Soldier of the Queen and New Figures

Hello all,

It's been a while since my last post, but I'll admit I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to get some painting in. I did manage to get one chap done, a private soldier of the British Army, wearing a snazzy red coat and foreign service helmet.

Front view

Back view

This a RAFM figure from their Riel Rebellion range. His rifle is wrong for 1890 (he's carrying what I would assume to be a Snider rifle where he ought to be packing a Lee-Metford), but I was willing to look past this to get figures wearing the home service helmet. Back home I already have a unit of British troops from the Zulu War era wearing white foreign service helmets, so I wanted something a little different. I've painted this stalwart chap with dark blue facings, but have yet to have assigned him a Regiment to belong to... any suggestions?

Also, I've managed to acquire a few more miniatures, this time on the cheap. One of my favorite gaming supply websites has a discount section, and I was able to pick up these two packs at discounted prices:

West Wind: Dracula's Evil Cossack Guards w/ Muskets

Spartan Games: Federated States of America HMG Section

I plan on using the Cossack Guards as the personal bodyguard of a Russian officer... which I have yet to name or purchase a figure for. Ostensibly he and his Evil Cossacks have been dispatched to track down the Russian prizefighter-turned-steam-mechanic Ivan Moscova.

The HMG section, even though it is marketed as belonging to the wonky Steampunk U.S.A. proxy "The Federated States of America," will not be joining my Americans on Mars, but instead will b the start of a French contingent. I'll have to come up with some kind of explanation regarding the weird twin-Gatling/Maxim/Hotchkiss/Mitrailleuse weapon system these guys are rocking... again, any suggestions? I know I don't have many readers, but maybe I'll get lucky and someone will come up with something.

Coming soon: I still have a bunch of dudes on painting stands awaiting to be painted and/or half painted. Really all I'm fighting right now is my mojo... need to get it back.

Questions, comments and criticisms are always welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

-Chuck

Fenian Command

Hello all,

I managed to finish up two figures over the past couple of days, and both of them make up the command for the Fenian forces under Major Benton: "Captain" Sean Kilrain and Peter O'Malley.

Front view. "Captain" Kilrain on the left, O'Malley on the right.

Rear View

O'Malley is painted up in a uniform worn by soldiers of the Fenian Raids into Canada following the Civil War, with short, green jacket piped in yellow, light blue Federal trousers and dark blue kepi. I saw many different uniform plates on the Internet depicting this uniform. "Captain" Kilrain's uniform is a bit of an invention, but inspired by uniforms worn by officers of the Union Irish Brigade.

Both of these figures came with the large, mixed lot of assorted American Civil War miniatures that I bought off of eBay. O'Malley is a Sash & Saber figure, while I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Kilrain is an out of production Foundry figure, from their old Hardee Hat Command pack. Both are mounted on 20mm clear plastic bases.

For information regarding these characters' back stories and where the fit within my Space
1889 campaign, check out the "Cast" tab at the top of the page.

Coming soon: I have a US sailor from the landing party halfway painted, and some others on the painting stands.

Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

-Chuck

US Marine/Navy Landing Party Howitzer and Crew

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've posted anything here. All I can say is that work has ramped up quite a bit and I don't have as much free time as I did a few weeks ago. Sometime last week I finished up the field gun and crew, and I managed to snap some pictures of them today.

The (rather blurry) Crew: Sergeant Owens, Corporal Richie, Private Jenkins and Seaman Sherman.

Working the gun.

As I mentioned here, the gun is from Minifigs and the crew is from Lyzard's Grin. The Crew in kepis are painted up as Marines, wearing white dark blue fatigue shirts (with insignia), summer trousers and kepi covers. The sailor is wearing blue trousers, white shirt, "bluejacket" and straw hat, with tarred brim and black ribbon sporting the sailor's ship. The gun is inspired by a number of pictures of Civil War era Dahlgren boat howitzers on field mounts, with grey carriages, black iron and brass fittings and a brass gun tube. All are mounted on clear plastic bases.

Coming soon: I've got several figs on painting sticks ready to be painted. I'll try to get some of them painted over the long 4th of July weekend.

Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated. Thanks for looking!

-Chuck