THOTH-AMON

Conan's arch enemy in the later pastiches by Carter, de Camp et al. the two never actually met in either of the two Howard stories that feature the Stygian wizard. He is generally described as a shaven headed giant, muscular and with 'dusky' skin,dressed in plain white, although in later pastiches his evil sorcery begins to take it's toll on his physique.

The first version here is from Garrison, and features Thoth-Amon carried on a litter. Although a lovely figure, I feel that the ascetic and austere Thoth-Amon would eschew such luxuries.

Next we have a perhaps more accurate depiction of the evil sorceror from the Minifigs SS range (I was after this figure for a very long time, and then David Wood (aka The Dozing Dragon) very kindly sent me one, so thanks Dave, he's painted at last. Accompanying the villain is the baboon like demon Thoth-Amon summons in the story "The Phoenix on the Sword" using his serpent ring 

"Blind your eyes mystic serpent

blind your eyes to the moonlight and open them on darker gulfs

What do you see O Serpent of Set?

Whom do you call from the Gulfs of the Night?

Whose Shadow falls on the waning light?

Call him to me O Serpent of Set!"

"...it's outline was not unlike that of a gigantic baboon, but no such baboon ever walked the earth."

For the baboon I used a plastic figure by Britains, so still old school , slightly converted with bigger teeth. I've painted the bases stone colour as they will be used in an urban or temple setting. 

I would also like to get hold of the Archive figure that depicts the comic book version of Thoth-Amon, with the curly horned head dress

the speech bubbles say it all.

CONAN OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER 2014

It's been a while, but here is a rather nice Conan figure from the Minifigs SS range. I painted him up for a desert theatre of war as we will be taking a look at the Stygians in the next post.

BOSSONIAN ARCHERS AND AQUILONIAN ARMY REVIEW

"...Bossonians from the westerm marches, strongly built men of medium stature in leathern jackets and iron head pieces."

Here we have the Aquilonian missile troops

The Aquilonian army as it stands so far. I will be doubling up the infantry I think as soon as the nice man at Garrison fires up his casting machine after the summer holidays.

GUNDERLAND PIKEMEN

Here are some more bold Aquilonian warriors, the Gunderland Pikemen.

Garrison figures as usual

as far as I remember they are described as having sober homespun clothing and plain steel helms and corselets. Royal Armies of the Hyborian Age also mentions  them as being fair haired, so I have given them blond beards too.

CONAN OF THE MONTH MAY 2014

Here is a nicely animated figure from Minot' Minature Armoury who released a small range of Conanesque figures called Heroic Age, many based on the paintings of Frank Frazetta, although I'm not sure if this fellow is.
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CHIVALRY OF AQUILONIA

Here are the Aquilonian shock troops. The knights and nobles each sporting there own livery. I deliberately made the heraldry simple, mainly because I hate painting heraldic beasts, but also to give the idea of very early heraldry as might be expected in the Hyborian age.

All Garrison, some from the medieval range. I really enjoyed doing these. They reminded me of model knights I saw in glass fronted cabinets as a child. (Not sure where the cabinets were.....in some model shop in Bath I think).

AQUILONIAN INFANTRY

Lets take a look at a unit of Aquilonian footsloggers. These fellows are the rank and file rather than named levies such as the Bossonian archers and Gunderland pikemen.

Figures by Garrison. I may have to get another couple of units of these. I love the helm with  aventail, straight from illustrations in the comics.