Author Topic: Broadsword and the Beast (Read 4459 times)

Ensign Madcap · « **on:** December 20, 2012, 01:58:34 PM »

Way back in 1983 or 84 (I think) I went along to Games Day at the Royal Horticultural Society Hall in London, and seem to remember it being pretty good, a great demo game by The Players Guild which should be the subject of another thread (Dwarf hangliders, an orc ship etc). One of the highlights for me was a talk by Iain McCaig the artist in which he described painting the cover of the Jethro Tull album Broadsword and the Beast, probably my favourite album cover of all time. Mr. McCaig described how he had fallen asleep at the easel and woken up to find he had painted all the runes around the edge of the main painting, and he didn't know what they said (in fact it's the first verse of the song Broasword on the LP). Naturally this made a great impression on a callow youth like myself and I rushed off and bought the record to play on the old gramophone.

Since then I have been meaning to make a model based on the ship shown in the paintings on the cover, and 30 odd years later I have finally got around to it (ironically when I seem to have even less time than ever).

Here is front and reverse of the album cover

and my efforts

The crew will be Dwarves of the Pewter Moon (I have some old Nick Lund Dwarves for these). The sails depict The Crimson King being squashed by the Dwarf Deity (unnamed as yet) The Pewter Moon of the Dwarves and the Sunchild (2 factions in my fantasy world, which is entirely in my head at the moment). The Runes on the figurehead say The Seal Driver (another song on the album).

The ship is a converted Viking ship I have had for ages with a Papo dragon head pinched from my kid's toybox (thanks sonny).

If I don't get to answer any posts in the next day or so, apologies, it's just that crazy time of the year, but compliments of the season to you all.
cheers

Za Zjurman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2012, 02:43:25 PM »

Stunning.

Blue in vt · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:02:11 PM »

Brilliant!

Blue

CptJake · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:08:45 PM »

Damn, a very cool idea executed perfectly. Frickin amazing.

Legion1963 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:27:05 PM »

Very nice indeed. Love the ship and especially the idea of using the head and tail the dragon.

OSHIROmodels · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:30:08 PM »

I like that muchly

cheers

James

Ramirez Noname · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:37:36 PM »

Definitely a work of “clear understanding”

Great piece.

RMZ

Vinlander · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:50:39 PM »

"I see a dark sail..."

Beautiful work mate, really top-notch!!!

JollyBob · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2012, 03:59:21 PM »

That's incredible.

Lovely brushwork on the sails.

CyberAlien312 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2012, 04:30:38 PM »

Absolutely stunning work, the sails are fantastic!

dijit · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2012, 04:38:39 PM »

Extremely well executed and a brilliant concept!

Svennn · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2012, 04:43:41 PM »

Beastie!!

phreedh · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2012, 04:50:50 PM »

Fucking ace! Well done that, man!

Doomhippie · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2012, 05:10:29 PM »

Great! I love this idea. And man, there's some serious brushwork in there. You rock the boat (pun intended).

Faust23 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2012, 05:29:04 PM »

That's one of the coolest things I've ever seen!!!

I've been looking at Roger Dean art from Yes and Asia covers as inspiration for my next big fantasy table.

You Sir, are an inspiration!

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Author Topic: Broadsword and the Beast (Read 4459 times)

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