Pulp Figures Merchant Sailors and Film Stars

 Miss Lamour, the Fat Man and Bing Crosby.

A few more Old Salts,

Perry Miniatures AWI: Patriots!

I've always fancied myself, had I been around at the right time and place as a bit of a Patriot. I've had these chaps in a plastic bag for quite some time in the "One Day I'll Get Some Time To Paint These" box. I found some time!

Now to get hold of some of the early Northern Patriots that Messers Perry released earlier this month.

Foundry Boer War British Field Artillery Limber

Look what Father Christmas brought. This is the recently re-released Wargames Foundry British Colonial Artillery limber. The gun does not come with the set. I like this limber and team because the horses and Drivers look as if they are actually pulling something of weight at speed.

 Having maligned the Good Lady Wife before Christmas, I was delighted to find this set in the Christmas Stocking. I'm pleased to say that this is now in my display case having finally secured some time to pursue my own projects rather than working on painting commissions. I dedicate this set to Michael Awdry who runs the 28mm Victorian Warfare Blog. This is a place that I always enjoy visiting and have gained valuable inspiration in the past as a result. 

Click on the photos for larger versions.

Woodbine Designs: More WW1 Gurkhas.

Good heavens, I found some unexpected, yet rather welcome, extra time at the painting table since my last post (yes, I apologise for saying that that would be the last before Christmas). This has allowed me to complete the last five Woodbine Gurkhas and, as promised, here they are along with a photo of the complete unit of ten.

I now find myself with a completely clear painting table. Nothing outstanding. What joy! I have a small plastic box containing a selection of figures that have been saved until I have the time to dip in and wonder "What shall I paint today?" It looks as if I can now indulge myself. I wonder if the Good Lady Wife picked up on the Christmas hints about the re-released Foundry Boer War British Artillery Limber? Or will she, once again, refuse to gift anything related to the hobby, maintaining, foolishly, that "you've got enough bloody models to paint!"

Happy Christmas, everyone. I wish you all peace and prosperity.

Merry Chrismas, and Gawd Bless Us, Every One.

The last post before the holidays, so, Merry Christmas to all. May 2013 see us all healthy, wealthy, but above all happy.

Woodbine Designs: WW1 Gurkhas

 The first five of a ten figure unit of Woodbine Designs' Gurkhas. The next five will be brandishing the kukri. It is good to return to Woodbines painting up a group of figures that I have not attempted before. 

A photo of the next five and the completed unit should be up, I hope, just before the Christmas holidays start.

Gloucestershire Yeomanry (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) Palestine 1917-18. Great War Miniatures Conversions 3.

You may recall that I painted up ten GWM/Woodbine conversions to create the Royal Gloucester Hussars in Palestine, 1917, back in the summer. Well, here are ten of the same but this time dismounted.

More Armed Workers, Merchant Sailors and Adventurers.

The next ten of this batch of twenty. It has taken a while to get them complete due to all sorts of real life getting in the way and hampering the escapism of painting.

Forgotten Front Miniatures Highlander

There are three Highlanders in Wolseley helmets recently produced by Dave Ryan's "Forgotten Front Miniatures" range available on the Miniature Figurines website: http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/Catalogue.aspx?ScaleID=15&CategoryID=51&SubCategoryID=253

Here's one I painted earlier, as they say on all the best telly programmes.

A welcome addition to the cannon of miniatures available for the 1914-1930 period. Great to paint, too. Nice work, Dave.

The World Turned Upside Down

I learned of the death of my great and very dear friend, Howard Talbot, just over two weeks ago. We said goodbye to him last Friday.

It has been very hard to take. Many tears have been shed and there is hole in world that should be filled by my friend.

Howard was a direct decendant of Sir Thomas Aston, the Colonel of a Regiment of Horse and a troop of Dragoons in the service of the King during the Civil War. Howard had accesss to all the Aston papers and the wealth of information contained therein regarding Aston's Horse beggars belief. Sadly, Howard never got to publish "the book". I miss my friend in ways that words cannot express.

Sir Thomas Aston

I've not had the stomach to paint since I received this dreadful news and my world has been turned upside down. I knew Howard for twenty-seven years. I was introduced to his granddaughter, Megan, as "one of your grandad's oldest and closest friends." I was not ready to be refered to in a sentence containing the words "grandad" and "oldest".

We met when when we both joined the ECW reenactment scene in the mid 1980s. Although I dropped away some years ago the period has been foremost in my interest. I have not painted many ECW figures before, frankly, of all the ranges available I have never been entirely satisfied with any of them.

But I will bite the bullet. Once some commission work is out of the way Aston's Horse WILL ride accross the pages of this blog as a tribute to my friend.

 Howard enjoying a crepe from the van on site. A regular sight.

And talking of turning the world upside down, my entire understanding of Edgehill has just been turned on its head by this website. Now it all makes sense!

www.battleofedgehill.org.uk