Wednesday 14 May 2014

Survivors, Vikings and a lot of Bull!

Introduction

Once again, I've nothing much to say - so I'll show some pictures of recently-finished models instead.  That's what you all like, isn't it?  It is, isn't it?

OK, I've been fairly productive in the last 3 weeks or so.  I'm steadily working my way through my haul from Salute, mainly because I just can't face seeing any of these unpainted by the time the next show or birthday comes around.  A few older models have also made it off the construction line; I'm quite pleased at the diversity I've achieved.  So far, I'm obeying my self-imposed rule of "once on the painting table, only completed models may be removed".

I'm also making good progress on the Amera "Ruined Temple" that I picked up recently.  It's not going to be a temple, though - but you'll just have to wait a bit longer to see what I've done to it!

Survivors

Here are a couple of apocalypse survivors from the Wargames Factory set; I've called them "Trevor" and "Chris".  Trevor holds an assault rifle and is unconverted, straight out of the box.  Chris has a rocket launcher from the sister set (!) of Women apocalypse survivors but is otherwise a simple build.

I've just realised that both of these figures have been made from the same body pose.  I'm quite surprised at how well this is hidden; the models really do look quite different to me.

Trevor and Chris are slightly better prepared than many civilians: both men have backpacks or pouches as well as drinks bottles.  Not many people know this, but dehydration can be a major problem in the middle of a zombie outbreak.  A sports bottle could save your life!

There's something not quite right about the finish on this pair of figures; I wonder if my varnish wasn't behaving itself when I sealed them.  What do you think?

Vikings

Now here's a pair of Vikings who have been raiding and pillaging!  Quite successfully too, I'd say.  They're from Dixon Miniatures and are made as an inseparable pair.  It's quite a complicated moulding and although otherwise well cast, the right-hand figure has lost the top of his bow.  I did try to glue it back, but butt joins of very narrow pieces don't have much strength and the repair didn't hold.

Apparently, white (domestic) geese have existed since Roman times and were much sought after.  I don't think they'd taste any different when cooked though - and I imagine that is the fate awaiting this bird!

Notice how Hrolf, the richer guy (with chainmail, shield, Dane axe and brighter clothing) is doing all the celebrating whilst his lower status companion has to carry all the loot!

6-Horse Carriage

This is a bonus picture: it's a 6mm carriage that I bought from Irregular Miniatures (I think) many, many years ago.  The carriage sat around without any attention for a long time, but I finally decided to do something with it and I'm very glad that I did.  It wasn't the oldest unpainted model I have, but probably wasn't far off!

I think this will probably be used as the command marker for any exceptionally infirm or gout-ridden generals in my Austrian Napoleonic army.  I fully expect that any opponent will demand movement penalties for such a commander; I'll be sympathetic to such demands!

The Brazen Bull

In the ancient world, the Brazen Bull was supposedly a torture device invented by Perillos of Athens for a Sicilian Greek tyrant.  Whether or not that can be substantiated, this Wargames Foundry model is clearly animated.  I suspect that it's been sent by one of the Greek gods to torment some poor hero.

My bull will be used as an opponent for Jason and the Argonauts when I am eventually ready to play such games.  Typically such god-animated constructs are very difficult to beat unless you know the hidden weakness.  I wonder if the ring in the middle of its back is attached to a pull-cord?  Maybe that's the secret way to defeat this monster?

I'm quite pleased with the way the bull has turned out, but actually such models are really easy to paint.  The bulk of it is just a single colour and there are only a few details that needed to be added.

22 comments:

  1. It's certainly what I like; I must get some of those plastic survivors.

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    1. Thanks, Michael. The Wargames Factory Survivors are very flexible kits.

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  2. That is pretty good. Love the bulls.

    May need to get hold of that survivor pack!

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    1. Thanks, LS. As I mentioned before, the Wargames Factory kits are good!

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  3. Well it looks like you have been busy. I also think the carriage may be "Irregular" As I have one similar. I like the blue on the Viking very authentic (Dyed with Brazil Wood) and the survivors look good, nice and menacing. As for the Bull an easy paint you say, but I can imagine it going wrong so quickly in the wrong hands.

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    1. Blues would have been an expensive and unusual colour in the ancient and early medieval world - but you know that already :-) .

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  4. I love seeing the wide variety of figures you work on, reflecting not only current, past and future projects.
    The two survivours do look different despite their identical torsos, but I still think an rpg is a bit overkill for the apocalypse and beside who'd carry the ammo ?
    The saga vignette is one of those "Must have !" but "What'll I do with it ? " things - so how are you going to use yours?
    I have a shed-load of unpainted Irregular minis in all shapes and sizes too -alas !
    But the bull is outstanding and I think I've solved the purpose of the ring on its back !
    Surely the ring is pulled to open the hatch for two guys to get in the bull ?

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    1. I agree that an RPG wouldn't be common in any apocalypse, but there are bound to be some people who just wouldn't let it go if they found one. You never know when it might be useful, right?

      I'll probably use the pair of Vikings in SAGA as a double-base. As long as casualties to their group aren't only ever 1 figure at a time, they should work well enough.

      You might be right about the ring in the bull's back - but are we still thinking of the animal as a torture device, or rather as a pantomime horse? Hmm, perhaps there's not much difference between the 2 concepts?

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  5. That's an eclectic bunch of figures with one thing in common - they are all very well painted! For me, the bull is just outstanding.

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    1. Thanks, Bryan. The bull was very easy to paint, so any quality it has is really down to the original sculptor!

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  6. Really nice paint dude. I really like those survivors.

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    1. I think that they're fairly anodyne as survivors - they're "members of the cast" rather than "stars". Still, all games need plenty of such models :-) .

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  7. Wow, that's a lot to comment on! :D
    Survivors are great and I love the use of pouches, I don't know how I could've left mine out. Varnish seems to have dried "snowy" - I think all you have to do is re-varnish them, but please don't hold me for that and google for it instead.

    Vikings are fantastic. You could try cutting a shallow cut into the bow to make a bit more uneven surface for a glue to set on, but it would probably break off again as soon as you'd touch it. I love how you painted the one in chain mail brighter to show off his wealth, hah!

    That bull is downright fantastic and I'm looking forward to see it defeated on the field of battle! Hurrah! Hurrah!

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    1. I think you're right about the survivors. I've heard that re-varnishing can correct such "milkyness" but I've never tried that before. Perhaps I should give it a go?

      If possible, I'd drill the bow and put in a pin to support the end piece. However I don't think that I've got a drill bit that's small enough for this!

      The bull won't be easily defeated, I think. It should be all the sweeter for the heroes if they can overcome it. If...

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  8. Nice survivors they look good to me. The light I think is washing out the pic a little. I love little sets like the raiding Vikings they are fun to paint up and add such character to the table top.

    The bull is ace! I wouldn't want to be tackling that!

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    1. Thanks, Simon. I don't think it's just the light; I may try re-varnishing the 2 survivors.

      I suspect that the trick to fighting the bull is to avoid standing in front of it. I don't imagine that it's very manoeuvrable!

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  9. Nice work on all! I just got both the survivor sets for my birthday and they are really nice gems of kits! As to the RPG, like all weapons of it's sort, you never need one till you do! I think that bull would qualify for a do! ;)
    The bull is really nice, the ring is obviously the pull start! The vikings are nice too, they'd make a grand counter for disordered pillaging troops!
    I like the 6mm carriage. Very well done for it's size and multiple uses. It could also be a fleeing aristocrat that needs to be captured!

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    1. Thanks, David. You're right, of course - the RPG would work well against the bull. Of course, "Chris" only gets one shot, so it had better count!

      Hmm, are you suggesting that the bull has a 2-stroke motor with a cord starter? I suppose it could be, though I don't see any exhausts...

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  10. I had the misfortune to land a free (worth every penny and not a farthing more) Daily Mail on a recent flight. They say that aggressive immigrants are eating Swans.
    It's a tough call, historical error by our favourite Modeller, or Daily Mail telling porkies again.

    I'm sure I remember that carriage from the later years of the 1980s. Perhaps a Bristol or Canterbury, whn we were toying with WRG Horse and musket. It's an excellent base for an elderly Austrian general. Even Buonararte resorted to one when his chalfonts* were too sore to perch on a saddle.

    * Chalfont St Giles = Rhyming medical complaint.

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  11. Well, my Viking has captured a goose, not a swan. So that's all right then!

    I certainly bought the carriage a very long time ago, quite possibly when I was living in Bristol. However I've only just painted it recently.

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  12. Nice looking results. The 6mm carriage is impressive but I really really like the way you paint your Vikings!

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    1. Thanks, David! I'll need to use them in a game soon, I think.

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