GOLD MEDAL 2012

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Simply magnificent… I am conscious that I will never achieve this kind of craftsmanship without starting from zero and dedicating to it hours and hours and hours… maybe the correct approach is that I am “out of time for it”… nevertheless I admire those who have this level… and proud to give them to you!

As you know I collect Toy Soldiers and even paint them sometimes… much more easy believe me! (The Old Toy Soldier kind even if some are “NEW” Toy Soldiers).

Enjoy!

Chaos in the mud…

NAPOLEONIC PLAYMOBIL CUSTOMS

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Just to show you the potential… to get those you have to learn to dissemble, add stickers, buy resin headgear and paint the last one… quite fast and simple once you know the tricks… but on the whole not cheap… as for collecting them it is fine… but wargames better be skirmish type.

Enjoy!

Nice… if a bit expensive…

Something by John Clarke.

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There is something fascinating in that process… to mend, repare, adjust and polish and “create” a piece unique… it gives you satisfaction.

Not that big projects have not charm… but sometimes a single figure gives you the whole catarsis condensed… guess you know what I mean.

I liked it… hope you enjoy too!

Done and primed.
Painted
Another view.

French Foreign Legion Officers (Playmobil 75mm)

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Maybe you are tired to see those figures?… well… get used to it!… as you know I deal with multiple scales and very different interests!…

The headgear is resin custom painted by me… but all the rest are standard pieces of Playmobil that you need to order from specialized sellers.

You maybe think they are obnoxius… but they are not… not need to paint a lot (I have to admit the fRench kepis on the left has been painted by me using permanent markers and finally gloss varnish… but that is all.

I do usually paint 54mm Toy Soldiers from scratch and it is a much more longer process… as always you need all sorts!

Enjoy!

Just the headgear is “custom”

A bit of Imperialism… I think maybe from Claude Bailey…

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This pic was selected some weeks ago and has remained in The Vault I do not know why… in fact it is one of my favourite subjects… Bengal Lancers… British Officers… LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER… THE DRUM… GUNGA DIN… KARTHOUM … THE FOUR FEATHERS (the 1939 version or either STORM OVER THE NILE -practically the same scenes- but even the BBC version with Beau Bridges is not bad… anything but the last remake which is awful!)… etc.

Enjoy!

It really looks like Young Winston in the foreground (working on one myself in 54mm)

Collector at Work! or Dorking (II)

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That’s part of the fun… on the wargames table a big mess of spare parts boxes of Playmobil and freshly done units for wargaming in that scale (75mm) in a simpler variant of A GENTLEMAN’S WAR… not only happy to do DORKING… my convoluted mind has designed an alternative scenario post-Dorking… with Queen Victoria in her Windsor Castle protected by The British Guards (foot, horse and RHA) and a Prussian Corps detached from the main Army to capture the Empress in a coup de main!… LOL

This is the main fun… devising plots and scenarios to use the troops. Prussian Cavalry and Artillery already done… and even that pesky ADC Rupert of Hentzau!

Will give you some pics of units finished and ready to go… but still no complete pic… needs time… needs time…

Enjoy!

Wargames Room used as atelier…
French Foreign Legion soldiers with a change of headgear… Prussian Volunteers in a minute!
Prussian Line Infantry
Prussian Guards
The Count of Hentzau!

Graham Hilditch’s Band!

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No Band of Brothers I guess… but a tour de force! doing or printing in 3D those instruments in 42mm is an small wonder. Congratulations on a job well done!

Enjoy!

Britains style B scale Cheshire Regiment band. As Britains never made smaller scale 42mm band figures, these are all converts and homecasts. Musical instruments in this scale were difficult to source. Some are scratch made and others 3D printed.

NWMP (II)

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My first post of 2023… well… I guess it would be a continuation of a theme… a la Oliver Curwood (if you know who he is)… as a child I was fascinated by the North West Mounted Police… and recently got the sledge I was waiting for… so here it is… on the trail up North!

Enjoy!

An eskimo guide
opens the trail for the NWMP
Close up!

Playmobil NWMP Customs

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You know I also indulge in Playmobils… do not ask me why… I explained in my book no longer in print (LOL)… Actually waiting for a sledge from a standard set to go patrol up North… he always get his man… And YES I will post a pic of the mountie on his sledge once received…

Seriously they are fun to manipulate and even role playing with them.

Enjoy!

PS: I achieved (the Blog) 130.000 visitors today… I must thank those who do assiduously!

Original (mounted) and customs.
Using two different figures you obtain two new one’s to go North!… mind, the eskimo head has gone to increase the ranks of the French Foreign Legion…
Another view… the headgear on the left one is a resin custom, the rest is standard Playmobil pieces.