Skaven Hell Pit Abomination Released!

*Squeek!*

Yesses, the Skaven Second Wave of new models goes on sales today, Saturday 15th of Jan, 2011! If you haven't already seen them, I put up some photos when the models were announced, as well as a poll (Thanks to all who voted...) Since I haven't done so officially already, here are the results:

1. Hell Pit Abomination: 27%
2. Ikit Claw: 25%
3. Warp Lightning Cannon/ Plagueclaw Catapult: 14%
4. Doom-Flayer Weapon Team and Warp-Grinder Weapon Team (Tie): 11%
5. Tretch Craventail: 9%

So there you have it, the HPA wins by a (twitching) nose! 

...and as luck would have it, I have one! Please see below for an unboxing and some sprue photos...

Inside the box are a couple of large sprues, and extensive instruction leaflet ("Remember to always cut away from your fingers") and a large base. 

Having taken a few photos, I have a couple of initial reactions.

Firstly, from the instructions and box shots (as well as the photos at Games Workshop) you can see that there a number of options for the jaw, arms and heads. There appear to be eight different heads, of which it looks as though four are freely interchangeable. At first glance, I would agree with some comments on the web that the model doesn't seem to lend itself to modification very much outside of the options I mentioned above. Now, that might seem crazy, because of course having a choice of body parts at all is great, but the potential problem may be the overall body and limb positions don't leave a lot of options to make easy changes due to the moulding. The cool thing about any miniatures painting and assembly is making adjustments to each model. With small models that is pretty easy to do. In this case, I am sure that we will see some very cool conversions soon, but I think that these will probably be done by experienced modelers (i.e. Not me...) at least if significant changes are to be made.  If these are even half-way as good as some of the amazing HPA models that were made before this was released then we are in for a real treat. I'm really looking forward to making this model, but as a beginner, I'm pretty nervous about how well I'll be able to paint it due to those vast areas of skin and flesh.

(I can see myself trying to remove the terrain piece from the front hand and replacing it with some hapless enemy model. That way it looks as though the HPA has someone in it's claws and is about to burst their skull like a grape - hahahaha!) 

Secondly, when I saw the pre-release photos from Games Workshop I have to admit that I couldn't see the connection with the Blindwyrm, the dreaded creature that a Hell Pit abomination is supposed to be in part created from. I guess that I was expecting something more..."wormy"?

That is still the case.

While the model does have worm-like qualities these seem to be given mainly by the paint-job used. A very pale colour or white creates the image of something that has lived out of the light, just like a worm in fact. What detracts from this however in this case is the number of limbs and the rat ogre parts - and I guess the size of the limbs. I know the HPA is made by combining rat ogre parts (and others) with the blindwyrm but I guess it is different to my expectations. Having said that, this is going to be a really great addition to my army - but I still want the awesome Scar-Skath model from Maelstrom too (use him as a Vermin Lord...)

Returning to the poll for a minute I was really, REALLY surprised and disappointed to see that so few people liked the Tretch Craventail model. I think it is a fantastic sculpt because it is really different from most other models. The way Tretch is perched on the terrain looks really natural and fits in with his backstory really well too. As I have said before this allows Tretch to have his tail extended - something we don't usually see in other Skaven models (so they can be more easily ranked up probably.) With Tretch on the terrain piece, it almost looks as though it is a "Unit Filler" piece. Points also from me for adding the little rat at the bottom. It is the little details that add a touch of class to a model IMHO. LONG LIVE TRETCH!

...definitely going to pick one of those up!

Anyone got any of the other new release models yet? What are they like?

*Squeek*

NEW Skaven Tretch Craventail, Warp Grinder Weapon Team and Heraldry Book!

*Squeek*

Yesterday, I posted about the NEW Hell Pit Abomination, Plagueclaw Catapult/ Warp Lightning Cannon, Ikit Claw and Battle Magic: Skaven sets now available for pre-order at GW. (You can find that post here.) THAT post took quite a while to put together, and NOW, as if that wasn't enough, I notice more new models to add to my horde...
...Tretch Craventail
...a Warp-Grinder Weapon Team
...and a book - "Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven."

Some thoughts, information and photos below (with a full list of links at the end.)

Tretch Craventail

Copyright Games Workshop.
Please visit http://www.games-workshop.com/

Like like? Well, it is great to have a good Tretch Craventail model! Tretch is another one of those Skaven Lords with a good back-story and a great character to have on your army. Although (as regular readers know) I can make no claim to having lots of tabletop experience I am sure that the "Tretch's Raiders" rule that he brings to the battle would be useful: re-roll failed To Hit rolls when attacking from the flank or rear of the enemy unit? Yes please!

No-like? I'm personally undecided as to whether I like models that stick up from raised bases. (Warlord Queek Headtaker is another example.)
I think the reasons for doing it are good:
- the character rises above the rest of his unit
- it provides a really nice focal point in a horde army for the cool characters
- it allows for much more interesting sculpting (I'd assume - I've never sculpted anything!). Notice in this case the way the tail is unfurled (very rare in the Skaven models I think), and also the very nice feeling of weight that comes from having the flail fully extended. (Queek Headtaker's backbanner is another example of the freedom I suppose this brings.)

Somehow though I think I personally prefer a model that fits onto a regular base rather than have a larger piece that brings it's own chunk of masonry, but that is just me! Do I think this will stop me purchasing? Not a chance...

This model is listed as being available from Jan 15th 2011.

Warp-Grinder Weapon Team

Copyright Games Workshop.
Please visit http://www.games-workshop.com/

As a model, I like the look of this. Others on the web have commented on the mixed quality of the weapon teams in the Island of Blood set. The Poisoned Wind Mortar in particular has not been very popular in some warrens as it doesn't look very "Skavenish" - the smooth barrel of the launcher tube and lack of "bits" being one potential cause of this gnashing of (long, yellowed) incisors. In contrast however, I think this model is better detailed. I like the drill bit, wires and dynamo/ power unit held by the rear operator (who I BET wants to change places with the Grinder operator.)

On the tabletop, I had never really thought about having a Warp-Grinder team in my horde until now. I guess I have been too busy just trying to finish the basic models that I have! On seeing this model however, I give it more consideration. Giving my opponent some heartburn about a unit appearing in his backline and perhaps forcing him to keep a unit back to deal with that perceived threat would be worth the cost...
...if any reader has had any success with Warp-Grinder teams please let me know!

This model is available from Jan 15th 2011.


"Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven"

Copyright Games Workshop.
Please visit http://www.games-workshop.com/

Copyright Games Workshop.
Please visit http://www.games-workshop.com/

This is a 72 page hardback book with detail on the major clans and their uniforms. This is a new addition to the " Uniforms and Heraldry" series which currently consists of "Uniforms and Heraldry of the Empire".

Oddly enough, I am quite excited about this as I love these kinds of "reference" books. This interest was prompted by the childhood discovery on my dad's bookshelf of a few titles in the Osprey "Men at Arms" Series for some units of the ancient world. These fascinated me for hours and hours with their background to the military unit in question (maps, commentary) and the beautiful illustrations of the uniforms and weapons of the army featured. They also (I think) had background on the weapons used, including photos of real ancient weapons from collections or recovered from archaeological digs etc.
(If you have any historical military units and you don't know this series definitely go and check it out!)

All the images above are from Games Workshop. For more information, detailed unit descriptions and more photos, please visit the pages below:

Tretch Craventail
Skaven Warp-Grinder Weapon Team
Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven
GW Skaven Advance Order Blog Post ("What's New", Wednesday 29th December)

I was exhausted from my scribblings on yesterday's long post - the energy this post has taken means I can already feel myself spiraling towards a bout of the Black Hunger!

*Squeek*