SHOWCASE - Victoria Lamb's Praetorian Imperial Guard

Yep, I'm back, and I've some posting to do. I'm going to start with this though, since it seems like an appropriate opportunity. Showcase, is going to be an occasional series of blog posts where I'll briefly highlight other hobbiests whose work which I have found particularly inspiring. These will of course be weighted towards my own tastes, so expect lots of Imperial Guard, and of course specifically Praetorians. There will be exceptions though.

I'd be very surprised if anyone who is a fan of Praetorian Imperial Guard has not heard of Victoria Lamb, in fact I'd imagine that her name is reasonably well known in any hobby circuit. Amongst other talents, which you might read about if you visit her website http://www.victorialamb.com/, she is an award winning miniature painter and sculptor with more then a dozen Golden Demons, and other major awards to her credit. The very first of which was gained with none other then a Praetorian Command Squad.

When I started collecting Praetorian's myself, I'd only ever seen the odd painted model - with the exception of GW's Big Toof River. My first go at the army was overly none to impressive. It was probably seeing Victoria Lambs work, the first time I otherwise saw a full Praetorian army, which cemented in my head the idea that I could do better myself.

Not only is the army gorgeously painted, but absolutely every guardsman is converted, with the addition of webbing and an aquilla at a bare minimum, and many with head swaps, resculpted limbs, or altered weapons. These small details add so much extra to the army. The Heavy Weapons are also converted, this being the first place I saw alternative wheels used to create weapons more in keeping with the theme of the army, which I emulated myself.

The Command HQ is without doubt the army center piece though, as well as her usual conversion touches, including a fantastic standard bearer, is Captain Caine. Beautifully scratch sculpted with milliput, and creating a fantastic resemblance to Michael Caine's character in the classic film, Zulu. I'm as in awe of this model now, as I was when I first saw it.

I'd very much encourage everyone to go and take a look at Victoria Lambs website even if your not the biggest fan of Praetorians in the world, or have seen them before. There is also a selection of her other work, including a number of her fantastic other award winning models, some of which you'll undoubtedly recognise.

Victoria Lamb also now runs 'Victoria Miniatures', selling copies of a number of her original sculpts. Of particular interest may be the Kilted legs originally sculpted for the Drookian Fen Guard conversions featured in various locations by Games Workshop (I've got some on order myself!). As well as her latest release of a Penal Legion conversion kit which looks absolutely superb. There is a webstore on her site HERE, and more details can be found on the Victoria Miniatures Facebook page, HERE.