We're going to need more skulls...: September 2017

If you look back through my posts, you'll see I am a big fan of Bloodthirsters. I have completed six so far, and have two more on the way. I'll make a post to showcase them all together once the last two are completed. You'll notice that there are many conversions and alternative models in the group. Xanakionahr is a an alternative model, from Ultraforge Miniatures, and I stumbled across the model almost by accident. It's difficult to find alternate miniatures sometimes, because clearly the manufacturers can't use GW's IP to advertise their products. So it takes some research to know which models are available to you as alternative miniatures. Therefore I thought I'd make a post that brings together all the models that I know are available as alternative bloodthirsters. Some might be intended for use in another game system, but if it looks like a passable bloodthirster, I have included it. If you know of any more, please leave a comment and, if they're suitable, I will add them to the post.

First, let's remind ourselves of the GW models:

Here we see the classic Bloodthirster with its two head variants and the modern one with multiple different looks and three weapon loadouts. Both are great models in their own ways and look fantastic on the tabletop. I have both models, and in fact have two of the new one, so I am by no means a critic of these models. I just think it's great to have some choice when it comes to centrepiece models, and I want to have eight bloodthirsters, which is difficult if there are only five different variations of GW bloodthirster, in a grand total of two poses!

Oh, and there's this beast from Forge World:

It's one of the greatest Warhammer models ever made, and if you're into Khorne, you've probably coveted this model at some point. At £155 however, it's not cheap, and you might wonder what alternatives there are to represent your mighty daemon.

So let's see what else there is:

Ultraforge Greater Wardemon

The Ultraforge Greater Wardemon is a fantastic model. It has most of the classic Bloodthirster features - classic demonic visage, cloven hooves, leathery wings and armour plates. There is a visual difference between this and the GW Bloodthirster, and that is the size of the body. This one is much more muscular and chunky. The GW one has a smaller body, but the wings of the two are faily similar, so the wings on this look a bit odd next to the GW one. It's a minor difference, and only noticeable if you put them side by side. I have one of these, and it's a large and solid chunk of resin. It's also relatively easy to build. The only difficulty was getting the left hand to sit on the rock whilst simultaneously fitting the shoulder into its socket. I personally didn't like the sword, as it's a pitted and Nurglesque item. I swapped it on my model, Xanakionahr, for an axe from the GW thirster kit. Ultraforge is a small Canadian company, but the model is available from a seller on ebay for £65, which is a comparable price to the GW model, and the overall height of the models is similar.

Krull, Servile Lord of Dis

Wow. This model is fantastic. Just look at it! I saw it in a battle report on youtube and immediately wanted it. It's big, intimidating and super cool! The model has most of the hallmarks of a bloodthirster - leathery wings, edged armour and cloven hooves. It doesn't have a real Khornate face; instead it looks a little like the aliens in the film Pitch Black, which really works, but perhaps not as a bloodthirster. That said, it's a minor drawback for what is otherwise a very bloodthirstery model. It even has an axe and a sort of stabby weapon which seem entirely appopriate. Bloodthirsters of different ranks are equipped with different weapons, and given that only three ranks are actually described in the fluff, who knows with what other bloodthirsters are equipped? There are approximately 16,777,216 bloodthirsters somewhere in the galaxy (according to the Khorne Daemonkin Codex), and so there is a lot of scope for creating unique characters within that, and why not equip them with some more unusual weapons? Although the descriptions of the thirsters in this codex imply that the thirsters are only equipped in one way, according to their rank, I think it's reasonable to think that these ambitious creatures might seek out ancient relics and artefacts to fight with, or steal weapons from their slain foes.

Size comparison:

It's as big as Anggrath!

I haven't built the model, so can't comment on that, but I can tell you that it is available from http://mierce-miniatures.com for £132.99. It's twice as expensive as the Ultraforge model, but it is bigger and I think it's a lot more dramatic.

Creature Caster Warrior Demon

The model looks very Khornate, but it doesn't have armour or cloven hooves. The wings are huge, the face is aggressive, and the weapon (an axe) is suitable for a bloodthirster. The pose is fantastic too - it's dynamic and it looks good from all angles. The model is 16cm tall with a 16cm wingspan. This doesn't appear to be available in the UK, but it's on the Creature Caster's US site (http://www.creaturecaster.com/products/warriordemon) for USD79. I'm very tempted to get this model!

GW Balrog

The Balrog. The Balrog is a great model. Some say that the concept of the Bloodthirster is based on the description of the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings, so it's not surprising that the Balrog model looks fairly Bloodthirster-esque. My version, Kraadax, has a head swap and an axe from the thirster kit, which I think makes it look like a convincing thirster. Now that it has a whip and an axe, it makes a great Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury. The model has a tail, which is not a thirster feature, so you might want to dock the tail if you want more realism. The model has no armour either, so I added a couple of pieces from the thirster kit. You get a lot of extra bits in the thirster kit, so if you get a Balrog and a thirster kit, you can easily make two great Bloodthirsters. The model is shorter than a standard thirster, but the wingspan is huge and gives it an intimidating presence that belies its actual size. The kit is £37.50 from GW, which makes it one of the cheaper (albeit smaller) alternative thirsters out there.

So, there you have it. A range of models from which to choose your Bloodthirster(s). Have fun choosing and creating your model to represent one of the greatest bringers of death in the galaxy!

Today, I post something a little different! A good friend of mine, Martin Wrona, has done something that I've always found an interesting niche in the miniature wargaming scene - he has recreated a piece of artwork from the 40k background. The image in question is of Gorfan, a member of Lord Zhufor's World Eater warband, The Skulltakers. He is a Champion of Chaos and was the leader of Zhufor's bodyguard at the Siege of Vraks.

The original image appears in the Imperial Armour book, The Siege of Vraks III. Martin is a skilled and inventive modeller, and I hope to feature more of his models in my blog in future. You can see his keen eye for detail in this miniature.

The model makes use of parts from Chaos terminators, the FW Terminator upgrade set and the face is from the Chaos Terminator Sorcerer Lord. The chainsword bayonet is from the Eldar Guardian kit.

The details are all there - the trophy rack, the icon on the shoulder pad, the skulls on the chest and the ammo feed on the bolter. Even the pose is spot on. The model, by Martin's own admission, is not quite finished in terms of the paintjob, but it looks fabulous already. Gorfan will be a welcome addition to Martin's Skulltakers force.