HOTT - Dwarves 15mm

This was an army that I inherited almost 10 years ago. The figures are from Black Raven Miniatures.  Recently I was able to have it painted and I now have a fairly large dwarven force assembled to go up against my Undead. Other than the command stands I attached the figures to metal bases and I actually like the bare metal look. 

First Dwarven Corps - Still waiting for the glue to dry.

Complete Amy in it's storage box. Enough figures for three HOTT armies.

Undead HOTT: 15mm Figures on 60mm Base

At long last my projected 15mm Fantasy Hordes of the Things Big Battle army nears completion. Not only do I want to be able to field a 72 point undead army, I want to do it in 15mm scale using bases with a 60mm Elements, thus doubling the number of troops per element when compared against the standard 40mm base for a 15mm army. As far as I am concerned I need another 12 Horde Elements and at least 4 Magician Elements to complete this force. I present my Undead force in its current condition.

In the above photo we can see all 72 points of the Undead HOTT Big Battle Army.  Please forgive the fact that there are two "live" trolls acting as the artillery for this army.  The army is spread out from Left to Right a distance of 36 Cm (6 x 60mm Elements) and has a depth of 43 cm (from the front of the 1st rank to the rear of the last rank).  That is 15 inches x 17 inches for those still using Imperial Measurements. I think that you will agree that I am perfectly justified in using 6 elements of 25mm figures to add to the epic look of this army.

You will also be able to compare some of the units to their look on Feb 25th when I posted about the work I completed over the Christmas holidays. the elements are now flocked, and the figures themselves have been brushed with a Minwax Wood Stain. We'll now look at this force in its entirety. 

Front Rank
Left to Right, Two Elements of Spear & Two Elements of Blades &; Two Elements of Spear.
Total:  2 AP X 6 Elements = 12 APs

Four Elements of Spear

Two Elements of Blades

Second Rank

 Left to Right, Two Elements of Shooters (Bow) & Six Elements of Hordes & Two Elements of Shooters (Bow)
Total:  (2 AP x 4 Elements) + (1 AP x 6 Elements) = 14 APs

Four Elements of Shooters (Bow)

Some of the Hordes (4 Elements)

View of all Six Horde Elements

Third Rank

Left to Right, Two Elements of Shooters (Crossbow)  & Two Elements of Warbands & Two Elements of Sneakers (Wraiths) & Two Elements of Flyers (Swarms of Giant Bats) & 1 Hero/Aerial Hero (25mm Ral Partha Balrog)
Total: (2 AP x 6 Elements ) + ( 3 AP x 2 Elements (Wraiths)) + (4AP/6AP x 1 (Balrog) Hero/Aerial Hero) =  22 APs (24AP if using Aerial Hero)

Two Elements of Shooters (Cross Bow)

Two Elements of Warbands

Two Elements of Sneakers (Wraiths)

Two Elements of Flyers (Swarms of Giant Bats)

1 Hero/Aerial Hero (25mm Ral Partha Balrog)

Fourth and Final Rank:
Left to Right: 4 Elements of Riders & 3 Elements of Knights & 1 Behemoth & 2 Artillery Elements (25mm Trolls)
Total: (2 AP x 7 Elements) + (4 AP x 1 Element (Behemoth)) + (3 AP x 2 Elements (Artillery)) =  24 AP

Four Elements of Riders

Three Elements of Knights

1 Behemoth  Undead War Mammoth by Grenadier Miniatures

I first blogged about this piece on Feb 27, 2011. I was very happy to have bought a 25mm Undead War Mammoth that could be used as a Behemoth by my 15mm Undead Army by replacing the 25mm crew with 15mm crew figures. The piece is old (I estimate 25+years) and the metal brittle. It did not travel well and despite having its own container. At Christmas it returned from Halifax in a number of pieces with its plastic support stand broken. It has been remounted on a 60mmx 90mm Element as opposed to the 60mm round base it was last on. Using pins and green stuff I have added supported to a repositioned head and the two rear legs. Hopefully it will travel better in this state.

2 Artillery Elements (25mm Trolls)

Undead HOTT: 15mm Black Raven Figures on 60mm Bases

Over the holidays I could travel with one army. I asked my host which one should I bring. Joseph wanted to do a large battle HOTT. I have two 15mm Undead armies; one being mounted on 40 mm frontage bases, and the second on 60 mm frontage.

His plan was to use 4 regular Elements, mounted on a movement tray as one giant element. I had both 40mm and 60 mm figures, so I figured that we'd work something out. I started to base 15mm figures on a 25 mm frontage a few years ago, as I wanted to see what the effect would look like. In total I am able to field three separate 15mm (40mm frontage) Undead armies.

The second army was far from complete and I knew that we'd have at least a week between my arrival and the day before we could do battle. I would use the time to get the rest of my figures painted (16 cavalry and 160 infantry) Most of the figures are by Black Raven. This would provide me with enough figures to field two complete Undead HOTT armies using 60 mm bases. As it turned out, the miniatures never made it to the table. Instead we took part in an all day 6 player game of Twilight Imperium.

15mm Spears

 

 15mm Blades

15mm Bow

The above photos were taken on the work bench in my room at the Lappin's. Before I left Halifax all the figures were painted and the bases were flocked. I have one more step to complete. I have read a lot lately about the army painting system and it has been suggested on some forums that Minwax wood stain would also do the job. I picked up a can of the English Oak water-bases wood stain at Micael's.

 15mm Cavalry

As you can see these figures are in need of a wash or a dip. Due to the width of the Black Raven figures I have never been able to fit 6 on a 60mm base.I hope to try out the wood stain at some point this week. I will then post images of the completed army.

HOTT 15mm Generic Undead Army

Last year when I flew down east (Montreal to Halifax) for my summer vacation I was asked to bring along my 15mm HOTT Undead army. They would see action. It was the first army that I rebased with magnetic bases, but this trip would show that the product used  was not up to the task. Those bases were composites composed of a magnetic bottom layer and a thin cardboard top layer.The heavier miniatures glued to the cardboard, separated from the base when my luggage was handled by the cargo crew. They pulled off the cardboard layer.

 15mm Undead (Old Style Bases) vs Goblins 
Battle over Sacred Site

July 2010 Halifax

I resolved to rebase the army and I managed it in two steps. I placed an order for some figures from Peter Pig and at the same time I ordered pre-cut plastic bases. I already had a supply of Litko self adhesive magnetic bases that I would attach to the plasticard bases. I do not trust the self adhesive tape to hold so I used super glue to insure a solid  fix.

I purchased the beginnings of this army from Irregular Miniatures in the early to mid 1990s.Other figures, mainly characters, were added. Some were 25mm scale but they served a purpose. Additional units were built from the Ral Partha 15mm line of figures produced for the AD&D Battle System. The final group of figures used to build this force are Black Raven Undead units.

Three weeks ago between painting my Nikaian Byzantine DBA army and my Burgundian Ordonnance DBA army I took the time to finish my undead basing project. Last winter I had already taken the time to remove the figures from their old bases and glue them to their new ones. I only had to texture paint and flock the new bases. The end result is my large collection of undead. I am not content to use just the suggested Undead Army list  available in the HOTT rules but have incorporated almost every troop variant available.I am still looking for a suitable undead dragon to add to this army.

1) The Magician General (Three Elements) Majority of figures by Irregular Miniatures. Figure in Red Cloak by Black Raven Miniatures. @ 4AP each

2) Sneakers ( Three Elements) All by Irregular Miniatures @ 3 AP Each

3) Flyers ( Two Elements) by Irregular Miniatures @ 2 AP Each

 

4A) Knights (Skeleton Chariots) One Element Unknown Make @ 2 AP Driver is by Irregular Miniatures

4B) More Knights Ral Partha (Four Elements) ADD Battlesystem Figures @ 2 AP each. Can also be used as Riders

5) Riders Three Elements by ADD Battlesystem Figures and Four Elements by Irregular Miniatures @ 2 AP each.

6) Lurkers ( Three Elements) Irregular Miniatures @ 1 AP each

 

7) Hordes (11 Elements) Mostly Irregular Miniatures some Black Raven Miniatures

 

The Following Troop Types are not on the HOTT Generic Undead Army Lists but I feel that if you read enough stories or watch enough movies, you will find that these troop types are available to certain dark forces.

1) Irregular Miniatures Undead Artillery (Two Elements) @ 3 AP Each. My friend Les, once commented  that these guns are what the Aztecs would have produced if they invented canons.

 

2) Undead Heros or Anti-Heros . Even the Forces of Darkness have their champions. Two Elements @ 4AP Each.

These are two of my favorite figures. Both are 25mm. One was a Ral Partha (or RAFM) Figure sold as an Undead Adventurer. The 2nd is an unknown make but is a Dwarf, who heart has been ripped out. I was referred to as a sick twisted ba***rd for having adding that figure to my army. Needless to say that complement was bestowed upon me by a Dwarf fan.

3) Undead Behemoths (Two Elements) @ 4AP Each. Again these figures were 25mm figures that I felt would fit in nicely with a 15mm Army. The figure on the left is of a Ral Partha (or RAFM) Undead Japanese Ogre. I do not know what the 2nd figure is, nor do I do not know the maker of the figure.

This army is totally separate from the Undead Army I have previously blogged about.  This was the original Force of Darkness, in 15mm. The other army consists of 15mm figures on the 25mm HOTT base widths in order to obtain a massive looking army. The Irregular Miniature Undead figures are the oldest presented here. They are rather crude when compared to either the Ral Partha ADD Battlesystem Line or the Black Raven Figures that are shown, such as the Undead Dwarf Anti-Hero standard bearer.

The Irregular Figures of this age are soft and malleable. Because they are skeletons they break off at the legs very easily. I prefer not to use the Irregular Riders for this reason. Some of the figures are in danger of snapping off the stands, as are a number of the Horde Infantry. The Irregular Miniature standard bearers are extremely robust and I advise people using this army to use them to move the horde elements.

This army can still use more troops but in total I can field 85 AP worth of Undead with the figures above.

The Final Element. 

 The Price of Failure.

Undead HOTT Part II

I went all out last week to finish painting the Black Raven Undead miniatures that I received as a gift at Christmas 2009. Since I already have a fully equipped 15mm HOTT (Hordes of the Things) Undead army my plan was to base these troops on the 25mm element base size in order to achieve a grand view of Undead Hordes.

3 Elements of Undead Hordes

I also wanted to extend  the type of units available to my Undead Army. Optional troops that are not part of the offical Army Lists. Units of Shooters and Warbands which I would use as needed.

2 Elements of Undead Shooters

2 Elements of Undead Warbands

My plan was then to start painting the 5 packages of Black Raven Figures I purchased on Ebay last year. Unfortunately, before I could start I discovered another 6 sticks of figures belonging to this first group of miniatures. I have to finish painting them before I even think of the other figures. I don't think they'll be ready for my Halifax trip.

Undead HOTT

Joseph and I have been emailing with regards of playing a Big Battles HOTT when I am in Halifax this summer. One thing I started work on was the idea of basing 15mm figures on the recommended 25mm DBX Elements.

I wanted to see the illusion of mass figures as well as an opportunity to mount some 25mm figures that would be more impressive when viewed along with some 15mm figures. I offer the following photos as examples of my next undead army.

Photo 1: 15mm Black Raven Knights and Cav.

I could only mount 5 Figures per 60mm x 40mm Base.

Photo 2: 25mm Pal Partha Fire Elemental

I thought this figure makes a cool God when

compared to 15mm figures.