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Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

I hope this is the correct place for this topic.

I was recently doing some digging in the basement, through a box of old bits. And wonder of wonders, what should I find but my first warhammer miniatures that I ever made, my Catachans:



I know, of course that there are many here who probably don't see these guys as old, since they are plastic and still made, but bear with me.

I had no idea what I was doing with these guys, as should be clear. They're a mess!

But looking at them brought back some fond memories, and gave me a new idea which I'm still tossing around in my head. It's an odd idea, but it's more or less to get together some Catachans and some bearded replacement heads, and to make an army of friendly beefcakes.

I said it was odd!

So, I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences in rediscovering or looking over your first, or just some of your oldest miniatures. Did they inspire you? Horrify you? Make you nostalgic? And so on!
   
Made in us
Humming Great Unclean One of Nurgle





In My Lab

I don't have any pictures of George. But I have fond memories, and still own him.

He's a Daemon Prince of Chaos. His paintjob is awful, but honestly, I don't think I could do better now. I'm just not a good painter.
But I did a real good job, for my skills, on the modeling itself. I couldn't decide between the three heads, so I just added them all! I later added a third arm, before any painting, just to make him nice and triplicate.

I also distinctly recall how he got his name.

"So, what do you think I should call my Daemon Prince?"
"George."
"I'm not calling George that... Goddammit."

Clocks for the clockmaker! Cogs for the cog throne! 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




NE Ohio, USA

Well, my first/oldest minis would be stuff for D&D from the early/mid '80s.
A handful of character types, a bunch of monsters from Ral Partha & Grenadier. A few from early GW. And a couple of Grenadier dragons.
I've still got some of them in a box somewhere. Except the Orcs Goblins - those were absorbed into my O&G WHFB army decades ago.

Very few of the characters ever got painted. Most not even primed. The standout paint wise? A poor soldier of Gondor (I've always assumed that's what he is due to the tree on his shield) - he's poorly painted in Testors Model Master gloss black, gloss white, some silver & a flesh color. And a bit chipped up after decades in various boxes, dice bags etc. I used him as my default fighter type mini all through the '80s.
I know he's still around. Maybe if I come across him I'll finally give him a proper paint job.

The monsters? Also pretty poorly painted. Except for those surviving Orcs & Goblins - those got nicely repainted last spring/summer as I sat about during pandemic lockdown. It started with needing a few goblins painted up for our D&D game. So I pulled out the storage tub & selected a few goblins.... After that, not having much else to do, I just kept painting goblins (and the few misc. Orcs) until the tub was empty & I had 3k+ pts worth of painted army.


My earliest surviving paint jobs, though poor, don't horrify me or anything. They are what they are; the beginning steps taken when I was around 12 or so.



   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York



Some of my first work. Old selection of Ral Partha and Grenedier lead. None of those new-fangled safe alloys. Paints were an old RP intro set, with a lot of mixing to get the correct shade. The elementals were my first foray into washes and drybrushing.

First GW minis would have been one of this guy’s brothers. Exactly which one is lost in time.


I’ve come a long way since then. Looking back there is a lot of nostalgia. I’m not going to claim anything I did back in those days is “good” but some things have held up OKish. I was young, using crappy supplies, with next to no tutorials or peers to advise me. Not totally self taught, but pictures on the internet were ASCII art. No googleing tutorials and getting brushes from Amazon. Just hoping the local “hobby” store could get the red paint back in stock.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/12/06 21:58:44


   
Made in ca
Pustulating Plague Priest






Tactical squad Nethro has been through some changes over the years. They were originally Ultramarines, since I wasn’t aware of any other chapters at the time. When I learned people could make their own chapters, I re-painted them into the Space Clowns (I kid you not) with bright pastel colours. They were later repainted again into Salamanders. As much as it breaks canon, I like to think that the repaints were part of the squad’s in-universe history. Maybe the administratum borked a few numbers, and these blokes from Nocturne got shipped off to the Ultras. Later, they contracted some kind of harlequin virus before they recovered and got sent back to the Salamanders.

The repaints led to this this cool effect where their armor became a much darker shade of green than my other Salamanders. Compared to the other units, they looked the most “well-worn.” They were the last ones standing in most fights, yet semeed to always be the first to draw blood.

After finishing my first conversion (a daemon prince with four arms), I made another version of the sergeant. This hypothetical sergeant was meant to be kind of a mix between a captain and a chaplain, on a penitent crusade after the earlier mentioned daemon prince devoured the souls of the sergeant’s squadmates. There was supposed to be a narrative campaign sometime after that with a rivalry between the converted daemon prince and sergeant, but I fell off the 40k wagon shortly after. Would be keen to pick up on it sometime though.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2021/12/06 23:30:51


Faithful... Enlightened... Ambitious... Brethren... WE NEED A NEW DRIVER! THIS ONE IS DEAD!  
   
Made in fi
Locked in the Tower of Amareo





Alas don't even have pre-2010 models left I think. Have sold models enough. Especially as that was time I was more for FB which...well kind of died. 40k started to get more into later and atm my 2 armies for it are 2019 or later. And AOS is about same age or later.

2024 painted/bought: 109/109 
   
Made in gb
Preparing the Invasion of Terra






All of my Black Reach Marines and Orks have either been sold or destroyed and binned. I do however still have the first 3 Traitor Guardsmen I made when I first started Guard in my current Militia/Guard army.
   
Made in us
Blackclad Wayfarer





Philadelphia

My Battle for Macragge starter kit marines! I think I was 14-15

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/12/07 12:47:48


   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

I've actually recently stripped and repainted a squad of my first miniatures, 2e starter set marines, I would have been about 12 when I painted these:

   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York

With the way GW mines the old stuff for nostalgia, I wonder how long until we get a primaris in a I <3 my bolter 2nd ed pose?

   
Made in us
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer





Mississippi

My first minis were for D&D, back when I was 9-10 (1979/80). I don’t have those, but the oldest I do have is a knight from Battlesystem (in storage, where I can’t get to him at the moment) painted with Testor’s enamel paints - and their crusty “Einstein” quality brush. It looks like a silver blob with a red patch.

A couple years back, I went back to my RT era marines and did some work on them - highlights, shading and touch-ups. I’m fairly impressed with them - hand-painted numbers and pencil-thin lines for battle stripes; stuff I can’t even replicate these days.

It never ends well 
   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York

Heh.

I’ve got better brushes and paints, lights and magnifiers. But my eyes suck and my hands shake. There was probably some ideal peak time where I had decent tools but wasn’t a broken wreck. But maybe not.

I remember timing painting eyes to the beat of my heart. My pulse was the most disruptive thing to my painting. At the time, I was using twisted little bits of paper towels as one-shot brushes for eyes, as no brush I had could hold a point worth a crap.

Good times.

   
Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

These are all amazing stories. And amazing old miniatures!

I've got those Macragge marines somewhere too. Sadly I was never enough of a marine player to have the metal ones.

I keep too much around, sometimes I think I really should toss some things like a few of the worst of these Catachans. But then, would I think of them years later and regret it?
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




NE Ohio, USA

 Nevelon wrote:
Heh.

I’ve got better brushes and paints, lights and magnifiers. But my eyes suck and my hands shake. There was probably some ideal peak time where I had decent tools but wasn’t a broken wreck. But maybe not.


I hear you. While not a broke wreck (yet), my eyes have gotten a bit worse in recent years. And shaking hands run in my family starting in our late 50s. And I'm in my early 50's....
So I'm on a slight clock to get a bunch of unpainted stuff finished up.
   
Made in ca
Enigmatic Chaos Sorcerer





British Columbia

This is probably the oldest paintjob amongst my collection. From when I started Chaos in 6th WHFB
Spoiler:


My initial purchase in the hobby was buying into High Elves in 5th. The heroes from that purchase are still in service today. Though Imrik was painted in 7th and Teclis last year in these pics.
Spoiler:


Spoiler:


 BlaxicanX wrote:
A young business man named Tom Kirby, who was a pupil of mine until he turned greedy, helped the capitalists hunt down and destroy the wargamers. He betrayed and murdered Games Workshop.


 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

A GW human Billman around the time of 3rd Edition, back when they were Citadel.

I still use it for D&D.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/12/08 16:22:07


Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

 Eldarain wrote:
This is probably the oldest paintjob amongst my collection. From when I started Chaos in 6th WHFB
Spoiler:


My initial purchase in the hobby was buying into High Elves in 5th. The heroes from that purchase are still in service today. Though Imrik was painted in 7th and Teclis last year in these pics.
Spoiler:


Spoiler:



Those elves hold up really well! I remember seeing the old dragon models in stores and being far too intimidated to even think about trying them. I struggled with smaller metal figures.
   
Made in us
Brigadier General






Chicago

 Da Boss wrote:
I've actually recently stripped and repainted a squad of my first miniatures, 2e starter set marines, I would have been about 12 when I painted these:

Those were some of my first minis too and I painted mine very similarly. I have at least 1500 points of them, maybe more. Mine are just a bit cleaner with no visible white such that I've been thinking about how I might dip and dry brush them starting from the paint they already have.

A couple years ago I had the joy of repainting and expanding what was either the first or second set of figures I purchased.
https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2014/10/new-paint-for-old-friends-necromunda/
Don't have pictures of the originals but I'm rather happy with them now.



Chicago Skirmish Wargames club. Join us for some friendly, casual gaming in the Windy City.
http://chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/


My Project Log, mostly revolving around custom "Toybashed" terrain.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/651712.page

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad!
https://chicagovalleyrailroad.blogspot.com 
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

Yeah, the visible white was really annoying to me as a kid, but I hadn't developed the fine motor control to fix it properly. I was also impatient with the very first bunch for the undercoat to dry (it was hand painted on) so they came out kinda pink!

I've been stripping and repainting stuff from my first army and my brother's (with his permission!). It's been really rewarding to do. I'm keeping some of the old minis to remember, but it's nice to get them back on the table looking good.

   
Made in us
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






Don't really have my first first minis any more. Those were figures from a board game called Legend of Zagor. They were painted with enamels and/or pens from a Matchbox cars line called Graffic Traffic ('member that?). First 40k ones are long gone sadly, though there is one who somehow survived and I found him in my bits box- so now he has pride of place on top of my cabinet amongst all more recent work to show how far I've come.

Here's an old pic of him.
Spoiler:


Typical 40k starter paint set Marine there. He's an Ultramarine, just like the box with a Dark Angel's Green base, as that was the green that came in the paint set. As you can also see I clearly took my own advice to new painters in the past of not trying run before you can walk as the spiffy freehanded UM Chapter symbol attests.


Games Workshop Delenda Est.

Users on ignore- 53.

If you break apart my or anyone else's posts line by line I will not read them. 
   
Made in gb
Basecoated Black





England

Not rediscovering old miniatures but more old photo of old miniatures. Sure Heroquest was my intro but they are all painted up nicely now. meanwhile Space Crusade has not had the same attention. So in a tin biscuit box somewhere there are these four:



I'm honestly still waiting for a proper tutorial/recipe to do gold orks with black teeth



   
Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

He's perfect, Grimtuff!

Shuma, I'd have never thought of orks with multi-color teeth.

Frankly, it's something the world needs more of.
   
Made in gb
Basecoated Black





England

 krijthebold wrote:
He's perfect, Grimtuff!

Shuma, I'd have never thought of orks with multi-color teeth.

Frankly, it's something the world needs more of.


You never know I may try to paint these orks again at some point, and even attempt to do a decent version of my 9-10 year old self's ideas of ork skin and teeth colour picks

   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut




My first was a classic space marine holding his bolter like a guitar from the box set with them and orks/gretchen. I literally dunked it in the ultramarine blue and then put the thickest possible yellow on for the shoulder trim. Piece of art

Sadly, all my childhood warhammer got sold by my mum when I was away at uni. At the time, I was quite pleased to hear I was getting £150 for that plastic and metal stuff back home that I didn't think I'd ever want again, but looking back it would probably have been worth at least a couple of thousand now (and was probably worth at least £500 at the time, my mum is not a savvy negotiator of warhammer it's safe to say)
   
Made in pl
Horrific Hive Tyrant





Few months ago I did rediscover one of my first minis on some facebook posts (the painjob was not changed, and I can recognize my horrible style everywhere ). It belong to my Warzone 1st edition army that I had sold about 20 years ago. Nice nostalgia feeling there
   
Made in gb
Shas'la with Pulse Carbine






Used my pocket money for this guy some 20-25 years ago:

He's been repainted at least once, but I plan to do it again now that my painting has improved

My hobby ADHD, mostly Necromunda, with a splash of regular 40k... 
   
Made in ca
Skink Chief with Poisoned Javelins




Michigan

He's great, a real classic style vampire.
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





Surrey, BC - Canada

No chance on my part. The original Ral Partha figures I painted first are long gone.

CB

   
Made in pt
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

Cool thread.

The first miniature that I ever purchased was the Ral Partha Balrog in fantabulous lead, unpainted example with description here:
http://jalextertoys.ecrater.com/p/3736779/ral-partha-classic-version-one

I still have it, painted black using enamels and yes, it did take me a few years to recognise the anatomical endowments that had escaped my pre-pubescent eye at time of purchase from the old Clearview hobby shop in Clearview, Ohio, long since shuttered I expect...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/02/03 17:42:01


   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





I recently found my first one in a bits box. An ultramarine I painted. Does anyone else remember their first looking like a piece of art, and you look now and go "what the hell was i doing?!"



 
   
 
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