JoeK Minis has just announced a major overhaul to their website and the acquisition of Steve Buddle’s zO range of miniatures.  From their announcement:

Hopefully, some of you will have seen the small upgrades to the website, and seen the picture below showing a few new figures! Well, I’m going to elaborate a little bit for you. The six figures you saw on the site (and down below) form the ‘zO’ range of figures originally sculpted a while back by Steve Buddle (of Eolith/Spyglass fame, and now a full time sculptor for GW). When Steve closed down Eolith he started selling off the rights to his ranges, and the zO range was one which I really wanted. I absolutely adore the figures, and think they’re some of the best things Steve has done.

I own a few JoeK Minis.  They offer a very unique range of characters, and the quality of their resin and casts is superb.  JoeK has also been fortunate with the sculptors they’ve been able to commission for their own models, including some of the big names in the industry.  I can’t wait to see what else they have planned for the coming year.

Be sure to visit the JoeK Minis website to see their complete range of available models, and sign up for their newsletter to stay informed on releases while you’re there.

The WAMP forum‘s latest issue of Portal is now available for download from their website  In this issue:

• We launch a brand new feature: Company Profile and start with Andrea Miniatures.
• WAMP2012 dates announced.
• Redbox Games Results.
• Studio McVey contest announced.
• Portal Exclusive Warcast contest and 35% discount!
• Maxmini & DarkSword reviews.
• A great construction tutorial.
• Tim Fitch looks at the effects of Lead Rot.
• Latest from the Wamp gallery.
• Latest News, releases, and much more……

Cyanide Studio is currently developing a video game version of the Cadwallon: City of Thieves board game for iPad.  From their website:

Cadwallon: City of Thieves is a faithful adaptation for iPad of the board game of the same name.

Recapture the sensations of the original board game in glorious 3D and take the game with you wherever you go!

Place the four members of your gang of thieves within the dangerous city of Cadwallon and get rich or die trying. Outpace your rivals to open the treasure chests or simply defeat an opponent to steal what he is carrying. Each character has 3 abilities and one unique skill, so you will have to adopt the right strategy and trust the luck of the dice, if you are to bring as much treasure as possible back to the thieves’ den.

In the City of Thieves, dirty tricks are the order of the day!

Be careful though, as two militiamen have been assigned to maintain law and order and they move about the board, interfering with your Machiavellian plans… Woe betide any thief caught inside the militia’s cordon at the end of the game. This iPad version takes you on a 3D adventure deep inside Cadwallon; an adventure you can take with you wherever you go, to play against friends or fellow travellers. The intuitive gameplay of a City of Thieves allows beginners to quickly understand the rules.

Cyanide Studio has just release a sneak preview of the website dedicated to their forthcoming release of the Confrontation video game.  Visit their website or Facebook page for more information.

The Orc Ballista retails for €150,00 (currently about $191.00 USD), which includes worldwide tracked shipping.

The ballista model is comprised of 14 parts, measures 140mm x 95mm, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.  (Click here for a size comparison of the model care of atacam of the dragonpainting.net forum)

The model featured in these photos was painted by Mohamed “Mohand” ait mehdi.

No doubt some readers recognize this sculpt.  Indeed, many of you have probably coveted this model for years, without any hope of ever being presented with the opportunity to actually own one.

Benoît Cosse sculpted the orc ballista while still a member of the Rackham studio (but this was, according to Taban, more of a personal project than a studio production).  If I recall correctly, the model was supposed to include both Bran-Ô-Kor and Behemoth riders.  It was first previewed at the British Open in April 2006.

The model was originally called the Ulunkor Ballista (Baliste ulunkor), and was based on concept art by Edouard Guiton.

The Confrontation forum was abuzz for a long time about when this model would finally see the light of day.  I asked Jean Bey about it, and he told me personally that it was too complicated of a model and cost ineffective to produce.  “More than the Tarascus,” I asked (that model retailed for $259.00 USD).  “Way more,” he replied.

I don’t put much stock in Jean’s assessment, however (even though he is in a much better position of knowing Rackham’s operational and production costs than me).  Taban, at least, has proven it’s possible to make this model available for much less (although it’s still an expensive model).

I’m on the fence about whether I’ll get one for myself, but am definitely leaning more in one direction than another.

*Images and some information on the original sculpt are from Haekel & Jaeckel.

UPDATE: I found some more images of the original sculpt on my hard drive + a sneak preview of the model from the Rackham Entertainment  forum just before they shut down.

I noticed immediately that the driver is missing his whip, and someone on the DP forum pointed out that the ballista is missing the support frame that secures it to the saddle; the operator is using the ballista like a regular crossbow.

UPDATE 2: After a simple Google search, I was able to track down some more information.  Rackham assigned an SKU to the ballista, and even published its release in at least two official announcements.  I’ve combined the information here (although one announcement had a release date of October):

Ulunkor Ballista (Baliste ulunkor)
ORTI01
1 titan
4 crew, including Bran-Ô-Kor and Behemoth orcs
(Orques du Bran-Ô-Kor et de Béhémoth)
November 2006 France, January 2007 rest of the world

That’s right about the time when Rackham fell apart.  It also explains why this qualifies as a “personal” project for Benoît; he likely never finished the sculpt and never got paid.  But again, I’m not really in a position to know all the details, so please treat everything here as mere speculation.

UPDATE 3: Confirmed by our friends on the WAMP forum:

The Masters Miniatures team got the full production rights for this model.
(Taban is just distributing this range

The original sculpt had never been bought by Rackam to the sculptor who is a friend of some of the MM people
I think that legacy tried to buy-back the model from MM that declined the offer

I called MM to pass your question and they comfirmed that there will only be 300 units ever

Llewelyn SoftStrider, woodsman, warrior, brigand, man hunter. Llewelyn is known far and wide as a man not to be crossed or a man to be sought by. An excellent Human ranger character to compliment any dungeoneerign party or adventuring band and a certain addition for any warband.

Robert of Carlisle Wall, son of a Hillander noble and would be Husband to the late Aenglish Lady Evelyn of Carlisle. A-Grieved for the untimely death of his Lady Love he seeks out danger where-so ever it is to be had, thus did he earn the distinction of the his title at the great battle of Carlisle Wall.

The Journeyman Gerard. A foreigner of distinctive skill Gerard is a thief, a fighter, an adventurer and explorer. If there is adventure to be had, or a challenge to be met it is he who will be the first to answer the call. An excellent figure for that hard to define Fighter / Thief the Journeyman Gerard is a certian recruit for any adventuring band of treasure hunters or skulking thieves or even special agents of high powers.

Watch Captian Whistlocke, Stern, serious, accomplished and courageous The Watch Captain Whistlocke is the master of the reknowned Whistlocke’s Watch of Shield’sPort wharf district. It is there, in the oldest section of that sprawling city, that the worst of the worst go about their business and there also where the name of Whistlocke bears as much fear and respect as would that of the highest Masters of the Shadow guilds.

Young Rupert of Chalton, a youthful wide adventurer out to prove his mettle in the dark bedeviled channels of ruins and goblin burrows. Fitted in the trappigns of the early fighter Rupert is perfect to represent that 1st level fighter destined to rise to great heights or fall from them in the dark holes of forlorn places.

The shamblign undead booster…….because you can never have enough of them really.

The Lady Nyvenne, As Evil as she is beautiful the Gray Lady commands the infernal powers of the forgotten ones with a finesse and mastery rivaled only by the Keeper Himself. If you are looking for a creature of beauty to drive your armies of death then look ye no further!

Mannikin Studios is having a special on shipping rates through the end of 2011.  From their website:

In the spirit of the holiday season, Mannikin Studios is offering free worldwide shipping to anyone who places an order from their website any time between now and the end of 2011.  There are no minimum requirements to take advantage of this offer.

This is a great opportunity to pick up one of the finest interpretations of Father Christmas in miniature, among other wonderful characters based on the artwork of Arthur Rackham.  Once our current supply is gone, they will likely never be available again in this medium.

Visit the Mannikin Studios website for more information and to view our complete catalog.

This blog started initially as a way for me to track and share a 10mm Middle-earth project I began a few years ago, but has since developed into something completely different.  That being said, with a new film on the horizon, my interest in Middle-earth will likely return; and you can expect to see more on that theme here in the coming year or two.

Enjoy the trailer!

Cyanide Studio has just released a video premier of their forthcoming video game based on the Aarklash universe.  (Please note that the website is in French, but the video is in English.)  Based on what I can see in the video, it looks like Cyanide did a great job translating the look and feel of Aarklash to the video game format.

To view more screenshots of the Confrontation video game, visit the Cyanide page here and their official site for the game here.  And don’t forget to drop by their forum while you’re there.

Guild of Harmony has just released a new model for their range of steampunk characters, Tinker Belle (view larger product images and angles here).  According to their website, Tinker Belle (sculpted by Sebastian Archer ) is a 32mm figure strictly limited to 350 casts in resin.  Each model comes with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.  Tinker Belle retails for $19.95 AUD and ships worldwide for just $3.50 AUD (assuming your order is under $50.00 AUD total).

I think Sebastian has really outdone himself with this sculpt.  The last model in the series, Steampunk Dorthy, was a stunning piece of work that many sculptors would have been challenged to match, but Sebastian’s done just that with Tinker Belle.  All of which has me wondering what he’ll amaze us with next.

Nagrot Crook-Eye (goblin boss)

If you’ve been meaning to get something from GoH, this is a great opportunity to pick up a stunning limited model and more fantastic pieces from their impressive catalog.  Along with Tinker Belle, I just ordered two characters that have been on my shopping list for too long: Nagrot Crook-Eye (goblin boss) and Jian Nai (Fisherman) ($9.95 and $11.95 respectively).  Watch for a review of the models here on Under the Mountain sometime later this month.

Jian Nai (Fisherman)