Ratskin renegades #1

Now that's true blast (or rather: eeek!) from the past! 

A while back I decided to participate Oldhammer Weekend 2026 in for coming this October. The last time I was there it was fun - nice people, almost no powergamers (for the love of f#ck...🙄), nice colorful tables and armies - more-less like straight from oldie White Dwarf magazine. True candy store for each and every Middlehammer fan.

Oldhammer 2022 was cool event, but quickly I realised why I quit all that Warhammer (Herohammer) shit: 'cause it was shitty game. I mean the fluff was cool and models were really nice (my taste) but because all that overboosted characters, powergaming army list and other crap there was no fun. I came back mostly because of nostalgy and aesthetic factor - large armies look just fucking brilliant on battlefield. That's it.

And nothing changed by now but last year somehow I've managed to paint whole Chaos Warriors army of Slaanesh (once again - for display case only), and wanted to see them in action even once. In 2025 I even prepared entries for painting contest but life issues didn't allow me to participate, so this time I am going just not to "waste" that paint work.

There will be Warhammer Fantasy campaign but there also will be Necromunda based miniature/RPG session which I definitelly don't wanna miss. The plan is to play using total underdogs, and what can me more pathetic in Necomunda world then Ratskin brave? 😁

As for models looks like I got them in 2013 but somehow until now only 2 or 3 of them got paintjob. No idea why really - models are really cool but we dropped Necromunda gaming long time ago so my guess is the painting was aimed to models used on table: Bolt Action mostly. So I need a single brave for my RPG character, but since the whole gang is ~15 rats strong (eeek! eeek! eeek!) I decided get the all done. These are can be used also in other games but most important - should look really nice in display case. Models painted earlier were washed off so they all keep same painting standard and color palette. 

As usually in case of painting warband / squad / unit ratmen were painted in groups - 3 models at once. Somehow every time I try to paint more models at once the painting quality drops drastically. Here I am half-pleased: the first group got too bright flesh tone, I like much more the other trio - more like native Indian. Plus the varnish turned out kinda satin instead of matt, so when whole group is finished I might wash them off and paint again. So here's current progress:

The rat-pack:

Post-apo rodents trying to get into tasty bunker interior:

The boys about to face deadly Copplestone's Scavengers:

And here - Scarab Lord Chaosmorph is about to have some mouse-burgers:

The last one - sump riot squad supported by killa-kan (war-bot that is...) about to arrest some squeeking punks:

Hope to bring abother 6 rat-men next time! Eeeek! Eeeek!

Scarab Lord Chaosmorph (Ilyad Games)

Last weekend I've finally managed to cross off the list special piece among stuff being seasoned in the pile of shame: Scarab Lord Chaosmorph from Ilyad Games. The company is dead for a long time and models from that line are nowdays very hard to get but these are must-have for all Rackham fans. 

I've been thinking about those companies recently and cannot believe they fell down - Rackham especially. Back days, when it was fully operational. it had top sculptors, top painters, wide range of models plus game system on top (never managed to see the rules though). But even though it collapsed and it was long before STL files and printers rammed into the miniatures market 🙄

Not sure what Ilyad Games line was supposed to be - spin off of Rackham's sculptors maybe? Cannot tell. But it had solid line of supercoll classic fantasy sculpts: knights, demons, barbarians, fantasy creatures. There was also short line of Chaosmorphs - no idea what was that: demon / mutant / fantasy race. I really liked them and even managed to get he big guy you can see below.

It's official paintwork was stunning - kinda like Rackham's stuff so I didn't even try to copy that. Instead I chose color combo based on classic genestealers: that plus rusty oil drum and voila! - we got ourselves nasty mutated crab straight from rad zone. I regret I run out of Tamiya Clear Red - some fresh blood splatted on claws would surely look eyecathing. So here it is:

And some scale shots: here NBC suit squad is about to get to reactor guarded by the Thing:

And here - the Thing is about to get some plague zombie burgers:

Alien handmaiden (Crooked Dice)

So it finally happened:

last Saturday night we have finally managed to play Call of Cthulhu role-playing game! 🦑

The last time I was running CoC was maybe like 10 years ago? But my investigators were playing much, much formerly. It was kinda big success to gather old friends together to play the game after such a long time although adjusting date took us like 2 months. Writing a scenario was fun itself (started last November) and I'm glad after 4-5 hours of playing there's one more session ahead.

Anyway while waiting for the session and having recent Sherman crossed off the list, I decided to paint something different before starting another Bolt Action thing. Reaching deep into bucket of shame I've found alien thing from Crooked Dice range I got quite a long tome ago together with some cultists. I never had any idea for this guy but coming RPG session put me into mood for painting something from eldritch horror range. Plus it turned out it was sculpted by my buddy from Chest of Colors times: Mr Bug Man. While assembling the model I realised it had some parts very similar to alien drop pod I from from Nav a while back. Very organic and disturbing piece!

As for painting I used some organic, natural tones hoping to make it look somehow believable. Don't think my investigators will meet somethink like this anytime soon (or anytime at all...) but I am really happy this beautie got the colors. And I am pretty sure Call of Cthulhu wide range of miniatures will get own shelf as soon as new display case arrives...

And below: eldritch horror about to eat Dagon cultists and investigators in perilous Dunwich outskirts:

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!! 🤘🏻

Metropolitan prophet

I said it before and I can say it again: for me winter is best period to paint oldie Warzone stuff. No idea why but that's the fact, and another proof after Cartel agents death squad is Semai's favorite saboteur: metropolitan prophet.

This model is based on one of Paul Bonner's amazing mutant chronicles artworks (you see if on the bottom of the post). It's gaming rules were posted in the third supplement (Casaulties of war) so it's part of "new wave" of miniatures. New wave of Warzone 1st ed. stuff that is. Sculpt is just damn cool and much better quality of most of early miniatures. I had lots of fun painting this beautie but now I think it's time to work on some WW2 stuff for a change, to get proper perspective from all that candy stuff.

So here it is - dominating my painting station:

And here about to be arrested by NBC suit squad:

And the original artwork - amazing, ain't it? 

Mummies

It's summer time so this time I painted something fitting the season.

Back days, when I was still Warhammer Fantasy player, I've never fielded or even seen mummies on the battlefield - it was really small gaming comminity here and models were hard to get. But I've always really liked those - both Middlehammer styled sculpts and fluff. 

So years later it turned out I've managed to collect 10 models - more then enough for solid and expensive unit (45 points each for 2000 points army!) and now the time has come to give those old beauties a paintjob.  According to the rules mummies are strong and tough as ogres (because of embalming rituals, dark magic or other shit) but you can't see is on the sculpts - these are just man sized. So trying to make them look more models were placed on 25 mm bases instead of 20 mm. That gives some space for little rock and extra bits. Now the unit should stand out marching alongside ordinary skeletons and zombies.

At first I was hoping to paint whole unit at once but decided to split them into small groups. No idea why but whenever I put too many models on the hobby desk - painting's quality clearly drops. And these deserve spending some more attention then ordinary skeletons. 

See? Slightly larger then cannon fodder 😎

And one more scale shot - makes me want to play Curse of the mummy's tomb 😊

Nash (Gaslands)

Last month Black Sunshine has left the painting desk. Must admit working on those tiny cars is much more challenging then it might appear but also brings ton of fun. So after having the first test game of Gaslands I decided to convert next model more game-wise: 

twin-linked machine guns is what every responsible driver needs on Anarchy Road...

Just like before I tried keeping conversions simple. It's kinda like painting: the less (colors) - the better result. Glass was replaced with mesh - it's badass and very post-apo / Mad Max style. Other bits were taken from Implements of Carnage conversion set. At first I wanted to replace original engine with smaller one but all in all I put steel plate and da gunzzz on the bonnet. The model got also extra bumper and conversion job was done.

Initially I wanted to paint it different then the prevoius car, but since they are part of same gang, they should wear same colors and gang marks. I like it: simple but effective. And that means all I need to get whole gang finished is painting remaining Land Rover Defender...

And here's the model before modification. Must say I like upgraded one better... 😋

Cybertronic Chasseurs

Looks like Mr Omicron got me good, so I've been grounded for the past few days. After re-launching trusty Fallout 3 and reading some books decision was made to improve painting statistics, therefore squad of Chasseurs was dragged on the painting desk.

I've never commanded Cybertronic force so these are supposed to join post-apo neo-soviet force I've been building recently. They all look like clones of Ivan Drago from Rocky 4, so:

genetic engeneering + cloning + steroids = Cybertronic.

I really do not like painting whole units at once - no matter how hard I try the final paintjob quality is worse then painting one model at the time. And that's what happened here, but it's much faster way to get the job done and I wanted to see them ready for action yet before the isolation  ends. Trying to make them fit the NBC suit squad pants were painted flanker blue. Looking at the photos this element is pretty dull - adding some tearings could be good idea.

Sculpts are pretty simple so I added some decals (squad marks, trendy vintage tank top and tattoo) and contrast bits like Casio-like organizer screen (or maybe they carry Game Boys to battle) and of couse - red visors. They are neo-soviets, so they sure see the universe red...

Squad supported by assault walker:

And whole warband infantry at this stage. Must find proper commander for them, probably with big, red officer hat. Should still have spare oldie Valhallan commisair somewhere...

In the previous post there was a music piece and while I was varnishing the squad another one came to my mind. I am seriously considering naming the squad leader Russel... 🤔

Black Sunshine (Gaslands)

Gripping the wheel his knuckles went white with desire

The wheels of his Mustang Exploding on the highway like a slug from a 45

True death

400 horsepower of maximum performance piercing the night 

This is Black Sunshine.

After having the first test game of our home-made post apocalyptic system, neo-soviets were sent back to barracks for recovery. While waiting for rules upgrade, I was browsing FB looking for idea for the next paintjob and then I spotted some Carmageddon / Mad Max cars. Turned out these were warbands for Gaslands game. I haven't seen that before but after checking the rules the game seemed to be intersting enough to make me paint the model 😎

The game uses customized Matchbox / Hot Wheels cars. Luckly for me my son left his old Hot Wheels Corvette at my place, and since he's now totally into video games, decision was made to give the model new life. 

To get it prepared for the carnage, I got North Star's Gasland conversion kit. There are lots of really cool parts like machine guns, harpoon, dozer blades, engine upgrades and such. 

At first I wanted to add as much junk as possible on the model, but then I thought I don't want to make it look like some some stupid WH40K vehicle.

So in the end I only added extra exhausts, engine block upgrade (whatever the hell it really is - I know sh!t about cars, except how to drive) and replaced fronc and sice screens with mesh. That makes car look pretty cool and yet credible.

At first I wanted to paint it bright - like white body with blue stripes. On such basecoat chipped paint would look just great. But then good friend of mine said: "Paint it graphite!".
Didn't like the idea but then I recalled Death Proof and Black Sunshine badass cars and decided to give it a go. Must admit the final effect is better then I expected - silver scratches plus bright dust provide nice contrast. I added some metallic paint to the mixture but it's barely seen now under 3 layers of matt varnish (Revell run out so I had to use Vallejo Air).

So here's the beast. 

The model behind is out of scalebut it's just perfect candidate for post-apo road warrior 💀

Obviously it's the Devil's engine... 😈

And the freshly stripped model with some add-ons:

And this is for all those who haven't heared White Zombie's masterpiece...

War... War never changes...

I was actually supposed to paint something else but while digging in the Pile ov Shame recently this guy emerged to the surface so I decided to bring it to wargaming life.

As for it's story I got it few years back (cannot recall where) but the model ain't young for sure. If I remember correctly it was released yet before Fallout skirmish game. Back days I used to play Fallout on Playstation lots of time and was big fan of the game, universe etc. Still think Fallout series is one of the best games released ever. 

Anyway when the model arrived is was washed, cleaned, assembled, undercoated and then realised I have absolutely no use for it so few days later it was casted onto the Pile... 

Shame, shame, shame... 😔

And it's been just like that until the end of last year, when I started adding additional members to the neo-soviet generic warband. There are 5 infantry models at this moment, so the power armour dude is supposed to provide some heavy support. 

In theory they are the same scale but the new one is more like 28 mm then 25 mm which makes power armour even more credible - there's a neo - soviet locked inside after all! 😉

Must admit whole this creating generic warband is lots of fun. In fact I am planning to add several oldie Cybertronic chasseurs - they are MUCH more bulky compared to EM4 models but that makes them great candidates for steroid-stuffed androids. Hope you like it 🤖

About to deal with bunch of scavenging scums:

And Mr Powerman himself: