Saturday 16 August 2014

Paint Table Pirates!


Perhaps not surprisingly at this time of year the day job has demanded exclusive rights to my time as the  release of the public examination results sees an unprecedented scramble for university places.  Consequently, I have fallen behind on my planned production for the month and missed a great many posts from the many erstwhile weblogs that I enjoy reading - I must make amends over the weekend!


That said, I have been tinkering around with some more terrain and have dug out these plastic trees by 'Games Workshop' that I bought to represent the darker side of the forest!   Base coat and blocking is as far we have got at the moment, but hopefully we should push them on in the next couple of days.


Earlier in the week*,  My copy of 'On the Seven Seas' sailed through the letterbox, here at 'Awdry Towers'.  Now for a chap that rarely plays any games, I do seem to be amassing a fair collection of rule sets and these look a particularly fine set!  



Packed with splendid photographs of wonderfully painted miniatures, my resistance has been at breaking point as I poured over the pages; several times I have caught myself with my finger hovering furtively above the 'add to basket' button of various piratical deals over at the 'North Star Military Figures' website, but each time I have resisted - at least so far!
*or was it the week before?

I knew that boat would come in handy!

Anyway, as I squirrelled away the evidence of my recent purchase, before the 'Saintly Mrs. Awdry' could raise that quizzical eyebrow that says, "What have you bought now?"  I noticed a tiny piece of bubble wrap stuck to the underside of the cardboard.  Further investigation revealed a pirate monkey, my freebie for pre-ordering the rules; just the distraction that was required, thought I and before long he was based and painted.  My little paint monkey* now sits atop the paint rack, taunting me as I work; a constant reminder of all those shiny models that are only a click away - resistance is futile! 
*not to be confused with fellow Bloggers of a similar name 



75 comments:

  1. very nice mini and very good job!
    Locutus would agree too!
    bye

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  2. Michael that is a wonderfully painted Powder Monkey you have there and Pirates are stuff lovely figures especially the ones at North Star. Just to let you know I have the same problem as every time I go to their site I have to resist click on them too.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Pete, there is so much shiny goodness there to choose from!

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  3. Monkey looks very very nice Michael! Buy more Pirates!

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    1. Thank you Rodger, I think he may get his way!

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  4. That little fella is nicely done, but you shouldn't take any of his cheek! I'd be interested in hearing what you think of the rules Michael.

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

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Frank, as for the rules, "i haven't really got further than drooling over the pictures.

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  5. Only a click away... how true is that! I hope resistance is indeed futile!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Scott, my resistance is crumbling!

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  6. The siren song that comes from a little monkey can be quite loud! Great paiting, I love the little fellow!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Monty, he just won't stop though!

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  7. May I suggest the name "Hartlepool" for the monkey? Excellent figure and I am also umming and arrhing about those rules. Maybes this is the year of the pirates!

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    1. ooh , now of course the people of Hartlepool blame the Stockton Militia... but hey they even voted a monkey in a town major not that long ago H'Angus !

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    2. The old monkey hanger legend, good call Clint as for pirates, I blame Loki!

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  8. Ha ha! I knew it! I'm not the only one that miniatures talk to!!!

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    Replies
    1. It's getting them to stop that's the problem!

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  9. rather splendid....i thought for a minute it had all gone planet of the apes.

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    Replies
    1. Now there an idea, Victorian Planet of the Apes!

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  10. Pirates are always fun and nice chimp too!

    Christopher

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    Replies
    1. THank you Christopher, perhaps a couple more won't hurt?

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  11. Black Scorpion also do some very nice Pirates ;-)

    You have done a great job on the little monkey

    Ian

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    1. Thank you Ian, like I need any more temptation! (they are nice aren't they?) ;)

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  12. Really good paint job Michael. The monkey looks right at home in that boat. Although more pirates would look even better. Time to go shopping!. .

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    1. I think you might be right Mike and thank you.

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  13. Great looking powder monkey mate. He reminds me of someone I know! The longboat is beautiful, you've got the weathering spot on.

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  14. Great paint on this little monkey !
    Cheers .

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  15. Love the monkey! Just based mine along with the first crew. I'm afraid I bought the whole lot but I at least can justify it on the basis that I have other pirates and have even played some pirate wargames!

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    1. Perhaps I can justify my expenditure on the grounds that I read your posts about Pirate wargaming? Long shot I know, but they are so tempting!

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  16. Its just like Ork Gretchin - There is no real point to them other than they are fun to paint and the facial expressions can be wonderful. That monkey may have been free but I expect it will come with a heavy price tag in the end - lol. It will be like a parrot whispering 'pieces of eight' in your ear ...... the pirates will come.

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    1. Thank you and it would seem that I have the willpower of a whelk! First crew now on its way!

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  17. I do love pirate monkeys there are some really characterful miniatures in all the various ranges.

    Have you read them yet. I've been hearing some negative feedback on them. The miniatures are fantastic but the rules seem to be lacking and you can't even field the crews that come in the basic sets without having to buy more miniatures.... sometimes even a second starter set just to meet the basic requirements!

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    1. Thank you Simon, as for the rules I am afraid I have done little more that look at the pictures and make pirate noises - Arrr!

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  18. Nice monkey! Always quite liked the gnarled trees from GW. I'm sure you will do a splendid job with them.

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    1. Thank you Mark, the trees are coming on nicely should be down soon.

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  19. Never mind Michael! Buy them and "Hoist the Colors!" I am waiting for more splendid posts of yours!
    Panagiotis

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, I think it is only a matter of time!

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  20. Love the monkey. No banana boat on the Seven Seas is safe com him!
    Terrific work.

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  21. Great looking piratical-monkey! Seems a lot of folks are doing up pirates these days. I do like that forest too.

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    1. Thank you Dean, it's funny how these things seem to come round, great fun to do though.

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  22. The monkey is great but I am even more impressed by the texture on the whites of the boat.

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    1. Thank you for both; the boat is just a lot of dry brushing, I guess I just got lucky with it.

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  23. Excellent work Michael, I am like Legatus above, having bought the full monty as it were, but as I've shown in my blog I do play Pirates Games & needed the crews. Though at this rate I am going to need more ships as well!

    You should endeavor to start with a single crew (much easier to squirrel away).

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    1. Thank you Terry and I think I'll take you at your word, surely just one crew can't hurt?

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  24. That monkey is a cheeky chap. Let's hope he can convince you to paint a crew or two.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Bob, he's certainly winning at the moment!

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  25. Damn it! But that Monkey might just be talking some sense!!!

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    1. Don't they always? I may live to regret this!

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  26. Great pirate monkey and row boat!

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  27. Pirate monkey you are doomed Sir, doomed! The witches will look great under those GW trees.

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    1. I just can't help myself Robert and I was thinking exactly the same with regards to those trees!

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  28. I think you should listen to the advice that your monkey has to offer! More pirates can't hurt can they? Cool miniature and great paint job on it too!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, I'm sure that a couple of pirates won't hurt.

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  29. Excellent work all around.

    Cheers
    Stefan

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  30. A very fine powder monkey, Michael. He looks irate... My guess is he won't calm down until the rest of the crews are ordered! (Good luck with the pupils' exams and university entrance, BTW)

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    1. Thank you for both, new crew ordered and in bound!

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  31. Split me for a marlin spike, shipmate! That's a fine lookin' primate, and sink me if it b'ain't, yaaaarrr!

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  32. Replies
    1. Thank you Captain, just finished the trees so should have those up tomorrow.

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  33. Pirate stuff has a habit of looking extra shiny... all that gold no doubt?

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