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Monday, 10 June 2013

Upholding the law...

...in a lawless town.
 

It was no good they kept calling to me and so were rapidly promoted through the ranks of discarded lead to the point were I just had to paint them!  These then are my first efforts with the miniatures designed to accompany 'In Her Majesty's Name' and available through 'North Star Military Figures'. 

 
So why a Chief Inspector and Sergeant from the Scotland Yard Company?  Simply put 'Ripper Street', the BBC's crime drama set in Whitechapel in London's East End in 1889, six months after the infamous Jack the Ripper murders and a breath of fresh air to the scheduling.  Certainly a favourite here at 'Awdry Towers' and clearly the inspiration behind these two fine sculpts.


 
Although pleased with the sculpts I have to report that there was a fair bit of flash and one or two prominent mould lines that needed to be dispensed with before painting could begin in earnest.  As for the palette, I was predictably drawn to the characters from the series, Inspector Edmund Reid and Sergeant Bennett Drake.  The costumes in the series were particularly good and there was plenty of reference available, but in the end it was greys and blues for the Inspector and more earthy hues for his trusty Sergeant. 

 
Great fun to do, but I'm afraid the rest will have to wait their turn for a little while longer, but an encouraging start nonetheless.



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62 comments:

  1. Schedler Vincent 10 June 2013 at 15:40

    Great paint , ad really detailed ,really nice characters .
    Cheers
    Vincent .

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 16:50

      Thank you Vincent, the pin stripes proved a little tricky.

      Delete
  2. DeanM10 June 2013 at 16:09

    Superb painting on some fine sculpts. Really like the subtle plaid work. Best, Dean

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 16:51

      Thank you Dean, I was a bit worried about that to begin with, but we got there in the end.

      Delete
  3. Clint10 June 2013 at 16:10

    Those two figures absolutely scream "Ripper Street!" Very nice indeed. If I was not so into wild west at the moment you would definitely side-tracked me.....you still may as there is no reason they could not work out west..... STOP TEMPTING me! I can hear the lead calling as I type.

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 16:52

      Thank you Clint and I'm so sorry, but as you say they could easily be used fro the Wild West, perhaps Pinkerton Detectives? ;-)

      Delete
    2. Clint10 June 2013 at 17:48

      I bought two packs of "Artisan" Pinkertons at the show yesterday.... maybe 2 more would not hurt! Would round them up to 10 in number... No stop it! Stop it! Oh where dos the madness end. Nurse I think It's time for my meds!

      Delete
    3. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:06

      Now we all like nice round numbers!

      Delete
  4. Smillie10 June 2013 at 16:42

    Wonderful Michael! I would be intrigued to hear what colours you used to paint the bearded chaps well beard the colour looks superb. Love the pinstripe on the bowler chap.

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:03

      Thank you Mr. Smillie, I just checked my notes at it looks like the beard was Vallejo Khaki Grey with a highlight of Vallejo Dessert Yellow, hope that helps.

      Delete
  5. Phil10 June 2013 at 16:43

    Very nice characters, love the faces and the poses, a great paintjob, no doubt!
    Phil.

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  6. danny10 June 2013 at 16:46

    Hola
    Magnifico si señor
    Gran pintura
    un saludo

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  7. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 16:53

    Thank you Andrew and I promise that is it for a little while at least.

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  8. TamsinP10 June 2013 at 18:28

    Lovely figures, excellently painted Sir Michael :)

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:04

      Thank you Tamsin, I really loved working on these.

      Delete
  9. Jay10 June 2013 at 19:01

    Nice work. It is all well done; yet, the striped trousers are real special.

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:07

      Thank you Jay, they certainly tested the old hand tremors!

      Delete
  10. The Angry Lurker10 June 2013 at 19:16

    Excellent work Michael, I especially like the unshaven look!

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:09

      Thank you Francis, obviously tough getting a good barber in Whitechapel.

      Delete
  11. Silver Whistle10 June 2013 at 19:38

    Wonderful brushwork on these Michael.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:09

      Thank you Pat, they were lovely to work with.

      Delete
  12. Phyllion10 June 2013 at 19:43

    Great stuff - Reid's suit is spectacular

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  13. Laughing Ferret10 June 2013 at 19:50

    Very nice, you brought out a lot of character in them!

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  14. Sidney Roundwood10 June 2013 at 19:53

    Wonderful, Michael. Really splendid - they bring back good memories of a series I really enjoyed on TV earlier this year!

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry10 June 2013 at 20:11

      Thank you Sir, it certainly was one of my televisual highlights of 2013.

      Delete
  15. James Brewerton10 June 2013 at 21:05

    Great work the pin stripe is very well done
    Peace James

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:42

      Thank you James, I was a bit worried about that at the time.

      Delete
  16. Ray Rousell10 June 2013 at 22:14

    Excellent figures and a perfect match for the Ripper Street chaps! What a great series that was!!

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:42

      Thank you Ray, certainly a televisual highlight for me.

      Delete
  17. Sam Wise10 June 2013 at 23:35

    Beautiful figures with an excellent painting work !
    I definitely like them ...
    and I love "White Chapel" , like so many BBC tv series !

    (can you explain to me why the English do the better movies, the better Tv series and also the better Tv Documentaries ??? )

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    Replies
    1. Scottswargaming11 June 2013 at 00:50

      I guess we don't give everything the over the top 'Hollywood' treatment?

      Delete
    2. Sam Wise11 June 2013 at 08:23

      I suppose too ....

      Delete
    3. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:44

      Thank you Sam, I think one of the reasons being the quality television is that we, the licence payer, support the corporation, putting more pressure on it to get it right.

      Delete
    4. Sam Wise11 June 2013 at 23:05

      Something like that ... and I think that British People have a better culture than French People !
      Honesty, the french tv is the worth thing I know ....
      Their love for the Theater is important too !
      (God Bless Shakespeare!)
      See the quality of the British Actors !

      Delete
  18. Scottswargaming11 June 2013 at 00:49

    Great work Michael. Very authentic.
    I must check out Ripper street, seems right up my 'street' ;-) but I haven't managed to catch the show yet...

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:44

      Thank you Scott, you certainly should give it a go really well put together.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous11 June 2013 at 02:42

    They look fantastic Michael. I especially like the 5 o' clock shadow in the first one.
    Rod

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:45

      Thank you Rod, just watered down grey on top of what you would normally paint.

      Delete
  20. Millsy11 June 2013 at 03:42

    Lovely stuff mate. I particularly like the 5 o'clock shadow. Something I've been meaning to try myself for some time. Well done!

    Cheers,
    Millsy

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:46

      Thank you Sir, the shadow looks more impressive then it is, just thin the paint down sufficiently and slap it on.

      Delete
  21. Stefan (aka. Monty)11 June 2013 at 07:14

    Excellent work, Michael.
    I hope they'll air Ripper Street soon in Germany. I like the trailers I watched in the WWW and can't wait to watch the entire series. The Victorian age is just so exiting...

    One day in the distant future I'll build a Victorian gaming table...

    Cheers
    Stefan

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry11 June 2013 at 12:48

      Thank you Stefan. Can you access the BBC's iplayer - it might still be on there.

      I love the idea of a Victorian table too - maybe one day!

      Delete
  22. Кирилл11 June 2013 at 10:08

    Great paint. I like your miniatures, sir.

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  23. Rodger11 June 2013 at 11:53

    Beautiful paintwork Michael!

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  24. lrqan11 June 2013 at 16:22

    Brilliant stuff. I'm sure I've paraded on with them guys!!

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  25. Provost Marshal11 June 2013 at 20:04

    As always Michael, wonderful brushwork - although I think you've surpassed yourself with Reid's pinstripes. Now, when are we going to see Homer Jackson and some of the girls from Long Susan's Tenter St "Establishment"?

    Pip pip

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    Replies
    1. Michael Awdry12 June 2013 at 19:36

      Thank you Sir, those pinstripes were a tad tricky with the aftereffects of a couple of ales, I can tell you!

      Delete
    2. Provost Marshal12 June 2013 at 21:31

      And I thought you only drank tea Sir!

      Pip pip

      Delete
  26. DaveD11 June 2013 at 20:12

    Superb work, love the strides!

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  27. Sean11 June 2013 at 22:55

    I love the figures and Ripper Street as well.

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  28. Larry Stehle12 June 2013 at 06:39

    Beautiful paint jobs! Very nice indeed!

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  29. Whisperin Al15 June 2013 at 11:18

    Impressive as usual - you've really captured those two. I'm trying not to get distracted on to my own similar project as that will mean looking at those new 4Ground buildings and I can't afford them at the minute!

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