Grenadier Fantasy Lords 500 series 528 Mounted Grim Reaper
The sun is shining, which means that I get to spray the
varnish on the latest nugget extracted from the Lead Mountain
- a rather odd but rather well sculpted piece from Grenadier. The figure comes
in two parts – the rider and horse are one piece, whilst the hands and scythe
are another, more flimsy piece, secured in place with superglue. Once primed,
it was actually a very simple piece to paint; a base coat of matt black, dark
gray dry brushing for the cloak and the horse, then white to pick out the bones
for the Reaper, with deep red leather for the barding. Simples!
I like the sculpt – it’s a dramatic pose, and it painted up
nicely – but I’m not sure it will get much table top time, or even who it was
aimed at. It’s not a standout figure IMHO, so I don’t think it would serve as
the centre piece of an Undead army – and opportunities for the appearance of
the Grim Reaper on horseback in D&D sessions are frankly limited. In addition, it sits somewhat uneasily with a lot of other Grenadier figures - as it is mid-period Grenadier, it is more finely detailed than the early ones, and smaller than the later ones. These are
probably the reasons why it didn’t sell that well, and why it appears to be a
fairly rare piece – I’ve never seen another one, other than the versions
still in blister packs on Lost Minis.
Sweet figure, one I'd not seen before. Nice job painting ita, as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind comments! It was a pleasure to paint.
DeleteAh, now this is one of my favorite Grenadier. Is it still a a John Denneth sculpt ? Just saw you uploaded it on Lost Mini. Well i like the black color you did. Mine is still waiting with its Black& White primer for ever it seems :-) Don't remember where and when I bought it but it dates back from the 90s and i don't see it very often popping on the evil Bay. One of these days Mirliton might reprint it, tho ?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I am not sure who the sculptor is - it *looks* like a John Dennett, but I can't be absolutely sure. Mine came as part of a job lot (as do most of my figures!). Fingers crossed that Mirliton still have the moulds for it - its a well detailed sculpt.
DeleteI like this figure and your rendition of it quite a bit! It's one I hadn't noticed before and one I'd like to have a copy of some day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comments! It is a bit of a rare figure from what I can make out, but well worth searching out. Fingers crossed Mirliton still have the moulds for it...
ReplyDeleteI like him, he's very much suited to a diorama methinks.....
ReplyDeleteOne of the best of the Grenadier miniatures and always in collectors top 10 lists. The fact that the Reaper is just slightly leaning to the left gives him that true horror effect. You just can feel the beheading coming to some poor unsuspecting fool. I have one on the blister card.
ReplyDelete