Darius

Darius I, of the Persian Empire reviews his plans for the conquest of the bothersome City-state of Athens.

I painted Darius in August of 2018

 

Last Defense

 A little something different today, instead of miniatures today, this is my first attempt (in August of 2018) at drawing the remains of a Japanese transport. This from a photo of Japanese wreck.

Grandes-When You Want to Open with a Bang

Advancing in the lead of a night attack, these Chinese grenadiers will soften up the UN lines for the main assault.

In a tactic as old as the "Great War," brave soldiers loaded down with hand grenades would proceed the main infantry attack for the same reasons, disrupt the defenders, cause as many casualties as possible and have the survivors hunker down. Needless to say, the casualties among the grenadiers were extremely high. 

These are plastic pieces I put together and painted in March of 2020.

 

Even the Milita is Needed in the Pacific

In the dark early day of the Pacific War, poorly equipped and very brave Aussie militia units fought many desperate battles to slow the Japanese juggernaut.

This ten-man squad relies on an old and very worn, World War One Lewis gun for their light machinegun and an America Tommy Gun for fire support. 

These are metal pieces that I painted in October 2020 for my Bolt Action Pacific battles.

 

USMC Fire Team 1943

One man short (a rifleman) this Marine fire team doesn't hesitate to engage the Japanese enemy.

 Armed with a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), M-1 Garand rifle, Tommy Gun and hand grenades, these veterans can dish out plenty of deadly firepower.

These are plastic pieces that I painted in August of 2019 for my Bolt Action USMC forces.
 

Rebels Unite

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away, a small group of Rebels, stad against the Empire.

They are but one of the tens of thousands of like bands that fight the good 

fight to restore freedom to the Galaxy.

These are plastic pieces from Fantasy Flight that I painted in the Summer of 2019.
 

Greeks, ATTACK!

Korea early 1950's, UN troops fight to keep South Korea free from North Korean conquest.

  Here a grizzled veteran group United Nations Greeks soldiers' head into battle.

    I painted these plastic pieces for my Bolt Action Korean War troops in Sept. of 2019.
 

We Collect Bodies...

As minions of Mologh, two former morticians now collect the bodies 

they need to "work on" for their master.

In the steampunk world of Smog, you definitely don't want to meet them in a dark alley, if you do, you'll never meet anyone again-at least alive.

These are plastic pieces I painted in 2018 for our Rise of Mologh campaign.

No, I'm not the CABLE GUY!

Cable, son of Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, is a hero of great power.

                Using his advanced future technologies and his own massive 

telekinetic and telepathic mutant powers, Cable continues the fight 

for a better future for humanity.

A time traveler, having lived in the 38th century, he knows what horror's

     await mankind if he can not alter the future by changing the present.

 I finished Cable last night for possible action this weekend with Domino at his side.

Domino is Here to Help

Meet Domino (Neena Thurman) former government mutant weapon 

subject, former mercenary and now a backbone member of X-Force.

She is an expert in weapons use, marital arts and most importantly in her ability to manipulate probability fields.  The latter basically ensures that things go her way.

I painted Domino last week for Richard's Crisis Protocol forces.

 

Rebirth in Fire

Rising form the flames that gave her both "death" and rebirth-the Phoenix!

One of the most famous of all Greek myths is that of the immortal Phoenix...

with her feathers still aflame, she rises into the sky for the start of her next 1000 year, life.

This is a plastic piece that I painted in July of 2021.

PVA 1950

Winter 1950 and the Peoples Volunteer Army is thrown into the Korean War.

Having warned the UN, USA and their allies that China would not allow a united Korea under hostile control on their border; Red China felt compelled to intervene on the side of the Communist North Koreans.

Armed mostly with Soviet weapons, as well as with Western weapons captured in the Chinese Civil War, hundreds of thousands of fast-moving Chinese PVA infantry surprised the overconfident UN Command how had consistently downplayed the danger of Chinese intervention.

The Korean War would now enter a new bloody see-saw phase that would last until 1953.

These are metal pieces that I painted in 2020.
 

How to Make a Six-Foot Toy Soldier

In 2017 Therri challenged me to make a six-foot tall nutcracker toy soldier.

I started with some plastic drainpipes and a hollow concrete foundation tube.

                                    Arms, legs and general layout .

First coats of paint, it was summer and 100+f (38 c) degrees in the shade.

                                              Now for a nice Victorian mustache.

                                                       Be honest... how do I look?

                                                                    Much better.

                           We are getting there, hat, jacket, pants, even boots.

                                                     But something is missing...

                                      Hair, by my chinny, chin, chin and head.

                                             You can never have enough gold bling.

                                                       Just a little tuck here,

                                                            and here

                                                          and of course, here.

                                                    Let's check out this section.

                                                          Finishing touches. 

                                                 Rudolf Rasendale II is ready for service. 

He is six feet (1.83 m) tall, not counting his feather. It took less the two weeks to finish him, while his components pieces and decorations cost less $100. Rudolf gets special decorations for holidays, and he's especially popular with Halloween and Christmas visitors.