I think I like frost giants more than any type of giant, even fire giants, probably because of the D’Aulaires’ Norse mythology books I read over and over in elementary school.
I painted the first three guys recently. Left to right, a Ral Partha, Citadel, Grenadier, and another Ral Partha.
The last one I painted blue a long time ago, and repainted a few years ago, before the other three.
The first RP giant may be the first giant I ever acquired. When I was a kid, there was a hobby shop in the “Berlin Farmer’s Market” (a sort of flea market/outlet mall, about 10 miles from my house when I was a kid, and the destination of one epic hike/bike ride for me, my brother, and a friend some time around 1983) which had tons of Ral Partha, Minifigs, and Heritage Models in their front window, and I found him there. I was amazed at the time by the level of detail in RP stuff.
The three recently painted guys all have dead, white eyes.
The Grenadier giant was originally painted in a regular European flesh tone, with a black beard… I wanted him to be generic enough to be any kind of giant, I guess. I like him much more now. There was also a very similar version with s hammer instead of an axe. The axe on mine was broken in the blister I bought — I actually assumed it was made that way to be assembled, but when I opened it up I realized it had just broken in the package. The repair I did here extended the axe’s haft a little, and unfortunately I didn’t realize how bent it was until I was finished gluing and pinning it.
The Citadel giant was a ‘donation’ that I took some time to identify, as he was replaced in Citadel’s catalog by a much ‘better’ Tom Meier sculpt when he visited England and did some work for Citadel.
The second RP mini has always been another favorite. The mace-and-chain weapon, and the pose (he looks ready to charge head-first), make him look very menacing for a smaller giant. I would be tempted to repaint him more in the style and palette of the other three, but there is nothing wrong with his current paint job, so he’ll just be a slightly different-looking member of the tribe, or maybe a visiting cousin. <Update: He’s the “Hecatron giant” according to the RP catalogs, so I guess I just made him a frost giant because of the horned helmet or something.>
Those look great!
I remember that Citadel giant, and hoping that he would show up in my FLGS, but I never got a hold of one back in those pre-internet days…
I’ve been doing some Norse reading, and am just amazed at how everpresent giants are in the mythology.
Thanks, man!
I never saw the original Fantasy Tribe Giants, only the Meier replacements, and while his were excellent as always I think the originals have a tone of character.
If you haven’t already read Poul Anderson’s Viking books, by all means do! War of the gods, Hrolf Krakis Saga, Broken Sword, all great.
Looks great, I hope you don’t get to use them too soon 🙂