Wednesday 17 June 2020

The Monarch of the Glen

More fauna and set dressing, this time in the shape of a couple of packs of 'Wargames Foundry' deer.  These were purchased off the back of the wild boar post, 'Bringing home the bacon',  where Paul of 'Paul's Bods' fame had suggested that Roe and Red deer were plentiful in the Austrian forests and by happenstance 'Wargames Foundry' were running a sale; the rest, as they say, is history.

When they arrived I couldn't have been more thrilled, beautifully cast and with very little work needed in preparation.  A modicum of research revealed that there were subtle differences in markings between the breeds, but a red brown sufficed as the base coat for both.  To be perfectly honest, I couldn't see past Sir Edwin Landseer's iconic painting of c.1851.  Just like the painting this stag boasts an impressive twelve point, or royal, set of antlers and it's easy to see how the Victorian painting embodied all that is majestic and mysterious about the lands North of the boarder.  
Sadly, by the twentieth century the painting had become something of a cliché, the sort of image that might adorn a tin of all butter shortbread or a bottle of whisky, but it still holds a sense of mastery to me and so I am happy to champion it in miniature, even adding a clump of purple heather on the base; a little bit of Scotland in a far off corner of some foreign field.
I have to say that they make quite a lovely family group, with the addition of a couple of fawns that I couldn't resit painting to look like Bambi.   I hope to return them to the wild when we finally reunite the boards, but have made a solemn promise to James' mother that no harm will befall any livestock placed on the board, so they really are only to be considered set dressing.
One unexpected advantage of being holed up during the ongoing crisis is that all those 'extension' tasks that were to be considered if we had time have now been completed; a case in point would be more livestock!  Stuck to lolly pop sticks, patiently awaiting their repatriation are creatures form a variety of sources including bunnies from 'Bad Squiddo Games' and 'Warbases', a couple of toads from 'Master Crafted Miniatures', some pheasants, again from 'Warbases' and a couple of fish, sadly not included in this photograph, from 'Wargames Terrain Workshop'.
I even managed to finish some wolves, yet again from the ever dependable 'Warbases' and a nun.  Originally from 'Conquest Games', the nun's head was flattened and a crude crucifix fashioned from some plastic strip so as to create a passing semblance to Mother Abbess from the Sound of Music.  I have absolutely no idea if these will have any role to play in the game, although I quite liked the idea of Mother Abbess just randomly moving around the board, joining everyone in song,
"Climb Ev'ry Mountain".
Regardless of their ultimate use it is good to have finally ticked off these elements that have been cluttering up the painting desk for so long.  I have been beavering away on the plot points or markers for the game and will hopefully be in a position to share those shortly and then, fingers crossed, we may have the big reveal!

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50 comments:

  1. Your Monarch is majestic...and its family so cute, excellent job!

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  2. Perfect painting Sir M. Lovely detail on Bambi!

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    1. Thank you Ray, really enjoyed these and the lovely sculpts made it all the more fun.

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  3. Beautiful work on the family of deer - outstanding!

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  4. Excellent collection of Fauna Michael, I to still like that piece of artwork, and you've done an awesome rendition in 3D.

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    1. Thank you Dave, a much maligned masterpiece, in my humble opinion.

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  5. Some great looking critters there mate!

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    1. Thank you Millsy and so lovely to hear from, I hope all is well?

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  6. Lovely work Michael, worth to grace a bottle of Scotland's finest!

    Cheers Roger.

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  7. Wow. Those are gorgeous.
    That's quite a collection.

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    1. Thank you Mike, I am hoping that they will help to brighten up some of the more sparsely populated areas of the board.

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  8. Nice looking creatures! Beautifully painted and with a lot of character.

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  9. Very nice....Scotland indeed a lovely part of the world I hope it will still be there when lockdown finishes. The wolf is helping with the song which is nice 👍

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    1. Thank you Matt, a nun with wolf accompaniment, what a noise that would be!

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  10. Those are lovely, though I'll admit to high hopes the wolves cut short any singing.

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    1. Thank you, now desperately trying to think of a wolf based playlist...

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  11. They all look great but bambi steels the show

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian, definitely a favourite of mine too.

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  12. Yet again, a wonderful post.
    Lots of love in the comments for the deer, but having zoomed-in, I think the bunnie with the carrot is the clear star of the show. :)

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    1. Thank you James and I went a had a closer look at the bunnies myself and there is a surprising amount of character in them. Given how small they are it will be more by luck than judgement.🤣

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  13. Creativity in abundance, as usual! Nice one, Michael.

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  14. Extra character for your boards and they look great! (I'd maybe give extra points for shooting a deer, but then I am finding an appreciation for Venison of late. LOL

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    1. Thank you Dai and I was thinking the same thing, but a promise is a promise.

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  15. Magnificent work! This will be a beautiful game.

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    1. Thank you Barks, if we ever get it finished.

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  16. Brilliant! Excellent work on the deer and other wildlife. Lots of little critters to populate the woods. Love the Mother Superior and the idea of her moving around the board randomly. "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" (the juxtaposition of her and the wolves makes me wonder if this is the Alps or the Carpathians...)

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    1. Thank you! I had thought about an idea that if she came into contact (say less that 2") of a unit they would all sit down and listen, perhaps pack up their guns and head home?

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  17. For such a simple sculpt you have done a wonderful job painting the deer, very subtle tones of that reddish dun colour and the sparkling highlights on the horns just cap it iff so well.
    Lovely

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    1. Thank you so much. There is wonderful simplicity to Foundry's sculpts that just makes them a joy to paint.

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  18. Lovely fauna and the singing nun is ace!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, I did wonder about a lonely goat herd too?😉

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  19. Oh dear..... Those are just fantastic wonderful tones.
    Great stuff Michael.
    Best wishes
    Stuart

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  20. Nicely done once again Michael, far be it for you to 'buck' a trend!

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  21. With the image to base your painting on, it's no surprise (to me atleast) you've produced a splendid looking magnifent beast, a "Monarch" no less.
    Haing see the number of the inhabitants of the bunny world- I'm wondering if there will be a seperate battle for 'turf' going on too ? Anyone for "Bunnies and Burrows" alongside the yanks, germans et al ? Or maybe one these bunnies is a "Wererabbit" or maybe "The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog" ? I'm guessing they could just be "pesky wabbits" though.
    Great post Michael.

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  22. A lovely bit of painting Michael.

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  23. This is simply an astounding piece of painting you have accomplished. Excellent, excellent work!

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  24. These deer are absolutely majestic. Beautiful painting on all your creatures big and small.

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  25. Awesome animals, but.... no badger!

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  26. Fantastic painting, I love the Monarch and Bambis!

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