Broadsword and the Beast

[Ensign Madcap]

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]

  Stunning.

[Blue in vt]

 

Brilliant!

Blue

[CptJake]

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

[Legion1963]

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

[OSHIROmodels]

I like that muchly 

cheers

James

[Ramirez Noname]

Definitely a work of “clear understanding”

Great piece.

RMZ

[Vinlander]

"I see a dark sail..."   

Beautiful work mate, really top-notch!!!

[JollyBob]

That's incredible.  Lovely brushwork on the sails.

[CyberAlien312]

Absolutely stunning work, the sails are fantastic!

[dijit]

Extremely well executed and a brilliant concept!

[Svennn]

Beastie!!

[phreedh]

Fucking ace! Well done that, man!

[Doomhippie]

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

[Faust23]

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!