A Rose by any other name...

 "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2)

Why I chose this quote from Shakespeare will be explained shortly.

Suffice it to say, I have been painting figures of a number of types. I'm limited as to where I can go (I can't drive because of my need of an new knee) and as to what I can do. (I fell in my driveway a few weeks ago as I assisted in snow removal. An ambulance crew had to come to help me to my feet on the icy pavement. And I was embarrassed.) I have worked on a number of scattered projects reflecting my interests - The Silver Bayonet, Wiley Games' Galactic Heroes - Grimdark lists, Wild West, Gangsters, etc. 

Basically I have been having fun. Here's a few examples.

A while back, my son and I played a gave set in the Wiley Games version version of The Grimdark of a certain numbered era of another game I hesitate to mention... lest their minions appear with lawyers, guns, and money. It was such fun that I continued to put some other factions together - Space Dwarves, "Quendi" (a Tolkien reference), and other human groups. Lately, it's been troops of the Fleet Landing Force, with of course are NOT Space Marines™. I did them up in the dark green armour of the "chapter" I like the most... which sounds like "Dork Angels." (More on that later.)

Fleet Landing Force Officer with powersword and bolt pistol.
He's decked out in white so his troops can see him better.
It also means that his enemy can see him better as well.
Easy come, easy go!

A FLF NCO with red outlining.
"Watch your butt, Troop!"

Rocket Launcher trooper.
I had a choice of a bazooka or a RPG launcher.
Both seem rather "delicate" but I went with the bazooka.
Who knows what sort of ammunition would be available
in the Grimdark Future?

Flame Thrower trooper.
A bit clumsy but necessary.

Heavy weapon trooper for dealing with heavier targets.
Would this be a heavy bolter? Probably.

Trooper with bold rifle

Another Trooper

One more Trooper

I used Wargames Atlantic's Valkir Heavy Troopers, who appear to be properly armoured with lots of weapons options. I used a bazooka from a WWII American infantry box for the rocket launcher. It may appear a little "frail" but who knows what kind of ammunition would be available and what size it might be? I find the Wargames Atlantic Heavy Troopers to be a bit "fiddly" as to positioning and I like them a lot despite the fiddly-ness. They seem competent and business-like while not infected with skulls.

Also from Wargames Atlantic's fantasy Market scene...

Puppeteer Lady.
I like the puppet.

I call him "the Pilgrim" since he has his staff
and a proper capuche.

 

A Soothsayer in mid-wander.

The Town Butcher.
The axe might be too much, but who knows
what he's about to butcher.

 

A guy who needs a hot meal from NorthStar Minis

Halved Skeleton
The figure arrived broken in two just above the hip.
I think it was a happy accident.

From an unknown source, a Pooka "between" chosen forms.

Pooka - from Irish mythology
It is a mischievous shape-shifter and it's "resting shape"
is still rather shape-less. 

From Victoria Miniatures, a wonderful set of Python-esque characters... that NO-ONE EXPECTS!

Cardinal Biggles

Cardinal Fang

Cardinal Ximenez

 Speaking of Dork Angels...

There are more things I'll be posting shortly. More clergy in particular for The Silver Bayonet - Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox mainly. Figures for Protestant clergy and Jewish Rabbis are a bit harder to find.

Merry Christmas to all who read this!

 

To any and all who might read this, I wish you a happy holidays. Personally, I celebrate Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, St. John's Day, Holy Innocents, and Epiphany (aka Orthodox/"Greek" Christmas.) So whatever you celebrate, take joy in it.

I'm adding some Holiday-ish pics now.

Out to get the Baron

Meanwhile at the department store...

A visual adaptation of "The Huron Carol."
This is the original Canadian Christmas carol.
The words are in the Huron language and the tune is French.

"Hon, should we invite the Shermans for Christmas dinner?"

From Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Fanciful Models for Past and Future (Sortt of Out of Focus)

 

Seems like trouble... could be fun

A few figures of various types and various times. I enjoy working up odd oddities between projects.

Kit-bashed crew members for a possible Stargrave game.
The central figure used Zouave legs, torso, and head with
a Japanese WWII light machine gun.

Fred, the Galactic Champion and his side-kick, Brzq'h.

"Saucermen" by Bob Murch

Crash Callahan and Fred off for some motorized daring-do!

Crash Callahan and Fred for dismounted daring-do!
(Bob Murch's Pulp figures)

Gun molls with guns
(From Mirliton's range)

Mr. Conductor
{Apologies for the terrible focus!}

Gangland gangsters from Mirliton
{Again the focus is terrible.}

"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit!"
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?"
The Shadow!

A few things with a more fantasy/D&D feel.

A lizard-man blacksmith, an artificer with shouldered cannon,
and what I'm guessing is a warbot/construct who looks like
something akin to the 40K Tau.

A swordswoman, a dwarven magic-user,
and a magic user who can manipulate time.

"I've got a fever... and the only cure is more cowbell!"

An old Grenadier figure of a bard playing the pipes.
I looked for this figure for years and finally found it on E-bay,

Another old Grenadier figure of a knight at prayer.
I thought he made s good statue.
This figure is SO old I bought it before Grenadier went out of
business and Mirliton took over the molds. 

I might re-take some of the badly focused photos and post them again later.

Things That Go Bump In The Night

 Even though I don't get much chance to play (because of my present state of health), I enjoy the concept and flow of the game, The Silver Bayonet, a Napoleonic horror game in the skirmish style. Just about any and all Napoleonic period soldiers and civilians can be used and the barn door is wide open when it comes to monsters and myths. I've obtained most of the books and I'm waiting (Hint! Hint!) for a book on Ireland or the Scottish Highlands. Things there are not what we expect. As an example, a werewolf in the Irish mythos is a protector of the innocent! Now that's a switch!

Anyway here are a few of my most recent painted figs for the genre. 

Skeletons are always interesting as on-board nasties.
This guy certainly needs a hot meal!
(Northstar miniatures)

He's listed as "Dr. Barnabas of the Infernal Embassy."
I suppose he's a ghost of some sort and I certainly like the figure.
I'd say a hot meal in is order for him as well.
(Brigade Games Miniatures)

A ghostly knight
I like my ghosts green even though many prefer blue.
(Ral Partha miniature)

Two infirmiers for a French force.
I'm not sure how much use they'd be on the table, but they're nice
old Minifig offerings picked up at a Bring-n-buy.

Two French officers who could be commanders or specialists
of some sort. Always good to have a few extra. One is uniformed
as an engineer!
(Unknown make)

A French Voltigeur who could be handy in a tough spot.
(Unknown make)

An Austrian Grenz regiment trooper loading.
(Perry Miniatures)

Russians... a grenadier officer and a Pavlov grenadier soldier
(Purchased through Mirliton Miniatures in Italy, who actually
provided quick service, considering the distance from Canada.)

A British soldier of a light infantry regiment.
(Mirliton Miniatures)

I've been wanting to do a Swedish Silver Bayonet crew for a while.
Here we have a infantryman in the old "round-hat" uniform, an
officer in similar kit*, and another infantryman in 1814 kit with a 
Russian style "Kivar" shako, much admired by the Swedes.
{* these two are originally figures for the Cisalpine Republic.}
(Mirliton figures)

Two more troopers of the Swedish army.
A jager of the Savolax Regiment - although a Finnish outfit
disbanded after the Russo-Swedish War, I wanted to add a Finn
to honour a friend of mine in Finland. Since we can play pretty
"fast and loose" with uniforms, I used the grey uniform and added
the Kivar.
The other is an infantryman of the Bohuslans regiment who were
referred to as "The Parrots" because of their light blue coatees, 
yellow facings and shako festoon, and green plumes for the light platoons.
(Mirliton figures)

I have other figures I'll be blogging about shortly (sci-fi, Pulp/Gangster, etc.) but this is today's theme. I hope you like them.