Resting Before the Big Game

Every profession sports player knows the importance of a good rest before taking the pitch. None know this better than Markis Ludvig av Blodsalskare, who always gets a good day's rest before every game.

As one of the key players on the Ventanor's Vampire Team, Markis relies on his two minions Morgonvakt and Dagvakt to make sure he is not disturbed and is awake in time to change for the game

And here is Markis Ludvig av Blodsalskare ready for Blood Bowl.

Markis Ludvig av Blodsalskare's coffin is a plastic game turn marker for Blood Bowl that I painted this week.

Goddesses for All Occasions

 Throughout history, humans have looked to their Goddesses for guidance, protection, knowledge and beauty.  Here is a small sampling of some of the most powerful of the Norse and Greek Goddesses. For a more complete description of each goddess and her powers check the link below each one's name.

Athena Knowledge

World Historyprof: Athena-Minerva

Queen Frigg

World Historyprof: Yes, Friday is Named for ME

Artemis the Hunt

World Historyprof: Goddess of the Hunt

Skadi the Hunt

World Historyprof: Skadi, Hunting her Passion, Revenge Her Goal

Aphrodite Love

World Historyprof: Aphrodite Goddess of Love

Frejya Passion

World Historyprof: Frejya Mistress of Love, Fertility, Wealth, Seidr and WAR

Hekate Magic

World Historyprof: Need Magic, Call Hekate

Idunn Youth

World Historyprof: My Golden Apples Restore Youth

Queen Hera the Family

World Historyprof: Hera Queen of Revenge

Angrboda "Mother of Ragnarök Monsters"

World Historyprof: Mother of Monsters of Ragnarok

Echidna "Mother of Greek Monsters"

World Historyprof: Echidna Greek Mother of Monsters

Gaia Mother Earth
World Historyprof: Never Mess with an Irate Gaia

Hel Ruler of the Dead

World Historyprof: Welcome to Hel, Helheim that is!

              All are plastic pieces from Monolith that I have painted over the years.

My What a Big Sword You Have

Well, well it's not often that the cursed hoplite Hiktos Nuluk faces a monstrous horror with a sword, let alone one with a sword thrust completely through its mouth! May haps the Greek warrior will stand a chance against this wounded beast...well maybe not...as Fenrir is really huge and deadly powerful. Regardless, Hiktos must fight this massive wolf (Fenrir, a child of Loki). For such is Nuluk's curse, to fight against the most powerful creatures, feel the pain of defeat, heal and fight another horror again and again and...

Fenrir's story can be found here:

World Historyprof: Fenrir-Fury Waiting to be Released

Nuluk is a metal piece I painted in the 1970's. Ferir is a plastic piece I painted this year.

Balls, Balls Who has the Balls

The key to winning any Blood Bowl game is controlling the ball, no matter how dangerous said ball is to hold!.

Here we have three samples of Blood Bowl balls.

The flaming brazier is a Skaven poison fire ball. The other two are from the Lizardman team. The dangers of spikes and rock is obvious. The cracking egg isn't the danger, the extremely pissed venomous basilisk baby is the true danger. So, grab a ball, carefully, and SCORE.

These are plastic pieces that I painted this month.

Remembering the Fallen-Memorial Day 2024

    

Today Memorial Day honors all those who have fallen Americans who have fought in her military.

But it all started as a response to the losses in the War Between the States 1861-1865, starting with its first official Federal celebration on May 30, 1868, as Decoration Day. Mary Ann Williams is credited with the concept of decorating the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers with flowers to honor their sacrifice. For, be they Union Volunteers, Confederate Volunteers or regular troops like the United States Marines those that feel were Americans.

By World War Two, the term Memorial Day had largely displaced Decoration Day and in 1967 the Federal Holiday was official recognized as Memorial Day. Regardless of the name, for over 150 years Americans have honored those who gave the supreme sacrifice for their country. So, on this unofficial start of summer vacations day of fun, cookouts and parties, spare a moment of silence to those who died for our country.

 

When Quick Action is Needed-Send in the Marines!

 

From the end of the Great War to the early days of WWII, the US Marines were heavily involved in actions of intervention and prevention from the Caribbean to Asia in the Far East. Whenever the call went out for the Marines, the Corps was there when needed giving their payment in blood and suffering as required.

                       

Here we have a typical between the war small USMC unit in action in some long-forgotten firefight that never made the headlines. This detachment has seen some bloody action, so much so that the Lieutenant has traded his pistol for the heavier firepower of a Tommy Gun. The rest of the men have the standard weapons and equipment of the day, Springfield 30.06 rifles, 12-gauge trench guns, another Tommy Gun, a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and even a Lewis Light Machinegun. For this combat they have traded in their soft campaign hats for the old First World War "Tin Helmets" that continued to see action well into 1942, with many Marine units throughout the Pacific.

These miniatures are 28mm metal pieces from Pulp Figures excellent Americans section of troops.

Huscarls, Guardians of the Jarls & Kings

Huscarls Bijorn Olafsen, Harald Gerybackk, Egill Ragnarson and Leif Rustberd have spent their adult lives fighting at the side of the lords in countless battles.

As elite members of their lord's household troop, Huscarls form the backbone of any combat force when the call goes out to muster the warriors of the noble's land for battle.

The number of Huscarls was in direct proportion to the fame and power of the king or jarl (earl in Britian). Yet as an elite force they usually made up less than 10 percent of and army.

At all times the Huscarls were the bodyguards of their lords as well as enforcers of their lords' laws, even as tax collectors.

 

The great loyalty of the Huscarls was rewarded by their lords in honor, wealth, maintenance of their appropriate lifestyle, and the right to a portion of the loot from any raid or battle. As time marched on the class of Huscarls morphed into or were replaced by the rising social/military classes of knights and formalized nobility titles.  

These Huscarls are plastic pieces I painted this week.

Never Abuse a Shieldmaiden

Shieldmaidens are known for their bravery and ruthlessness in battle and Lagertha is no exception.

When her home in Norway was overrun by the forces of King Froh of Sweden, she and the other female members of her household were taken captive. Forced into service in a brothel was too much and Lagertha led a bloody revolt with the help of the hero Ragnar.

In battle, she relished close combat, the bloodier the better.  She even took great pleasure in collecting certain body parts she would cut off the bodies of the men who wronged her after she killed them. Bloody revenge is sooo sweet.

This is the first of two plastic Lagertha pieces from Ragnarök that I have painted this month.

Legolas-the One Shot One Kill Elf

Sindar Elf Legolas, son of King Thranduil is renowned for his archery skills, 

He honed these skills hunting and fighting his people enemies in the forest of Mirkwood. His friendship with the Ranger "Strider" changed his world few and led to his greatest adventures as a member of the famed Fellowship of the Ring in the last great war against the evil lord Sauron.

His fame of his prowess with the bow continued to grow among the free people s of Middle Earth where he is believed to be the greatest archer of the Third Age.

Legolas is a metal piece. As I have several Legolas pieces, I decided to speed paint this one to see the gaming quality of such work.

Target Acquired-Die Humanoid

When you want to takeout annoying humans, robots with no feelings or morals are always a good choice.

Such as the venerable, Atomo-Acme-Arms (A-A-A) 2099 LZY-1 mobile lazgun sentry.

She may be old, but LZY-1 is still reliable and able to put nice round holes though up to 40cm of steel. 

With a fully charged powerpack LZY-1 is good for up to two Solar hours of heavy fire (one hour if defensive shields are used). LZY-1 is a perfect, cost effective, choice for colonial frontier patrol duty where Imperial Space Fleet forces are not immediately available. 

Now A-A-A's new Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII is another story entirely. For while LZY-1 does need programing by local defense forces, the Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII is a fully self-aware unit with the latest 22nd century A-A-A Self Learning AI with the patented "Direct Obliteration Mechanic" (D.O.M.). 

D.O.M. allows the unit to engage and destroy enemies on sight at their discretion. Thereby freeing the field commanders to address the needs of the entire battlefield instead of micromanaging each Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII field unit with constant operational command updates.

Just point your Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII towards the enemy and let them rampage their way to victory!

There's is no need to worry about power, as the Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII is equipped with the patented Optimized-Overcharges-Power-Source (O.O.P.S.) that will keep your unit in peak combat performance for 50 Solar years without a recharge. The Cylon Prototype MK A-VIII is ready for mass production that will drastically reduce cost, so don't wait, you can be sure you opponents won't! 

Both are old 1970's metal pieces from Grenadier that I freshened up recently.