Tzeentch Familiars Old and New

Tzeentch has many Silver Towers floating through the Mortal Realms, but the one I am building is full of throwbacks to a time when metal miniatures reigned supreme. Welcome back to my Silver Tower of lead.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Oldhammer Silver Tower Chaos Familiars group
Metaaaaaaaal.

The initial spark that led me on a four-year quest to reconstruct the Silver Tower game with 1990s lead miniatures was two of the tiny familiar miniatures – instantly recognisable as reimaginings of Citadel classics from days of yore. I’ve painted a complete set of modern plastic versions, and a complete set composed of 1980s/1990s analogues.

1987 Lune (left) and 2016 Pug (right).

The CH5 Lune Familiar is an adorable moon-headed mook who was reborn in plastic complete with his original moon on a stick, tintinabulous jester shoes and scowling moonface.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Oldhammer Silver Tower Chaos Familiars Walking Book and Blot
1987 Walking Book (left) and 2016 Blot (right).

The CH5 Walking Book Familiar was a perennial favourite of Warhammer players, popping up as a wizard’s helper in Chaos and non-Chaos armies for years. I’ve not thought of anything high concept enough to paint freehand on the pages of the plastic version, so I’ve left them blank for now. Maybe I will leave it blank forever and claim it’s an unwritten journal.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Oldhammer Silver Tower Chaos Familiars Greater Daemon Lord of Change and Tweek
1991 Tzeeenth Familiar (left) and 2016 Tweek (right).

The small Lord of Change (Lord of Small Change?) was probably originally sculpted as a 6mm Epic Greater Demon miniature, but rolled into the CH5 Chaos Familiar range for the 1991 Citadel Catalogue Section 2. I’ve painted mine in orange and turquoise to match my 28mm Greater Demon. The new plastic version takes the mini Greater Demon vibe even further, having been written up in the background as a mischievous sprite with the delusion he’s an actual Lord of Change.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Oldhammer Silver Tower Chaos Familiars Jaw and Slop
1987 The Jaw (left) and 2016 Slop (right).

The fourth and final Silver Tower familiar, Slop, is a subtly different kettle of fish to the others – inspired not by a CH5 Chaos Familiar miniature but by Mordheim’s leitmotif of mutant fish artwork or old Ian Miller illustrations. I’ve painted the plastic Slop’s the tail with a Rainbow fade to match Blot.

Tzeentch Familiars Old and New
Familars wreaking havoc in the Lead Tower.

That’s another adversary group ready for Silver Tower. You can see Brimstone Horrors here, Light Wizards here, Light Acolytes here. Tzaangor here and Deathrunners here. Time to start work on the next of the nineties nasties.

Ninjabread out!

Curis

Curis has painted for Games Workshop, Forge World, Warlord Games, Mantic Games, Avatars of War, Wargames Foundry, Studio McVey and many others. He's won at Golden Demon and Salute. He publishes monthly painting tutorials on Patreon.

14 thoughts on “Tzeentch Familiars Old and New

  • April 6, 2020 at 12:12 pm
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    I love both versions of the 4 characters and had somehow missed some elements of it.
    And I cannot help but think you would do an exquisite tzeentch epic force ?

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    • April 6, 2020 at 9:31 pm
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      Haha! Thanks. I’d love to do an Epic Tzeentch force, but my 6mm Epic days are over now!

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  • April 6, 2020 at 12:20 pm
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    I quite like the all, but I have a special affection for Slop and Lune. You’ve done a delightful job on them all.

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    • April 6, 2020 at 9:34 pm
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      Cheers Dave! I think people’s favourites says a lot about their personalities. It’s like one of those Myers Briggs type indicators.

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  • April 6, 2020 at 12:47 pm
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    I really like these throwback miniatures, where new models reference old classics. I also like the way that they look great alongside each other, in spite of the 30 year age difference. Lune and his moon-faced buddy are my favourites. At some point I’m minded to make a moon-themed warband led by the Moon Headed Tzeentch champion and the Moon Duke.

    I particularly like the magenta you’ve used on Lune and Pug – it adds a lovely richness.

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    • April 7, 2020 at 9:27 am
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      Thanks axiom! I’m a sucker for a classic reincarnated. Though it’s not always an instawin – the recent Captain Centos (a modern reimagining of the Space Marine Captain with Powerfist and Terminator Honours) was a miss for me, and the limited edition Terminator Captain (homaging the RTB09 Terminator Captain) missed the mark for me too.

      I like your idea for a lunar-themed warband – the possibilities for moon puns are magnificent!

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  • April 6, 2020 at 4:48 pm
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    Hi! I never seen these plastic familliars, they have a great style and your paint job is perfect. I love (^_^)

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    • April 7, 2020 at 9:30 am
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      Thanks Nico!

      Reply
  • April 7, 2020 at 7:56 am
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    Playful but more than a bit sinister, these little guys are Warhammer in microcosm. The spectacular painting makes them top top examples too.

    Fantastic.

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    • April 7, 2020 at 9:33 am
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      Thanks cheetor! Isn’t it great how anything smaller than a 28mm human is instantly brilliant in concept – familiars, Snotlings, goblins, Squigs…

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  • April 8, 2020 at 12:08 am
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    I won’t state the obvious (again), which is how much do I love your colourful work, but I’d like to point out how interesting the comparative is. Wow, I’m impressed!

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    • April 8, 2020 at 8:19 pm
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      Thanks Suber! I love doing shots of old and new bits together. I want to do it with Space Marine Lieutenants next.

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  • April 14, 2020 at 4:19 am
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    Gorgeous. I really like the new familiars, one thing GW really got right. Great stuff!

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    • April 15, 2020 at 11:54 am
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      Thanks Warburton!

      Reply

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