Wednesday 30 January 2013

Plastic Fantastic



Before even the first stroke of paint had been applied in the '3rd Annual Painting Challenge' some may recall my initial exploits with a box of 'Perry Miniatures' plastic Mahdists.  My lack of experience led to a mostly humerous episode -  it wasn't that funny at the time! - that saw me scrabbling along on hands and knees trying to find the sword wielding limb that had just 'pinged' across the dining room!  

With a little persevernace I managed to assembly these ferocious warriors to something resembling a human being and decided that they would form a jolly good foundation from which to launch my personal challenge of achieveing my 500 point par score.



So to my latest entry that saw two more stands of five tribesmen.  The first, very much in the vein of what has gone before, but the last are armed with muskets and wearing a distinctive red fez.  I have no doubt that I will be admonished by the Wargames Police for this gross historical inaccuracy, but I just couldn't resist - perhaps they could go on to be Turkish Slavers!  






To finish, I've included a couple of shots with the entire collection to date.  Now I appreciate that this may not look like much to the hardened Wargamers out there, but to me it represents a something of a breakthrough.  I've long suffered with the attention span of a goldfish so to actually complete something that approaches a unit of troops is a bit of an achievement!








72 comments:

  1. Button counters be damned - they are lovely! Congratulations with sticking with a project - I know what you mean.

    Frank
    http://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com.au/

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  2. Michael they looking amazing especially in the red fez too. Hang what the wargaming police say as they are your blooming figures and not theirs and besides your painting skills are better than there. Nice job on the unit.

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  3. They do look particularly great - love the patches and other details. I must say these plastics would give any metals a run for their money (and likely win!). Best, Dean

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dean, I have to agree with you in so much as I expected the plastics to be void of detail, but was pleasantly surprised by these.

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  4. Beautifully painted and presented!

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  5. Good Sir

    They are extremely good looking figures - I wouldn't worry about the red cap chaps either as you could quite accurately claim they looted them off dead Egyptians (although one would imagine the fez would be a bugger to wear with a fuzzy wuzzy 'do!)

    Our little group in the Antipodes (through Doc's 'Art of War' blog) also has more than a passing interest in Victorian warfare so on their behalf I have corrected a ghastly oversight and am now following your excellent blog sir.

    Yours etc,
    Smithers of the FO
    (AKA Doc)

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    Replies
    1. No need to apologise old chap, for it would appear that I too have been remiss in not discovering your fine Blog; welcome aboard my good man.

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  6. They are indeed lovely sir. Well done on sticking with it.

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  7. Fabulous work, as always, very impressive!
    Phil.

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  8. I was given a box of these some 11 months ago. Foolishly I have put them aside while I work on other things, and now you have tempted me to dig them out and get them started.

    Unless the wargames police were present at the time they cannot know if red fez's are acurate or not. "Lack of evidence is not evidence of Lack!"

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    Replies
    1. Come on Clint, dig them out and give them some love. Thank you too for the kind words.

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  9. Great work Michael, as ever your brush work is enviable. Have to say I'm not really a fan of plastics as I'm to lazy to put them together, and usually by the time I have them all stuck together it has dampened my enthusiasm for the project.

    These look wonderful though.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mr Smillie and I know exactly what you mean about the 'faff' of it all. That said these were quite responsive and I was delighted as to how well they took the paint.

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  10. Hi,
    i like your Blog!
    And i love your works!
    I follow you.
    If you like to follow me too, i’ll be happy!
    VioletPaint
    See you soon! ^^

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    Replies
    1. Welcome Cristina and thank you for the kind comments; your work is amazing, now avidly following!

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  11. Exceptional work Sir! really love the look of these guys.

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  12. a great looking unit for the Gardner Gun to make a mess of!

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    Replies
    1. Absolutely, right up to the moment when it jams!

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  13. You need a splash of red! Gives Tommy Atkins something upon which to draw a bead on as he stands in his square with his knees a-knockin'. Lovely work.

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  14. I reckon the fez´s are completely legit..unless of course there´s anyone alive from back then who can definately say that absolutely on no account and at no time whatsoever they would have worn them. They look really good so ya boo sucks to the historically correct brigade :-D

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    Replies
    1. Well thank you Paul, my sentiments exactly - I was just too shy to say it out loud!

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  15. They look superb old boy, nice looking force when you see them all stood together.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Simon, I have to confess I did feel a fluttering of pride when they were all lined up!

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  16. Very well done and the patch work two thumbs up!

    Christopher

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  17. Great work the unit shot is inspiring I might just have to take my box's with me this weekend and stick them togther ready to recieve some paint in the next few weeks
    Peace James

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    Replies
    1. Thank you James, can't wait to see what you do with yours.

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  18. Nice work once again Michael. They look great!

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  19. These were a big leap over the last plastics you did-big leap. Anything that says 'plastic box set" frightens me. For me to paint a whole unit would be a bloody miracle! I'm glad you've achieved it and felt the sense of accomplishment.

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    Replies
    1. Anne that is incredibly kind of you and yes it really gave me quite a overwhelming sense of achievement.

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  20. Nicely done Michael! Good skin tones.

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  21. I think these plastic Mahdists are actually nicer than the metals.

    I love the colours you have got on the Beja's tunics; they are just like those from Sir Alexander Korda's The Four Feathers.

    It is not a fez, of course, which would be far too Turkish (named after the city in Morocco, which was the source of the crimson berries that provided the red dye)but more properly a taqiyah,which was (and is) worn under the turban. Red looks striking. If you wanted to avoid the wargaming police (which, of course, you don't) white might make them happier!

    Beautifully done!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sir, not only for the lovely comment, but also the history. I have to confess that I hadn't realised that the taqiyah and worn under the turban, but makes perfect sense now I think about it.

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  22. Great looking faces you have done on these fellows.
    Superb painting and basing all round Michael.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Pat, there was quite a bit of detail there to help me along.

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  23. No issues there my friend the figures and basing looks great. What rules have you based them up for?

    Regards

    Vinnie

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    Replies
    1. Ah Vinnie, rules you say? In all my enthusiasm to paint I always seem to neglect this most fundamental aspect of the hobby. I was reliable informed by someone that this ‘rabble’ effect basing might work for skirmish level games.

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  24. These look great Michael. Well worth the hard work of putting those plastics together...

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Michael, towards the end it was all starting to make sense, so might have to try some more at some stage.

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  34. I am currently painting the same figures and would be grateful to know what scatter material you used on the bases?

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    Replies
    1. The bases were covered in Vallejo pumice gel and then just a few small stones added. The stones came from a pet shop and normally used to line fish tanks. The tufts came from Tajima1. I hope that helps?

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    2. Many thanks, I'll give it a go.

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