Sunday 6 March 2016

Millsy's 'Tribute' - Russian Grenadier with Armoured Steam Trousers


A few years ago, some wag in the Challenge, for the life of me I can't recall who, began calling the price-of-admission figure the 'Curtgeld' (as a nod to the nasty Danegeld levied by the Vikings - the cheek!). The term stuck, and my painting cabinet has amassed a wondrous collection of Curtgeld over the years, a treasure which I jealously guard like Smaug over his hoard. 

As some may know, my free time this year has been restricted by work and so I've called in on friends to help me manage the Challenge. We've jokingly referred to them as 'Minions' but I know very well that I couldn't have pulled off the event without them. With this in mind I'm going to start a new tradition by providing a 'Tribute' to my Challenge compatriots in recognition and as thanks for their huge contribution in keeping this mad ride on the rails. Over these last two weeks of the Challenge I will be posting the Tributes, one by one. The 'Tributes' will be single figures of my choosing - I hope to fit the figure to the recipient.

The first Tribute is for my good friend Millsy, who is absolutely relentless in getting stuff done, both as an individual hobbyist, as a layout designer (e.g. Simon Miller's 'To the Strongest') and a magazine editor (the excellent 'Wargame Bloggers Quarterly'). His energy and skills seem boundless.

So Mr. Mills, to match your dogged determination and your affection of the Pulp genre, I present to you a grizzled Russian grenadier sporting a pair of armoured steam trousers. 


This 28mm figure is from Brigade Games, sculpted by Paul Hicks. I've added a smoke stack to the engine as it just seemed 'sensible'.



Yes, you read that right boys and girls, 'steam trousers'. The British may have their leaky dreadnoughts, the Germans their fat and slow Zeppelins, but the Russians will make a fearless grenadier out of anybody with their armoured steam trousers. Just think, with these 'pants of victory' no officer has to worry about troops faltering in their advance. Say, you need to suicidally charge a distant line of artillery? No problem! With the steam trousers the pace of advance is locked-in and these devilish leggings will march your troops to glorious (if somewhat phyric) victory!

Steam Trousers - Let Science Give You A Kick in the Pants to Victory!

*Also available as jodhpurs, lederhosen and Tutus.  (Coal, chaffing powder and willing minion not included.)

I hope you like it Millsy!

Za zdorovje!


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On an administrative note, Lady Sarah and I are taking a bit of time off this upcoming weekend to get away, so the deadline for the final theme submission is midnight SUNDAY. I will aim to post the theme on MONDAY. 
 
Thanks for dropping by and have a great week! 


43 comments:

  1. Clearly the work of Wallach & Gromitzky, Artificers and Mechanicians to the Court of St Petersburg...
    ; )
    This is so unbelievably apposite. I think we'll need to look at some of these for our Imagi-nations campaign (currently on hiatus)!

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    1. "our Imagi-nations campaign"
      I suspect this will prove a kick-start don't you Ev?

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    2. Grrrr! Why are there so many great new games out there right now?

      It's impossible to maintain focus on just one project!

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  2. Curt, that is brilliant.. It is so Millsy...

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  3. Genius, Evan stole my line which must make him Feathers McGraw

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  4. Steam trousers! Hilarious! But think of the impact on global emissions...

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    1. Oh, don't worry, the good folks over at Volkswagen have offered to help the engine meet any emission standards...

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  5. Now that is a great figure - I'm sure Millsy will be pleased as punch with it :)

    I wonder how much that figure was inspired by the mash-up novel "Android Karenina"?

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  6. I love him! He's absolutely brilliant mate and appeals very much to my own peculiar sense of humour. Thank you so very much. :-)

    PS. When you noted "who is absolutely relentless in getting stuff done, both as an individual hobbyist and as a layout designer" you unwittingly hit a nerve. My Challenge efforts this year have been severely curtailed (pun intended) by my own side projects, including all the layout and design for the soon to be released Blood Eagle rules as well as finding a new job which I start in two weeks time. I never do things by halves after all...

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    1. Now if only he had given it a steam shovel as well!

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    2. Dave - there must be a small shovel to put coal in the furnace ;)

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    3. Glad you like it Millsy - he was a load of fun to work on.

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    4. "Severely curtailed" with over 1k points on the board and a boatload of excellent bonus round entries that were very time consuming? I'd take your severely curtailed over my usual output any day!

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    5. Hmmm... Good point Jamie, perhaps I did overdo that a smidge :-)

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  7. This is such a lovely idea Curt. You're minions have done a splendid job and I've enjoyed each person's individual flair.

    Good idea to add that steampipe Curt. Gotta have a place for all that hot air generated by the GIMP to escape :0)

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    1. Haha, very good Anne, thanks for that.

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    2. If that pipe is for the hot air it's nowhere NEAR big enough :-)

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  8. An absolutely fabulous mini you've done there and a very fitting tribute to dear old Millsy!

    Cheers Sander

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    1. Thanks Sander, this should be good fun.

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  9. Fantastic and wacky figure and the minions have indeed done a tremendous job in keeping the submissions going and giving us all something enjoyable to look at every day.

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    1. Yes, they've been fabulous a real breath of fresh air (except for Peter, who is a bit foul on the best of days)!

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    2. It wasn't me, it was the dog!

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  10. Tremendously good fun.
    And a very nice gesture for all the minions. Bravo sir.

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  11. Thats a great wacky figure, I have to wonder how long before someone makes a Menthane booster for these...

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    1. There may be trouble with the emission standards people, but nothing that can't be worked out: VW .

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  12. Great mini and brushwork, Curt! Somehow I think having Steamworks located near the nether region is a very bad idea. ;)

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    1. 'Safet'y and 'Russian design' rarely inhabit the same sentence (except for this one of course!). ;)

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  13. What a great sculpt and a great paintjob for him as well!

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    1. Yes, as soon as I saw it up on the Brigade site I had to get one. Too, too whacky.

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  14. That's cool. The trousers look like they may continue working way beyond the life of the wearer. cheers

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    1. Yes, I had the same troubling image when I was working on him. How very dystopian.

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  15. Well that's indeed cool Curt!

    Christopher

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  16. Now, that's truely awesome Mr. C! If we hadn't already our little trans atlantic miniature trading program, now is the time I'd have to insist on one. I'm sure Millsy will love this one.

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  17. Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers is one of my favourite short films, I cannot but think of it here.

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