Dear Tony Blair

Friday, 15 March 2013

Tony Yates follow up post!

Tony has just sent me some extra pics - all of these are to be sorted to a dedicated post at some point once I have some time! He has been telling me about many of the sculpts he has done over the years, many of which have not seen the light of day....grrrrrrr.....

The following are from Golgo Island....if you haven't visited I do recommend a short soiree....although not for the faint hearted....

A map, in case you should get lost......

Check East Riding Miniatures Golgo Island range out here and also some of Tony's 'could not be used for an Aliens game' miniatures here. Tony Barr who runs East Riding is another great bloke so check his home page here.

Thursday, 14 March 2013

Tony Yates - sculptor and artist extraordinaire!

Every so often you come across someone in the gaming industry that makes you think there is still hope left in the world. I first came across Tony's sculpts in the 80s when he sculpted for Heroes Miniatures. Since then he has worked for a multitude of companies and spent time a the Concept Manager at Foundry. His illustrations fill more periodicals and rulesets than I know about.......Combat 3000, Spacefarers and Laserburn being the ones that come to mind first.....all Bryan Ansell related pre GW and Warhammer 40K. Tony recently sent me not only an old copy of the Laserburn rules trilogy but also a bunch of artwork................may he live long and prosper!

Hopefully I'll add more to this post soon....first day off following night shift. All Tony's pics remain his copyright and are used with his permission.

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Sunday, 10 March 2013

Vanity post......

Just found a copy of the only commercially available recording I was ever on.......

Twas a Beach Boys compilation tribute album by the then singer of Indigo Prime, Sean Macreavy. We did one song, 'Never Learn Not To Love' .....Charles Manson (yes, him) penned this and Dennis Wilson reworked it..... originally titled 'Ceased to Exist'.

Amazon had one copy but haven't seen it since.....

And now on You Tube thanks to the wonders of modern technology in the shape of my 14 year old son....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFUikVCSW74&feature=youtu.be

Saturday, 9 March 2013

Confrontation Dwarf Golem.......previously unreleased!

Well, after Cool Mini or Not got the Confrontation stuff they released this previously unavailable Golem.... $149.99 so not cheap but a hoot for collectors......on my wish list but out of my pocket reach.....only type 2 at the bottom is still available (and just 20 left in their shop) .......

Video for Version 1 here and for Version 2 here

Friday, 8 March 2013

Minifigs re-releasing classic VFW fantasy!

Checking through Minifigs website I noticed they have sneakily released some of the old Valley of the Four Winds figures....only a handful so far.......I have emailed them and hope for some more news soon.....I have examples of each of the Swamp Lords but never thought small armies would be possible......

VFW101 Swamp Lord advancing with spear

VFW31 (should be 81) Civilian with Fire Beacon

Check their website and hassle them to release more.....tell them I sent you! The rest of the Valley of the Four Winds range is illustrated on the Lost Minis WIKI.....all from the 1980 Games Workshop game....

Just got a reply off Dave Ryan at Minifigs and he thinks these are the last of them.......seriously though, if enough people contact him he'll look for more!!! I never finished painting these back in the 80s.....maybe now is the time. I've put a small order in for some of the spearman and will live in hope of more.....those below are from my own collection.