Mark's Little Soldiers

 

Yes, it's been a while. No, I haven't moved... or been conscripted... or in hospital. Let's chalk it up to the combination of busyness and laziness. Good, now we can move on.

A while back, I say notice of the release of new figures from Mark Copplestone, figures based on a fantasy clash between countries in the sculptor's imagination. They're listed as 30mm but they stand close to big 28's. Details appeard to be charmingly minimal.

I love imagination... and imagi-nations.

I obtained a few figures and since there are a few I'm quite interested in ("Rufus T. Firefly" for example), I'll probably get some more.

The three Imagi-nations are Slovsko, Panovia, and Bergland. They all have a nice "retro" toy soldier look and are sculped to look vaguely like inter-war troops, sort of just prior to the Spanish Civil War and such.

I like them and I painted them as I wanted to (since I bought them with money and all.) I only have a few and I'll present them here. I don't have names for the two countries I've represented, but I might have names before the blog is done.

First, a member of the National Gendarmerie of the one nation which looks somewhat like early WWII Soviet troops, although the gendarme pictured is rather fancy for a crypto-Soviet nation:

Rather fancy and Casablanca-esque and Clouseau-ish
"Un-occupied Potatoland welcomes you!"

I wanted a general police type figure once I saw it and the Kepi seemed to tell me to set that up. He should have a mustache, don't you think? Maybe later.

Next, an officer, low to middle rank, of the People's Army. I thought a yellow-ish khaki would serve. The crest on the helmet reminded me of the applied crest on Soviet helmets early in WWII.

An officer of the People's Republic of Stroganoff (There's a name!)
RHIP ('Rank has it's privileges.') hence the lighter Khaki breeches.
I felt I had to ink the faces of the figures to bring out the detail.

The People's Army needed people so a people it is. A ranker ready to defend the Brotherland without much political interest or savvy. Again the yellow-ish Khaki, green helmet, black boots, and brown leather belting seemed right.

A tough veteran, rough and ready.
More vodka and perogy, anyone? 

The Bergland troop have a definite Teutonic look to them - jackboots, coal-scuttle helmet, etc. I didn't want to break out the Feldgrau although who knows what the future may hold?

Now who wore the coal-scuttle Stahlhelm? Switzerland? Chile? Argentina? Iran? Nationalist China? Yes, true... but too much grey or khaki. Who else?

Who else indeed! Fianna Fail! ("Warriors of Destiny", but not the political party.) Soon after the army of the Republic of Ireland was formed, they adopted a Stahlhelm copy made by Vickers in the UK. It was worn until the beginning of WWII when the British-style Brodie helmet was adopted. (That other helmet might have led to some touchy moments at the border with Northern Ireland.) So I used the really dark green of the uniform of the Republic's troops with the ruby red leggings, black belting, and black helmets with the Army badge affixed to the front.

An officer of the Republic of Erie (There's the second name!):

Again, light khaki breeches, brown gloves, and a bit of shine to the helmet.
I used Liquitex artist's acrylic paint for that since it has some sheen to it.

And the rank-and-file:

The Irish Army had some rather strange ways of keeping a shine on
their legging and belting, sometimes involving candlewax.
His belts are black although they're hard to see against the really dark green tunic.

Finally, a garda of the Guardians of the Peace, the national police force of the Republic of Erie. I chose a lighter green for the tunic, breeches, and cap. ("Deep River Green", a colour I usually use for SYW Russian coats.) He looks rather severe without much detail, but he is a "toy soldier style" figure.

The figure still looks a bit Teutonic, but I like him. 
Would he be better with an open tunic and necktie?
I don't like ties, so...

There are still some figures to paint, among them two officers. One is wearing a German/Austrian style mountain troops cap with a feather. (I'm thinking Austro-Hungarian alpine troops.) The second has a "garrison cap"/side cap with a tassel in the front like the SCW troops wore. I think you can see where this is going.

Yet to be released are troops in berets, in the garrison cap, in a Balkan-style fur cap, and who knows what else. Machine guns, both light and heavy, mortars, flamethrowers, artillery, and even comic-style bomb blasts are a now available. The ads show more and different to come.

This could be a problem. There's only so much money in the world.