Pulp - Guys and Dolls

Meet the newest additions to Serenity City. "Loki" over at Brigantes Studios has recently completed the commission work for my gangster collection, which will complete the figures I need/want for this - and what a job..

"Dolls"

 Copplestone Castings "Swell Dolls" set - they sure are.

"Guys"

 Copplestone Castings - "Honest Citizen" - hmm i think not - the "Boss" wears the snazzy Argyle sweater from now on..- great painting. The 5 o'clock shadow on the bag man is brilliant, and the detail on the paper seller is wonderful.

 

I really can't praise these enough - well done "Loki"

I also  have some more by Blue Moon which will be posted on the blog in the next few day, but for now these deserve thier own place in the sun.

Zulu Wars. British Artillery

It has been a productive weekend , with just varnishing and last touches to bases meaning a number of items are now finished!. I was suitably inspired after doing the Rorkes Drift characters that having found this set I got earlier in the year I decided to complete it. The gun model is a finely detailed piece of equipment - and a total pain to assemble! But once done it painted up nicely. I have gone for a double basing option with the gunners individually based , but  done so they can be put onto a a textured base which has wheel ruts etc for the gun, It gives different options. All figures etc by Empress Miniatures. The blues for the gunners is the ever reliable Andrea Color blue set..

7lb gun & crew

 

9lb gun & crew with base

 

 Or the option without the main base

 So it is back to cowboys and buildings next

It's not rocket science.

But it is a "Rocket Troop".

I have had it my head to do one of these for a while. The figures are RHA from "Front Rank". I had two with rammer which had it cut away and had my own home made rockets added. They are made from piano wire, , some milliput rolled into a small sausage and fixed to the end. A couple of thin bits of paper cut and stuck to wrap them on and finally a small ball bearing added for the ball.

The rocket firing apparatus is made from brass wire and sheet, soldered together. It may not be 100% accurate to the originals (thats is another project with the heavier version launched from the wagon) , but put it on a table and people will see its a rocket troop. As far as i have read they fired a lot straight from the ground as well , so who knows that may be another one to do.

Background to the photos courtesy of Mark Freeth at the Wargames Holiday Centre (Yes that is La Haye Saint in the background)

Gun Battery completed

I was looking for something quick and easy to do, so I thought a gun battery should do the trick. I was given the this "Elite miniatures" one to get my eye back in. It is only 12 figures and 3 guns so it was done in a couple of nights. The guns were assembled and stuck together with superglue. The barrels were drilled out a bit more. The figures had a mix of early and late uniforms. For a painting guide reference I have a a complete set of original "Rousselot plates" - the definitive guide for French Napoleonic uniforms I believe. The undercoat for the figures and guns was all dark grey (Humbrol 67). The guns are painted in Humbrol 150 which is a good match for French Artillery Green. They are then given a very  thin wash of dark brown prior to adding on the metal paints.They are finished off with a light dry brush of a light earth colour. The end of the barrel is blackened with dry brushing. The figures are pretty straight forward apart from I decided to add extra detail on the sabretache with the company number and wreaths etc.

For the bases which are cut from 1/16th ply some extra work is required to make slots for the gun wheel and trail to sit in. This is created with some blobs of blue tack which are formed and shaped by pushing in the wheels to form ruts. The blue tack is then hardened with a covering of superglue. The base is then covered with PVA wood glue and dipped in my usual sand/cat litter mixture prior to colouring.