Obelisk. I might be tempted to do some - it's a challenge. But I'd need a company to buy them as I wouldn't waste money on moulds just to have them cast. My time's running out to do such a thing.
Thanks again, folks, for all these kind words you found.
cheers,
Josef
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Josef,
your Tong are among my absolute favorite sculptes ans your zombie Baluchis are wonderfully quirky. I wish you all and hope the right person picks up your molds. I will not amek mysylfe rush to buy stuff I will not buy within the the upcoming year but I do so hope will be able ot pick up some models to fill the, as it wee, the gaps in my lead pile eventually.
Hammers
ESIT: posting using a Iphone makes me appear positively drunk, but you get my drift, I hope...
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Best of luck with the health. I know how it feels. Some real quality sculpts you've produced over the years and I hope you find the time to sculpt a few more.
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Josef,
...I have to apologize to you, Orctrader, for never using this pic you sent me...
Never give it another thought. Knew something must be wrong so never bothered you with enquiries. :)
Also be assured that not only were they fantastic to paint, but also went to a very appreciative owner. ::)
All the best.
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There are no greens as there were issues. But I've had in mind to do some more ronin and mounted ones - as in "The seven Samurai" - for Obelisk. I might be tempted to do some - it's a challenge. But I'd need a company to buy them as I wouldn't waste money on moulds just to have them cast. My time's running out to do such a thing.
I'll send you an e-mail about this Josef rather than clog up the thread. :)
Cheers,
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Oooh. Best of luck.
And I just discovered these figures... :?
And "Bloavezh Mat" ...that's Breton for "Happy New Year".
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Josef, I'm very sorry to hear about your health problems and like all the others, I wish you the very best. I completely understand your decision to leave the business, but want to say that your three Chinese figure packs are among the very finest figures I have in my rather substantial collection. I love them so much I have purchased two of each pack. They are wonderful. Again, all my very best wishes for much better health in the future. Richard
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Best Wishes !
Björn
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To Ray Earle - There are no greens as there were issues. But I've had in mind to do some more ronin and mounted ones - as in "The seven Samurai" - for Obelisk. I might be tempted to do some - it's a challenge. But I'd need a company to buy them as I wouldn't waste money on moulds just to have them cast. My time's running out to do such a thing.
Thanks again, folks, for all these kind words you found.
cheers,
Josef
I had never heard about these miniatures before but they look great. I wish you all the best and hope your health improves.
If you ever do get around to sculpting seven Samurai I will happily buy them from where ever they were sold.
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I'll have to try and pick up a couple of these next week after the old paycheque rolls in. I'll eventually want to game in China, I'm sure.
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Josef,
I'm very sorry to hear about this and wish you all the best.
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Hi guys,
I looked again at the figures and what my future needs might be and I really don't need too many of the civilians (some of the civvies and merchants won't work very well for 1930's-era China).
Would anybody be interested in splitting an order for the two civilian packs? Just send me a PM if you are and we'll see if we can work out the details.
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Josef,
Sorry to hear about your circumstances. By the way, do you plan to cast any more of the first Tong pack (TAN 01 Tong 1) before you stop trading?
http://shop.strato.de/epages/61074886.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/61074886/Products/%22TAN%2001%22
Thanks!
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I realize that this is thredomancy, but I just discovered the Obelisk Baluchi Zombies. Did anyone acquire the rights to these? If not, any idea if I could still acquire them. They really deserve to see the light of day again.
(https://shop.strato.de/WebRoot/Store2/Shops/61074886/4546/271C/CDAF/2B42/AAC4/C0A8/3094/E5BD/Baluchi_0020_komplett_0020_klein_0020_quad.jpg)
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I don't see a problem with thredomancy especially when we are:
1) discussing undead Baluchis and
2) honoring a great guy and fantastic sculptor whom we wish to remain healthy and NOT dead
Josef, if you are reading this, I just discovered that you retired.
I hope that you are feeling better with less stress and that your heart is strong. I assume you are following a careful diet and getting some exercise, ja? (Ich habe Hertzinfarkt diese Fruehling gehabt - habe nuer 44 Jahren - und habe 9 kg abgenommen, nuer 36 noch abzunehmen.)
Through your emails and through doing business with you, you seem like an exceptionally good guy. I would miss you quite a bit if you were to depart this Earth.
I would also like to know if anyone is producing the Undead Baluchi and/or the Amazon women. Truly, these are excellent minis and I would like to get more.
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I don't see a problem with thredomancy especially when we are:
1) discussing undead Baluchis and
2) honoring a great guy and fantastic sculptor whom we wish to remain healthy and NOT dead
Josef, if you are reading this, I just discovered that you retired.
I hope that you are feeling better with less stress and that your heart is strong. I assume you are following a careful diet and getting some exercise, ja? (Ich habe Hertzinfarkt diese Fruehling gehabt - habe nuer 44 Jahren - und habe 9 kg abgenommen, nuer 36 noch abzunehmen.)
Through your emails and through doing business with you, you seem like an exceptionally good guy. I would miss you quite a bit if you were to depart this Earth.
I would also like to know if anyone is producing the Undead Baluchi and/or the Amazon women. Truly, these are excellent minis and I would like to get more.
Well said. I have sent out inquiries by a number of methods. Hopefully if the Undead Baluchi are still available Dark Maenad Games can give them a home.
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If anyone has any contact information for Josef Ochmann, that they would be willing to share, I would very much appreciate it.
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Me too. I would really like to know how he is doing.
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Has anybody tried the phone number/e-mail/posting addresses still listed on the Obelisk Miniatures Website?
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This is a strange convergence of threads. On the Fantasy boards I asked about the availability of the Obelisk Great Apes pack a few days ago. Member Sir Barnaby says the sculpts have been picked up by Badger Games LLC, with a contact e-mail of fromthebadger@gmail.com I have no idea if this might be a lead for the Baluchis, but it couldn't hurt to write them. I've done so myself this morning and have yet to hear back, so we shall see...
Good luck with your search, and Josef, if you see this, here's hoping your health has improved over the last few years. You are greatly missed!
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Thanks, yes they have the Zombies as well. I wrote them a couple of weeks ago and so far no response.
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Red, if you're still interested, I just received an order of another Obelisk product from Badger Games. Excellent service and good chaps all round. Might be worth another try? They say a website is coming soon...
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They say a website is coming soon...
Lol, Badger have been saying that for at least 3 years.