At the Court of the Crimson King

[Ensign Madcap]

I'm continually inspired and blown away by the imagination and paint jobs displayed here on LAF, and thought it was about time I showed you chaps some of my old collection. I haven't done a great deal of painting for about 10 years or so, but now my oldest son (aged 10, hmmm there is some connection there) is getting into painting minis I have dug out a few of my old armies to look at.

I painted this army over  20 years ago, and the paintjobs are beginning to show their age now (as is the Humbrol varnish, yellowing away). I never finished all the figures to complete the army, and will probably get around to that some day. I draw a lot of inspiration from album covers, and At the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson, one of my favourite sleeves and records, is written for the fantasy gamer, with loads of fungus inspired lyrics about Pattern Jugglers, Fire Witches, Moon children etc. . It ties in nicely with Mick_in_Switzerland's work on a Toyah figure, as Toyah is married to Robert Fripp of King Crimson.

I would be interested to know what you guys think about rebasing, repainting etc, and then completing the cast by adding some of the characters in the songs.

First up some of the units of Orange Goblins (Minifigs Tunnel Elves and the odd Rafm figure)








I'll just see if this lot upload ok (being a novice at picture posting) and then stick some more photos up in the next day or so.

[The Dozing Dragon]

Great! Nice to see old school with a PJ. I collect old lead myself but am a very slow painter.....

[Ensign Madcap]

As these uploaded ok. I will post the rest of the army here and now, more Orange Goblins first











Some People of the Pine (Minifigs Silver Rose Knights in fircone like armour)



The Purple Piper's freakshow (Minifigs again, I love this old range of bizarre beasties)





The Firewitches, summoned by the tolling of a cracked brass bell



Moonchildren Cavalry, wonderful Rodney Matthews type cavalry and horses again from Minifigs. There seem to be 2 styles of horses here, one with more more barding than the other.



Artillery, to cast the Crimson King's likeness at the enemy (old Atlantic catapults with Irregular artillerygoblins



Orange Goblin sleeping quarters





The keeper of the City Gates and his deafonator





Seige Tower. The arms are lowered on arrival at the walls









and finally some of the Crimson Kings fanatics

[DeafNala]

You've got some VERY COOL minis there...the cavalry in particular. The pieces have a certain surrealistic quality to them which appeals to moi...I'm a surrealist sort of Old Guy. Keep 'em coming!

[Christian]

This is really impressive..! Somewhat surreal, as Monsier Nala has said. The concistantly bizarre figures and imagery really make this work Good job! I love the siege tower!

[Thantsants]

Lovely - I really like the cavalry too, and the orange goblins, and the siege tower and the...

Well all of it really - its like a cross between something from Alice in Wonderland, Narnia and goodness knows what else 

[fastolfrus]

Awesome.
I don't think you need to repaint.
Not sure what you could add to the range now - most modern sculpts are not as esoteric as the old Minifigs range although there are some Empire of the Petal Throne that might fit in.

[matakishi]

Wonderful! It needs no changes it's a thing of its time and is better for it.

[Delaney]

 

I have a tub of tunnel elves that I have been aching to paint up, including the horses- very Rodney Matthews!
This is really inspiring stuff!  True fantasy!

How about making some Red King air balloons?

[Delaney]

Regarding repainting and fixing up...

A soft nylon house paintbrush can take off the dust, a fresh spray of gloss varnish, followed by matte spray may help pop the colors back.

Failing that, I would then look at using really transparent glazes of windsor & newton inks thinned with matt medium (citadels one is, surprisingly, the best for this) to enrich any faded colors and give a bit of contrast and depth.

Other then that an edge highlight or two and a little love on the bases and your gilding that lilly!

[The Travelling Man]

Amazing! An inspirational army- thanks for posting mate.

[Delaney]

Regarding repainting and fixing up...

A soft nylon house paintbrush can take off the dust, a fresh spray of gloss varnish, followed by matte spray may help pop the colors back.

Failing that, I would then look at using really transparent glazes of windsor & newton inks thinned with matt medium (citadels one is, surprisingly, the best for this) to enrich any faded colors and give a bit of contrast and depth.

Other then that an edge highlight or two and a little love on the bases and your gilding that lilly!

[aggro84]

Wow that's some seriously fun and funky stuff.

Very different, I love it of course.   

[HerbyF]

Somewhere deep in the lead mountain I think I might still have some of those figures.

[Damien]

I love and I mean love this army, do not rebase, do not repaint; it is perfect as is (though I would suggest what king said about a new coat of varnish). This is everything I love about old lead/sculpts nothing can touch these sculpt today. I am especially impressed with all the freehand on the shields, bravo!

All I can say is keep posting everything you have ever painted; I for one want to see it all.


Great stuff
 Damien