Came up with an interesting inspiration a couple of weeks ago. It starts out with this project: peoplethemwithmonsters.blogspot.c....dg ... n-box.html. Curiously, I have the right size box from the birth announcements from my son. While I've not finished the project, I do have the box cleaned up and appropriate woodgrain contact paper on hand, now. Just need a spot of time.

With this neat project in mind I chanced across this post on Grognardia: grognardia.blogspot.com/2012/09/retrosp ... ls-ad.html
I always considered the cover art on the Tomb of Spells set (see pic), in particular, as being very evocative. I just wish the minis had matched the expectations set by the cover art on all these Grenadier boxed sets! Oh, well.

But then the two threads/blogposts above cross fertilized in my mind, with the recollection that my son's 6"x9" box from his birth announcements was contained in a slightly larger and deeper box, that might work well for minis.

So here's the idea: take a high rez scan of the box art from Tomb of Spells (or the others -- Woodland Adventurers, Dungeon Monsters, etc. but I'd vastly prefer to do ToS), do the Woodgrain magic on that larger box, slap on a quality laser print of the ToS box art, set up appropriate foam inserts, and then fill them with higher quality minis that might belong with the set (In the case of ToS, skeletons, wights, liches, wraiths, etc.) from better quality manufacturers like Ral Partha, Otherworld, Fractured Dimensions, Center Stage, etc.

Yes, yes, I'm all nostalgic for the old Grenadier minis that were originally in the set but let's get real -- they were definately a step down compared to Ral Partha and any modern manufacturer you care to name. Even at the time they were crude, compared to Rals, Martian Metals, and many others. Today they are laughable (though I do in truth get a bit nostalgic for them -- they do bring back a lot of memories).

Another issue I have is that some monsters thematically don't make much sense. What's an ettin doing in "Tomb of Spells?" Wouldn't a mummy make more sense? So I'm going to revise the contents as well in terms of types of minis.

So, to the point of this thread. The one thing I'm missing before I can get this project on the road are hi-rez scans of the box art on these boxed sets (especially Tomb of Spells). Anybody have any they can send to me? So far as come up with a goose egg on Dragon's Foot and the OD&D forums - lot of views but no responses. The best I have is below, and is not bad, but I was hoping for something a bit bigger (this is only 63Kb).

misterspock wrote:I have a feeling you're not going to be able to find a high res scan unless you do it yourself. You can still find the box sets to purchase and if you have a scanner, then set it up for a 300 or 600dpi scan. I don't think you have to do anything higher than that.


** expired/removed eBay auction **

Yeah, I was afraid of that. I'm aware of the eBay auctions, but I was hoping someone out there would have it in their collection and save me the bother. Problem with buying one is that I am stuck with the minis, which I generally don't care for (with a couple of exceptions).

Out of curiousity, does anyone have simply a box they'd be willing to part with? It can be damaged (splits, etc.), so long as the cover art is intact. Long shot but worth asking.

I can take a look at my sets, to see if any of their box top covers are in better shape (probably not, though).

Charles G. wrote:Well, I've got the boxes done, just need a Tomb of Spells scan. One fellow here offered to send me one, but has since been out of touch and I fear he does not have what I seek.

I will send you a high res scan before the end of the week, perhaps tonight.

dwarf wrote:

Charles G. wrote:Well, I've got the boxes done, just need a Tomb of Spells scan. One fellow here offered to send me one, but has since been out of touch and I fear he does not have what I seek.

I will send you a high res scan before the end of the week, perhaps tonight.

AWESOME! Thanks much! When I didn't hear back I feared that you had not been able to find it. Painting the house, though, tends to make much disappear, in my experience...

dwarf wrote:

dwarf wrote:
I will send you a high res scan before the end of the week, perhaps tonight.

Scan just sent

Received! Many thanks! I will be using Photoshop to clean it up a bit; once done, this will be available to anyone who wants it.

grodog wrote:

Charles G. wrote:
Received! Many thanks! I will be using Photoshop to clean it up a bit; once done, this will be available to anyone who wants it.

Very cool.  I corresponded with the seller who had sold the original Grenadier box art from several months ago, and he was going to send me scans of those too.  I don't think he had Tomb of Spells, but will go back to check and see.

Actually, any of them might be nice to make available (if that is all right). A lot of this stuff is just neat in its own right. Pity the minis in the box generally didn't live up to the expectations set by the fine cover art! (Though, in their day, they were still pretty cool anyway)