Blood Rage Expansion Models: Fenrir and Werewolf

Blood Rage Expansion Models: Fenrir and Werewolf

We’ve started playing Zombicide again recently, taking up from where we left off sometime in 2021. The idea being to have a full playthrough of all of the 1st Edition content which will eventually culminate in cracking open the 2nd Edition Kickstarter and playing that. It just seemed a shame/waste to not play through all of the huge amounts of ZC1 content first – both paid for as well as the many free scenarios on their website – even though we’ve played through the initial campaign(s) a couple of times at the very least, we’ll be going all the way this time – and when we take an inevitable pause here and there – we’ll just note down where we were and what comes next. What does all this have to do with these models? Well, in the boardgame shelf, nestled right behind where I’ve been sitting are some boxes of boardgame minis. Mixed in behind a bunch of Zombicide stuff are a few models from Blood Rage – another Kickstarter game I’ve not yet painted. When I saw the Werewolf in its little box in there it looked like a quick and easy win, so given how shitty a year 2021 has been, I allowed myself a little “Treat” on Dec 27th – to try and get it finished in a day/overnight. When that worked, I got out the Fenrir model the following day and did it again, completing it on Dec 31st – my last completed model of 2021.

Blood Rage Expansion Models: Fenrir and Werewolf

As you can see, the Werewolf is a nicely sculpted model, but also a simple model in a… I’ll be generous and call it a straightforward sculpt. It’s a bit reminiscent of a “T-Pose” from digital art and games, to be honest. The artwork depicted him as the typical GW-esque bugg white dude with fur glued onto him, but I went for a dark brown instead as I prefer my werewolves covered in at least some fine fur all over – think of a cat, or a horse, or one of the many, many breeds of shorthaired dogs.

Fenrir was a slightly different proposition. I know what you’re thinking – and yes, this model is clearly a rip off (or at least a homage) of Games Workshop’s Space Wolves home planet of Fenris, and their many original ideas about wolves in space with names like Freki and Geri and all the rest, like Lukas the Trickster and many others. Even Marvel/Disney has ripped them off – amazing that GW hasn’t sued, but then they’re renowned as a company that’s not particularly litigious when others use ideas from their Warhammer IP, so I guess it fits their character – even when they make a ton of bank off of GW’s back, like all that Tolkien stuff with their derivitave versions of WHFB’s Aelves and Duardin.

Anyway, black wolf is black – ar at least a number of shades of dark grey….

Realm of Chaos – Citadel Beastman Bray Shaman, Brayherd Beastmen Gors (Michael Perry, 1995-6)

Citadel Beastman Bray Shaman, Brayherd Beastmen Gors (Michael Perry, 1995-6)

Funny how some models look dated quickly, and some sculpts endure, isn’t it? My models today were sitting here half-painted for several years, got restarted recently in a failed attempt to complete more models for Roger from Under the Wargames Table‘s recent “Mo’vember” painting challenge and then re-restarted after playing a bit of Vermintide II over the Christmassy break. I’ve always loved Michael Perry’s line of goat-headed beastman/beastmen models, initially sculpted and released in the mid-1990’s. That Bray Shaman still holds up really well today, I think – all the more for the fact that he’s not balancing on one leg on a tactical rock, thrusting a staff towards the heavens with sculpted flames coming out of his …nose.

Citadel Beastman Bray Shaman, Brayherd Beastmen Gors (Michael Perry, 1995-6)

I can only say it’s both a shame and a wonder that I haven’t painted more of these models, whether it’s the old-school metals, the more recent plastics (a pair of “eBay rescue repaints” seen here), or the newset Age of Sigmar versions that have come out alongside releases for things Like Warhammer Underpants: Beastgrave and the like. Something I’ll really have to rectify in 2022, I reckon. Oh, I also forgot to paint in the eyeball gems on the staff-hand-skull. I’ve since fixed that! These models are also submitted within the window for Dave Stone’sPaint What You Got challenge. Something definitely worth checking out and participating in if you’re interested in giving the extra motivation of a low-stress painting challenge a go!

Finally, I’d also like to take the opportunity to dedicate this post to Rodor and, um D’Rodor Jr, of the blog Rodorhammer, as they are both fans of the Beastmans and their recent post on Christmas Beastmen (or Beastmen for Christmas?) combined with the whole Vermintide II thing and helped motiovate me to get these three completed in the days following Christmas! Saluti, compagni!