True to their word Amazon delivered my copy of The Men Who Would be Kings today and although I’ve not had the opportunity to fully digest it, I have enjoyed flicking through the pages, looking at the pictures and imagining campaigns in far flung corners of the world. I am hopeful that this set of rules will lure me back to all things Victorian, my initial jumping off point for this most wholesome of hobbies.
So to mark the day, I had prepared these fine character sculpts in advance. Available through ‘North Star Military Figures’ this trio will be familiar to those of us that enjoyed John Huston’s 1975 film The Man Who Would Be King. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s short story of the same name* The Man Who Would Be King charts the exploits of Peachy Carnehan and Danny Dravot as they seek fame and fortune in the wilds of Kafiristan.
*Which I have also recently thoroughly enjoyed rereading.
The trio includes a kukri wielding Rifleman Majendra Bahadur Gurung, more affectionately known as Billy Fish, with the other two characters a nod to Michael Caine and Sean Connery. This was a pack of miniatures that proved far too difficult to resist when I first saw them and were an absolutely joy to paint.
Although the demands of the day job continue to prove relentless, there is a sense that a calm will follow the initial storm and perhaps a chance to pick up the brush again. In the meantime I am looking forward to catching up with ‘The Dark Templar’ at the weekend for a game, or two, of Zombicide.
Peachy Carnehan: Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing.
Fabulous work sir! I must get a set of these as the film is one of my all-time favourites.
ReplyDeleteCertainly one of my favourites too and made painting the characters all the more fun. It also meant that the film got another viewing.
DeleteI can see why you went for these figures great detail and likness. Great brushwork Sir.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dan, they were too good to pass up.
DeleteI love that movie. And those figures are stunningly well done, old boy! Makes one quite envious.
ReplyDeleteThank you kind Sir, jolly nice of you to say so.
DeleteGreat job, i have the figures, as yet unpainted. The rules are fine, but I find they lack that certain sense of daring do and eccentricity that makes us want to fight little wars
ReplyDeleteThank you Martin. Looking forward to having a go with them myself, just need to find some quiet time to get my head around them.
DeleteThey look splendid. Nicer than the official paintjobs I reckon.
ReplyDeleteI've just finished packing away my first game of TMWWBK (pronounced Tim Wubbuk) that I played Solo against "Mt Babbage". Great fun to get the toys out and it played very easily.
Tom
Thank you Tom, what a lovely thing to have said. I enjoyed your report, especially as Mr. Babbage will probably be my first opponent too.
DeleteVery nice sir, I love the quote at the bottom...
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir, certainly one of my favourite lines.
DeleteFine job, sir. Also fine painted figures, and a great movie IMHO.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jay, it was great to watch it again recently.
DeleteInterested to see how they play, but I probably don't have enough figures at this stage. It does feel like a lots of rule sets being produced at the moment ! Lovely figures.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt and we certainly seem to be in a golden age of rule sets, just backed another one last night!
DeleteLovely painting! Looking forward to a Sudan War game with these rules next week.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cyrus, I shall be eagerly awaiting news of the battle.
DeleteVery nice figures! My copy of the rules arrived today as well. Hoping to have a good read through this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lee, I shall interested to hear what you think.
DeleteVery nice work Sir Michael!
ReplyDeleteThank you kind Sir.
DeleteLove the painting, love the figures, love the movie, love the story!
ReplyDeleteI've been toying with getting TMWWBK too.
Peter
Thank you Peter, I seem to have ticked a couple of boxes there! :) It's a reasonably priced addition and the reviews I've read around the Blogosphere seem to be positive.
DeleteTerrific stuff Michael. I own those figures (blame Gordon!!) and now know what I'll be painting as part of Mo'Vember :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon and I'm pretty sure I can blame Gordon for my purchase too. Looking forward to seeing yours later in the year.
DeleteWell done Michael, classic figures for a classic movie!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Terry.
DeleteGreat work! Hopefully we'll get to see some of their adventures with the new rules.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian and I hope you don't have to wait too long before I get a game under my belt.
DeleteStunning looking brits!
ReplyDeleteThank you Andre.
DeleteOne of my favorite stories! (and movies!) Beautiful work! Very cool!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Mr. Mouse.
DeleteExellent Michael !!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the first AAR of theirs adventure.
Have a greate weekend !
Mest regards Michael
Thank you so much Michael, but I have been somewhat distracted by your wonderful slavers!
DeleteMore great work Sir
ReplyDeleteIan
Thank you very much Ian.
DeleteLovely and of course being and Englishman is 2ic to god! Goes without saying really.
ReplyDeleteThank you Clint and certainly one of my favourite lines!
DeleteVery nice good. Hopefully we will see some more Victorian warfare in the future then!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike, but of course I now need to get through Zomtober and Dinovember!
DeleteVery nice Michael, not a period I've ever tried, but one that looks wonderful on the tabletop.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this!
Cheers Roger.
Thank you Roger, with a bit of luck this might see a resurgence in all things Victorian on the blog.
DeleteIts nice to have your mojo back for a much loved period or setting. Your off to a great start with the trio. They are very nice sculpts and with your usual brushwork brought to life fabulously.
ReplyDeleteHave fun playing zombicide!
Thank you so much Simon. Looking forward to the weekend, just the tonic for a busy week at work.
DeleteLovely figures Michael, good to see you back in the Victorian era.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dave, but it may be a brief sojourn as Zomtober is looming! ;)
DeleteWonderful work on these figures Michael!
ReplyDeleteMarvellous figures, very evocative of the film.
ReplyDeleteSuperb job on three fantastic figs!
ReplyDeleteAmazing work Michael! I really need to get myself a copy of the rules. I'd love to collect figures from the period, but painting up a whole army is something I just can't see myself doing. Skirmish on the other hand is always a rather nice option :)
ReplyDeleteReally great tribute to a great movie!
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful...and atmospheric!
ReplyDeleteOh I really should get these
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen that particular piece of '70s movie goodness yet, but looking at your excellent figures I might change that sorry state of affairs. Terrific paint job on these three fellas Michael!
ReplyDeleteDelightfully done, sir! One of my favourite films, too.
ReplyDeleteWonderful figures indeed. And perfectly painted they are!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about The Men who would be Kings. My copy arrived a couple of days ago as well but I didn't find the time to have a closer look at it.
How is it that I never heard of the movie before? Me a fan of war movies since I was a wee lad. Silly me. Nicely painted too, sir!
ReplyDeleteMost excellently done sir!
ReplyDeleteI am searching for a single toy soldier "dressed" in the uniform from the time of "Peachy Carnahan"; I am helping a friend of mine in the geocaching hobby; please email me if something is available
ReplyDelete