Which Came First the Caldron or the Egg

Tow interesting terrain pieces, the "Soup" caldron and a hatching baby blue dragon. 

Did the heat from the pot warm up the egg enough for "Bebe Bleu" or was it the aroma of the boiling caldron bring on hunger pangs? 

Now where could mommy...

or at least my next meal be?

Feed me...you don't want to make me mad!

What's cooking?

Looks like I'll have to try out the soup...

Both are plastic pieces I painted in May.

Heavy Armor, Crossbow and Mounted-Renaissance Warfare at its Best-for Mercenaries that is.

A group of mercenary cavalry crossbow armed Men-at-Arms move through a country village on the way to their next battle.

These elite warriors wear heavy armor to give them the ability to survive on the battlefield, as it's hard to spend your wages when your dead.

After the battle they will loot the village, it's a perk of the job you know.

These are all plastic 15mm (.59 in.) scale pieces from the Monolith Joan of Arc game. I painted them earlier this month.

Frontier Service is Hard, on the Body

News from the North-West Frontier: Our intrepid reporter, Cyrus P. Snaapshott,  has sent this photo of Lt. Colonel. Sly D. Burrns of the 1st Kashmir Svayansevaka Reiphalaharu (Volunteer Rifles) leading his men into the mountains after bandits who have been raiding the peace-loving subjects of her Imperial Majesty. Lt. Col. Burrns has spent the greater part of his 30 odd years in Imperial military service on the Northern Provence's of the Raj.

Premature gray hair, hunched back, badly healed bones and a bowlegged stanch are the price Burrns has pained in his Queen- Emperess' service.

But to his mind he has done a needed service to strengthen the "Greatest Empire in the History of the World! "Ga'd save the Queen Emperess!"

Lt. Col. Burrns is a metal piece I painted this month.

Real Estate add Renaissance Style.

 

Offered for the discriminating business Entrepeneur, is this two-story home with shops.

Built in the time-honored "Wattle and Daub" style, this two-story home/shop building has been modernized over the centuries. The most recent addition being the latest in heating/cooking, the brick fireplace-chimney

Glass windows, slate roof, stone supports, including two repurposed Roman columns that add that unique touch of ambiance to your shop front. 

Bricks have even been added for repairs where needed.

As an additional bonus, this unique building offers shopping space on two lanes not one. Act now, don't let this special building slip through your fingers. Make your offer to Franz Ottoson, of Lubeck, you will not be disappointed.

This is another detailed piece from Monolith I painted this week.

Even Goblins Need Cooks

Armies travel on their stomachs, is an all too true statement.

This is all the more true for goblins, who while not known for their sophisticate pallets, are basically always hungry. This is probably due to the habit of their brutal Orc cousins of taking the lion's share of any food, loot, prisoners, bodies etc. from raids and battles.

This "Mess" Crew of goblins has used every source to try to gather enough food for the next tribal meal. They follow the old custom of" slice it up, put it in pots, heat it up and EAT!"

These are plastic pieces that I painted in June. They make for a very different & humorous 'Warband" of goblins for either D&D or Warhammer fantasy.

Ragnarök Heros and Troops

Finished painting my second box of Ragnarök, thirty game pieces. Top to Bottom, Left to Right:3 Joms Vikings, 4 Valarian Guard. Brunhilda,5 Seers. Egil, 5 Curse Ones. Gullveic, 4 Jofurr. Harald Hardrada, King Harolf Krak and 4 Huscarls.

The pieces unpainted and fresh in the box from Monolith. All are beautifully detailed plastic pieces and a true pleasure to paint.

Some Huts are Better Than Others

A couple of 15mm scale peasant hut from Monoliths Joan of Arc Teutonic Knights game.

The walls behind the huts are also from the same game set.

As usual for Monolith the etail on their pieces are excellent.

These are all plastic pieces.

News from the North-West Frontier. Maj. Fredrick "Big-Red" MacGreggoor observes his beloved "Fore and Afts" mop up after another successful engagement with the Afghani's. To the uninitiated the Fore and Aft's also go by the name "Gloster's" (28th Gloucestershire Regt.) and are one of the Imperial protectors of the Raj! "God Save the Queen-Empress!"

"Big-Red" MacGreggoor is as brave as his name and never asks one of his men or officers to face danger unless he is in the lead. Neither does he broke lax training, as he works his men to a fine fight edge. In his words "Well trrainned, well feeddd  and fitt soljjiers have the best chance to suurvvee."

He has several scars from both blades and bullets to show for his fearless leadership. And has been known to risk death to rescue even the lowest ranked wounder or cut off soldier.

His men will never tell him to his face but their nickname for their beloved major is "Poppa Red" the office who cares for his men as if they were his own family.

Maj. Fredrick "Big-Red" MacGreggoor is a metal piece from the excellent Canadian Pulp Figures manufacturer.

Fun With Pencil & Pape

Today's post will be a few of my pencil drawings

Lighthouse

Two Japanese losses...

at Guadalcanal

"Lady in Black"

"Last Berth"

"Fantasy World"

These were all done in 2018-19, as therapy for medical issues.

Roman Legionaries Then and Now?

 Two sets of the backbone of Roman power, nineteen centuries apart, the dreaded Legionaries. 

1st Century C.E. One of the most feared sights on the battlefield, a unit of Roman Legionaries on the attack. With the sure knowledge that they were the best soldiers in the World, these Imperial Legionnaires fear no one.  After a flight of pilums, it's time to hit the foes with the Gladius. "Death to the enemies of the Empire, and glory for the Legion." For almost two centuries, the legionaries of Rome enforced the "Pax Romana" (Peace of Rome) a time where most of Western Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean Sea were at peace, without a major war. An accomplishment that has never been duplicated to this very day.

Before the countless hordes of "Barbarian" invaders arrived in later centuries, it was often the truth that the greatest danger to a unit of Roman legionaries was another unit of Roman legionaries due to the frequent wars between rival factions for control of the Empire.  But that is a "Post Pax Romana" time, so for now these elites of Roman rule the Euro-Mediterranean World.

1900+ years later and a new force of Roman elite warriors has appeared in the Post Great War World.
As seen in this patrol from the hidden city-state of Novum Imperium Romanum Consularis Julius Augusts XXIII (New Roman Empire of Consul Julius Augusts XXIII) which protects the Empires hidden nature. Strangers they locate are either eliminated or made slaves of the Imperium. They are armed with the latest in Roman small arms weapons technology. 

Centurion Hadrius Corfortium is armed with a Electi Parvus Sagitta Dirigentes (Elite Small Arrow Shooting i.e. heavy submachinegun). Four troopers have the Parvus Sagitta Dirigentes (Small Arrow Shooting-i.e. a Submachinegun) Two have the Gravisbus Sagitta Dirigentis (Heavy Arrow Shooting-i.e. Assualt Rifle). Stong fire support is given by a Multi Sagittam  Dirigentis (Many Arrow Shooting-i.e Light Machinegun). While for serious problems the very deadly Constantinus Ignis Iaculator (Constantin's Fire Thrower-i.e. Flame Thrower) is always ready to burn away troublesome intruders. For defense, their Galea (Helmet), Lorica Segmentata (Body Armor), and Scutum (Large Shield) are made of Sagitta Probationem Metallum ("Bullet Proof" Metal).The Signifer is not just a standard, it is also the squads Missis Aer Nutiis Acciprentis (radio Transmitter/Receiver) The insulated helmet allows two-way communication with command base. 

Soon the day will come when the Novum Imperium Romanum will make itself known and the World will again tremble under the trod of Romes Legionnaires!

My, My What a Big Sword-umm Ears You Have

Theseus feels something strange is going on, like where is 1st Mate Ios? All the while the Sorceress Ciere is checking out her latest meal on four feet; men can be such pigs. Dinner just rebalances the many wrongs men have done to women is Ciere's feeling.

Ciere wonders what size of a pig the warrior with the big sword will turn into-and how juicy!

Both are plastic pieces that I painted in 2018.

My, How Many Skulls You Have

Fresh from her marsh den, Grendel's Mother is on the prowl for fresh human flesh and a skull to add to her collection. The strangely clad warrior should fill both her requirements. For his part, Hiktos Nuluk, "the Cursed Hoplite" is not intimidated by the fearsome monster with the skull fetish. He has faced many more powerful and frightening creatures since that horrible party where the Goddess Ate' cursed him (See: World Historyprof: The Continued Adventures of Brave Hiktos Nuluk). Win, lose or draw it will be one h'll of a fight.

Brave Hiktos Nuluk is a metal piece Grendel's Mother is plastic.

USMC Fire Team

The standard fire team for much of the pre-war and World War Two USMC doctrine was based on four men.

The fire team leader was armed with a Submachinegun (SMG) usually the .45 cal. Tompson (The Tommy Gun of Roaring "20's fame.).

The 30.06 Browning Automatic Rifle BAR was the team's heavy hitter.

The other two men were armed with rifles, the bolt action 30.06 Springfield in the early years and the M-1 Garand in the later years.

With these weapons, a USMC fire team brought a lot of firepower to each engagement.

These are plastic pieces I painted for my Bolt Action Pacific Campaign in 2018.