Tuesday 5 August 2014

Raise a glass


Progress on playing my first 'Witchfinder General' scenario has taken a bit of a hit of late with a lack of space been cited as the issue.  Space has always been an issue here at 'Awdry Towers' and recent events have meant that yours truly has been faced with packing away all, but the very things that are currently on the painting table in order to accommodate the wishes of the lady of the house.  I should stress that this is by mutual consent, it is simply an inconvenience that, coupled with an increase in workload from the day job, has put paid to any large scale plans that I may have had for the immediate future.  


It was inevitable, then that I was going to be distracted by something a bit different and these burly Scotsmen were just what was required to lighten the mood.  Both are from the 'Warlord Games' Highlander Arrant Scum pack and caught my eye at Salute earlier this year.  I love the idea that they might be 'muscle for hire' lured down from the Highlands with the promise of drink to bolster the ranks of the Clubmen.  Yes, they were fiddly and yes there was an awful lot of flash to clean up, but they are such wonderfully characterful sculpts that all was forgiven when I started to paint them. 


As the Scotts neared completion, I remembered that I had also picked up a couple of suitable companions from 'Hasslefree Miniatures' at the same time and decided to give them a lick of paint too.  By comparison they 'Bar Wench' and 'Village Idiot' hardly needed to be shown a file and they were ready for some paint, although looking at these photographs, I see that the young lady has been liberally applying the face powder again! 


Ultimately all very satisfying to paint, but I am having to use every ounce of restraint that I possess to stop myself from building a tavern for them all - the 'Slaughtered Lamb' springs to mind!

67 comments:

  1. That is a motley crew is it not. I like the range of palettes you chose and that tartan is splendid.

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    1. Thank you Anne, I quite enjoy painting tartan, but not sure I could cope with a whole unit of Highlanders though.

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  2. I have also painted Tartan today! I do like the village idiot it reminds me of someone I know (No not in the Mirror). Excellent work as always.

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    1. Thank you Clint, I enjoy a tartan but in small measures you understand.

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  3. I like how you've done the tartan (and I've saved images to my reference file), and that bar wench's cup's certainly floweth over :)

    Pendragon Without's blog has a nice RPG bar room floor plan that I just might have to have a go at copying for a bit of fun. These miniatures, you've highlighted, just might fit the bill as characters for a bar room brawl game.

    Roy

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    1. Thank you Roy, where am I looking for the RPG bar room?

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  4. Fantastic looking 'supporting' cast. They will certainly add character and atmosphere to the tabletop. Building a 'Slaughtered Lamb' pub sounds like a challenge you'll have to accept.

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    1. Thnak you Matt, I think it is only a matter or time before I cave in.

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  5. Lack of space is always a problem! Your Scotsmen are amazing! Especially the one with the naked belly and the splendid denture! He is my favourite!
    Panagiotis

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    1. Thank you so much and he is certainly my favourite too.

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  6. Fantastic looking bunch indeed! You can never have too many patrons of fine beverages causing havoc at the local tavern. It would certainly make a nice scenario piece :)

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    1. Thank you, I certainly love the idea of them smashing up the pub whilst the real battle rages outside.

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  7. What a wonderful set of figures Michael! Lovely work on the tartans too!

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  8. More stunning looking models..... great work

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    1. Thank you, that is very kind of you to say so.

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  9. What a superb group, they seem so natural together

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    1. Thank you, they just seemed to work well together.

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  10. Fantastic matey. Inspiring stuff. They have real character as well. Great job!

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    1. Thank you so much, they were certainly a blast to paint.

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  11. Sorry to hear about your space issues, it's at a premium here at the bunker too. Great bunch of figures, the tartan is superb. The"Slaughtered Lamb" sounds like a wonderful establishment to frequent and imbibe the local draught, I'm sure it has a "lively" atmosphere and clientele as well.

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    1. Thank you Bob, I think it is always wise to give a little in order to keep all happy!

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  12. Very nice and easy to see why they were a pleasure to paint. How you manage to get a game in somehow sir

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    1. Thank you, I'm sure we'll sort out the space issue eventually.

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  13. Wonderful highlanders they are just the thing to combat Puritanical abstinence.

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  14. Fantastic brushwork on all of these; but the tartans are particularly excellent!

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    1. Thank you Dean, I must admit that I enjoyed the challenge.

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  15. I guess I cant say it enough Michael...your work is 1st class

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    1. That is incredibly kind of you thank you Captain.

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  16. Great work ! Compliments Michael .

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  17. Nice work Michael. The tartan is superb.

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    1. Thank you Mark, it was certainly a challenge.

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  18. A lovely bunch of reprobates Michael, the idiot looks like Ray!

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    1. Now funny you should mention that, I had thought the same, but did you notice that the big Scot had ginger hair? ;)

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  19. "There's ouisge in the jars"

    Lovely bunch of figures Michael :)

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  20. Fantastic work on the tartan Michael. Also seeing them reminds me of one of Wellington's famous quotes
    'The Scum of the Earth Enlisted for Drink'
    Here is hoping that Warlord Games figures out how to get rid of more of the flash, as they do produce some wonderful figures.

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    1. Thank you Terry, they do make a lovely sculpt and have some great ideas though.

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  21. Fantastic stuff Michael!

    I need one of those barmaids for the Bar in my Blood Bowl stadium!

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    1. She would be perfect for that Paul and thank you.

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  22. But never mind lad, fill a tot, fill a tot!
    Wonderful (once again) work there Michael. It is as you say on your blog header, there's not a thing like ''enough wine''. :)

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    1. Thank you Thanos, I think there will never be enough ale for these chaps!

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  23. Characterful figs and an excellent job in bringing them up to tabletop standard; it's a real bugger when your new fig is surrounded by a halo of flash, I can sympathise completely.

    You really should go with that tavern idea - you know you want to!

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    1. Thank you Evan, I think the slaughtered lamb might have to happen at some time, but I have to negotiate a table first!

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  24. very good job as usual!
    they are very peculiar and funny!
    bye

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    1. Thank you Luca, they certainly caught my eye.

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  25. Fantastic that is some wonderful tartan. I will have to send you my Big Tam figure to paint up his kilt!

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    1. Thank you Simon and more than happy to help if I can.

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  26. Replies
    1. Thank you Christopher, they were a blast to work on, not sure about the bar wench's face though - I seem ti have completely overcooked that.

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  27. Lovey work Michael. That barmaid looks a bit grim, though I imagine it cant be an easy life putting up with drunken Scotsmen! ;-)

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    1. Thank you Scott and you are right about the barmaid, I just seem to have overworked it a bit too much.

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    2. Not at all! Not all barmaid are pretty! ;-)

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  28. Wow! What a nice bunch of characters! The photo shot from a branch on the tree is clever. Nice work, sir.

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    1. Thank you Jay, I'm sure I saw someone do something similar once where there framed their miniatures with trees and the like and I thought then that I must use that myself.

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  29. Wonderful work as usual mate. Hurry up and play a game so we can see all your new toys in action!

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    1. Thanks Millsy, I'm afraid the game is on hold due to the packing say!

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  30. Wonderful paintjob, Michael.
    As characterful as the sculpts are as profound is your work on them.

    Cheers
    Stefan

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  31. You have certainly passed the tartan test Michael, superb painting.

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  32. Excellent work Michael, beautiful paintjob and pictures...Another beer, please!

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