Old Beastmen - Harlequin and Citadel comparison

Hello all,

So, delving deep into the intimidating pile of unpainted lead, I found a couple of old beastmen. One is a classic Citadel, while the other is a somewhat odd creature from Harlequin. Now it is odd, not because of mutations or similar extravaganza, but because it carries a Crossbow, and looks like it knows how to use it. I wouldn't normally agree with the notion of a beastman using such 'sophisticated' weaponry, but hey, this is Chaos! You can complain to the big mutated chap in the head office...

I painted both of them to match the "Beastie Boys", a Slaaneshi warband led by the minotaur Akward - e.g. humanoid flesh, purple horns and hoof. 

I think they turned out fine, and it is always interesting to see how the old miniatures rank up.

 

Smada'Vek, on the left, is the old Harlequin beastman. I remember buying it primarily because I needed Crossbows and fancied giving him a different weapon, although this never happened. I think I have one or two more of this type. 

It was originally marketed as 7303 Beastmen Crossbows, it was designed by Kev Adams in ca. 1996. It is still available, and sold by Black Tree Design as part of the HM1152 Beastmen Crossbows (3):

His companion is the unnamed Beastman number 7, sculpted by Michael Perry in ca. 1994. I find it a great shame they stopped giving their minis suitable names, but as a result this beast didn't get a fancy name but it did get its very own line in the 1995/96 Citadel catalogue:

 The two actually fit each other. The Perry one is hunched over, but if it stood straight there would be little different in their bulk.

 So the only difference is in their weaponry and if you are in the market for a crossbow wielding Beastman (perhaps for a chaotic warband), then this would be a cheap and nice-looking solution.

They'll join Akward soon, and might even allow the photographer to stay alive long enough for a group photo to be taken :-).

All the best,
Kasper