Thursday 26 July 2012

Get Off One's Land!







Regular visitors to '28mm Victorian Warfare' will no doubt be familiar with my curious habit of painting up miniatures that have some connection, albeit tenuous, to the most recently reviewed piece of literature to grace the bedside table.    David Moody's book, 'Autumn' looks to represent his survivors as ordinary people trapped in the waking nightmare that is the zombie apocalypse;  what better miniatures to seek out then, than just that, ordinary people?  If the truth be told, I have been desperate to find an excuse to paint these two wonderful, 'Hasslefree Miniatures' characters for quite a while now.  'Madge' and 'Frank' seem the most unlikely of post apocalyptic survivors, but that is of course part of their charm.  Given that these two have no real bearing on any current projects I seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time on them; a testament, undoubtedly, to the quality of the sculpting and the individuality of the characters.  I simply wanted to do the best job that I could on them.








 The Frank Gallagher character from the television program, 'Shameless' clearly proved to be of inspiration when deciding how to paint up 'Frank'; even to the point of matching the colour of his favourite 'Stelberg' beer!  He was given an urban style base from 'Black Cat Bases' which seemed to fit the character and wasn't really a hardship given that the pin vice was already out to affix his gesturing arm to the his body. 



 As for the inspiration for Madge, well let us say that a couple of corgis wouldn't look out of place!  Try as I might,  I just couldn't shake off the idea of adding some fencing to the base to give the impression that she was protecting her land from the undead hordes and before long I was shaving a little off my, still to be constructed,  'Perry Miniatures' Farm House to achieve the look.  As she is wearing wellies it seemed only appropriate that she was standing in mud and from there is wasn't a huge step to add a little Vallejo still water effect!


By this time I was having far too much fun with 'Madge' and before I knew what was happening I was fashioning spent shotgun cartridges from piano wire and adding a little reminder of the imminent danger our heroine was in; at least I can say that I've finally started my 'Mantic' plastic zombies, albeit with only one limb!







There really were a delight to work on and a welcome diversion from the Boers, which I pleased to report that I'm finally getting to grips with.  


'Madge' and 'Frank' stand defiant amidst the zombie onslaught!  More on which can be found here.


49 comments:

  1. The lengths we will go to justify our purchases!! Madge is fabulous Michael. I love the wellies and the extra work you went to with the fence and the spent shells. From piano wire, I'm trying to figure out how you bent that and shaped it into shells.

    You're building a horde there you know. Soon we'll be reading about you gaming with Vampi and his crew!!

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  2. Thank you Anne, the Piano wire were off cuts from that resourceful friend of mine, the Provost Marshal. The only problem was every time I snipped a little off the end it would ping across the room; as our mutual acquaintance might say, 'Feck!'

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  3. Great job! the picket fence really adds a lot to Madge!

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    1. Thank you, it just seemed to cry out for it.

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  4. Sorry - can't stop picturing Frank and Madge together in the same Z-survivors camp. Will romance blossom? ;)

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    1. I would have thought that the future of humankind depends on it!

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  5. Great paintjob, the basing used on Madge is superb. Madge is a really cool figure I have one myself. I have no idea what how going to use her yet.

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    1. Thank you, at least Madge is armed; I worry about Frank all he has is offensive language!

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  6. Fantastic figures. I love Madge's wellies and shotgun combo. The details like Frank's five o'clock shadow and the spent shells really set these minis apart.

    Regards,
    Matt

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  7. Wow! So much detail, and very smart details, wonderful!

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    1. Thank you Andrew, they really were great fun to do.

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  8. Is "Madge" really HRH Elizabeth II on her "day off?"

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    1. There was a wonderful image of Her Majesty on a grouse moor that proved to be quite inspirational. ;)

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  9. Stunning work Michael! Awesome painting on Madge and Frank. Very impressed.

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    1. Why thank you Rodger, that is very kind of you.

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  10. Very nicely painted and full of amazing details.

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  11. Very nicely painted and Madge sure looks serious with that double barrel!

    Christopher

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    1. Thank you Christopher, certainly not a lady to be messed around!

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  12. Blinding paintwork work and basing sir!!!!
    Cheers
    paul

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  13. Both are excelently painted and look their parts but Madg just wins out. That skirt is really well done. Very Impressed

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian, I was thinking of those Highlanders' kilts whilst doing it.

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  14. Great looking figures Michael Chatsworh estate must be on the up with Hm for company!

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    1. Thank you Willie, HM is clearly slumming it, but needs most during the zombie apocalypse. ;)

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  15. Love the Madge. I have that figure but I can't remember why I got it in the first place?

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    1. Thank you, it is just so different isn't it.

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  16. Madge is awesome. You should have a 'Keep Off the Flowers' sign on the fence...

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    1. Thank you Curt, that is a great idea and so very tempting.

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  17. Love the Frank Gallagher figure, never knew they made that one! Great painting all round Sir!

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    1. Thank you Ray; Frank is wonderfully defiant armed only with a few harsh words!

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  18. How do you do that....that's simply excellent Michael. The unshaved face, the details...it would be a pity to describe it with words only. All I can say is: Bravo!

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    1. Thank you so much, that is very kind of you Thanos. Most of what you see is gleaned from the blogs of other much more talented painters.

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  19. What wonderful and inspiring works! Madge is my new dream gal. I agree with Ian about the skirt, and love the detail on the base- the fence especially!

    Also really like the Grenadier zombie. Is that a conversion?

    Thanks for sharing.
    Cheers
    Thomas

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    1. Thomas, welcome aboard and thank you for the very kind words of encouragement. The Guardsman Zombie is actually from 'Cold War Miniatures'.

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  20. Great modeling, Michael! The characters have lots of character. Madge doesn't look happy but determined, and Frank looks like he's three-sheets-to-the-wind and trying to talk sign-language to the Zeds. I'm still laughing. Thanks!!

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    1. Thank you Jay, delighted that you liked them.

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  21. Beautiful figures (as always) - loving the extra touches too - wonderful!

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  22. Superb work Michael! I love the grunge look of Frank, especially the unshaven look. Madge is just fab, love the tartan, and all the little details, that gun looks bigger than she is - I have images of her flying backwards after discharging it ;-)

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    1. Thank you Scott, I think her frail frame underlies her forceful determination - not a lady to cross!

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  23. They are great there and full of character, I love queenie and the pink body warm is a wonderful touch and the base just set the whole thing off.

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  24. Thank you Pete, really enjoyed doing them.

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  25. What can I say Michael - excellent painting as always. Glad the piano wire came in handy (originally from my vast lead mountain of Hinchliffe 25mm's). I think I know who you based Frank's "9 parts to the wind" look on!!!

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  26. Those are astounding!

    ...though I must say I thought the zombie arm was a splendid prize leek at first glance...

    Great site, by the way: very classy.

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    1. Thank you very much Admiral, I can see what you mean about the prize leek! :D

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