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.  

Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant!

Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant!

     For no particular reason, combat in the arena under the Roman Republic or Empire is an interest of mine. It isn't the gore or the excess, but the idea piqued my interest. Over the last few months of this pandemic, I've taken the time to do a bit of research (very little, I'm sure), purchase some figures, paint them up, and prepare them for actual play. I had done up about a half dozen figures from the Canadian company, RAFM, but I need a few more to cover some of the other types of gladiators. CP Models from the UK filled the bill and even had a set of rules for sale. (CP provides what I'd consider fine service and really rather quick considering the trans-Atlantic nature of the commerce.)

Of course, I've taken some pictures:

The rules available through CP Models
I'll admit I have yet to try them out and I'm looking forward to it.
They appear to me to have a particular way of deciding hits,
one that takes into account the experience of the gladiator.

A heavy Secutor (usually paired against the Retiarius) and a lightly armed Veles
(CP Models)
The white stripe shows the direction of the figure's facing - important for the rules.

A heavy Murmillo and the double-sworded Dimachaereus
(CP Models)

An example of the Parmularius with a small shield and another Veles
(RAFM)

Two examples of the Retiarius (Retiarii? Armed with net and trident)
CP version on the left and RAFM on the right.
The height of the figures is close enough and the CP models are a bit heftier,
but not so much as to ruin things.

A Thraex ("Thracian") and a Gladiatrix (female gladiator) - both CP
The Thracian usually carried shield and Thracian knife or Falx.
Female gladiators are not often mentioned, but CP makes one so... 

Two RAFM models - a Dimachaereus and a bare-headed Scutarius ("big shield")

RAFM's version of the heavy Murmillo and the very light, spear-armed Veles

A Thraex in a bull-head with an axe and the unique Arbelus - both CP
The Arbelus was armed with a short sword and a sort of tailor's cutting tool,
originally used to cut leather. The hand was gripped inside a cone which 
protected the arm and the cutting weapon. He might also be called a Scissor.

A Provocator in almost legionary armour and a Hoplomachus
mimicking a hoplite's arms and armour. - CP Models

The very unique Laquearius armed with sword and lasso(!)
and the bow-armed Sagittarius who should be mounted...
but what can you do?

More CP Models
A Dimachaereus and a true Thraex with the true Thracian knife.

Old Ral Partha Legionaries - just to keep order in the arena

Not Gladiators, but addition to my 20mm Imaginations Army
CP Models makes WWII models in 20mm and these guys are from the "Armed Catholic Clergy"
set. There's also a nun with a Thompson gun, but I couldn't resist painting Brother Juniper
with the burp gun first.

     I have other projects to share and I'll get to them soon. I'll also be sharing some photos from one of the few reenactment of the War of 1812 in Canada this year.

     Check back soon!

Independence Day Parade in Freedonia

(My wife and daughter are away for the weekend at the Great Canadian Steampunk Exposition and I'm left to my own devices as it were. It seemed like a good time to do some Imagi-nations hijinks.)

The Capitol City of Freedonia, Freedonia City (how original!) was all a-stir with the preparations for the Independence Day parade in the central square, The Firefly Quad. Sadly, the Grand Elector of Saxe-Freedonia, Rufus I Glöwurmchen, was unable to attend. He was drunk, hung over, asleep, in jail, otherwise occupied with the vital affairs of state. ("Here; hand these out to the boys in lieu of pay.")

The Grand Elector is field service attire.

The Grand Elector in court dress

Be that as it may, the parade was attended by the Elector's mistress, Mrs. Teesdale. Now, "Mrs. Teesdale" is a title; no matter who is the Electoral main squeeze, she is titled "Mrs. Teesdale" by tradition. The present holder of the title is the pulchritudinous Mitzi Jo Reifenpanne, of the Levittown Reifenpannes. (It's pronounced "Rye-fin-pahny" and "Lev-eh-town" for the uninitiated.) She took her place at the reviewing area surrounded by the Electoral Foot Guards in hollow square and the Elector's Personal Guard ("The Best Money Can Buy") off to the side.

The Electoral Foot Guard keeping the riff-raff away from Mrs. Teesdale
Because of their competence, the Elector can rarely come near, being riff-raff himself
... of the Long Island Riff-Raffs

The Elector's Personal Guard, recruited from the finest gutters and swill shops in the land.

The Freedonian Secret Police appeared in full uniform.

Note how the armour helps them blend right in.

Once everyone was in place and the pizza was ordered, the parade began with the senior officers of the army leading the procession and then taking their places behind the Personal Guard.

In no particular order, Generals Flern, Heinzelmenchen, Lebo, Radetz, de Sastre, and Smith.

Subedar Major Singh (who eschews such frippery as horses), General Belesarius, the Most Reverend Archbishop Michael, Metropolitan of Freedonia (and candidate for Patriarch), and the redoubtable Colonel Mustard,

The Grenadier Corps followed,

Grenadier Battalion von Castle
For some reason, I'm attracted to the uniforms of the Swedes and the Russians in the Seven Years War
so that's what I based the uniforms on.

Grenadier Battalion Stinner
I named the units after old friends, fellow gamers, TV shows, and even my dog.

Grenadier Battalion Curratola

Grenadier Battalion Hohn
Their gaiters are red-brown like one of the SYW Russian units,
It was said they received that honour because they waded in blood during one battle.

Grenadier Battalion Pooka

Grenadier Battalion Schnitzel

Line infantry followed. The first battalions of each regiment paraded, leaving the second battalion on duty or in garrison, except when the second battalion paraded. You can figure out the rest.

1st Battalion, Regiment Luzerne
for the county of my birth.

1st Battalion, Regiment Gibbs
from a high school pseudonym,

1/Regiment Tom Servo
♫ "In the not too distant future, somewhere in time and space..." ♫

1/ Regiment Hoch und Deutschmeister
from my favourite Austrian regiment

1/ Regiment Nurn
Check your maps of Middle Earth.

1/ /Regiment Stahl

 

Zouave Regiment Gondor
a one battalion regiment with an obvious name.

The German Battalion
The figures are by Frying Pan & Blanket and are AWI Hessians
This is one of the first units I painted for our Imagi-nations campaign.

The Freedonian Freikorps
Based on the Prussian Freikorps uniforms - the Double Blues

The Black Company, tough mercenaries who never welch on a contract
- a favourite fantasy series of mine.

The Archbishop's Own regiment
Painted in honour of the Mad Padre, who actually commanded them in a game!

The Irish Legion
Yes, there's a sheep marching with them.

Infantry Regiment Suburbia
a one battalion outfit... with a spacious backyard and a patio.
Ample parking. Close to schools.

 

1st Battalion, the Electoral Marine Corps

The Combat Pioneer Battalion
A catch-all outfit who are marching in the other direction because they have to clean up!

The Slobovian Freikorps
I used Old Glory Napoleonic Turkish Nizam-i-Cedit figures.

The 1st Franistan Sepoys
WWII Sikh figures, I know. I just wanted something really different.

1/ Border Regiment Seiben
A little bit more irregular, but not light infantry
for all my Siebenburgische Sachsen friends

Then came the Light Infantry...

Pavkovic's Pandours
with some sort of dog-like thing as a mascot.
FP&B's cavalry come with dismounted figures, so I use them for light infantry.

The Saxe-Bariton Schutzen
Yet another bad musical joke.

The Electoral Jäger
with a wolfhound for a mascot

The Chasseurs de Poutine
A large unit with a bear as a mascot.

The cavalry followed:

Dragoon Regiment Scungili

Dragoon Regiment Shanton

Cuirassier Regiment von Sardaukar

A close-up of the Cuirassier command element.
I couldn't resist doing a helmeted and armoured unit.

The Adelfanhetrabantenkorp
Guard Cavalry with a name that just trips off the tongue.

Carabinier Regiment Pretzelvania
the newest unit painted

Hussar Regiment Hesse-Bruder
named for a department store in the town I grew up in.

Light Cavalry Regiment von Suppé
I'm really disappointed that nobody gets this joke.

Then the artillery...

A 4-pound gun of the Horse Artillery

An 8-pound gun for the standard batteries

a 12-pound gun of the heavy batteries

A huge 12-pounder I bought from a 20mm Napoleonic Austrian range

The Big Gun close up

The 5-inch howitzer

An experimental weapon shown for the first time at the parade.
The ambassadors from Frankenschwein, Rationalia, Worchestershiresauce, and Gallifrey were impressed.
They were heard to be discussing the weapon as they returned to their embassies
in their securely-locked  and barred circus carriages

"It'll never work!" I hear you say.
Ha! It'll look great in a park or centre square somewhere!

Finally the Militia...with brooms to tidy up.

 

Militia Battalion Groucho
The names are traditional.

Militia Battalion Harpo

Militia Battalion Chico

Militia Battalion Zeppo

Militia Battalion Gommo
(The one Marx brother who never took the stage.)

Militia Battalion Cheeto
(The least known Marx brother... seen in a rare photo below,)

1st Battalion, Pretzelvanian Militia
The recently annexed province, done through a plebiscite that had a plausible level of legality.

2nd Battalion, Pretzelvanian Militia
These citizen-soldiers keep their own proud, knotted-up identity with lots of salt.

The Freedonian Garda
At the end of the parade, they shout the traditional cry to end parades in Freedonia:
"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"
They also have a warrant for the arrest of the Grand Elector, but the less said on that, the better.

It's obvious I enjoy whimsy and colour in my gaming, I hope you enjoyed it, too.