Tribute to Dave - Corporal Docherty, Sergeant Millsy & The Shovel of Doom

The last Tribute for my Painting Challenge assistants is for Dave Docherty, our prized 'Wednesday Minion' (who also doubled as our peerless Sultan of the Sudan). Dave has been a long-time supporter of the Challenge, having been in the scrum since its second incarnation (the 'Year of the Vikings', I believe), so I was delighted to have him assisting me with the circus this time out. He's a great trooper, that Mr. D.

Originally I was going to do-up a single figure, the fellow seen here leading with the pipe - but while I was preparing the figure an idea came along which made me modify my plan and allowed me to have a bit more fun with the composition.

As many of you know, this year Dave created a funny story-line featuring himself, Millsy and, the close friend of every infantryman, a shovel. In Dave's story the imperious 'Major Docherty' harangues a hapless 'Corporal Millsy', who's only expertise it seems to be in the digging of latrines.  As I was working on Dave's 'tribute', it dawned on me that it might be fun to expand upon his story of the doughty Docherty, the maniacal Millsy and the Shovel of Doom. So I converted another figure to accompany the first and wrote a brief flight of fancy, an un conte, which mixes a Moorcock-esque premise with a dash of Black Adder magic-realism.

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'C'mon Corporal Docherty, keep up. We're late.'

'Remind me again, Sergeant Millsy, why do I have to lug around this bloody shovel?'

'Well, first, I outrank you this time out, and if you'll remember dear heart, it was I who had to use that thing instead of a proper lance in our last outing, when we were in The Valley. Do you remember? I had a hell of a time whacking away at those Frenchies with that blasted shovel. Granted, it does have a wicked edge on it and - '

'Russians.'

'What?'

'They were Russians, Millsy, you addled git. We were allied with the French, fighting the nasty Russians. Mind you, even Raglan, that inbred one-armed antique, couldn't keep it straight...'

'Oh, yes I remember now. You know, after that scrap in that frightful Belgian farmyard I can never get my head wrapped around the idea of the Frogs being on our side... Anyway, no matter, it's your bloody turn Corporal Docherty. You know the rules - one stripe, one shovel, one battle.'

'Right. You're quite right... So, where are we off to this time Sergeant Millsy? It's blasted hot and what in God's name is that infernal racket? It's giving me a headache. It sounds like a bloody train is about to take station over that ridge.

'I don't know what the sound is, but I can tell you that we're marching to fall in with the lads of the 24th. The poor sods have that idiot Chelmsford bossing them about so they need all the help they can get. They're all near that hill over yonder. Damn, what's it called again? It's a odd, foreign-sounding name... Ah yes, I remember, Isandwana. 

Now, hurry up...'

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Thank you very much for all your help Dave. I hope you like this little vignette and thanks for indulging me on my little departure on your original story. :) 

Curt

From MichaelA: 28mm Matabele Tribal Warriors (80 points)

From Michael:

As we enter the final throes of the Challenge there has been a flurry of excitement here at 'Awdry Towers' as I struggle to finish off units before the allotted deadline. To that end I present these fine warriors from the Matabele nation, all sixteen of them! They are all 28mm miniatures from North Star Military Figures and to quote their site, "The Matabele are an African tribe whose origins were in the mighty Zulu Nation. During the early 19th Century they rebelled and create an infamous name for themselves as they escaped North to settle in what is now Zimbabwe. The Matabele Kingdom was defeated in 1893 and 1896 by Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company."

This entry is made up of four of their packs including Warriors in full Regalia (Insuga Regt.), Matabele Amadoda Warriors, Chief and Izinduna and finally Matabele Warriors Firing Muskets.

All took far longer than I thought they would, what with all their cow tail ornaments, shield designs ostrich feathers! Still finally done and off the table, phew!

These are beautiful figures Michael. I'm not familiar with the North Star range but I must say these look to be cracking sculpts. I really love the skin tone you've achieved with these fellows and the hide shields are marvellous. 

These sixteen Matabele warriors will give Michael 80 points which in addition to your upcoming bonus round points will put you well over you 1000 point second target. Congratulations Michael - Lovely work and a wonderful effort overall!

From EdwinK: 54mm Zulu War Colonial British Infantry (180 points)

Edwin's lucky nephew is about to receive these fine reinforcements to his growing collection.

From Edwin:

Here are some more 54mm toy soldiers for my nephew's collection.  Ideal for counterpane wars ;)

The are Armies in Plastic Set 5573 'Zulu War 1879, 24th Foot' (though to be honest the only difference between the various regiments they sell is the box art and the colour of the plastic they are molded in - these are a lurid red).  

It's a nice set though - 18 figures in six different poses.

Awesome! Your nephew will be delighted with these I'm sure. I especially like the floral quilt terrain that they are deployed on. If I squint my eyes a bit I see a detachment of Victoria's finest deploying onto the surface of Mars to claim it for the Empire.

These 54mm soldiers will give Edwin 180 points - only 3 away from his Challenge target. Well done!

From DaveD: 'Do Carry On With Your Mud Pies...' Lt. Gonville Bromhead and Pat Garrett (10 points)

Dave slips in these two character figures for your viewing enjoyment. The first is Gonville Bromhead, one of the two officers commanding the storied defence of Rorke's Drift.

The other figure with the fancy pin-striped trousers and hand cannon depicts the chequered lawman, Pat Garrett, the man who killed Billy the Kid.

Both of these 28mm figures are from Black Scorpion Miniatures.

These two characters will give Dave 10 points, chipping him ever-closer to the 2K mark. Lovely work, Dave.

From DaveD: 28mm 'Man with no Name', Legionnaires, Zulus & Napoleonic French Legere Battalion (170 points)

Dave shows us a wonderfully eclectic mix of models to feast our eyes on. First is a beautifully sculpted 'Man with no Name'. 

This 28mm casting is from Ebob Miniatures. I gotta get one of these.

Dave really did a fabulous job on the poncho and the blue jeans. I also like the cold blue eyes of 'The Stranger' - well done!

Next is a group of four French Foreign Legionnaires in desert uniforms.

These are 28mm castings from Artizan Miniatures.

Here we have the recently released set from Warlord/Empress Miniatures depicting the characters from 'Zulu'. 

You just gotta love 'Hooky' - and Dave did a brilliant job on all four of them.

Finally Dave shows us a Napoleonic French battalion, the 1st of the 26e Regiment de Legere.

These are 28mm Elite Miniatures castings.

This group will add 170 points to Dave's tally. Great work!

From RayR: 54mm Anglo-Zulu War Vignette (100 points)

Ray forwarded me images of this great vignette he made for his Dad's birthday. I'll let him describe it.

I’ve attached a few photos of a diorama I made for my Dad, over the last weeks, it's his 70th birthday this Saturday, and I always try and paint him up some kind of diorama of figure, He's not a wargamer but loves display figures. I picked up these figures 2 years ago at a boot fair, while on holiday in the Lake District. I haven't a clue what make they are, but they're 54mm and since it was the 133rd anniversary of both Ilsandlwana and Rorke's Drift on the 22nd of January, I thought they'd fit the part perfectly!!

Great work on the cowhide shields and I really like the animation of the Zulu with the arched back. 

The figures give Ray a base of 88 points, but I'm going to place the entire vignette at 100.

That's a very nice gift you've made for your Dad, Ray. (I'm getting all misty just thinking about it.)