Warhammer 40k Frateris Militia Pt.1 (1997) (Paul Muller?)

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Warhammer 40k Frateris Militia (1997)

I mentioned a few posts ago that as part of getting to painting again, I grabbed a bunch of figures out of a tub that I’d originally intended to paint simply and quickly with contrasts, until that didn’t happen and painting them at all didn’t happen for a couple of years (after the plan – all these figures are WAY older!) This pair are the final ones of that batch. Turns out I didn’t manage to get any more of them painted in February, so these ones get posted now because who knows when the others might get done? Much like the Hobbits and Ruffians, I went for a muted and semi-naturalistic palette, though these being 40k figures some blue denim pants were fine to add in.

Warhammer 40k Frateris Militia (1997)

Typically when I paint models like this I’d just go with red for the armbands, but in this case I went with yellow instead for …no particular reason. I also tried to give the bald guy a rough leather look to his coat, but it’s kinda hard to see. As always with low-stakes models like these, it’s very easy to try something a bit fdifferent on a whim to see if it works, because even if it doesn’t… who cares? These models date back to 1997 and the original Sisters of Battle Codex, from 2nd Edition 40k. I’m not sure if these are still part of any current 40k force, but that hardly matters to me. I got 2 blisters of these figures, and now I have 2 figures painted. Only 8 or so more to go – which whenever I get around to them will no doubt be mixed in with some more hobbits and some more ruffians to help attempt to keep some interest… They are also my final little batch of models for Dave Stone’s current Paint Whatchoogot Challenge for 23-4.

After checking with former GW sculptor Adam Clarke (Black Scorpion Miniatures) these may be Paul Muller sculpts.

Scarlet Brethren “Good Ole’ Boys” – Demonblade Miniatures

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We have something a bit different today – a trio of miniatures from a company that I did not recall the name of – big thanks to Mr.C in the comments for refreshing my memory of the manufacturer – Demonblade Miniatures! Back in the late 1990’s or early 2000’s, during the days of 40k 2nd edition, WarZone 1st edition and playing games with semi-regularity in Mind Games Melbourne, one of the gang ran a few demos of a skirmish-sized game that used 40k-esque models. I don’t recall the name of the game, or the manufacturer (hence the above title), but I did pick up a few of their figures. Mostly their Not-Cadians, but also some of their Not-Orks. So far, so uninteresting – but it turns out that at some stage GW gave them the old threatening letter, and their “Orcs” or “Orks” or whatever quickly morphed into a faction called “The Org” (for ORGanised crime) and their models turned from Kev Adams Orc-alikes into models that look like they may have been sculpted by Bob Olley’s apprentice.

Anyway, this trio of ugly bastards are from a blister a pack of Demonblade models that I purchased, oh-so-many years ago, and while their realistic chance of getting painted was slim to none for several decades, I came across them while sorting out my “simple paintjob armed civilians and militia types” batch a year or three ago that recently resulted in painted Hobbits and Ruffians. You see, I more-or-less semi-randomly took a dozen models out of the tub and got to painting them, and one of those three was mister folded-hat here. Since the end of February was approaching, I made an effort over the past few days to get the other pair painted, so all three of the set would be done so I could post them together.

In the end, they got much better paint jobs than these models deserve, probably because they’re metal and they gave me a chance to work on something very different to my norm with low pressure. Would they have looked better with tattoos or even just implied tatoos? For sure, but, y’know. Too much effort for these. I also noticed last night that the guy with the cap has a little Confederate Flag on it. Since the model was designed in the 90’s when the context of such things in pop culture was a little different and people were less easily triggered, I’d assume the simple explanation of the designer just shitting on people from the U.S.’ South with these three yokel-looking motherfuckers. Still, I was painting him with echoes of Super Mario gone done broken bad and even a Confederate Flag wasn’t going to stop me! As far as games go – I dunno. I guess I could use them as Chaos Cultists, or Cthulhu Cultists, or something like that, with their unsettling, weird-looking fucking heads. It’s not really important. They’re done and so I can get on with finishing much more improtant other models.

If someone recognises these things, I’ll of course credit you and amend the post title. In the meantime, it’s another three models for Dave Stone’s Paint Whatchoogot Challenge for 23-4 wot ends tomorrow. Though I do still have 1 or 2 more posts to come for that…