Dr Who Figures

The children's magazine Dr Who Adventures always comes with freebies.  The latest bundle consists of the following

 The gift most likely to be of interest to us is the monster build kit.

It contains a Weeping Angel, a Sontarian, a Cyberman and a Silurian.  They seem to be about 54mm.

At £3.99, you might think it an expensive kit, but if you know youngsters interested in Dr Who (who will hopefully also like the other stuff in the bundle), it might serve as an intro to modelling or painting miniatures.

I think I'm going to make it up for the youngest of my many nephews, who's Dr Who mad.  I'll update you on progress.

I haven't done anything on the other nephew's Zulu War figures since my last update.  The Wife has decided that it would be quicker if she painted the Zulu figures.  She appears to be more of a stickler for historical accuracy than I am, and has spent a day on the internet researching their costumes.  She's finding it interesting: I might get her some figures for her to get in touch with her Boer roots.

Analogue Update

The Villains Round of the painting challenge was a good one, with a nice variety of figures and everyone seeming to be keen to up their game.

My own entries were a trio of Mad Maharajas.

They're actually Studio Miniature's Sikh Officers from their new Sikh Wars range.  Regular readers will remember that I picked them up in their Kickstarter.  For my purposes they'll be the deliberately anachronistic leaders of a movement intent on throwing the British out of India and restoring the Princely States.  As such, they could be leading troops into battle or plotting the repatriation of certain symbols of authority now incorporated into the Crown Jewels.  Anyone know anyone who produces Yeoman Warders?

They were very enjoyable to paint.  I wanted to throw a lot of red and gold at them to represent meglomaniacs' bling, but also to choose something from the palette to represent the gorgeous silks available to Punjabi royalty.

Meanwhile, the boy's 54mms are progressing well.  I'll be submitting the Brits and starting on the Zulus in the next few days.

Knight Club

I caught the end half of an interesting programme on BBC3 last night called 'Knight Club'.  If followed a group guys joining the UK Team for Battle of the Nations.  This is a medieval re-enactment tournament, with full body contact (ie, they hit each other hard - broken limbs seemed common-place) matches are played 1v1, 5v5, 21v21 and 'all against all'.

The novices seemed a mixed lot, but the star for me was a Manc who basically just wanted a scrap with some Frenchmen ("this'll pay 'em back for the toilets").  Their 5v5 team had the misfortune to meet the Israelis (who used tactics like co-operating with each other "most of them are ex-military") and the Ukranians (who were big buggers who eschwed the blunted swords and used maces to bash them).  The team enjoyed themselves, the Manc decided that next year he'd put some training in, and they won the Best Newcomers' trophy.  Over-all, Team UK (who's stars seemed to be Polish) got to the semi-finals.

If you're in the UK you can follow this link to the BBC iPlayer to watch it on-line (but only for the next 6 days).  The team's webpage is at http://battleofthenations.org/about-us/.

Analogue Round-Up

Week three of the painting challenge is about to start, and I feel it's going well.  I'm pleased with my own progress and am impressed by the marvelous work submitted by other Wild Bunchers (that sounds as if it has something to do with ill-fitting underwear...).

Painting this week has been going fitfully - most days I get an hour or so in.  Not a lot compared to some of you, but it means I'm making an effort to sit down each evening and paint.  I managed to submit my entry for the villains bonus round on Friday, and hope I've raised my game from the civilian round.

I started the Zulu War infantry I mentioned the other day.  I don't normally do before and after photos, but these figures were such a lurid colour that I took a photo straight out of the box.

Mind you, it was quite handy for spotting the bit's I'd missed when spray-priming.   They're now looking a little different.

I've realised that I might have missed a trick when I submitted my Santa figure.  I should have used it as my Peckinpah-themed figure - 'Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia'.

What's in the box, Santa?

I've taken advantage of the post-Christmas sales at Wayland Games and Northstar to by some odds and ends.  The figures (a Celtic dog-handler with hounds, some dungeon monsters and a trio of snakeman) might make an appearance later in the challenge.  The Thrilling Expeditions looks a good read for 99p - it's a Wild West special.

This Week's Interesting Obits

Lt-Col John Gaff (d. 28 Nov 2013)

Bomb disposal officer awarded the George Medal

Daily Telegraph obit 30 Dec 2013

Click here for other obits of interest.

Happy Birthday Professor!

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973)

Books and Stuff - Dec 2013

A monthly round-up of my book news.

What I've been reading...

I finally finished How to Seize A Dragon's Jewell, one of Cressida Cowell's 'How to Train Your Dragon' Series.  I'm not one of those adults who customarily reads children's books, but my wife bought me this as a lighthearted birthday present, knowing that dragons and I have a history.

There are two things to note: first, this is the tenth in the series; and secondly, the story background is different from that of the DreamWorks film.  Neither of these spoiled my enjoyment of the book (I also enjoyed the film).  I would think that it would be ideal for bedtime stories.  The chapters are a good length, and generally build up to exciting climaxes; add to this some great characters and dialogue and you've all the excuse you need to put on some silly voices.  The authors illustrations are nicely idiosyncratic too.

I'm going to look out for other books in this series and I also read the little book How to Train Your Viking.

Completely different is Paul Vallely's Pope Francis: Untying the Knots, which I've also finished.  As I studied the modern church at university, I've read many papal biographies.  It's a good rule of thumb that any biography written in the first year of a papacy is going to be hagiographical pap or a complete hatchet-job (sadly, some popes never progress any further - decent biography of Pius XI anyone?).

This is neither.  It's a well-written piece of investigative journalism that explores the paradox of Francis: how the authoritarian Jesuit Provincial in 1970s Argentina became everyone's favorite liberal uncle and advocate of the 'option for the poor'.  For Vallely the crux is the case of the two Jesuits imprisoned by the junta after they were disowned by Bergoglio.  His critics have used this case to level charges of collaboration against him: Vallely convincingly dismisses these charges, but argues that his naivete in saying that he no longer considered the men Jesuits gave the green light for the government to arrest them.  Vallely considers that Francis has been trying to atone ever since.

An important book on Francis' pre-papal career.

I also read the Journal of the Life Saving Awards Research Society (which had a couple of my own contributions in it) and started Giles Foden, Ladysmith.

What I've bought...

Cressida Cowell, How to Train Your Viking - 30p

Rose George, Deep Sea and Foreign Going - £1.00
Mike Hally, Electronic Brains: Stories from the Dawn of the Computer Age - £1.50
Mike Palmer, Eddystone: The Finger of Light - £2.00

Books for free!

From the One Man and His Brushes giveaway and Christmas gifts.

Terry Pratchett, Raising Steam

Chris Martin, A Gentleman's Guide to Beard and Moustache Management
Rebecca Rushforth, St Margaret's Gospel-Book: The Favorite Book of an Eleventh Century Queen of Scots
Andrew Salmon, To The Last Round: The Epic British Stand on the Imjin River, Korea 1951
Nigel Slater, Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food

For Tamsin - Happy New Year Everyone!

She was young, she was pure, she was new, she was nice
She was fair, she was sweet seventeen.
He was old, he was vile, and no stranger to vice
He was base, he was bad, he was mean.
He had slyly inveigled her up to his flat
To view his collection of stamps,
And he said as he hastened to put out the cat,
The wine, his cigar and the lamps:

     Have some madeira, m'dear. You really have nothing to fear.
     I'm not trying to tempt you, that wouldn't be right,
     You shouldn't drink spirits at this time of night.
     Have some madeira, m'dear. It's really much nicer than beer.
     I don't care for sherry, one cannot drink stout,
     And port is a wine I can well do without...
     It's simply a case of chacun a son gout
     Have some madeira, m'dear.

Unaware of the wiles of the snake-in-the-grass
And the fate of the maiden who topes,
She lowered her standards by raising her glass,
Her courage, her eyes and his hopes.
She sipped it, she drank it, she drained it, she did!
He promptly refilled it again,
And he said as he secretly carved one more notch
On the butt of his gold-headed cane:

     Have some madeira, m'dear,
     I've got a small cask of it here.
     And once it's been opened, you know it won't keep.
     Do finish it up. It will help you to sleep.
     Have some madeira, m'dear.
     It's really an excellent year.
     Now if it were gin, you'd be wrong to say yes
     The evil gin does would be hard to assess..
     Besides it's inclined to affect me prowess,
     Have some madeira, m'dear.

Then there flashed through her mind what her mother had said
With her antepenultimate breath,
"Oh my child, should you look on the wine that is red
Be prepared for a fate worse than death!"
She let go her glass with a shrill little cry,
Crash! Tinkle! it fell to the floor;
When he asked, "What in Heaven?" She made no reply,
Up her mind, and a dash for the door.

     Have some madeira, m'dear.
     Rang out down the hall loud and clear
     With a tremulous cry that was filled with despair,
     As she fought to take breath in the cool midnight air,
     Have some madeira, m'dear.
     The words seemed to ring in her ear.
     Until the next morning, she woke in her bed
     With a smile on her lips and an ache in her head...
     And a beard in her lug 'ole that tickled and said:
     Have some madeira, m'dear!

Fan Mail and a Dilemma

I've told you the story of my nephew's Christmas present.  We received the following:-

Nice, eh?

Given that the soldiers were such a success, The Wife 'suggested' that we give him some more for his birthday (15th Jan :roll:).

Accordingly, this morning I got a parcel:-

Now, this leaves me with what might be termed a First World Problem...

The Wife has asked me why my 58mm figures painted in what has been charitably called an 'old skool' fashion score twice as much in the painting challenge as the carefully and skillfully crafted 28mm figures other contestants have submitted.  I can argue that the challenge isn't a test of painting skills (though there are side prizes for skilled brushwork), but a question of setting targets and meeting them: painting is being done to 'table standard' not 'competition standard'.  But this rings hollow, and I agree that it seems unfair (especially as my target is only 500 points).

This leaves me with the following options:-

1. Don't submit Johnny's figures to the challenge
2. Submit them, but privately subtract them from my tally towards 500 points (rather as the Rejects are doing with their side challenge)
3. When Curt allows, increase my target
4. Pull myself together, suck it up and worry about something more important instead (in my mind I call this the 'Amos solution')

At the moment, I'm inclined to go with Options 2 and 3, but what do you think?  As Mrs Merton used to say "Let's have a heated debate!"

2014: Year of the Moustache

Among the many splendid presents The Wife gave me for Christmas was a book, The Gentleman's Guide to Beard and Moustache Management, which she bundled together with a pair of scissors, a moustache comb and a tin of 'Bounder' Extra Firm Moustache Wax.

The latter includes a leaflet with the following notice.

You have been warned!

It seems that The Wife is not the only one feeling the vibe.  This afternoon I read of the new £2.00 coin

And for the lighthouse fans and Marlburians out there, there are others celebrating the 500th anniversary of Trinity House and the 300th anniversary of the death of Queen Anne.

This Week's Interesting Obits

Sir Christopher Curwen (d. 18 Dec 2013)

Head of MI6 - 'M'

Daily Telegraph 23 Dec 2013

Times 27 Dec 2013

Independent 28 Dec 2013

Lt-Gen Mikhail Kalashnikov (d. 23 Dec 2013)

Weapons designer

Daily Telegraph 24 Dec 2013

Independent 24 Dec 2013

Times, 24 Dec 2013

Post Christmas Catch-Up #2

The second (of two) posts about what I've submitted to the Analogue Painting Challenge over the holidays.

First up is a seasonal one: Santa himself.

This lovely figure was a joy to paint.  He's got great character and looks ready to battle Martians or sky pirates.

He's the December freebie from North Star.  I mentioned on the Challenge FB page the other week, saying what a nice entry he would make for the civilian round.  James promptly offered to send me one.  I then fell foul to shiny-madness and ended up with my own free figure.

In a 'pass it on' spirit, the spare Santa will feature in a post-Christmas giveaway once I figure one out.

The second submission was some 54mm plastic D-Day figures from Steve Weston (possibly the worse website I've seen in a long time).  I'd painted these up for The Wife nephew's Christmas gift, so was aiming for a look somewhere between old school Britains and Britains/Deetail (I knew he had some of the latter).

I wasn't too happy with these while painting them, but they came out surprisingly well.  Both Johnny and his father were really pleased with them and impressed that they were by my fair had.  A huge credit of family brownie points.

This morning The Wife told me it was Johnny's birthday on 15 January and wouldn't it be nice to give him some Zulu War figures...

Post Christmas Catch-Up #1

Well, Santa's been and gone, so a little time to play catch-up.

I managed to get an entry in for last week-end non-combatant bonus round to the Analogue Painting Challenge.  By pure coincidence my choice of a druid and his Christian nemesis proved apt for the Solstice (though I hadn't twigged the link until that morning).  These are two from a large hoard of figures Gary Amos generously sent me to add to the a chieftain I won in the Canister & Grape give-away

Here they are:-

I wasn't too sure of the colour scheme for the druid.  The Wife didn't think green appropriate and suggested white and ivory, but I thought that too Eisteddfod.  Green seems right to me for a earth-connected faith and to act as a reminder of Spring during the Winter.  Then up popped the highly authentic Arthur Pendragon on the news complaining about the new Stonghendge visitors' centre...

I'm not sure if the stuff at the top of the figure's staff is supposed to be greenery, but I chose to make it Welsh gold (neither this or his brooch has come out well in the photos).

As for the bishop, the purple was dictated by custom.  I spent a long time dithering over his cloak before slapping on some grey and adding a fur trim.  I'm not entirely happy about it.

Interestingly for me, another member of the challenge also chose to submit the druid figure (who I learn is Merlin from Gripping Beast).  Here, for comparison, is the version done by Mark of The Wilde Goose

I have two more submission to the Challenge to catch-up with: Santa and the D-Day troops.  My point total currently stands at 187, which I think is a reasonable chunk of my 500 target.

The Christmas Season

Well, despite the weather disruptions here in the UK, we made it to the Mother-in-Law's.  We'll be ensconced here for a few days dispensing seasonal joy.

Those of you taking part in the Analogue Challenge may be interested to know that I managed to finished the nephew's presents (which I'll submit later in the week) and another, smaller, item (which I've submitted already).  The number and level of entries for the civilian bonus round were very high - inspiring stuff!

I shall try to update the blog while we're here , but I may be overtaken by events.  If I don't add anything to before Wednesday, I'd like to take the occasion to wish you all - regular or casual readers - a very Merry Christmas!

In Which Loki Saves My Bacon and I Break My Duck

Well, it's the end of the first week of this year's Analogue Painting Challenge, and already some top quality material has been submitted - it really is good to see other people's work gathered together.  I must admit to feeling a little out-classed though: some people seem to be able to knock out whole armies of figures very quickly.

I'm reassuring myself with the thought that among those who haven't as yet submitted must be some plodders like myself.  We shall see!  I imagine this weekend's bonus round will see a lot of new work.  How Curt's going to manage with 60 entries all at once (each with at least three photos), I don't know!

So what's the title about?  Well, I managed to submit my civilians last night (only two figures, but what the hey).  I'd deleted the e-mail with the submission guidelines, so I had to send a quick message to the Challenge Facebook Group asking when the deadline was and about photo sizes.  Then I found the e-mail and did a quick-and-dirty calculation that I had until 6pm tonight.  Loki proved a star by pointing out that it was 6am this morning!  Some quick flocking before bedtime ensued.  Thanks are also due to Sean for giving me the info about picture sizes.

More about my submitted figures when Rule 9 allows.

This is how my worktable looks at the moment.

The eagle-eyed among you will see that it hasn't changed much since my last update (I'm going have to find a more imaginative way of photo-ing the desk).

I have to finish the nephew's 54mm troops by the morning (I should be on track there).  The Santa is finished, but I decided against submitting him last night.  I've got four civilian figures that are part-painted, a couple of whom I might hold over until the 'favorite' bonus round.  There's another figure that might do for either the 'villians' or 'vehicles' rounds (prob the latter, as I haven't got so many options for the former.  I've also lined up (ie, stuck to bottle-tops!) the next figures (who will be alright for 'villians').  After that?  Well, that'll be in the New Year.

We're going away for Christmas tomorrow.  I shall smuggle my laptop along, so will update you, but won't take any painting.

This Week's Interesting Obits

Kenneth Eager (d. 22 Sep 2013)

Stone-carver

Daily Telegraph obit 16 Dec 2013

W/Cdr Jimmy Flint DFC, GM, DFM, AE (d. 16 Dec 2013)

RAF pilot awarded the George Medal

Nottingham Post obit 17 Dec 2013

Daily Telegraph obit 20 Dec 2013

Times obit 20 Dec 2013 (no link available)

Click here to see the interesting obits page

Wednesday Welcome

A warm welcome to new follower Legion Games - I have a feeling that I should know of a website for you, but I don't.  If you do have one, let me know and it'll get a name-check.

Secondly, I'm enjoying the Analogue Challenge (it's early days yet!).  Looking at other peoples' blogs everyone seems to be hard a work - best luck to all!  I suspect someone will reach my target of 500pts before the end of the month!

Here's a morning picture of my desk.  I might actually get some painting done in daylight today if I manage to please the Household Gods.

I have to concentrate *not* to save these pictures as 'anal.jpg'

Remember, today is the last day of the 2nd Class Post for Christmas in the UK!  
(Don't encourage the bastards by buying 1st Class stamps!)

Analogue Challenge Day 2

Well it's the end of work (probably) for me on Day 2 of the Analogue Painting Challenge and it's very clear that many of the participants will outclass me in both productivity and skill (click here to see what's been submitted so far - some really splendid stuff).

This isn't a surprise to me or a problem: one of the reasons I feel comfortable in the Challenge is that it's a challenge rather than a competition (this is not a criticism of those who are choosing to have competitions on the side).  I have set myself a target and I will go for that, while sitting by and enjoying the fun of those who are dueling.  As a novice, I thinks that's the right thing to do and well within the spirit of the Challenge.

So what have I been up to?

Day 2

Now I could pretend that the photo is so blurry because I'm adhering strictly to Rule 9 or for reasons of keeping tricks up my sleeve, but the truth is that I'm to idle to go and retake it (you see why I've knocked off!).

WIP

• 54mm plastic D-Day figures - which are a Christmas present for a nephew, so have to be done and wrapped by Sunday (fortunately, there are now half the number of these than originally planned)
• Various civilian figures for the first bonus round (those at least one of these might be submitted to the Favorite Character bonus)

More updates soon...

Saturday WIP #3

It's time for the weekly workbench picture inspired by Sofie's Paint Blog (she's up to No 6, I'm lingering at No 3).

'Twas the night before the Challenge, and all though the house not a creature
was stirring

For those of you who have read about the woodpile on Facebook, that's part of it under the blue tarp.

I've cleared away the unfinished items that won't contribute to the Challenge score.  The figures I received yesterday have been flashed, based and primed and are in the shed drying along with figures for The Wife's nephew.  I've got a plan for all of the bonus rounds, and I'm clear what needs to be done before we go away for Christmas.

Nos qui pingere salutant te!

The Danes Do It in Style. And 300 Up!

Long-term readers of the blog may remember my surprise at spotting a member of the British Diplomatic Service in court dress at at Pope Francis' inauguration, well it seems that the Danes do it in style..

By the way, this is my 300th post!

Reinforcements Arrive

Last week I was feeling a little miserable, so engaged in a spot of retail therapy.

When we came home this afternoon we found that the postman had hidden a parcel in the woodpile...

Clearing the Decks

In advance of the Analogue Challenge I'm trying to finish off all the half-done work on the painting table.  Hopefully between now and Sunday, I'll be able to share several completed groups.

So I present:-

Men in fezes

These were intended as my Cairo Police Special Investigations Division, but to me they don't look official or 1930s enough (I'm sorry, but when I see those flares and the facial hair I can only thing of Jason King and bad Roger Moore films).  I might go back to the original idea of adapting the Perrys' 1882 Egyptian Army figures.

In any case, I can submit them to the LAF Fezember Challenge.

Fish- or Lizard-men

Generic monsters of the men-in-rubber-suits variety.

Just for Ev!

This Week's Interesting Obits

Donald Featherstone (d. 4 Sep 2013)
Wargaming pioneer
Daily Telegraph 4 Dec 2013

I'm not going to bother linking to Mandela obits.  They're everywhere...

Click here to visit the obits page

Wednesday Welcome and Jiffy Bag Dance

Welcome to new follower Remco de Groot of Remco's Miniatures.  I hope you find stuff of interest here.

This morning I received a couple of parcels that demonstrate the generosity in the wargaming blogosphere.

The other week Dave over at One Man and His Brushes marked 100,000 hits and 150 followers with as give-away.  I was lucky enough to be one of the eight winners to get a prize.  In my case it was To The Last Round, an account of the British stand on the Imjin River during the Korean War.  I am assured it's a good read; I'm looking forward to it.

Earlier this week, I happened to mention on Facebook that Northstar Miniatures' December freebie would make a nice entry for the Analogue Challenge's non-combatant bonus round.  Almost by return, James of Exiles Wargames Painter offered to send me one, putting it in the post the next day.  A very nice gesture of the kind those who know James become used to...

I'm going to enjoy painting this one...

Thank you to you both.

Book Sale and Gift Promo

As some of you know, one of my side-lines is selling second-hand books.  I'm pleased to announce this year's December sale - there will be 10% off on all orders received during December (excluding postage).

So go across to my list of books for sale.  Currently you'll find a 19-page pdf of military and naval books.  All things being equal, I'll be adding the long-promised list of books on Exploration and Archaeology & History to 1000 AD later this week.  These will also be included in the December sale.

The image above is the logo of the Give Books Campaign, which aims to share the love of reading, support local booksellers and promote literacy.  For every #GiveBooks tweet, pin and online pledge to give someone a book 'for the holidays' they will donate a book to a child in need.  This seems a good thing to me.

This Week's Interesting Obits

The Revd John Graham (d. 26 Nov 2013)

Crossword Setter 'Araucaria'

Guardian obit, 27 Nov 2013

Independent obit, 28 Nov 2013

Scotsman obit

Click here for more obits of interest.