Showing posts with label Citadel Miniatures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Citadel Miniatures. Show all posts

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Barney Llanse - a Citadel Bryan Ansell miniature from the 80's

 

I thought I had this one but couldn't find it so a good hobby friend came to the rescue (thanks Steve!). No date on the reverse and the name is obviously an anagram of Bryan Ansell. Lovely sculpt by Bob Naismith. The old Citadel logo on the shield is a great touch as well. Originally released as Sir Bryan of Linby (see pic at bottom... does anyone have the sculpt with this on the tab?).






He was originally released as Sir Bryan of Linby as one of the C01 range of fghters (pic c/o Stuff of Legends).


That's it for now. More later!

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

The Perry Twins early GW and Citadel sketches

 

This week (commencing 15th June 2026) Michael and Alan posted some wonderful sketches from their time at Citadel and then GW. This is all borrowed (with permission) from Alan and Michael Perry posting on their Facebook page. All images are theirs and should only be used with their express permission etc. Links at the bottom.

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**First post***

And now for something a bit different!

A long time ago in a galaxy far away we worked for a small company called Citadel Miniatures which was the figure producing side of Games Workshop. We started as freelancers back in 1978, while we were still at school. We worked from home, in Hertfordshire, for the first nine years before heading up to live in Nottingham. In those nine years we would travel every couple of weeks to either Dalling Road, Hammersmith, (where the GW office was above the first shop) where we meet up with Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson to show what we had made and haggle over the price, or later to Newark where Citadel was based. Later still, it moved to Nottingham. From 1978 until into the late 80’s we would normally do our own concept art and then later alongside other actual concept artists. We would be particularly involved if they were human troops, even more so if there was an historical slant we could exploit.

A little while ago we came across our old sketch books dating back to 1978 in some cases and thought some people might be interested in seeing some of them. These will be a random posts and in no order. First up, Empire troops. If you like these there are plenty more to put up.











***2nd post***

Well, that went well! We can't believe the fantastic response!  Here's the next batch, quite a random group. The first four are early (1978-79?), showing the old red orcs as well as the beginnings of the long armed orcs which over the decades became more beefed up but originally were quite skinny. These, in turn, were actually based on the orcs in a painting Michael did (before we even joined GW) of the Battle of Pelennor fields; the death of Theoden. Speaking of which there a few pics of the small LOTR range we made in the late 1970's (?) on the same page.













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Nothing extra from me barring that I've been a fan since they appeared under Citadel's banner.

The only picture of me with them was from Salute 2008 or, more accurately, the Premier Inn nearby.


Their Facebook page is here;


The Perry Miniatures site here;


Do pop over and join the page and buy their minis of course! Tell them I sent you :)

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk


Thursday, 28 May 2026

Citadel Fantasy Tribe Evil Leaders


(Updated 1st June 2026)

The Fantasy Tribe Evil Leaders range was released back in late 1982. It was changed to C22 before being amalgamated into ranges by race type. They were designed to expand upon earlier ranges in the Fantasy Tribe series. I blogged about this little known range back in 2022 but have now brought together more of my own collection whilst sorting. Lots of pics just lifted from the last post but loads more new ones. Bryan's ideas on populating wargame tables were fantastic. When you think most of the Fantasy Tribe releases had about 16 variants. RIP Bryan.

This is from the 1982 (Dragon front) catalogue. I'd forgotten how well read my old copies are.


White Dwarf Advert


Couple of White Dwarf review slots...



Onto the range itself;

Chaos Commander

This seems to be the original version although he was replaced by the one further below... I may have got confused as he is also down as the Orc champion which makes sense... I'll see if I have a spare so I can check the base) - help! 

Edit - thanks again to Nilrem Cellezum who just sent base pictures (and a comparison to a later conversion) so this IS the Orc Champion, not the Chaos Commander which is pictured below - somebody help me find one please! I've left it here anyway rather than remove the text etc.


(below images c/o a great French collector known as Nilrem Cellezum)

I need this mini please! It's a variant of one of the old early boxed set figures but cast as a one piece.





Hobgoblin Chieftain


Skeleton Champion


Zombie Lord



Night Elf Lord


Orc Warlord


Was the FTO15 (Orc Bodyguard w. Mace of Thunder & Shield) also a contender?


Night Goblin Warlord


Night Goblin Chieftain

The blistered version is c/o Gazamonkee on eBay who gave permission to use the image. I must have seen the blistered version in my days at GW Manchester but my memory wears thin... like tears in the rain these days.




Red Goblin Chieftain


Lesser Goblin Chieftain

(not great pics, the old white undercoat I used to use doesn't like pics being taken)



Orc Champion


Nilrem Cellezum's base pics and comparison below;

Notice the addition of names - staff members from that time period!




Thanks again Nilrem!

Below is FTO14 Ogron Foulbreath, Orc champion who should have been a contender!


Well, that's it for now folks! If you have any spare pennies please jump onto The Little Soldier Company website and buy something... link is at the top and I do try to put good stuff on there!

email; enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk