The Living 'Wants List'

Hey Internet,

One of the things that I have come to enjoy as part of this funny old hobby of ours is the swapping and trading of miniatures.

Like most of us, sometimes I find myself hankering after some long out-of-production lump of lead, or would like to buy a single figure without having to shell out for twenty of his identical friends.

Up to now, I've done my trading though the 'Lead Adventure Forum' (Username: Mr.Marx), but it occurred to me that this blog would be a good place to do the same thing.

So, here is a living list of the various bits and pieces that I look to acquire. It is 'living' in the sense that I will update it from time to time as my interests change and things come into my possession.

I've got Paypal, a chequebook and a heap of wargames stuff to trade.

If there is something on the list that you just happen to have laying around in need of a new home, drop me a line through the comments box below, or on over on the LAF if your also a member.

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WANTED

Nothing Right Now.


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FOR SALE

Nothing Right Now.

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Last Updated: 13 - 07 - 2015

Black Hat British Infantry [2]

Hey Internet,

I've finally gotten around to finishing my two platoons of Black Hat British Infantry.

All in all, its taken me two weeks to get the thirty of them painted up and based. To be honest, it was quite a chore to get them done.

The painting itself was not bad at all, but the clean-up of the flash and mold lines was really quite arduous.

I got these figures from a friend* who had them around collecting dust, so they are quite old, and given that fact, I have no idea if they are reflective of Black Hat's casting quality nowadays.

That said - and I am loathed to give a bad review - but the casting quality really was awful.

Almost every figure had prominent mold lines - sometimes two sets of mold lines per figure! Some of them also had major 'mold misalignment' issues. There was one 'pose' of figure that was so systematic in the poorness of its casting that every last one of the 'pose' had to be discarded.

After many hours filing and cutting, I got around to painting them. The figures are 'really big 15mm' or 18mm/HO scale, and as such they possess a pleasing level of detail and paint up rather nicely.

After a good deal of 'umm-ing' and 'ah-ing' I decided to go with turn of the century Khaki uniforms rather than the more stereotypical scarlet Redcoat. This made painting them a far speedier process, which was rather a good thing as, to be honest, the whole 'casting' issue had soured the whole modelling project for me, and enthusiasm was in short supply.

I've got some more Black Hat Commanders, Artillery and Gatling guns yet to do, but I think I need a rest before getting back into painting them.

I've got the first of the 'Tanks' on the way, so I'll probably do some of them before boomeranging back into the rest.

Mr. Marx.

* cheers Neil :)

The Lead Tally - 2014

Acquired: +59       Painted: +67          Total: +7

AQotMF British Infantry [1]

Hey Internet,

This week I've painted up a stand of British riflemen for 'All Quiet on the Martian Front'.

"But - what?!" I hear you say. 

"I'm quite sure sure that you said at the beginning of this year that you were not starting any new projects!" you continue.

But "ha!" say I, "I am not breaking my self-set rule! I said only that I would buy new figures for new projects - to put figures I already own to good use is the very intention of the ban!"

"...ah..." you must succeed, "...that's probably all-right then".

So, yeah...

I've painted up five British riflemen for 'All Quiet on the Martian Front'. 

The War of the Worlds has always been one of my favourite books, and something that I've always wanted to game. 

Yet, ''All Quiet" was not a game that I had previously given a second look, as on first glance. I found the tripods goofy and the tanks uninspired, but after a friend bought into it, I strayed onto the games webpage, and soon saw the new models for the BEF faction.

I'm not crazy about the 'official' miniatures - but luckily a friend of mine gave me a huge pile of Black Hat Martian Empires figures. They are the same strange '18mm' scale as AQotMF, so should do nicely.

I've plenty of infantry and a good battery of guns. The uniforms and weapons go against the 'cannon' of the game, but I'm really not too fussed about that. To this little force I'll add probably add some of the Heavy Infantry and a fair bit of armour.

Fortunately, most of the tanks I want don't exist in this scale yet - but between the centenary of the Great War, and Flames of War's new foray into the period, I only expect a short reprieve for my bank balance.

Oh, and one more thing -

Something that all my wargaming friends mock me for is my habit of writing down exactly how I paint everything.

I have a good reason for doing it though - firstly, my memory is a bit 'iffi' nowadays, and secondly, I tend to jump between projects a heck of a lot, and being able to settle back into a project at will is an incredible luxury.

On the off chance that you really like these figures, here is how I painted them;

MM.

Tsar Wars - Robert Fett (#2) - Statistics

Goodafternoon Internet, 

Robert Fett now has some rules for 'In Her Majesties Name';

Robert Fett

Statistics: Pluck: 3+, Fighting: +2, Shooting: +3, Speed: +0, Cost: 58

Talents: Intuitive, Marksman (Carbine)

Equipment: Breastplate, Breath Preserver, Carbine, Pistol, Fighting Knife, Gas Bomb

I'm still yet to play a game, so any guidance from those better in the know would be greatly appreciated. 

Doktor Whomen!

Hey Internet,

I rather enjoyed this Japanese parody of Dr. Who. Thought I'd share.



MM.

Figure Finder - Tsar Wars: "The 'Ranker" (#1)

Goodevening fellows of the Internet,

With Emir Jahbah and the Dark Invader planned out, its time for the next figure to be found: A Human version of THIS.

This time it is Jahbah's personal champion "Ranker". This poor, fearsome creature imprisoned in the cave system under the Emir's palace,

Ranker's name is taken from the outcry of the first man doomed to face him, a young Australian adventurer, who upon seeing his opponent remarked; "Bloody 'ell mate, you can't really expect me to take that bloody great 'ranker all by mysel-Uhh-Ahhhh!".

For this guy I was thinking a really big savage or cannibal type, enslaved from the deepest depths of uncharted Africa would do the part.

I'm not all too hot on makers of Pulp figures - but I expect that there must be something out there that'll fit the bill. I'm not opposed to the idea that he be afflicted with gigantasism, so a ~40mm might be an idea?

Failing that, the Victorian age was one of discovery and wonder - and something akin to a 'desert Yeti' or some great African ape cannot be ruled out....

^ I know this is a picture from the Irish famine rather than Africa, but it illustrates what I'm going for.

So, anyone got any ideas?

MM.

Tsar Wars - Robert Fett (#1)

[Edit 00:17/09-07-2014] My first ever '360 rotation' GIF. ^

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Assassination?, Agitation?, Dynamiting?, Kidnapping?, Sabotage?  – if you need something questionable doing, Robert Fett is your man.

With a career spanning two decades, Robert 'Bobby' Fett has taken on employment everywhere from Peckham to Peking, rightly earning a reputation as one of the finest sells-swords that money can buy.

In that time he has worked for every manner of persons, ranging from crooks to Kings and from governments to the l'Internationale.

And, on account of having retained certain receipts, he has long evaded all repercussions from Special Branch, the Secret Service, Okhrana, Deuxième Bureau, Geheimpolizei  and a dozen more agencies, enjoying a freedom to work for whomever he chooses, and to take that work where-ever it should lead.

Little is known about Fett beyond the tales of his adventures; and even his name is thought to be a 'nom de guerre'.

No living man is known to have ever seen his face; for he is never without that armoured hat and faceplate that have become is trademark. Some speculate that he is perhaps disfigured in some way.

However the prevailing thought is that it is simply his method of concealing his identity, so that at those times that he is not working he may enjoy a normal and happy domestic life.

And, while he has never displayed any love for the Queen or the Empire, Fett's voice has a distinct cockney twang to it. That said, this too is suspect, as he has been known to be able to convincingly throw his voice in the course of his work in the past.

But, what is it that raises Robert Fett above every other blaggard with a rifle?

Firstly, he possesses a cruel and meticulous cunning that he puts to his violence. A dozen times or more he has used this gift to outwit and confound his score, lining them up and striking them down like a row of dominoes.

His physical prowess is also above a cut above the rest. A large, strong man in rude heath, Fett is a fine shot, even from the hip. He has also been seen to have great skill in fighting with that particular type of fighting knife that is at the moment so popular amongst Americans.

Finally, Fett is never without equipment that represents the state of the art of military science. Along with his signature armour, he favours dynamite, poison gas bombs, fighting knifes and a revolving-carbine whenever it comes to a fight.

Currently it is not known whether Fett is working in a freelance capacity, or is held under a retainer; but in either eventuality he has worked quite exclusively in central Asia for some months now, acting against interests of the British Empire and involving himself in deputes between the various warring tribes. At this time, his employers are unknown.

* * *

Hey Internet, 

I've wanted to paint this model, exactly like this, for ages. 

I have, as you have hopefully cottoned on to, painted him up as a Victorian version of the bounty-hunter (and all round 'bad-ass') Boba Fett from Star Wars franchise. 

All the characters in the Tsar War's project are supposed to be analogues rather than 'steampunk versions', so the model has been left nice and low-key...you know....rather than glueing random cogs to it.

I just went with a thematically appropriate colour palate: Green Armour, Red 'T-shape' visor, drab underclothes, yellow shoulder pads. 

I also gave him Moroccan Red Leather gloves, as I wanted to reference the original colours as much as I could, but red cuffs did not 'look right' on the model. I know this looks kind of goofy, but I rather like the idea that he puts on his exorbitantly expensive gloves as he steams off in SS Slave I.

Only took one evening to paint up and I really rather enjoyed doing it. First model that I've done in a little while that I've felt happy with once finished. I usually have a gnawing feeling that what I have painted 'could have been better' or that I 'could have done something differently', but for once I actually feel good about something. So, Yeah!

The Model is a Immortal Battalion PLP-159 Rifleman Eglinton by Artizan Designs. 

The model is a great sculpt with a really nice design and concept, that is sculpted and cast to a high standard. I ordered it though North Star, who supplied it swiftly and without problem, as they always have done in the past.

What do you think?

MM.

Some photos at strange angles

The Lead Tally - 2014

Acquired: +58       Painted: +37          Total: -22