It's not been a great challenge for me this year. I got a decent start over the Christmas Break but was a bust ( a nasty head cold and then a trip to San Diego) and this is my first post in four weeks.
Circles of hell wise I've been stuck in limbo for a while, so I'm going to use the Bad Squiddo figure of the WW2 SOE agent Virginia Hall to skip over to Treachery. Hall had a prosthetic leg name Cuthbert, which did not stop her from parachuting into occupied France. The Gestapo considered her most dangerous of all Allied spies. Her wikipedia bio is well worth reading.
She was a thirty-five-year-old journalist from Baltimore, conspicuous by reddish hair, a strong American accent, an artificial foot, and an imperturbable temper; she took risks often but intelligently.
M. R. D. Foot
I have painted a number of Bad Squiddo's Women of WW2 figures, and I really can't say enough good things about them. They look and dress like the real women of the age, they are well sculpted, well cast and lovely to paint. And they have great character. Virgina's kind of bent over so getting a face shot was difficult. I love the details on Cuthbert and the SMG casually thrown over the stylish coat. My pictures always show up the worst of my painting, and I obviously have to touch up her hair.
Now for the Treachery I have two ACW ironclads. I figure with any Civil War there's plenty of treachery around by definition. Plus it's an American subject, and as a Canadian I find anything American very treacherous right now.
These are 3d prints in 1/600 based on files by Long Face Games. I had my Uni library print these off, so that I could surprise my normal 3D printer (the Snowlord) and they cam out decently. Unfortunately the paddle wheelers that I tried to get the library to print were a mess and I'll need to get Curt's help and expertise on those.
First up is the CSS Albemarle, literally cobbled together in a corn field next to the Roanoke River. Unlike most Confederate ironclads, she did a fair bit of fighting and was pretty darned successful in clearing Union Blockaders out of Albemarle Sound and recapturing Plymouth North Carolina in 1864. She was eventually done in by a picket boat with a spar torpedo, an infernal device which as SylvainR has remarked is the most SpaceOrk naval weapon ever.
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A spar torpedo in action. |
On the Northern side I have the Passaic class monitor USS Nahant. Most of the Passaic class served on the South Atlantic Blockade, especially the siege of Charleston. Several of the class were still afloat to serve in harbour defence roles (i.e reassuring the public) during the Spanish American War. She never fought the Albemarle, but she and a sister ship captured the ironclad CSS Atlanta.
These Long Face prints were quite nice, but Civil War ironclads are basically ugly lumps of metal to begin with. I plan to add labels with names and flags, but don't have them yet because I was an idiot and left my MacBooks power cord at the office this weekend.
Points wise we have
- 5 for Virginia Hall and Cuthbert
- 20 points (?) for the two ironclads. a quick search found that 1/600 ships typically are worth 10-15 points depending on size. I think these are on the smaller end of that range.
- 20 points for Treachery.
Great work Peter. I really like Ms. Hall (a formidable woman) and those ironclads look the business (btw I fully support your interpretation of 'Treachery' - the mental imagery of a spar torpedo and a bent over 'l'empereur orange' provides a satisfying afternoon indulgence). Happy to help with those troublesome paddle wheelers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Curt. Yeah I know just where I'd lodge that trade practise complaint.
DeleteThanks Paul, no real woes but enough to stop me painting. I loved that in San Diego we gave directions such go down hill and turn left at the Aircraft carrier.
ReplyDeleteAlways a treat!
DeleteBad Squiddo figures are nice. Ship look the business. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much
DeleteSome excellent painting on these, I think Miss Hall, and her story, are my favourite!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sander. It’s a great backstory
DeleteNice figures Peter, She's a fine looking lass!!
ReplyDeleteCheers Ray
DeleteAs I watch with daily incredulity at the mad antics going on across the pond, I very much sympathise with the Canadian plight. A very strange time indeed, and so the joy and calmness painting brings must be a welcome break from the madness. I might have a word with the UK government and ask if we should consider taking America back again..... ;)
ReplyDeleteGod why would any one want that toxic waste land (the USA)? The really scary thing is that he seems to keep doubling down and finding even stupider ideas. I am seriously thinking about getting my UK passport up and running in case of the occupation......
DeleteLove the Virginia Hall.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barks, it's a great casting.
DeleteEnjoying the Ironsides Peter!
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks very much
DeleteNice Ironsides Peter
ReplyDeleteCheers
Delete