Upir the Leech & Bring Out Your Lead 2025

Bring Out Your Lead (BOYL) was held at Wargames Foundry in Newark near Nottingham last weekend. For those of you who don't know, this is an annual Oldhammer event featuring classic Citadel miniatures and a range of games large and small. This year you would have seen games of Rogue Trader and 2nd edition, classic Warhammer scenarios like McDeath and the Vengeance of the Lichemaster, plus Space Crusade, Heroquest, Necromunda, Man O War and more. There's even space for non-GW games as long as the vibe is right. For my part I pitched my Paul Muller cultists against Mat's Rogue Trader mutants in a game of Stargrave.

Traditionally there is a limited edition event miniature available to attendees. As a general rule, this has a nod to an old-school theme, and is often sculpted by a legendary sculptor. This year, we were lucky enough to have Paul Muller sculpt us Upir, the Underhive Leech:

Crooked Dice Junktown Scrap Walls

I've had a bunch of Crooked Dice's Junktown bits waiting paint for a long while. As I needed some new walls for this coming weekend's Stargrave game, I decided I'd paint up the scrapwalls from the set. I really enjoyed working on these. The paintjobs are superquick with sponging, drybrushing and washes. A few spot colours for variety and some graffitti with my Posca paint pens, and it was job done!

You can buy almost anything in Junktown. Whether it works or not is another matter!

The Word Spreads - Muller Cult Reinforcements

Here are a few extra cultists for my Muller Cult. I needed this trio to round out my 10-strong Cult crew for a game of Stargrave I'll be playing at Bring Out Your Lead 2025 in a couple of weeks time.

Ever-more corrupt cult followers emerge, showing degenerate attributes and mishapen forms.

All hail the Scavvy King (no, not that one)!

Back with the Sinkhole Boggarts, my Marauder-themed scavvy gang. This time I've finished off their leader, who I'm currently calling Ned Crundle (TBC). I probably spent far too long thinking about this figure, but ultimately I'm happy that he fits nicely with the Marauder aesthetic.

The stinking Sinkhole Boggarts, led by Ned Crundle with his unstable plasma pistol

Bits & Pieces - Servitor Bodyguard & Warning Sign

I have a few hobby tasks I needed to complete prior to Bring Out Your Lead 2025 between 8-10 August. Mostly these are bits I want to use in a planned game of Stargrave, which should see my Muller cultists take on some mutie scum. I'm working my way through the to-do list: first up is a figure kindly given to me by Aidan of Warfactory Miniatures at Lead & Steel earlier this year.

Big Lad with a Big Club - Scavvy Scaly

Although scalies only became part of the scavvy gang in Necromunda, I liked the idea of including one in my Confrontation era Marauder scavvy gang. I could have used a 1990s or 2000s scaly, but I wanted one that fit the Marauder aesthetic. That meant digging out a suitable Aly or Trish sculpt. I looked at a lot of orcs, ogres & trolls, but ended up settling on the brilliant Talisman Troll sculpted by Aly. I had to modify him of course!

Grolch is regularly used by the Sumphole Boggarts to protect their miserly stash of 'valuables'.

Sinkhole Boggarts - More Scavvies

Between the Citadel and Marauder scavvies, there are plenty to make up a full gang. The different in sculpting styles is petty evident however, so I decided to build out two gangs: a 'Marauder' gang (I'm calling the Sinkhole Boggarts) comprised of Aly and Trish sculpts, and a 'Citadel' gang (name TBC) comprised of Jes sculpts. As there are only four official Marauder sculpts, that meant I had to start converting some more to bring up the numbers.

A ranging group of scavvies seek riches amongst the piles of scrap.

Even Scummier Scum - More Confrontation Scavvies

After painting up two of the four Marauder scavvies last time out, it made sense to paint up the remaining pair (as a side note, this means I have now painted all 20 Confrontation miniatures produced by Marauder - showcase to come in the near future!).

At the Bottom of the Pile - Confrontation Scavvies

It's with a little apprehension that I embark on a final Confrontation journey. The only gang I've not yet painted are the scavvies - once I've completed a scavvy gang, I will have "completed" the Confrontation range. At least I've saved the best 'til last!

I plan to paint the scavvies in a couple of chunks. First up are the four Marauder scavvies sculpted by Aly Morrison. Aly's sculpts are always fun to paint with nice chunky details and characterful faces. I started with the two sporting fancy headgear!

A pair of scavvies scour the underhive for gear.

Mixtecas & Tzunx - Slann of all Sizes

Another pair of slann to add to my warband. This time it's a combat specialist accompanied by a rather more brutish slann! Mixtecas is a converted Warhammer Fantasy slann, and his larger companion is a Phrogg from Ral Partha Europe.

The temple guard defend their ancient ruins from human aggressors.

Idol of the Old Ones - Slann Terrain

Some of the Seraphon (lizardmen) themed terrain that Games Workshop have produced over the last few years is perfect for slann. I've had this Idol of the Old Ones from the Warcry Pyre & Flood set assembled for a little while, and it seemed the right time to get it painted up!

The Magnificent Slann-ven - Finishing the Rogue Trader Set

Following on from the previous couple of slann-themed posts, I was filled with enthusiasm to finish painting all the Rogue Trader slann and get a bucket-list project completed. I've wanted to get a full set painted for more years than I care to remember! With around half the set painted, it seemed like a good idea to blast through the remaining seven figures. And here they are:

Huvez & Ctzoad - Space Slann Warrior & Youngling

I'm continuing with the focus on my space slann for the moment, making the most of my enthusiasm for painting them! As mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to try out a complementary but variant skin colour for the slann. I have used a nice de-saturated orangy-red (Citadel's Wild Rider Red) which I've highlighted with a pale flesh paint and am very happy with the results. I think I'll use this in a rough 1:2 ratio with the deep red I've been using for the slann to date.

Haxl & Scoitz, Slannicide Squad

I enjoyed painting up the slann heavy weapons trooper last time out, so decided to get another couple finished whilst I was in the mood. This time it's Captain Haxl and Scoitz, both from the original Rogue Trader slann range. No modifications, just a nice straightforward painting output! With the colour scheme nailed, these were quick and easy. I am considering some variant skin colours for the next couple (nothing too divergent, but perhaps an orange or lighter red).

The Frog with the Golden Gun - Slann Heavy Weapon

On Saturday I attended the excellent Lead & Steel Oldhammer show in Sheffield. Although not a huge show, it was really well organised with a lovely relaxed vibe. This was the 2nd year of running and featured a range of really lovely and eye-catching games including 2nd edition 40k, Blood Bowl, original edition Adeptus Titanicus and Necromunda. The event was also attended by a number of vendors including Mammoth Miniatures and Bad Squiddo. I didn't take any pictures - I was too busy chatting and rolling dice, but you can see plenty over at the event Facebook page.

Lead & Steel organisers Mat & Mike (pic borrowed from the Lead & Steel Facebook page)

The Insidious Word - Muller Cult Demagogue (and Friends)

I know I've mentioned this before, but I really enjoy theming a group of miniatures around the work of a specific sculptor. My current 40k chaos cult project is built around the late 1990s cultists by Paul Muller, and this next group throws the net a little wider again to include some more of his non-GW work. And if I say so myself, I think they're starting to look pretty cool together!

Hulking & Bloated - Muller Cult Brutes

It's no secret that I really enjoy adding in different-sized figures into a warband. A sneaky little fella rubbing shoulders with a big brute to contrast with the bulk of the 'normal-sized' crew. I wanted to repeat this with my Paul Muller cultists and settled on a pair of big brutes to add some real menace!

Corruption Within - Paul Muller 40k Cultists

I've always liked the insidious and subtle encroachment of chaos. That corruption of the weak-willed & marginalised. It seems a lot more interesting than the big bombastic version of chaos that you see associated with chaos space marines.

And so I'm having another look at chaos cultists. Unlike my previous cult of weirdos and oddballs, this one is going to be comprised of Paul Muller sculpts. The bulk of the cult will be made up of his lovely mid-1990s 40k cultists, supplemented with a few other nice figures from other manufacturers where they fit aesthetically. 

My first group of 5 figures are primarily drawn from the 40k set:

Strength & Foresight - Eldar Command Group

Back in December 'Winterfest' was launched on The Emporium of Rogue Dreams Facebook page. Build and paint an Eldar single model, unit or vehicle by 12th January. The Command Group category was my favourite category from the early 1990s Golden Demon awards. I loved seeing a tight group of four themed models, usually comprised of a selection of commanders, leaders, champions or musicians plus a standard bearer:

David Knowles Squat Command Group (Golden Demon 1991)

Barry Lees' 1st place Ork Command Group (Golden Demon 1991)

I decided I'd build and paint a Command Group for the unit category under the premise of 'What I might have entered into the Command Group category at Golden Demon 1994'*.

*Assuming that the Command Group category still existed in 1994!

My Eldar Command Group (theoretically entered at Golden Demon 1994)