Traversing the Wastes - a Nomadic Rider

After all the pressure to get my chaos warband finished, I turned my attention to something in a different vein. The latest model I've completed is for another game at Bring Out Your Lead at Foundry in August - this time an Ash Wastes rider on his racing steed.

The game calls for a single mounted figure suitable for racing in the Ash Wastes. It was a perfect opportunity to make a figure that I've been planning for a long time now, ever since I bought the bizarre and exotic steed from eBay. I have completely forgotten what the steed is - I think it might be Grenadier (let me know if you know!) [EDIT: Richard Scott over at the Oldhammer FB group has identified the steed as a Crodlu from Ral Partha's AD&D Dark Sun range].

I added an old Citadel C33 Mounted Ranger as the rider, before making a few adaptations so that he'd sit better into a science fiction setting.

The head came from North Star's cultist accessory pack. The rifle is from one of Citadel's Vostroyan Imperial Guard snipers.

I covered the joins with some greenstuff and sculpted arms from wrist to elbow (but forgot to take a picture of the sculpted elements before paint).

The painting of the steed is loosely based on a fan-tailed lizard which is a sandy colour with blue throat and orange underside. I added some subtle markings on the neck and tail as well - hopefully it does enough to make the steed look exotic.

I painted the saddle and strapping in a brown leather, with the saddlecloth in an orangy-brown. There is a subtle border pattern to the saddlecloth too, if you look closely enough!

The rolled blanket at the rear of the rider was painted in some reds and oranges to evoke Middle-Eastern woven rugs. Finally the rider received a turquoise robe and white head wrap, based on the striking outfit of a Tuareg tribesman I pulled up from an image search.

The larger base gave me opportunity to add a few more scenic elements than I usually use in the form of some tufts and rocks. Overall I think he looks the part as a nomadic rider - perfect for adding into my game setting as well as participating in a race across the wastes!