Oldhammer – The Hunt – 2021 status
While consolidating and taking stock, I made the decision that I wanted to keep the scope of my collection to the mid to late 90s Games Workshop miniatures. I narrowed it down to certain projects and evaluated, which to complete or sell off.
The original idea was to write about "the hunt" for Old- and Middlehammer, which I started in 2019 with a brief introduction on how to start your project and to scope it. The ongoing process of sourcing your stock / the needed miniatures was covered in two more articles, one rather generic with basic information and another focused on the Imperial Guard. From there I went on and covered the progress, introducing the individual units, with detailed information on design, alteration, prices and so on - for example with Chaos Space Marines. And all that went more or less well until early 2020.
It is not that I lost interest on continuing the series or stopped the projects. It is primarily due to the fact, that the circumstances have changed so much, that it is rather difficult to write about something, like price values or suggestion, that aren't reliable or useful at the moment up until the unforeseen future. And it is not a single incident, more a rather unlucky combination of multiple things, that lay heavy on our small niché hobby.
The missing piece – Imperial Fists Captain
Finally! I was able to get my hands on one of the miniatures that I've been searching for, for such a long time - the Imperial Fist Captain (the cloak backpack is simply an addition by me).
Sisters of Battle – Order of the Sacred Rose
The Sisters of Battle have come together, and I store my projects while gathering them in these sorting boxes. But this isn't a good overview, so while sorting out and taking stock, I decided to set up sheets for my projects that I can manage in photoshop and see which units go together, even after a break or being distracted by some shiny new stuff.
Warhammer 40.000 – Sisters of Battle assemble
How did the filling of the gaps go? Not bad, patience and a broad network really paid out with this one.
I was able to buy two SoBs with heavy weapons from one seller, an unbuild immolator (whoop-whoop!) and priest from another one and Martin / Zigor, a good friend of mine from the Tabletop Rhein Main (you might remember my coverage of their convention - The Multiversum) made me an offer I couldn’t refuse on a bulk lot of SoBs.
Warhammer 40.000 – Going for the Sisters of Battle
There's new about the Sisters of Battle! Because only a few days after I found my sisters I saw a lot offered in one of the boards, that would supply me with most of the things from my wishlist and even some more blisters. That could come in handy for trades, but would mean additional work as well. We managed to agree on a trade, which wouldn’t drain my monthly hobby budget and even reduce the stock (or at least wouldn’t just let my lead pile grow).
Only problem, the Immolator is too new and I was missing some of the heavy and special weapons. So to get a proper overview, I went on SoLegends and consultated the codex, to see which models and units were available and what I might be missing.
Oldhammer Khorne Berzerker
We have the undivided squads set with Chaos Terminators and regular Chaos Space Marines. Let's take a look at some Chaos Space Marines with a dedicated mark of a chaos god. And of course that has to be the mark of the most powerful of them all - KHORNE!
There are multiple ways to do so, you could give the mark to regular CSM, choose a chapter devoted to the Blood God or go full in, with the renegades of the World Eaters. Back then, they were not yet Khorne Berzerkers, but "regular" very frenzy CSM of the XII legion.
These Worldeaters (sic) got a mono-pose plastic kit, and depending on which year we're looking at different metal miniatures.
Oldhammer Chaos Space Marine Squads
To add more core troops to the project, I decided to go get two squads of Chaos Space Marines to support the CSM Terminators. When they were released in 1996 (a bit later 1997 in Germany), the regular "goons" of the Chaos Space Marines were available as metal and plastic kit, at the same time.
Oldhammer Space Marine Rhino Part 1
A Rhino is probably one of the, if not the, most sold vehicle kits from the Warhammer range. It has been around far before the 2nd edition of Warhammer 40k and as the kit lending its chassis to a couple of further Space Marine vehicles quite numerous.
When I got to know the kit in the late mid 90s, it came in a compact blue box, containing the four sprues and four decal sheets, that gave you the basic rhino. Of course, the cover showed the armoured personnel carrier in the colours of the Ultramarines. The posterboys of the Imperial Space Marines.
But of course, there were more Space Marine chapters than just the Sons of Macragge back then. A lot more. And thus the box showed the Rhino in service of the Blood Angels and Space Wolves as well, including minor variants you could build from the kit.
Oldhammer Chaos Space Marine Terminators
Back in July 1996 in the English speaking market the Codex Chaos was released, and with it the poster-boy of Chaos, Abaddon the Despoiler. A bit later, in february 1997 in Germany.
The release was followed by the Chaos Terminators in blisters and a boxed set of 5 in August 1996, followed by the special weapon blisters a month later and the champion in october. For Germany that all came postponed, in march and april 1997. If you want to look up these novelties in the White Dwarf, that would be the german issues #14 to 16 or UK/OZ issue #199 to 201. The English magazine is much thicker and covers additional content.