My Tribute to Millsy - Russian Grenadier with Armoured Steam Trousers

A few years ago, a wag in the Challenge, for the life of me I can't recall who, began calling the price-of-admission figure the 'Curtgeld' (as a nod to the nasty Danegeld levied by the Vikings - the cheek!). The term stuck, and my painting cabinet has amassed a wondrous collection of Curtgeld over the years, a treasure which I jealously guard like Smaug over his hoard. 

As some may know, my free time this year has been restricted by work and so I've called in on friends to help me manage the Challenge. We've jokingly referred to them as 'Minions' but I know very well that I couldn't have pulled off the event without them. With this in mind I'm going to start a new tradition by providing a 'Tribute' to my Challenge compatriots in recognition and as thanks for their huge contribution in keeping this mad ride on the rails. Over these last two weeks of the Challenge I will be posting the Tributes, one by one. The 'Tributes' will be single figures of my choosing - I hope to fit the figure to the recipient.

The first Tribute is for my good friend Millsy, who is absolutely relentless in getting stuff done, both as an individual hobbyist, as a layout designer (e.g. Simon Miller's 'To the Strongest') and a magazine editor (the excellent 'Wargame Bloggers Quarterly'). His energy and skills seem boundless.

So Mr. Mills, to match your dogged determination and your affection of the Pulp genre, I present to you a grizzled Russian grenadier sporting a pair of armoured steam trousers. 

This 28mm figure is from Brigade Games, sculpted by Paul Hicks. I've added a smoke stack to the engine as it just seemed the 'sensible' thing to do.

Yes, you read that right boys and girls, 'steam trousers'. The British may have their leaky dreadnoughts, the Germans their fat and ungainly Zeppelins, but the Russia of the Czars will make a fearless grenadier out of anybody with their  armoured steam trousers. Just think, with these 'pants of victory' no officer has to worry about troops faltering in their advance. Say, you need to suicidally charge a distant line of artillery? No problem! With the steam trousers the pace of advance is locked-in and these devilish leggings will march your troops to glorious (if somewhat phyric) victory!

Steam Trousers - Let Science Give You A Kick in the Pants to Victory!

*Also available as jodhpurs, lederhosen and Tutus.  (Coal, chaffing powder and willing minion not included.)

I hope you like it Millsy!

Za zdorovje!

Entry #17 to the AHPC - Clockwork Monkeys

With the end of the Challenge coming onto the horizon, I thought it best to get some of the half-painted figures on my desk completed and in the cabinet before the checkered flag is waved.  

For this entry I'm returning to the Pulp genre for a bit of steampunk whimsy.

Here is a trio of 28mm clockwork monkeys from Westfalia Miniatures. 

I did a bunch of these last year for the Lead Painters League and had this group as remnants of the set. Figures like these provide a perfect example of those things in the hobby that you KNOW you have no real use for, but you absolutely HAVE to have them because they capture your imagination, make you nostalgic, are stoopidly funny, etc.

Really not much to say here, just a lot of brass, bronze and steel, with a fez on top! The wind-up key in their backs makes me smile.

Next up: More steampunk silliness

Entry #16 to the AHPC - 28mm WWI era Russian BK-2 Riverine Gunboat

Last week we had our 'Nautical' theme over at the Challenge and this was my modest entry: a 1916 BK-2 Russian Riverine Gunboat.

This 28mm resin model is from my very talented friend Alf, over at Barrage Miniatures. In retrospect, I think my work on it is a little too pristine, so I think I'll make it a bit more careworn before I take it out for a game. Nonetheless, you get a good idea of the model -  I think she's a sweet little runabout and good for skirmish games as it's not too overpowering.

These small gunboats saw a lot of service during their service life.  They debuted during the First World War, but also saw operations during the Russian Revolution, the Polish-Soviet War and World War Two. It's probably not too much of a stretch to think that one of these little babies could see some Pulp adventures as well...

Interestingly, due to their complex design requirements, which called for a very small hull, high speed and a balanced weapon placement, the Russians were forced to look abroad in order to have them manufactured. Being that the Great War was raging, all the European shipyards were either enemy states, or furiously building their own wartime craft. Undeterred, the Russians turned to the United States, who at that time were not in the war, and in 1916 a contract for 18 boats was filled by the Mullins & Company of Salem Ohio. 

In this final shot we have the enchanting Madame Ting-Ting and her salty associate Capt. Douglas (DSC/RN Ret) 'negotiating' with a Russian sailor for a BK-2.  She simply HAD TO HAVE the BK. She was heard saying after the gunshot, 'This little 'dreadnought' will look sooo darling with my flag fluttering above it...'

Next up: Something Simian and Steampunk

Entry #15 to the AHPC - 16th Century Gendarmes

While it may seem that I've been drifting aimlessly amidst a random series of genres and periods, I have actually managed to maintain a relatively steady progress with my Italian Wars project. A lot of this has to do with my 'Renaissance Men' duel with Peter (thanks Pete!), but it's also simply that I'm having a great time researching, collecting and painting the figures. With this being said, I've found that my already slow speed has been reduced to a veritable crawl due to the complexity of the clothing, colours and armour (ie. Landsknechts, I hate those overdressed f*cks!). I know I could keep it simple and just grind the units out, but it seems counter-intuitive to the pomp and splendour of the period, and so I've been plodding away, taking my sweet time with them.

Anyway, enough of my blather, let's get to the goods. Here's the latest unit to roll off my hobby desk - a unit of heavy cavalry, which can be flagged either as Gendarmes of Louis XII of France, or heavy cavalry of the Papal army under Cesare Borgia.

I started these fellows during the first week of the Challenge and have been puttering away on them ever since. So while they have been great fun to work on, I'm quite happy to see them finally done and parked in the display cabinet.

Papal Gendarmes of Cesare Borgia.

These are 28mm metal figures from Eureka Miniatures. They're very good models, providing excellent examples of the bewildering variety of martial fashions and armour designs witnessed during that time. The figures come with a wide assortment of weapons, horses and plumage, so you can mix and match to your heart's content. 

I armed this unit with the classic heavy cavalry lance as it seems so iconic to the period. The stock lance that comes with the figures is quite nicely modeled, but since they've been cast in soft white metal, they're very prone to bending and are difficult to keep straight. 

Which will it be: The spaghetti or rotini lance?

So, with this in mind I clipped off the lance shafts, drilled-out the grips and replaced the lot with sharpened steel rods. It was a bit of a hassle, but I think it will pay off in the end (and it allows me to petulantly poke my opponents if things don't go my way during a game). I was planning to paint the lances in the classic 'barber-pole' fashion, but discovered that the painted lances were usually reserved for parade events and tournaments, whereas the 'war lances' were typically raw, unfinished wood. This appealed to my sensibilities, as in my mind's eye I think that when one saw these guys arrayed with plain wood lances it would send a message that they weren't there to pick up ladies' hankerchiefs - they were there to get things sorted. 

French Gendarmes of Louis XII of France.

It's easy to think of Gendarmes as being a uniquely French formation, but in reality most of the nations involved in the Italian Wars had heavy cavalry arrayed very much the same. As such, I wanted to be able to 're-flag' the unit depending on the scenario. I unashamedly stole James Roach's brilliant idea of sleeving the flags so they can be easily swapped in and out. Basically this involves cutting a plastic or brass tube with which to wrap the flag around. Glue a finial on top to complete the ruse de guerre.  The flagstaff itself is left bare at the top so the sleeved banners can simply be socketed on as required.

Sleeved flags. Borgia/Papal at top and Louis XII, bottom.

The banners are from Pete's Flags' excellent Italian Wars range.

As many gendarmes were of noble birth I thought it would be fun to tart up the bases with a pack of hunting hounds to add a bit more visual interest and reinforce the sense movement to the unit. I sourced the wolfhounds from Gripping Beast (I did a bit of reading on the subject of sporting dogs and indeed, there were French wolfhounds bred during the period).

'Italian's back on the menu, lads. Go get 'em.'

The groundwork is the same autumnal theme that I've been using for my other Italian Wars units. Admittedly it's a bit over the top, but hey, it's freakin' Renaissance Italy! It should be a riot of colour. This all being said, I'm going through tufts and shrubs like crazy, so a resupply will be needed very soon... 

'Okay, who forgot to pack Leo's fancy-schmancy repeating crossbows?'

Thanks for visiting everyone - I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.

Entry #13 to the AHPC - For Valentines Day: 'Prendre la Température / To Test the Waters'

This was a bit rushed, but to celebrate Valentines I have for you 'Prendre la Température / To Test the Waters' (I think that's the right translation). 

It's 1795, and we see a French Chasseur a Cheval watering some of his troop's horses in a small village. He is knocking out his pipe on his boot, admiring the local scenery. A fetching young lady, who is washing some of the regiment's laundry, has caught his eye and he thinks he might 'test the waters'.

Nonetheless, the young miss has two chaperons nearby who are definitely wise to the scenario. One is an old crone, smoking a pipe and keeping an eye on the dashing cavalryman. In fact, she can clearly remember that warm spring day in 1745, when those handsome hussars came swaggering into town (where do you think she got the pipe?). She know's what's afoot...

The other overseer is the girl's faithful dog, who can smell mischief a mile away, and is barking his head off to let everyone know it (those who know our pup 'Felix' will see a certain resemblance).

This charming 28mm vignette is offered by Eureka Miniatures, minus the fearless pooch who is from Westfalia. A wonderful set of figures that was a great fun to work on.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great week!