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Hey all

I have an unfinished late 1990s metal Bloodthirster model that I purchased 2nd hand some time around 2008ish, think I bought off a guy on Warseer. I know it's old. I know there's a much better plastic one available.

However as I already have the model I'd like to finish it rather than shell out £50-£60+ (depending on ebayer/discount retailer) on the plastic one, I'm cheap like that...

Call it a "bucket list" thing, something to tick off, "have painted a Bloodthirster", if you will.

I started painting it just after buying it using Citadel chaos black as an undercoat and I believe Citadel Foundation Mechrite Red as the main skin colour, I may have also used a purple as a first shading layer under or over the Mechrite Red, I even pinned the wings on so that they are removable (I think I added magnets also to aid in that, don't have the model to hand whilst typing this though).

I'd like to strip it back and start again, so I'm assuming a bath in IPA would work at stripping the paint?

My main reason for this post however is I'm also looking for a painting tutorial and or some really good hi res photos at various angles of the original model as painted by GW. I've already seen the Warhammer TV tutorial for the plastic one so I'll be taking tips from there.

I am however wondering if there was an official GW article re. the metal Bloodthirster in White Dwarf (if so what issue was it in?) or if any one in the community ever did a tutorial for this model (and if it's still available?)?

Also can anyone recommend a good base size, the 120x92mm the current plastic comes with would be too big, but I think a 40mm round one (it originally came on a 40mm square base) would be too small, so I'm guessing 60mm would be a good size?

Thanks in advance.

I did this a few years ago:

(click to go to the gallery and zoom in)

I'm not claiming to be suitable as a paintjob reference, but at least the base size might help. I put him on a 60mm round base, just like dreads and deamon princes use.

Thanks , that's actually very helpful. Nice models. I thought 60mm was about right.


Edited, some hours later...

Ok so I've done a lot of digging around White Dwarf magazine PDF's available online and I found the exact issue where the late 90s metal Bloodthirster model was released. It was White Dwarf 219, March of 1998. Prior to that they had been selling us this metal model, or one very similar to it, the one in this link might have had some work done to it.

The "new for 1998" model had a grand total of 1 page as a "ta da, here's the new model", besides a photo earlier in the issue. And that's it. I've looked at WD after then for at least a year and it's as though the model barely existed!?! Don't think they ever used it in a batrep and never did a "how to paint" article that I can find.

Mind you that was around the time when White Dwarf seemed to be transitioning from an entertaining and helpful magazine to a purely advertising magazine.

So no help from GW of the time on how to paint that precise model.

In hindsight, having considered this a bit more, I think I'll save my spare £ for a few months and get the new plastic Bloodthirster model and chuck the old metal one. Far more reference material for painting the current plastic one than I imagine there ever was for the old metal one. And I might have finished some of my other 100+ models that need painting in the meantime...

This is the page if anyone is interested though -

The the plastic kit is great!
I have painted a bunch of them for friends - for bloodthirsters and one Skarbrand to be precise.

I'd advise to use special caution with the tiny bit of plastic flame that is supposed to support the whole model. Due to the leverage and weight the model has, it is vunlerable to fatigue and breaking. I fixed this by drilling though it from below the base, exiting through the break and then further into the hoof. I used a brass rod to reinforce it, but a nail will do just as well.

Regarding the metal bloodthirster, I advise to just assemble and paint him considering him a deamon prince of khorne. The model works well for that.

If you are looking for a painting recipe, any Khorne YouTube video (with or without Airbrush depending on your workflow) should do the trick. Just pick out the flesh, horn/claws and bronze armour.and apply to your model.

Going by that picture, the model originally came on a 50mm square base. I put mine on a “60mm” round dreadnought base and it looks fine.

As for painting guides, anything that applies to the new one will apply to that one.