Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson

This is another of those "just cause I fancied" it purchases , which has lain on the painting desk 3/4 finished over the summer. So in between other works this week I finished him off. This is a figure from Black Scorpions "Collectors" range , which seem to be limited edition set of metal figures. As I purchased a pile of cowboys from them at Salute I though this one would be something a little different.

Now all I need is a 1/56th scale HMS Victory.... no.... no.... no.........

The "Grand" & the "Cattlemans"

I recieved my order from Gamecraft in the U.S this week - for a few more items to add to "Serenity". They are are really good pre cut MDF buildings. they are made from 3mm and go together easily enough with a bit of PVA. They were a reasonable dollar price and with a 20% of for the 4th of July week that covered the shipping too.

First up what will be the "Grandest" hotel in town. If you want to make these with more innards you can purchase an extra internal floor set - but it would also take a bit more personal modifications such as staircase etc to really finish the job. I am not intending to do much inside the buildings (he say hoping he won't regret that statement). They were given a spray of Humbrol Dark Brown and once dried a heavy brush with a Vallejo Iraqi Sand

It's a nice kit and plenty of room on the balcony and the boardwalk for figures on bases as well

In addition Morgan Earp has turned up in town , just eyeing up the posters of the local troublemakers - and perhaps in for an encounter with Eliza Johnson. The poster are a free download pdf sheet from The Rules With no name forum

Further down at the rougher end of town you will find the "Cattlemans Saloon" an establishment with a well deserved roughhouse reputation.

In addition there is some further investment in town infrastructure with the water pump

Also picked up a pile of fencing and on with the some cover in the form of barrels, boxes and bales for outside Johnson's Dried Good Emporium. The other decks of custom cards - the Money and the Shooting are on the way so should start gaming vary soon.

3 Amigo's

A few "Banditos" have turned up from across the Rio Grande looking for trouble. These are Black Scorpion figures - the metal versions which is nice as they are all resin now. I did a very rare thing (as in last time I did it was 20+ plus years ago) and actually bought them ready painted and based from e-bay. Pleased to say they matched the description and photo well - all I added was a tuft or two of grass and another coat of varnish and changed brown on the base to match my others..  I take no credit for them - they are very nicely done. They will make a nice addition to the collection - along with a few more I have to paint myself.

ok - ok enough of the cowboy stuff....

So a few tasters of the AWI - 71st Highlanders in glorious Old School shininess's. Rather pleased with the end result - the piper don't forget is a conversion from an ordinary private soldier carrying a musket.Just a couple done of these to get my eye in on them - just another 54 to finish.. can't wait to see the whole unit en masse 

More next time.

It's getting crowded in town

I decided to push on with the last lots of Old West figures for a while, certainly I now have enough to be able to do a reasonable sized game.

So here we have some more of the good citizens of Serenity Flats.

Mainly from the Blue Moon Manufacturing Tombstone civilians. I love the Chinese character and will be on the look out for some more for the Chinese quarter and the railroad gangs. All the figures for the BMM civilians are very different and will give a good aesthetic appeal, just hope they don't catch too many bullets!

There are a good few cow hands and bad guys around

Black Scorpion Figures

Also rumours that Billy the Kid has been seen in town

Along with the crazy preacher , his girl and hanger one.

Well with all the trouble brewing there has been some hiring of lawmen to assist the town sheriff.

With Virgil and Wyatt Earp showing up again and Rooster has found a space in the livery for his horse.

There has even been a telegram sent to the Pinkertons

     Artizan Designs

I have done these to a simple game standard using a limited palette, with blocking, washing and a highlight. I was nice to get some extra colour on the ladies from the townsfolk.

Next up for the Old West is the Undertakers hearse waggon for the ride to Boot Hill..(it's going to be needed)

Also there are rumours of the Railroad in the distance, now just who will profit from that coming to town?

Back to more traditional Napoleonic and AWI for the next weeks.

Old West Town "Serenity Flats"

Welcome to the town of Serenity Flats. There has been some construction work lately with the towns first hotel the "STAR". This is a Sarrissa Precision MDF lasercut pack. Simple construction and simple drybrush to give a little distressed look.

Little Miss Sanders & the Barman "Friendly Brown"

 Doctor Chapman - the town surgeon.

The "Mills gang" - Scorpion Jones, Rider Ray, Shane - "Gutbucket" - Fox, Bart "Shooter" Mills

Deputy Daniels

Now of course as this establishment has a card table it has attracted a certain "Doc Holliday" 

I get the feeling it is going to be anything but quiet around here.

All but Doc Holliday are Black Scorpion figures, he is another of the 3 part set from Artizan Designs.

The cattle corral is on order with 50 head of cattle on the way!.

"Fill your hands Mister"

There must be any number of Old West cliche's to be used here. Anyway I finished up the first lot of the "Old West" purchases from Salute. Enough to get a game in I reckon. Here we have Ginger Lily and her gang. These are all Black Scorpion miniatures

Also that perennial Old West favourite - "Doc Holliday" , by Artizan Designs

I did these to a basic game standard - simple blocking work , washes then a drybrush. It gave a pleasant dusty look to the end result. I see some fantastic painted Old West stuff , but some of it is just too clean looking to my eye - i magine the old west as being dirty & muddy or dusty!. I have another 30 or so figures a mix of townsfolk, gunslingers ,lawmen etc to do and I will do them all similarly. Once done i will revisit to improve the overall look if need be. Looking forward to the first game against Scott's Marauders!

"Zulu" Lt. Gonville Bromhead & "Old West" Pat Garret

I received this pair from Black Scorpion Miniatures this week and liked the look of them so I  wanted to get them included in the painting challenge - and to give me something interesting to do between oil painting the horses that are on the go). I don't find just working on one figure at a time terribly productive so always do at least two so i can switch between them if waiting for something to dry etc.

With the Bromhead figure all dressed up in his cloak I could just hear Michael Caine's voice - "Well chin chin.. do carry on with your mud pies"

In terms of sizing however the Black Scorpion is considerable larger and well fed than the Empress Miniatures one completed recently - both different and both great to paint.

The Old West lawman Pat Garret is from the Black Scorpion Tombstone range - just need to get hold of a Billy the Kid. Another one to add to the law man collection

Back to conversion work on the second regiment of Chasseurs tomorrow, then they are ready for undercoating.

'I'm Your Huckleberry.'

As Doc Holliday says to "Ringo" in the film who would be a "cowboy". These guys are Black Scorpion Miniatures Tombstone range. Virgil, Morgan & Wyattt Earp and thier friend Doc Holliday on the street howitzer. Really good quality figures with little work other then a paint job required.