NB2 Dragon a tale by Mark Stevenson collector of Asgard plus 80's pictures!

It is our great pleasure to present an article written by Mark Stevenson who runs the Asgard Miniatures group on Facebook and who has been invaluable in Alternative Armies efforts to restore these classic 1980's ranges of miniatures and models.  This is his story of his love for Asgard, his collection and his encounters over forty years with the mighty NB2 Dragon sculpted by Nick Bibby.

 

 

I first started frequenting the Asgard miniatures shop in the late 70’s, buying the odd miniature from the DA and FM ranges to supplement my games of D&D. Then I clearly remember walking into the shop and seeing this MASSIVE dragon ! Must have been 1982 and they were displaying a built NB2. At the time it would have cost a good few pounds – well beyond my reach back then!

 

This was followed by a gap of some 30-odd years where life came between me and minis and D&D, until in about 2016 I found a box containing some figures and a bunch of old White Dwarf magazines.

 

Nostalgia prompted me to research what happened to Asgard. Finding they were out of business I used eBay to add to my collection, eventually deciding to try to find every miniature they made (and paint them!)… I’ve only a handful out of about 650 to find now. 

 

Of course the big ticket items – the Dragon and the Giant – were not exactly popping up…. until one day I saw some bits on eBay which I recognised…and at an affordable price! Thus I found my first NB2, albeit in an extremely sorry state – bent, bashed and with bits broken off. 

 

 

With the aid of photos from Richard Scott I was able to repair and rebuild it into the Red Dragon above. Nick Bibby kindly signed a plinth for this one too. 

 

A couple of years on and Richard decided he did not need two Asgard dragons (the fool … why on Earth not!?) and sold me a second, which became the Green Dragon. 

In the meantime I had started up the Asgard Facebook Group, using a photo I had found on the internet. 

This was a diorama made by Michael Immig – check his work out in WD 100 – called Donnerechse (Thunder Lizard). Imagine my amazement when this later also appeared for sale ! Dragon number 3 !

Of course, 3 dragons were not enough – so along came number 4 – boxed with the rider, saddle and original paints. 

Number 5 followed. Neither numbers 4 or 5 were built, and I sent number 5 to Alternative Armies to use for remoulding purposes. 

 

On the other side of the effort to restore the model they kindly sent me the first pre-production casting of NB2 of theirs which I painted up as a golden dragon. 

 

 

Having seen what a great job they did with the Dragon I just had to buy another one of the 200 numbered limited edition run in metal and thus… Along comes number 6. And blow me down ! just found another on eBay – so number 7…. Seven Asgard Dragons ! – There will be 5 painted (4 by me plus Michael’s). I will keep the boxed original and Alternative Armies Ltd edition as they are, as display pieces in my collection. I even asked Gavin Syme and Sam Croes to sign the new one on the box.

 

This print of the original box cover (which is on the limited boxes of the new run too) is on my wall and is signed by all involved.  Have a gander at those signatures.

So there you go a total of seven of this Dragon and as many as any sane man might want.  Well perhaps!

 

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We thank Mark for this story of a life time of collecting and the joy of owning mighty fire lizards.  In the second half of this article we present some pictures of different takes on NB2 Dragon as well as historical photos from 1982 as well for you to enjoy.  Some from Mark's collection and some from the internet and Lost Mini Wiki too.  

Published by Penguin this book introduced many young men into the hobby in 1982.

A French magazine which had NB2 Dragon grace its cover in 1982

An NB2 Dragon under assembly on Mark Stevenson's work desk.  See FM23 Slug behind it?

NB2 Dragon painted by Richard Scott note the rider in place

NB2 Dragon painted by Ketil Trout and mounted on a rocky plinth base

You can find him and follow him on Instagram.

 

NB3 and NB4 Dragon Rider and Dragon Saddle painted by Paul Sanderson

Thank you for your time.

GBS

Classic Asgard 25mm Giant Lizard with Saurian Rider and Hydraulic Saddle

Following up on last time when the SF3 Weapons Set 2019 and the four Orts returned from the 1980's to now the 25mm scale Asgard Miniatures science fiction range expands again now with the centre piece of many collections of classic space opera..the Giant Lizard with Saurian rider! Working alongside wargaming veteran Mark Stevenson who runs the Asgard Miniatures group on Facebook (check it out and join HERE) and who is an avid historian and collector of Asgard it is our intent to bring as many of these codes back to the world as possible month by month.

You can see what we have thus far on the Asgard 25mm Science Fiction page and we also have the 15mm scale Asgard as well on the website if you like them smaller in play. 

SF0 Giant Lizard with Saurian Rider and Hydraulic Saddle 

This metal 25mm scale code contains one kit composed of the Giant Lizard (40mm tall, 80mm total length which will fit most riders), a Saurian warrior in exotic armour (open handed which will take most SF3 Weapons) to ride upon the lizard, the Hydraulic Saddle (composed of five pieces easy to assemble) and we have put in a SF3H Hunting Blaster (as seen in the picture) for the rider to hold. Once put together the model is 60mm tall and 80mm total length. Great for any game. You can choose from a complete kit of all the parts or the Giant Lizard only, the Rider only (no weapon) or the saddle set only. Select from the menu. Supplied Unpainted and without Bases. Go HERE. Images are from the collection of Mark Stevenson 

Get yourself a piece of British wargaming history. This is our only Asgard release for this month but we will return with more after that so keep your peepers peeled. 

Thanks for Reading, 

GBS

Classic Asgard 25mm miniatures return with Orts and Weapons Set

It is with great pride that Alternative Armies presents to you the first of several re-releases of classic 1980's science fiction miniatures in 25mm scale by Asgard Miniatures. Working alongside wargaming veteran Mark Stevenson who runs the Asgard Miniatures group on Facebook (check it out and join HERE) and who is an avid historian and collector of Asgard we present five codes.  Mark was lucky enough to be able to speak to the sculptor of the 'Orts' Mr Rick Priestley recently and here is what he had to say.

"Some of Rick Priestley's earliest production sculpts for Asgard Miniatures, the 'Inscrutible Orts' were bipedal human size aliens with heads resembling the body of  an octopus. They were originally designed for use with the classic game 'Laserburn' and, later, Combat 3000/3001. Foes of the Asgard Space Marines they were frequently allies of the Trimotes and Mandiblex."

You can see what we have thus far on the Asgard 25mm Science Fiction page and we also have the 15mm scale Asgard as well on the website if you like them smaller.  Here are the codes and their details:

SF3 Weapons Set 2019

This metal 25mm scale code contains a variety of weapons and equipment which are ideally suited not only to the Asgard science fiction range but also to many other ranges too.  Add them to the miniatures or make conversions or scenic items with them.  Note that this is the '2019' version which were sculpted by Sam Croes due to a total lack of mold stock to re-release.  They are new designs done as close to the style of the original 1980's as possible.  Choose from a set with a small saving or use the on screen choices to select parts of the code in any amount.  Use the image provided as a guide by item code. These are as follows: SF3A Displacer Cannon, SF3C Sonic Pistol, SF3D Disintegrator Gun, SF3E Projector Unit, SF3F Power Pack, SF3G Vortex Grenade, SF3H Hunting Blaster, SF3K Assault Laser, SF3L Heavy Laser Cannon and SF3N Heavy Weapon Pedestal (2 pieces) (fits SF3A,K,L).

SF20 Ort with Sonic Gun

SF20A Ort with Assault Laser

SF21 Ort with Sonic Amplifier

SF22 Cyborg Ort of the Sacred Claw

Go HERE for these miniatures.  Images are from the collection of Mark Stevenson and each Ort is 30mm tall to the top of their heads meaning they work well in 28mm scale too.  Supplied Unpainted and without Bases. Get yourself a piece of British wargaming history now brought back to the world!

These are our only Asgard releases for this month but we will return with more after that so keep your peepers peeled.

Thanks for Reading,

GBS