Thursday 11 February 2016

From Curt - Madame Ting-Ting, her Bodyguards and her Garford-Pulitov Armoured Car (40 points)


After the Russian Civil War, many White Russians tried to escape Bolshevik persecution by fleeing abroad. They went to all corners of the world, and many White soldiers, needing work or seeking adventure, traveled to China and fought amongst the ranks of the various warlords. Shanghai became a particularly popular emigre destination, and a vibrant Russian ghetto soon established itself, traces of which can still be seen today.

So from this background we see here my pulp adventuress, 'Madame Ting-Ting', along with her trio of Russian ex-pat bodyguards and their rather care-worn Garford-Putilov armoured car. 


The Madame was born Leia Natasha Petrovostalavitch (an extrapolation of a friend's 'Top Secret' RPG character name), the headstrong daughter of a Russian diplomat and Chinese courtesan. She is now simply known as 'Madame Ting-Ting' - that being the sound of her enemies' bullets bouncing off her armoured car. (My thanks to Sylvain's new puppy for inspiring me with the nickname!)



These models started life during the first week of the Challenge, but have languished for the past month so I thought I better get them cleared off the table before I ran out of time.

M. Ting-Ting and her bodyguards are all 28mm Copplestone figures. I had a lot of fun painting Ting-Ting, especially her red gloves and elegant cigarette holder. I chose the riflemen as I liked their ragged uniforms, thinking them fitting after their long retreat to central China. 



The Garford-Putilov is from Copplestone as well. It's a wonderful model, though rather small in scale (1:55). These vehicles were actually quite huge, with this one weighing in at around 11 tons. Like many armoured cars of this period they were extremely underpowered - this one boasting only a 20 HP engine! Top speed was a blistering 18kph. 


I love the turret with the barrel-encased 76mm gun and the wing MG sponsons. Completely mental.


For Ting-Ting's banner I wanted something 'Pulpy' and a bit silly, so I went with a motif that features a skull with crossed cigarette holders. Of course, since there are not many flags featuring this design, I had to make one myself. :)


It was a bit daunting at first, but I began to channel my long-dormant highschool drafting classes and managed to muddle through.




There you go, 'Madame Ting-Ting' and her 11 ton Tin Lizzie!

Thanks for visiting folks!


Finally! I don't know how long I've waited to adjudicate something from our gracious overlord. Now the day has arrived and he's only gone and treated me to a real corker as well.
I'm not sure quite where to start with how much I love this submission Curt. The infantry are all wonderful but the armoured car and the flag are both something else. I know from experience how hard these early ACs are to assemble and paint convincingly and this one has come together superbly, especially given all the extra stowage, etc. The banner is also quite something and has a most definite pulp feel about it.
All up that's 35 points worth of minis but it's got to be worth another 5 for the banner and the armoured car. Love your work mate! Cheers, Millsy.

46 comments:

  1. Other than the fantastic painting, wich is well fantastic! I also used to Play Top Secret and had all but forgotten about it until you mentioned it!

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    1. Thanks Clint. We loved playing 'Top Secret' and had a huge campaign going when I was in high school. A great RPG.

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  2. Corker. Love the flag, comic genius and a cool design for a new cigarette packet. The figures as always are brilliant. Time to get out the good, the bad and the weird

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    1. Haha, we just watched that movie about a month ago. Weird is right, but lots of pulpy fun as well. Thanks for the comment!

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  3. Great piece of work, Curt, loads of character and a terrific back story!

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    1. Cheers Ev! Madame Ting-Ting would be a good counterpart to your Ranulph Cloamsby. :)

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  4. Sucking up to the boss with all those bonus points eh Millsy? ;)

    Stupendous work on this entry Curt, especially Ting-Ting's jacket, her flag and all the work on that armoured car. Bravo! :)

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    1. LOL Tamsin! First you call me a suck-up and then lay it on ten times thicker!

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  5. Love the character that comes from these models.. and the painting is just great to stick on top of them! Great work!

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  6. She's a beauty, epic work especially the flag!

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  7. Ting-Ting (mine) will be pleased to know she has a miniature counterpart. Nicely done!

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    1. I thought it would bring a smile for you Sylvain. ;)

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  8. Very nice, Curt! Really effective spot color on M Ting-Ting and her guards. The AC looks suitably used too. The pulpyNess sparked a thought of collecting a few " off" troops for similar jobs as Ting-Ting's crew.

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    1. Thanks David! Yes, I'll have to dream up a few more flunkies for her to boss around.

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  9. Wow, gorgeous! That armoured car really is da bomb!

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    1. Thanks Sander. Yes, the AC is a wonderful lump of a model - and really easy to work with.

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  10. Excellent work Curt!Looks like your really have fun with periods this time out.

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks Christopher! Yes, I'm definitely enjoying zipping between projects/periods.

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  11. impressive work as always, Miss Ting Ting should meet Corto Maltese
    one day or another;-)

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    1. That is an awesome idea. I think I may have a figure for him in my collection...

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  12. Excellent work as usual, real glad I don't submit on the same day as you LOL

    Ian

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    1. Thanks Ian but you're too hard on yourself as your work is wonderful.

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  13. Great stuff Curt. Love the banner, although doesn't it violate laws about cigarette advertising? :-)

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    1. Ah, but if anything, she's advertising cigarette holders. ;)

      Thanks Dux!

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  14. Beautiful work Curt, Ting-Ting looks a handful!! Fancy pinching that pencil from Ikea too!!

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  15. Rather fine MrC ...getting a good collection ... Now how about a train!

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    1. I know, I know!! And I have pretty much all the part now...

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  16. Really nice work. Some old school flag making as well. cheers

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  17. Wonderful stuff Curt. I am especially pleased to see you focusing on other side duels....
    Well done sir!

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    1. Forgot to say that the flag is ace!

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    2. Don't worry Pete, I'm coming back to Italian Wars soon.

      I thought you'd like the hand-done flag. :)

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  18. Great stuff Curt! Love the flag, great idea with the crossed cigarette holders over a skull :) Definitely will fit a pulp setting perfectly!

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    1. Thanks Samuli. Once I finished painting her I knew she needed some kind of whacky flag.

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  19. You've absolutely captured the essence of pulp with the fun figures and the great flag - inspiring stuff! And I definitely haven't been checking on copplestone figures after seeing this.....

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    1. Thank you Jamie, very kind of you. Yes, definitely pick up some of Copplestone's stuff it's absolutely brilliant and perfect Pulp fodder.

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  20. Outstanding work Curt! The figures are superb but the AC and the flag are just awesome! Yo're certainly an infinite source of inpiration and I'd rather not want to mess with Madame Ting Ting. She seems to be a bit mental...

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    1. Thanks Nick, I'm delighted you like this motley group.

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