I Backed an Oldhammer Dwarf Project on Kickstarter
Review by Daclaud Lee
Note: I will upload more pictures onto this blog article as soon as I get the chance. I have printed out most of these as entire regiments and I’m in the process of painting and photographing them. Come back later to view the finished results of this blog!

Beard and Axes Review and Summary
I backed the “Beards and Axes” Oldhammer Dwarf project on Kickstarter by Old Realm Forge in December 2024 and I couldn’t be happier with what I got! This is my review of the minis and how much I liked how this project perfectly captures the classic Warhammer Fantasy Dwarf aesthetic from the 4th, 5th, and 6th editions, bringing back the nostalgic, axe and hammer armed Dwarfs, with their round shields, thick beards, simple, yet intricate detailing, and loads of character. As a fan of Oldhammer, this was an easy decision—these sculpts truly embody the Warhammer Dwarf aesthetic of the 1990’s, complete with Oldhammer-like poses, detailed armor, and expressive faces.
The Kickstarter includes a massive army packed with infantry, characters, artillery, and even cavalry—everything you’d need for a full-fledged Dwarf force. The heroes include a Dwarf Thane, a powerful Dwarf Priestess, two skilled Engineers, and the legendary Dwarf Knight (BatDwarf). The core of the army is made up of multiple units of Clansmen, Royal Clansmen, Handgunners, Crossbowmen, Miners, and elite troops like the Ironbeards, Dragonbeards, Long Hammers, and Oldbeards. There’s also a squad of Rangers for skirmishing, the Stonehoof Clanriders for a rare mounted Dwarf element, and the Beardbone Champions and Seabeards for even more variety.
To top it all off, the project includes some iconic Dwarf war machines, featuring a Stone Thrower, Bolt Thrower, and a mighty Siege Cannon, each with detailed crew members. This truly feels like a love letter to classic Warhammer Fantasy Dwarfs, and I can’t wait to start painting and fielding this legendary force on the tabletop. If you’re a fan of Oldhammer-style miniatures, this is one Kickstarter that absolutely delivers!
Here is a complete list of What I Received as STL Files
- x1 Dwarf Priestess
- x2 Dwarf Engineers
- x1 The Dwarf Knight
- x15 Dwarf Clansmen V1 (x9 warriors, x1 champion, x2 trumpeter, x3 standard bearer)
- x7 Dwarf Royal Clansmen (x4 warriors, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x1 standard bearer)
- x12 Dwarf Handgunners V1 (x8 handgunners, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x2 standard bearer)
- x10 Dwarf Royal Handgunners (x7 handgunners, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x1 standard bearer)
- x10 Dwarfs Crossbowmen (x7 crossbowmen, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x1 standard bearer)
- x11 Dwarf Miners (x8 miners, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x1 standard bearer)
- x12 Dwarf Ironbeards [Ironbreakers] (x7 ironbeards, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x3 standard bearer)
- x13 Dwarf Dragonbeards (x7 dragonbeards, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x4 standard bearer)
- x10 Dwarf Long Hammers (x8 long hammers, x1 champion, x1 trumpeter, x1 standard bearer)
- x7 Dwarf Oldbeards [Longbeards] (x4 oldbeards, x1 champion, x1 musician, x1 icon bearer)
- x10 Dwarf Rangers (x7 rangers, x1 champion, x1 musician, x1 standard bearer)
- x6 Dwarf Stonehoof Clanriders (x3 stonehoof clanrider, x1 champion, x1 musician, x1 standard bearer)
- x5 Dwarf Beardbone Champions [Slayers]
- x8 Dwarf Seabeards [Pirate Slayers] (x4 seabeards, x1 captain, x1 musician, x2 banner bearer)
- x1 Stone Thrower with three crew members
- x1 Bolt Thrower with three crew members
- x1 Siege Cannon with three crew members
Some Photos
I haven’t printed the entire Dwarf army yet, but I’ll be showcasing the ones I have so far in this blog. As I continue printing more units, I’ll update with photos, assembly and painting progress, and painting techniques to bring these classic-style miniatures to life. Stay tuned for more updates as the army grows!

You will find that the Dwarf models from the Beards and Axes Kickstarter have an old school aesthetic similar to the mono pose plastic Dwarfs from Warhammer 5th edition from the late 1990’s. Here is a photo of the plastic Warhammer Dwarfs box for reference.

These are Dwarf Warriors (Royal Clansmen) by Old Realm Forge. They fit the Oldhammer aesthetic very well and look like they are inspired by the old Dwarf Warriors of 5th edition.

Dwarf Oldbeards that can be used as Dwarf Longbeards for Warhammer Fantasy Battles.

Dwarf Rangers. Now all you need to get is the official Bugman model and you can have Bugman’s Rangers!
Painting Oldhammer Dwarf Clan Warriors in Classic Blue
I started painting my Oldhammer Dwarfs with a unit of 20 Clan Warriors, using Vallejo Extra Opaque Paints for solid base coverage and Vallejo Game Inks to enhance depth and shading. I went with a classic blue color scheme for their clothing, staying true to the stereotypical Dwarven look, while their beards added variety and personality—most were blonde, with some red and brown, while the leader’s beard was pure white, symbolizing his wisdom and experience. The banner bearer’s beard was gray, representing his longstanding and prestigious role as standard bearer. The inks really helped bring out the simple details in the sculpts, making each warrior feel unique.
