A Precious New Year

Happy New Year everyone! It's been a start and a half to the year of 2026, that's for sure, thanks to the Albainn and the new year monsters... talk about rushed off our feet! But hey ho, that's what happens when you make so many awesome miniatures (even if we do say so ourselves).

Best Laid Plans

First of all though, an update for everyone who hasn't yet had their Black Friday monster order - we're working on them now, but please stay patient (as much as you can!) as, unfortunately, we've not been able to order any of our cast resin from the supplier this week. We should have some by Friday, but it could be Monday depending on customs; we've still got some orders to send, but it looks like we'll be concentrating on Grey Wulf resin - and hobby! - orders this week.

The perils of hand-made miniatures, really...

Speaking of Grey Wulf, thanks to a heater problem the workshop was like ice when we got back after the Christmas break, and it's taken a little while to get the printers to temperature. They really did not want to wake up last week, so we've had a bit of an overhaul of them all as they needed it, to be honest. Lots of fep changes (four!), lots of cleaning, applying the sacred ointments, praying to the printer gods, that kind of thing.

It looks like things are back on track now; we should be in full gear later on in the week, and any Grey Wulf orders from last year will be worked on and should be sent out in the next week or two. We always get there in the end...

On that note: the backlog. If I'm honest with myself and you guys I probably made an error last year, trying to bring you miniatures from other companies with sales, simply because it has ensured that backlog hasn't really gone down. Unfortunately, I am not in a position where I can sit back and not chase money, and I had to do something to bring that money in (I still do, of course); but it led to twelve-hour days for me, exhaustion soon took over and frankly I need a holiday. But I digress: I shan't be doing any kind of sale on any Grey Wulf miniatures in the foreseeable future, because I really do need to get that backlog down. It's a lot easier to print the same thing over and over again; it's very difficult to print different things all the time.

(Of course, me knowing me, and facing bills, I will probably do a Grey Wulf sale next week).

Ahem. At the moment I am concentrating on the ograx of Baalor and mallax, in terms of the backlog; I've already sent a few sets out and I hope to get more sent out in the next few weeks. Printers permitting, of course...

100 Warlords

We've still got a few stragglers here and I'll be getting these sorted in the next few weeks now that the printers are warmer. If you haven't got yours yet, you'll get them soon.

Digital, My Precious

The digital side of things has done pretty well so far, I have to say; thank you to everyone that has flocked back to the subscription, it's greatly appreciated, although we're not at the same amount of people who have subbed previously. If you know of someone who might fancy our miniatures, please poke them and get them subbed!

We're three battle hosts into the new era, with the Albainn just gone, and it won't be long before it's time for the Jutes, and those devilish eaters of man-flesh and pupae gloop, the ghūlas!

Rafael Callegari has worked his magic yet again on these guys; they are suitably nasty and I can't help but think of gollum. Whether that's a good thing or not, I don't know, but I like 'em!

What you are seeing here are the ghūlas with spear and shield; each ghūl will of course have a ‘naked’ version with just claws and a bit of a loincloth, as will Cweld (their commander).

Who's up for a naked ghūl pin up? I know I am...

February's battle host will include:

• Acweld, Ghūl Thain
• Acweld, Ghūlgār Thain
  
• ?, [Pin Up] on foot
• Degenerates of Ācholt, Ghūl Unit
  
• Depraved of Hyrne, Ghūlgār Unit
  
• The Wicked of Mālæsc, Gryreghūl Unit
• The Bats of Cisel, Nihtbat Unit

It's been a good long while since anyone's seen the artwork for these guys, so here's a couple of the beasties for you to see what's coming...

Ewesa, Ord Gryreghūl

The Bats of Cisel, Nihtbat Unit

Loreful

The ghūlas, as previously mentioned, are drinkers of beetle pupae gloop, in a bold attempt to live beyond death; denied the honour of joining the ranks of the undead by their lords, perhaps because of their barbarity or criminality in life, these depraved creatures took matters into their own hands and - while successful in a way - they have become bitter and twisted, eaters of man- and beetle-flesh alike. They do retain most of their former intelligence and actively attempt to recruit others to join their ranks in degeneracy, living in caves, howes and other abandoned places. While abhorrent to the men and women of Cant and Wiht, the ghūlas are tolerated (as long as they do not roam from their enclaves) and actively used in Jute armies due to their sheer ferocity. For their part, the ghūlas don't really care about much except getting more flesh...

The gryreghūlas, much larger than the ghūlas (they are on 40mm bases), are a different matter entirely. Relatively rare, these guys are malformed and hard to kill, their skin morphing into the chitin of the beetles they devour; around seven to eight feet tall, sporting all manner of chitinous growth around their bodies, they are incredibly ferocious and are great shock troops in any Jute army.

Bats are bats are bats, of course; the nihtbats are giant versions that live in the natural caverns and coves of the southern coast, where they naturally have contact with the ghūlas. Standing (flying?) on 80mm bases and useful divers and swoopers, get them up in the air and slamming into your enemies!

That's all for now guys - more on next month's host soon...