Friday 24 February 2012

A Great Snake!

Well there's shameless, attention grabbing title that I couldn't have envisaged writing a couple of weeks ago!  The '28mm Tales of Adventure' distraction continues apace with this contribution from 'Otherworld Miniatures'.  I am laying the blame for this purchase squarely at the feet of my good friend the 'Provost Marshal'  who seems to take far too much delight in finding these distractions for me.  That said I knew that as soon as I saw it it that I just had to have one. It certainly was a rather splendid sculpt and the intention was to paint him as a fairly generic constrictor, ideally representing the great Amazonian Anaconda, but I'm not sure I should have spent quite as much money on him as I did!  




In 1907, whilst on one of his many South American expeditions, Colonel Percy Fawcett (for more information see the post on 'The Lost City of Z') reported seeing, and shooting, a sixty two foot Anaconda.  He is said to have 'fired at the object until smoke filled the air'.  As the canoe, the party were in, pulled alongside the body, Colonel Fawcett pulled out his knife, apparently with the intent of selecting a sample of skin.  As he cut into the creature it jolted towards him resulting in the party fleeing in fear!



The following advice is actually an urban myth, purporting to be from the US Government Peace Corps Manual for its volunteers who work in the Amazon Jungle. This, then, is what to do in case you are attacked by an anaconda:

1. If you are attacked by an anaconda, do not run. The snake is faster than you are.

2. Lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight against one another.

3. Tuck your chin in.

4. The snake will come and begin to nudge and climb over your body.

5. Do not panic.

6. After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet and - always from the end. Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles.  Do not panic.

7. The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.

8. When the snake has reached your knees slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife and very gently slide it into the side of the snake's mouth between the edge of its mouth and your leg, then suddenly rip upwards, severing the snake's head.

9. Be sure you have your knife.

10. Be sure your knife is sharp.

‘28mm Victorian Warfare’ and by association ‘28mm Tales of Adventure’ cannot be held responsible in any way if this doesn’t work!


"Did you bring your knife?"



WARNING! Those of a delicate disposition should think twice about viewing the following video entitled, 'Huge Dead Snake'; you have been warned!


22 comments:

  1. What a great model and great skin work sir....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice work! Very life-like. Love it.

    I think the advice works best when there are two people: get your companion to lay down and then start to back away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mh, could have been a good advice, but assume that these two persons are Fran and Ray. What will happen then? I tell you. The snake will become nuts of these two. ;-)

      Greetings
      Peter
      http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

      Delete
    2. It doesn't even bear thinking about! My guess is that the snake would just slide away and leave the boys arguing the toss!

      Delete
  3. Wow, Great work! Excellent skin.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A great figure superbly painted!! Next time I'm in the jungle I'll try and remember this advice, although I may struggle with No5!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Now that is a distraction too far, a great paint job, any thoughts on how you would use it on the table.
    Stu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well now there's a question. I have this germ of an idea that sees a group of explorers trying to reach a goal. The snake will be one of the obstacles to get pass.

      Delete
  6. Thats is one awesome paintjob on that beast. Make sure you have your knife on you and its sharp!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Being attacked by a snake would be a total nightmare

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very nice indeed - I have one of these waiting patiently in the paint queue so thanks for some great inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great work, very lifelike! I'll make sure to remember my knife if I go out in the bush, though we thankfully dont have any snakes over here - more likely to get run over by a wild pig...

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is great work and it reminds me of all those Tarzan books I read when I was a boy. Great work

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah ha, Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle; now there's a distraction I hadn't thought about!

      Delete
  11. Regardless of the great paint job ... this will surely enhance my snake defence skills.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Excellent paintjob done! Love the skin!

    And thanks for the advice. I keep it in mind when I enter the kitchen. ;-)

    For taking a knife out of the cupboard. What where you thinking? :-D

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. The sssssssssnake is sssssssuperb. Very lifelike and a great addition for a game.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great piece Michael!
    I would have thought most western explorers in the empire era would have a ready if not quite willing bunch of natives for such duties!!
    I think Tarzan would go in head first and cut his way out the bottom!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow I love this stuff. Why can't one put historical characters in science fiction or supernatural settings for fun? Teddy Roosevelt would be a great "character" in the jungle.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A Great Snake it is. Superb painting. Hope I can sleep after reading the urban myth and watching the video...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that, but some sent it to me after seeing the post; scarred me half to death too!

      Delete
  17. Did you know you can shorten your links with AdFly and receive money from every click on your shortened links.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...