28mm Bolt Action - UK Paras

 A year ago I made a purchase from Facebook Marketplace of a 2nd edition Bolt Action WW2 Airborne Force. The figures were from Artizan Designs and were painted to what I thought was an excellent standard, based and varnished. Certainly better than what I could have obtained through my own efforts. 

The photos were the original photos that were on the marketplace. The total force was 45 figures and consisted of 

3 Airborne command squad armed with pistol, Stengun, Rifle + 1 Medic

Troops 

Section 1  - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 4 Rifles, 5 Stenguns and 1 Bren gun.

Section 2 - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 6 Rifles, 2 Stenguns, 1 Thompson, 1 Bren gun

Ad Hoc Section - 10 man Airborne section armed as follows 7 Rifles, and Stengun and 2 Bren Guns

Weapon teams 

1 metal Airborne flamer 

1 metal Airborne light mortar 

1 metal Airborne Sniper 

1 metal Airborne spotter 

1 metal Airborne medium mortar team (3) 

1 metal Airborne MMG team Artizan (3) with wounded/dead trooper 

4 metal Airborne PIAT team armed with 2 PIATS and 2 loaders

Artillery 

1 - 6 pounder anti tank Airborne (3)

The purchase of these figures allowed me to gift the Warlord Games British Airborne Starter Army that I knew I would not get around to painting anytime soon. 

SAGA the Age of Magic or FGU - Bushido RPG

 Fantasy Games Unlimited published two RPG games that I enjoyed playing in the 1980s, Bushido and Daredevil Adventures. I ran a Daredevil Adventures campaign and my buddy Harris ran a Bushido campaign for our group. A few years ago I was able to purchase on eBay a group of figures for the  Clan Wars - Legends of the 5 Rings game. I never played the game, but the figures were very appealing. I thought that maybe one day I would get the figures painted and use them in a Bushido campaign of my own. When I received my introduction to Garry of the Scarlet Lancer Painting Service, I thought it would be a great project to have him look after for me. I may have mentioned I am triaging the mountain of lead, figures I will paint, those that I will have someone paint for me and finally the dustbin of history. The Clan wars figures were shipped off to be painted. I am extremely happy with the outcome.

The above two photographs show the extent of the collection. There are approximately 50 foot figures which I would divide up into three clans, a mix of Samurai and Ronin for each group. Locally it has been suggested that I can also throw together a Warband to use in the local SAGA Age of Magic night. I have to find a couple of suitable monsters that I know I have that would be a fine addition to a fantasy style game.

Barsoom HOTT Completed

 The ubiquitous red weed dominates the Martian landscape. The Barsoom HOTT army looks complete. I added the Alien Fire Gamer's Grass as the final step this morning.

Barsoom Hordes of the Things Army.

SAGA - AOC - SCOTS

Since January of this year, with the arrival of the new supplement the club has been focusing on playing the Age of  Chivalry.  The first warband I began in anticipation of AOC was the Scots, in honor of my mother's heritage.  I compiled a collection of  photos showing various units of this warband in different stages of preparation for the tabletop.

First is a collection of 32 of pike figures that were repurposed for SAGA. These had long sat in a Mastercraft toolbox as part of an army based for various DBX style games.  I had picked these two units up rather a long time ago at the Ottawa CanGames consignment booth. 

Next I have a unit of repurposed knights. These were a gift I received many years ago from Ross Mac. They comprise my Warlord and his mounted Hearth Guard Bodyguard. 

Warlord and Bodyguards 

Mounted Knights circling the woods

Next are figures I painted in the last year. Two units of Levy Archers, with the figures being from Claymore Castings. I recently added a third unit that is sitting on my painting table..

Levy Archers advancing in a tabletop encounter.

Next are the Hearth Guard or Foot Warriors of the Scot's warband. I went with a blue motif for their main colour. Some Saracens are in the background.

Finally a display of national pride. The banner of St  Andrew is a bit early for the period but it was readily available to produce some banners, both for foot and  mounted figures. In the background is the cookie tin that will be used to both store and transport the warband.

The pike are repurposed figures while the mounted figures are new purchases from Claymore Castings.

Finally a couple of photos of the Scots in their first encounter with the English. The knaves from south of the border won the first match. 

 

Pulp Figures - Assorted Miniatures

 I am a fan of the figures produced by Bob Murch. Here is a sample of some recent figures of his that I have worked upon.  The first is Col Muzzy Bluderbooch. The figure is the 2021  Bob Murch's Movember Fund Raiser

 Col Muzzy Bluderbooch

From the Mystery and Horror line in the Pulp Figures Catalogue we have PMH 11 Triumph of Frankenstein! The Baron has unleashed his terrible creation! Or as I like to say,

the good doctor at work

And finally , available from Crucible Crush Miniatures we have the Masters of Devil Reef. They are part of the Cthulhu 28s Line. These figures were sculpted by Bob and were a Kickstarter that I backed.

Bonus Selection

These figures are not part of Bob Murch's work, but they are definitely pulp. They are part of the A Fistful Of Kung Fu Line by North Star Military Figures. North Star is also the source of  Pulp Figures available directly in the UK. The following figures are  AFOKF03 - Kung Fu Squad: The Demons

ECW - One Needs to Start Somewhere

 I started collecting the figures for an ECW army quite a while ago. I started by painting the artillery  but never got around to doing the crew. I made contact with the Scarlet Lancer Painting Service, and sought out there services to get the ball rolling. I am happy with the results. And I have entrusted more troops to Garry's capable hands and brushes.

Reviewing the local situation

The artillery park. 

Jan 18th 2026. Update - I discovered the actual title of the ECW command vignette was from the Wargames Illustrated series, Moments in History. WIM04 is the Eve of Edgehill and was produced by Battlefront Miniatures Ltd. I was gifted a blister yesterday that I entend to forward to a gaming buddy out on the east coast.

SAGA : The War of the Roses

The latest SAGA project I have been working on is my House of York Warband, for the Age of Chivalry.  Assembled a collection of photos taken of different units in various states of readiness. I have two units of levy bowmen that haven't completed their journey across the pond. Canada Post has them and has yet to make delivery. They will be painted in the red-black livery of the Earl of Northumberland, which depending upon the time line, may support either side in the struggle for the throne.

A unit of Mounted Warriors or possible Hearth Guard

An infernal contraption that may or may not work. 

The Flag of Henry Percy, the 4th Earl of Northumberland.

Another unit of Warriors, supposedly supporters of Richard, or are they?

A Unit of hearth Guard and a flag of the House of York

A Unit of Warriors

The start of a possible Mounted Hearth Guards Unit

                                              A Unit of Handgunners, ready for action.

John Carter, Warlord of Mars or Barsoomian HOTT

It has been a while since I have posted. I have been painting figures regularly for the past year but between Facebook and Discord I have allowed my blog to fall to the wayside. In February 2023 I was preparing to move for the first time in almost 25 years, and it took time to pack and unpack. I should have been back in the saddle sometime in the  summer of 2023, but I wasn't.

Over the next two months I hope to acquaint the blog with the projects I have worked upon. Most are SAGA related. I was fortunate to discover a local Historical Miniature Wargame group in Montreal. It helped to provide focus to my pile of lead. I have been reducing it in other ways as well. I parted with a dozen 4 litre Really Useful Boxes of projects that were never going to see the light of day. As part of my triage, I have projects I will paint, projects I will have assistance in painting and those that must go. The triage continues. If something comes into the house something else must go.

SPI's  John Carter, Warlord of Mars. 

In spite of my words about SAGA my latest project was a Hordes of the Things Barsoomian Martian (LGA). The figures are from Peter Pig, It was something I wanted to do for a while. This summer I was laid up following my knee replacement surgery and picked something that I could easily work on. At the moment it is mostly finished. I wait on the arrival of some appropriate texture paint. I used AK Rust as the base colour for the Martian landscape. I choose to base my thoats on an image from a comic book and they thus are shades of red. Grey ones with yellow booties just didn't seem warlike enough for me.

4 Elements of Shooters in front of 3 Mounted Hordes

4 Elements of Riders in front of 2 artillery Elements

A clearer view of the Artillery Elements