Citadel Call of Cthulhu Gumshoe Detective

Over at the turbo-niche Night Horrors and Gothic Horror group, Ashley’s running a Halloween painting competition – paint one of these mythological or Lovecraftian pieces from the titular ranges by Citadel Miniatures.

Limited edition Call of Cthulhu Games Workshop Citadel Gumshoes Detective

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Games Workshop had the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game licence in 1985–1987, and released a whole slew of pulp era characters to fit into H.P. Lovecraft’s stories.  This miniature is LE3 Gumshoe Bogart – based very firmly on Humphrey Bogart’s character in Casablanca.

Limited edition Call of Cthulhu Games Workshop Citadel Gumshoes Detective

“Roleplay it again, Sam.”

The miniature’s cigarette doubles as a metal run-out point for casting.  Even though I trimmed it down it’s still a bit too long.  Suspiciously long.  Less Casablanca, more Casablunta.

Limited edition Call of Cthulhu Games Workshop Citadel Gumshoes Detective in Hexham

“I came to Casablanca for the water elementals.”

The photo above has enough colour for two photographs, so I’ve thrown the next one into sepia.  Sepia grunge is the cliché trick to pass off a crudely painted miniature as art – but I thought I’d still experiment with it as Casablanca was a black and white film.

Limited edition Call of Cthulhu Games Workshop Citadel Gumshoes Detective in Hexham

Bogart on the trail of the Valpurgius Cult.

This is the second of Games Workshop’s borrowed movie characters I’ve painted recently, the first being Indiana Jones from the Rogue Trader RT601 Adventurers range.  These two characters both wear fedoras and both call people “kid”, which is a spooky coincidence.  Well, it is Halloween

Limited edition Call of Cthulhu Games Workshop Citadel Gumshoes Detective

“Go ahead and shoot. You’ll be doing me a favor.”

I look forward to collecting some more Citadel Gothic Horror miniatures.  The next holy grail is Idaho Smith – the range’s Indiana Jones homage.  Or the Doctor Who figures they resculpted with new heads.

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.

16 thoughts on “Citadel Call of Cthulhu Gumshoe Detective

  • October 31, 2017 at 1:05 pm
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    That guy is great. He looks like he only communicates via voiceover.

    That unflappable vibe in the photo with the daemons is brilliant.

    The painting is, as always, beautiful.

    Reply
    • November 1, 2017 at 2:22 pm
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      Thanks sho3y. The painting was really straightforward to pull off as the casting is so clean and crisp. No awkward bits on it at all, and all the subtle detail painted itself rather than having to be supplied by the paintbrush.

      Reply
    • November 1, 2017 at 2:22 pm
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      Hee hee. I wandered who’d be the first to spot the old Warzone Dark Legion model in there.

      Reply
  • November 1, 2017 at 1:45 pm
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    Lovely paintjob as always Chris. He’s a characterful mini isn’t he.

    The psychedelic lighting always makes your photos very atmospheric too! Awesome stuff mate :)

    Reply
    • November 1, 2017 at 2:25 pm
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      Thanks! I tried that red and green shot in black and white too, but preferred it drenched in green. (Green is Cthulhu’s signature colour.)

      Here’s the other version:

      Hexham Abbey B&W

      Reply
      • November 2, 2017 at 8:42 pm
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        Yes, the green version is definitely better! This guy’s great – a “simple” figure with lots of character.

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        • November 8, 2017 at 10:43 am
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          Thanks! It’s generally why I like the older sculpts – they’re not over-sculpted to ridiculous levels like, say, Games Workshop’s current plastic Archaon.

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  • November 5, 2017 at 11:41 am
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    Great work on a very cool figure – excellent photography too!

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    • November 8, 2017 at 10:47 am
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      Thanks! I really like your Primaris Ultra in strong 2E colours. Garfy on Tale of Painters has done the same. I’d like to copy the idea.

      Reply
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