No Salute Today

It should have been Salute today. So, a second year running I am missing you all, with you backpacks and your trolley suitcases. Getting up at a ridiculous time in the morning to catch two trains, then a walk across London, a tube, the DLR then a final walk to join the massive queue. The annual game of look at the other passengers on the DLR and guess whether they are a wargamer or a marathon runner, all good fun. To think that last year I genuinely was keeping my fingers crossed that this would all blow over by April so Salute would still go ahead, never mind still be going on a year later. On the plus side, start putting a tenner a week to one side for spending budget for Salute and you'll be drowning in lead by the end of the day by the time you get to the Excel.

So, what have I been painting this week? Well, one of the joys of blogging is you have a date record of when you obtain some items. So I know I got these models in June 2018. Painted in less than two years, that isn't too bad for a grumpy Longbeard wargamer. 

With the imminent arrival of Stargrave and Xenos Rampant, I thought I might have a little flutter with a bit of Sci-fi. 

These are Grenadier "Troopers with heavy weapons". They have a definite Aliens feel to them with what look like Pulse rifles and flak armour. I might even see if I can find some suitable Xenos for them to be swarmed by.

Researching Grenadier

I love a good charity shop/car boot find.

That feeling when you find a box of second hand toy soldiers is a joy for us all. I once was at a carboot and spied the ugliest cardboard box I have ever seen. Covered in kittens, (my wife made me dispose of the box as soon as possible, it was creepy, seriously creepy.) something about the box made me open the lid. Inside it was jammed full of warhammer dwarves and orcs. I didnt even delve, just bought the lot for a couple of quid and had the joy of going through it all at home.

I also love researching and identifying items I find.  My latest bagfull I will admit wasn't found by myself but by a friend, then passed on as they had no use for it. So, challenge accepted, let the research begin!

Most of the models I discovered were from Grenadier (the capital G on the slotta on some was my first clue.) These first ones are Troopers with Heavy Weapons, from 2015, I'm keeping these and painting them up for Rogue Stars.

A pair of Cyberpunk Nomads from 1995. That bike has difficult to base written all over it. I do like the design though, somebody was watching Akira when they sculpted that.

Orcs with Field crossbow, more Grenadier from 1987, sadly one of the Orcs has some knife damage. I have seen this set for sale from Campaign Game Miniatures, I'm guessing they have bought the molds.

An assortment of adventurers from Grenadier in the 90's. These will be painted up for Heroquest or Pathfinder.

Not sure on the first of these two, some kind of Ogre or Troll, maybe? Both are a good 40 to 45mm tall, the one on the right is the Lord of Death from Grenadiers Fantasy Lords range.

These chaps are interesting and I have yet to properly identify them. They are Grenadier, coded underneath from A653 to A657. They seem to be dressed in fantasy/medieval gear and are armed with what look like one shot black powder weapons or fireworks? Any help identifying these would be gratefully received.

A motley crew of I am guessing post apocalyptic survivers. I know nothing about these other than they are Grenadier, no date, no identifying codes.

 Finally, the only non-Grenadier models, two oldhammer Games Workshop models. On the left,  Lord of Battle in Unicorn Helm and then Stro Knor MaceKiller, from 1987.  For some reason people lap up old school Warhammer, so I might have to part with these.

I must admit, at first glance I thought a lot of this was going to the Father in Law to melt down for re-casting, but actually there are a couple of nice models here. More to add to the to do pile then!