Thursday 1 January 2015

From Curt - ‘Papa’ - Bernez Carro - Brother, Soldier, Father, Fisherman & Smuggler (5 Points)

 First, Happy New Year everyone - Here's to a Fabulous 2015!

This is another small entry from me, a continuation of my story of the Carro family which began with one of the sons, Donon



It was April 1916 and Bernez and Briec Carro were 20 years old when they marched down the Voie Sacree (the ‘Sacred Way’), to the inferno of Verdun. When they arrived at the front lines the twin brothers were assigned to different companies in order to reduce the chance of hard news for their mother. Nonetheless, the young men were inseparable and so they worked a few favours to get themselves assigned to the same squad. For the next few months they endured ferocious fighting in conditions that are best described as bestial. During this time they found that their officers treated them and their comrades like cattle and so the brave Poilu died by the thousand.

On July 12th at Fort Souville the Carro bothers were part of a forward listening post that became overrun by a German assault unit armed with flamethrowers. Knowing what was about to happen, Briec pushed Bernez into a sodden shellhole and took the full brunt of the liquid fire. Briec died horribly. The water in the shellhole was not deep enough to cover all of Bernez and so half of his body was lit aflame. After the German attack faltered and was beaten back Bernez was found and sent to an aid station. He had suffered severe burns to the left side of his body, for him the war was over. 


Bernez was invalided out of the army and he returned home to Brittany to convalesce. His childhood sweetheart, Manon, looked past his burns and insisted that they immediately marry. Donon, their first son, was born nine months later and Briec, their second boy, a year after that. In 1918 Bernez and Manon took over the family fishing business. Soon after his cousin, Lois from Marsailles, convinced him to expand into smuggling and so the Carros began to flourish. When their sons became old enough they were brought into the business as partners.


In the years following the Great War Bernez has nurtured an understandable dislike for Germans, but most of all he hates officers – all officers. It does not matter what nationality: German, French, Spanish, he despises all of them. So when in the summer of 1936 Spain’s right-wing generals, with the help of Nazi Germany, staged a coup to overthrow the Republican government, Bernez sees an opportunity to not only make a lot of money but also, in a small way, to poke his finger in the eye of those he reviles.


Bernez is a figure from Lead Adventure’s post-apoc range. I shaved off his left ear, scored his face and painted his burn scars a livid purple/pinkish tone. I really like the pose of this model. He’s a commanding figure, straight-backed and taciturn but leans forward somewhat, stiff-jointed, like many older men do. He holds a Luger behind his back just in case matters go awry. I painted his coverall trousers yellow in order to tie him in with the figure of his first son, Donon.




...and 5 points for me as I 'rocket' past Simon.  :)

26 comments:

  1. Very nicely done to make him look the part with those burns!

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  2. Now that's a back story alright. Grand job on the stout fellow

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  3. Love the Scarface look Curt, have a great 2015!!

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  4. I was really enjoying this post... Great little mini, wonderful paint-job and a truly lovely 'Pulp' backstory to the character. And then I read "...and 5 points for me as I 'rocket' past Simon" and spat my tea across my monitor!!! How'd you sneak up on me like that :-) Well done Curt... great stuff. I'm still ahead in our pulp challenge with my Boys In Blue though... aren't I ;-)

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    1. I'm bringing up the rear as one would expect :)

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    2. Yeah... and then the Anne 'Pulp' points bomb arrives as your final posting ;-) Looking forward to those Jazz Musicians.

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  5. I'm liking the smugglers, Curt! The backstories are grand! I'm rather partial to the cableknit sweaters and rain slicks too!

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  6. Happy New Year

    I found the back story very well done and your painting is, as always, just superb - have a grand 2015!

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  7. Wonderful painting Curt and I do like the back story you've written for him.

    No pasaran!

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  8. A Happy New Year!
    Great painting on Mr. Bernez. Really like the little backdrop you create with each figure.

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  9. Nice work Curt and a Happy New Year!

    Christopher

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  10. It may only be 5 points BUT that's sure 5 good points worth. Excellent figure mate. Happy new year.

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  11. Happy new year and the scar is really well done. Interesting back story.
    Cheers

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  12. Yet another great entry; very nice figure and brilliant fluff. Are we going to see these miniatures in a batrep any time soon ;-)

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  13. Brave work on the scars, came off well though

    Ian

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  14. The back story on this is brilliant Curt. An enjoyable read indeed.

    I do think you could have given yourself an extra point for the conversion on the face.

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  15. Gruesome stuff and I love it! Can we see a close up of his face?

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  16. Great painting work of these characters with a very interesting story!

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  17. A gripping story and a fine job. I could see him played by Edward James Olmos - there's actually a bit of a resemblance.
    Nicely done.

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  18. hat off for Mr Curt!
    what a post!
    I would have done more points to you if had to do the point count !
    a great beginning for year 2015!

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  19. Backstory is great and the figure looks suitably grim; I especially like the way that the gun is held out of the way, but ready in the event that someone tries to double-cross him... And the scarification is really something!

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  20. Happy New Year. Great work, on both accounts.

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  21. A vivid backstory to go with a vivid figure.

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  22. The figure alone would be cool enough, but the backstory really takes it to the next level. Superb!

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  23. Sorry for the delay in replying. Thanks very much everyone for your kind words - it's very encouraging. Next up I think will be 'Mama', Manon Carro.

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