Saturday 12 November 2022

Citadel Miniatures Middle Earth (1980's) Dunlendings


Back in the day (well, 1985), Citadel / Games Workshop had a licence for Lord of the Rings that they took over from Grenadier Models Inc (range here) who had only ever released 4 boxed sets. The earlier Heritage Models Inc release was based on the Bakshi cartoon and remains one of my favourite ranges ever (link to Heritage here). The pair of  (ME45) Dunlendings were sculpted by Bob Naismith... I asked him why he sculpted them in this large style but he couldn't remember - apparently they had a lot of free reign back in those days. The Lost Minis WIKI notes that they were shown on one flyer as ME45 Dunlendings Ogre Men. Great fun to paint and I feel the need to get a few more together. They're approximately 33mm from foot to eye level so quite large for ordinary 'wildmen'.



I've compiled a listing of this range below; most of the blisters featured a mounted and foot version. Strangely there was no Galadriel... 

Blister Packs

ME1 Fellowship Heroes (Strider, Frodo & Gandalf)

ME2 Fellowship Heroes (Legolas, Boromir & Gimli)

ME11 Gandalf the Wizard

ME12 Strider, Aragorn the Ranger

ME13 Frodo, Hobbit Hero

ME14 Legolas, Elf Hero

ME15 Gimli, Dwarf Hero

ME21 Boromir, Man of Gondor

ME22 Elrond, Half Elf Lord

ME23 Rohirrim (there were two versions released)

ME24 Gondor Citadel Guard

ME25 Rangers of Ithilien

ME31 Silvan Elves of Mirkwood (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME32 Noldor The Deep Elves (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME33 Dwarves (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME34 Hobbits of the Shire

ME35 Beorn: As Man & Bear

 ME41 Goblin Warg Rider

ME42 Orcs of the White Hand (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME43 Half Orcs of Saruman

ME44 Uruk-Hai (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME45 Dunlendings: Hill Men

ME51 Orcs of the Red Eye (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME52 Olog-Hai Troll (two versions)

ME53 Southron: Evil Haradrim

ME54 Easterlings

ME55 Mouth of Sauron: Evil Warrior Mage

ME56 Sauron, Saruman, Nazgul (Sauron seems to have been released separately as well)

ME61 Sauron: The Dark Lord

ME62 Saruman The White

ME63 Lord of the Nazgul

ME64 Black Rider: Ringwraith (two versions)

ME71 Corsairs of Umbar

ME72 Deadmen of Dunharrow (two versions, the 2nd release had multiple variants)

ME73 Barrow-Wights

ME74 Snagga: Goblins

ME75 Knight of Dol Amroth

ME81 Aragorn: King of Gondor

ME82 The Hobbit (TM) Personalities Pack

ME83 Tom Bombadil & Fatty Lumpkin

ME84 Great Eagle of the Misty Mountains

ME85  Treebeard: Mighty Ent

Boxed Sets

BME1 Fellowship of the Ring

BME2 Nazgul on Winged Beast

BME3 Balrog: Encounter at Khazad-Dum

Lots of images of the ranges are at the links below;

http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/index.php?title=Lord_of_the_Rings_%28ME%29

http://www.solegends.com/citlotr/index.htm

http://www.collecting-citadel-miniatures.com/wiki/index.php/Lord_of_the_Rings_-_1980%27s_Releases

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Also, if you are feel slightly flush, buying me a coffee is always appreciated...blogging can be thirsty work... https://ko-fi.com/davidwood

Any queries or, indeed if you have old lead to offload, give me a shout on enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk


3 comments:

Rick Priestley said...

I've no idea why the Dunlendings ended up looking like wee Ogres - but as Bob says the figure designers were given a great deal of latitude. Bob made models very quickly - we always said he was a one man toy soldier factory! Still is :)

Anonymous said...

Note of token but sincere appreciation for the blog.
Also, you mention offloading lead, but by chance are you selling any yourself (and, if so, do you have a list of anything available, as well as what you're looking for) ?
Cheers !

David Wood said...

I'm selling a few bits and pieces as I come across ones I don't think I'll ever paint. Normally I'll list them on one of the Facebook Oldhammer Groups; https://www.facebook.com/groups/1967772713470265. I'm always looking for old lead; companies that didn't last long back in the 70's to mid 80's really. Give me a heads up on the email if you have anything to sell/trade or a wants list.