Monday 26 March 2018

Ruga-Ruga!

There is something about the name Ruga Ruga that tells you everything you need to know about these fearsome warriors.  Banded together from disparate backgrounds or tribes the Ruga Ruga were, in effect, mercenaries often in the employ of Western powers to bolster the ranks, fighting alongside the trained Askari.  
Legends abound of unspeakable acts carried out by the often flamboyantly dressed troops and as a result,  I wanted my unit to really stand out on the table.  As luck would have it, 'North Star Miniatures' had recently released some wonderful character packs and I couldn’t help but pick up a couple and selected the most interesting of the sculpts to paint.
With their masks and elaborate headdresses, I had so much fun painting these.  They did, however, take me a ridiculous amount of time due to the sheer variety of colours used.  Armed with muskets these elite troops were often likely to scare their enemies away with the noise and plumes of smoke emitted from their unreliable firearms.
Of course all this cherry picking means that there are a fair few miniatures lying around that I need to get around to painting at some point, but for the time being, I am more than happy with the ones that I have completed.  Although maintaining a fearsome reputation when you have a Hornbill strapped to your head is a tough act to pull off!


60 comments:

  1. What a great looking group Michael, the colours make them stand out really well. Nothing wrong with cherry picking the most interesting as long as you finish the others.

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    1. Thank you so much Dave, now about those unfinished ones... ;)

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  2. Wow they look amazing Michael well worth the time you put into them :)

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  3. Chap with the toucan must be a traveller. They are found in S. America
    Probably a hornbill on his head dress. Much more local :0)

    Lovely figures btw. I envy your painting skills!

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    1. You are absolutely right, b@$%*r! I think I did know that and had painted it as a Hornbill. I shall have to go and correct the post accordingly. :D Thank you for the kind words though, much appreciated.

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  4. Those are brilliant. Good to see you back with a vengeance!

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  5. Super models and brushwork - all ready to die horribly in the Congo I'm guessing!

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  6. Gorgeous Michael, specially the one with the Tukan on his headdress.

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    1. Thank you my good man and I am reliable informed that it is a Hornbill, still a wonderful addition nonetheless. :)

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    2. so now who died and made you a bird-fancier and -specialist, mister ladidah gunner Graham?! :-P

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    3. Now sorry Sergeant-Major, but 'two can' play at that game. :)

      To be fair my ornithological oversight was brought to my attention by the splendid chap who commented above, so I amended the body of my post.

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  7. Gorgeous, wonderful job Michael!

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    1. That is very kind of you to say so Pat, thank you.

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  9. While I don't trust them one single inch they do look vey good and would grace anyone's wargames table

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    1. Thank you Clint and I think you might be right, not to be trusted at all.

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  10. A nice little unit of reprobates. I'm never sure if the name is pronounced RUG-ah, which sounds like a ball game, or ROO-gah, which sounds like an old-fashioned car horn.

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    1. Thank you A.J. now you've got me thinking, I think I have always gone for RUG-ah, happy to be corrected though.

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  11. More wonderful brushwork from the esteemed Master Awdry! Great stuff Michael!

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    1. That is incredibly kind of you Terry, thank you.

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  12. Ruga Ruga always remind me if if favourite joke.

    I've just made a ventriloquist dummy from offcuts of carpet.

    It's ruggish.

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  13. Truly beautiful work Michael as always, and interesting insight into these colourful chaps too.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thank you so much Roger, they certainly stand out on the table top.

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  14. You're a master Michael! Awesome work!

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  15. Lovely work mate. The shading and colour on the hornbill is beautiful.

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    1. Thank you, rather pleased with that myself.

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  16. These are cracking Michael. Really nice sculpts as well.

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    1. Thank you Simon, they were a bit different and by cherry picking across a couple of sets I was able to get a really unique unit.

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  17. Excellent work on these Micheal!

    Christopher

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  18. Wow. Very nice. I finished mine recently and it seems I need to get some pointers from your set. Awesome!

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    1. Thank you so much Robert. Welcome aboard too, do you have a blog yourself, it would be lovely to see yours.

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  19. More native goodness for your Congo games, Michael. A lovely set of characterful figures, beautifully painted. When will you be next venturing into the Dark Continent?

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    1. Thank you Jez. Certainly a lot more Congo posts to come, but planning a return to 17th Century England before heading back to the jungle.

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  20. You've nailed them Michael the hornbill headdress is a triumph!
    Best regards
    Willie

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  21. Wonderful band of warriors, Michael. Lovely rich hues on their skin and clothing. A master class in painting Dark Africa imho.

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  22. These fellows certainly look tough as nails. Terrific painting! I love 'em!

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  23. I just realised a teeny bit prior to that last paragraph that that bloke had a bloody great bird strapped to his noggin! O_o

    Yeah, I'd call that somewhat "flamboyant". Or just downright bonkers. Ha!

    Gorgeous painting Michael. Still so so impressed with how you tackle these skin tones.

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  24. Great skin tones and love the variety in clothing colors too.

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  25. Wonderful figures, Sir!
    Funny enough that I turned to Africa lately as well. Namely to CONGO with a couple of Askaris and Ruga Rugas...

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