Army Showcase: Egyptologists

Introduction

If you're looking for Pulp entertainment at the movies, there are few films of the genre better known or more entertaining than Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Mummy (1999 version) or their assorted sequels.  There are a number of very nice miniatures available with which to represent this type of action; this article documents my collection.

 

Heroes

The Adventurers

These figures are all from Blue Moon Manufacturing's "Things that go bump in the night" range (specifically BMM103 BOX 4 "I JUST DON'T FEEL MY AGE").  They are clearly tomb robbers archaeologists from the 1920s or 1930s.  From left to right:

• Marion Allen has a torch and a revolver; perfect for exploring monster-infested tombs.
• Idaho Smith also has a torch and revolver.  No bullwhip, mind - that would be a bit too derivative, wouldn't it now?
• Henry Orme holds a compass in one hand and a rifle in the other.  Perhaps he's surveying the ground for hidden tombs?  Or looking for lost diamond mines?
• Evie Grant has a lantern and a book (presumably a tome of forbidden knowledge of some sort.  Or a tourist guide).

The Hunters

A slightly different trio now:

• Rupert is obviously posh, but it's unclear whether he's another tomb raider or whether he's just in Africa to amuse himself by hunting.  This is another figure from Blue Moon's BMM103 set.
• Henry Morton and Lady Constance are both dressed in clothes that are faded and torn.  I suspect they set off touring and became stranded at some remote oasis, where they've been living since.  These two miniatures are from Brigade Games (the U.S. company, not to be confused with the U.K's Brigade Models).

 

Neutrals

 The Diggers

 

What would an Egyptian adventure be without a bunch of labourers, either to help the bad guys unearth some evil artifact or to die horribly whilst serving the good guys?  Here is my crew: most of them are from Westwind Production's "Gothic Horror" range, though the one 4th from the left (with the odd base) is also from the same Blue Moon BMM103 set as before.

The Bystanders

As you may have gathered by now, the BMM103 boxed set has much of what one needs to run a scenario based on "The Mummy".  Here are another 3 figures from it: a shifty passer-by (thief? spy? pedlar?), a policeman and a terrified, fleeing citizen.

 

Bad Guys

Cultists

This is a bunch of ruffians, if ever I saw!  They are obviously not nice guys, but they are versatile enough to play the part of cultists, slavers, hired muscle or just a generic band of brigands as needed.  They recently appeared in this role in day 3 of the Klingon holiday!  The models are mostly from West Wind Productions, though once again there's an interloper.  The 1st figure is from Blue Moon Manufacturing instead...

 

Conclusion

There's something missing from the above, isn't there?  Ah, I know!  There's no Mummy!  Or Nazis!  I really need a bit more opposition for the good guys; it's all very well to have the minions, but where are the bosses?  Now I'm feeling that this is all incomplete and I'll need to buy and paint some more figures.  As if I didn't have enough to do already!  Bah!
To top it all, I managed to drop this box of miniatures as I was returning them to storage after taking the above photographs.  There are few things more heartbreaking than to see models over which you have spent a lot of effort just piled in a heap on the floor.  I estimate that 2/3 of them had at least some minor paint chips that needed touching up.  At least none were damaged further than that!

    Hugh