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

Dragontooth Personalities - P11 Swordswoman

 

Another one down... I've been trying to paint her for a long time but she totally wiped my mojo until the other day when I changed the colour scheme. Still not the best sculpt (quite a few are like the proverbial Marmite ie love 'em or hate 'em) but she's done. Just need varnishing now.

That's it for now!

Dragontooth Personalities - P24 Rachir the Red Archer

 

Another one of Tom Loback's sculpts finished at last... I've managed to pick up examples of all the range now barring the P43 Celtic Wizard. If you have one please get in touch! The Rachir was another one based on the Elric books with a slight name change. A lovely flowing sculpt but not an easy one to paint although I'm happy with the final result. Just varnishing to go.

More later, keep yourselves safe.

The Ruins of the Dead...

 

Well, I've finally got around to releasing the Tenoch temple series, hand sculpted and cast by Philip Page of Slug Industries. These are rather large and heavy pieces that will cast an imposing backdrop on gaming tables. Let me know what you think please!

https://thelittlesoldiercompany.co.uk/product/the-ruins-of-the-dead

Normal service to be resumed shortly!

Der Kriegspielers - Lord of the Rings by any other name...

 

Back in the early 70's, Duke Seifried set up Custom Cast Inc which became one of America's largest manufacturer of wargame figures. Der Kriegspielers 'Fantastiques' were one of the earliest fantasy ranges (beaten by Miniature Figurines in '73 and Jack Scruby slightly after) and certainly the most diverse and colourful! The 1000 series was absolutely based on Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit with slight name changes in many case being probably too close to Tolkein's creations.

A full listing can be seen on the Lost Minis WIKI here.

I picked up a few pieces back in the day when Games Workshop (via Dalling Road mail order) imported them but they were, as was the way back then, too expensive for my meagre means. Michael Thomas now has most of the ranges available again (https://classicminiatures.net/) and I can vouch that they are indeed excellent high quality metal castings. Anyway, I was sorting through boxes and came across a bunch of the range so thought I'd better post them here... 

Lots more posts on DK if you click the labels on the right of the blog.

Hope you're all keeping well in these turbulent times.

enquiries@deartonyblair.co.uk

Queen Elizabeth II has died.

 

It is with a very heavy heart that I post this. I grew up standing to attention with my grandmother when the national anthem was played, and her majesty has been one of the constants in life's rollercoaster ride. She joins her husband, Philip, in that final resting place. May they both rest in peace.

Ral Partha Legacy have the Khamaí...

 

Well, they've finally sneaked over to America to join the hallowed ranks of some of the best sculpts in the hobby. Jacob Fathbruckner is doing a great job of releasing all the old Ral Partha sculpts and more. Most of the minis that Tom Meier sculpted back in the 70's are available again - I do have lots of them from back when Citadel produced them under licence (and a few that were imported by Wargames Publications (Scotland) Ltd)... many still in need of being painted. The new pieces Tom is sculpting are incredible and it's great to see the old ranges being expanded further. 

The Khamaí are here; 

https://ralparthalegacy.com/collections/khamai-lizardmen 

(link opens up in a new window)

Do take a good look around the RPL site, there's lots to see!