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TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 113)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This weeks miniature is yet again another figure double, I’m on a roll!  In fairness these are a lot easier to churn out than the knights.  The lack of a shield keeps these figures much more simple.  It’s not that they are that much quicker to paint because they have faces to be done but I don’t have to spend time wondering what heraldry to do.  These two Baron’s War figures are from the “Spearmen No: 1” pack and I’m hoping I’ll get the other two done next week.  If I do, and if I manage to remember, I’ll also do a group photo of the four of them.  I also need to get my head around a larger group shot too, in particular what to use as a base and a backdrop.

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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Give Me Five

I’m not sure just how many films feature in this genre compared to topics of previous weeks but I decided to consider my top five musical bio films.  I still found myself leaving out a couple of excellent movies though!  In no particular order I listed the following five.

  1. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
  2. The Glenn Miller Story
  3. Nowhere Boy (John Lennon)
  4. The Buddy Holly Story
  5. Backbeat (The Beatles)

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Model Club

After what seems like forever the Plymouth Model Club will be meeting for the first time next Monday.  Lockdown restrictions have been lifted to allow for this to happen although common sense precautions will be in place.  It will feel strange meeting up after such a long time and it will be interesting to see what members return.  Who knows, membership may even increase due to the growing interest in the hobby as a result of Covid.  It’s even starting to look like some shows will now take place too.  I’ll let you know how it goes.    

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“Go Solo” by Tom Rosenthal.  My brother put me on to this guy a little while ago and slowly his music is growing on me.  I think it helps that this track has been taken by Renault for a UK TV advert and as such it’s exposure has grown.  A nice slow track with touching lyrics.  I can be sentimental at times! 

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This week TIM has been watching …

“The Inbetweeners Movie”.  Like Marmite there is no half way house with The Inbetweeners, you either love it or you hate.  Personally I love it.  Watching series one to three of The Inbetweeners, along with the first movie, followed by Ricky Gervais in the “The Office” would, together, pretty much make up up 80% of my life before I retired.  Sad but true. 

The Inbetweeners (2011) - IMDb

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Remember …

If you see someone wearing camouflage make sure to walk straight into them to show its working.

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TIM

Sir Cecil de Vert

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Dark Age, Uncategorized

Work continues on my Baron’s War army.  At times progress seems slow but at other times it doesn’t.  I think it depends on what pile of figures I look at, the pile I’ve painted or the pile I still have to do.  Mathematically I’m approaching half way on the foot figures that I have purchased which will be a landmark moment.  Until such times as I buy more figures it will soon start to feel like I am coming down the other side of the mountain.  Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the mounted figures and I really must begin to make more progress on these.

Meanwhile back to this weeks figure.

I decided to deviate from authentic characters and heraldry and in doing so came up with this little chap.  An uncle who died a couple of years ago whose name was Cecil Green came up in a recent conversation with my mum and dad and this served as my inspiration for the name Sir Cecil de Vert.  I may well look at my family tree for further names if I continue down this fictional route. 

The inspiration for the colour scheme came from the Orlando Bloom character “Balian de Ibelin” in the film Kingdom of Heaven. 

Images below.

TIM

 

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TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 112)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This weeks miniature is yet another double act.  Not sure how much longer I’m going to be able to keep it up for but a change in weather meant outdoor jobs and other life inhibitors were put on the back burner and as such I was able to dedicate more time to painting.  As a consequence I decided to press on with getting the two remaining “Foot Sergeants with Hand Weapons” done so I could complete pack 1 and also take a couple of group photos. 

The shield design for the first figure is called a “Per Pile” while the design for the second shield is a “Bend”.  Nothing difficult but the variety of design will help to make each figure different once the eventual army is all grouped together.

 

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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Give Me Five

This week I thought I’d take a look at Gangster Movies.  Another genre with plenty to choose from and as a consequence a few good films left out along the way.  After some consideration I short listed the following in no particular order.

  1. The Godfather Trilogy – (OK I know that’s three!)
  2. The Untouchables
  3. Goodfellas
  4. Miller’s Crossing
  5. The Long Good Friday

Footnote – of late I’ve started to struggle to keep this article going, time as ever being the biggest problem.  If any of you have any thoughts on future topics of any description or genre please feel free to comment below. 🙂 

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“Freelove Highway” by Ricky Gervais aka David Brent.  Can’t believe it was 20 years ago that The Office first aired on the BBC.  The series was not everyone’s cup of tea but having worked in an office all my life the level of accuracy and character portayls were simply amazing and so cringe worthy!  Loved every minute.  Must break out the box set once again!

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This week TIM has been watching …

“The White Queen” starring a very hot Rebecca Furguson (Mission Impossible; The Greatest Showman) and Eleanor Tomlinson, the stunning female lead in Poldark.  Based on the book by Phillippa Gregory it’s a great drama.  I’ve watched the box set a couple of times before and will doubtless watch it again in the future. 

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Remember …

Without freedom of speech we would never know who the idiots are.

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TIM

Baron’s War Foot Sergeant

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Not the most exciting figure but things have rather caught up with me.  It was my mums 90th birthday and my brother and his wife came to stay for several days along with his son and daughter.  Add to the mix my son and daughter and their respective partners and we had a house full staying.  Accordingly I was told in no uncertain terms by She Who Must Be Obeyed that under no circumstances was I allowed to paint!  Had I not been been married for almost 40 years and acquired the ability to lie and conceal my modelling addiction I may well have gotten nothing done at all.  As it was I did manage to paint my first figure from the “Foot Sergeants with Spears” pack.  

Now I can’t say I know a great deal about medieval Sergeants but Wayland Games describes them as follows:

“Throughout the middle ages and into the renaissance the majority of armies were compromised of infantry armed with spears and shields, or crossbowmen. Although the majority were peasants with little to no armour, there was a professional solider core that was more heavily armed and armoured. Equipped with Chain mail armour and steel helmets these soldier made up the backbone of the many armies that fought in this tumultuous period”.

I’m sure there is a lot more to be learnt about these and many other fighting men of the period and I really must make more of an effort to investigate and read more.  As to this little figure he clearly fits within the category of being a more professional fighting man given how he is equipped.

A straight forward paint job with an emphasis on blue to add a little colour amongst the more drab figures I have done of late.  A freehand cross on the shield was added to provide a little more interest.

Images below.

TIM

 

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TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 111)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This weeks miniature is in fact another double act and no prises for guessing they are both Baron’s War figures (are you bored yet?).  First up we have a foot Sergeant from the “Foot Sergeants with Hand Weapons Pack 1” followed by a cossbowman from “Crossbowmen Pack 1”.  Both nicely composed figures which I’m happy to add the my expanding army.  At some point I must do a count up of just how many I’ve now done.  Whilst the figure will be encouraging it will still fall well short of even half way.  For now though, and with the limited time I have available these days, the figures are filling a need and keeping my painting level up.  The summer will come to an end soon enough and then it will be time to mix things up a bit.

 

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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Give Me Five

One of the things which intreagues me is people’s surnames.  My own surname is Green, derived perhaps from a family which once might have resided near the village green.  Some surnames recognise trades such as Baker or Butcher while others reflect a family member, for example, Jack’s son giving rise to Jackson.  Simple actions and occupations often lead to names which stick and are handed down through the generations.  I’m sure you get the idea but some names make me curious.  All I’ll say is I’m glad my surname is what it is but what exactly were these people once up to? 

  1. Lillycrap
  2. Rogers
  3. Woodcock
  4. Blewitt
  5. Windass

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“Victim of Love” but Erasure.  I seem to have found my self indulging in another decade of late and as such YouTube has throwing some memorable tunes at me of which this is one of my favourites.

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This week TIM has been watching …

“Timeline – The Victoria Cross” – Narrated by Jeremy Clarkson.  My brother brought this documentary to my attention and I’m glad he did.  If you haven’t seen it then it is well worth a watch to learn about some truly remarkable people.  Even though Clarkson is like Marmite to some (I like Marmite) don’t let that put you off, his narration is terrific.   

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Remember …

There is no better feeling than someone playing with your hair or running their fingers down your back.  Unless you thought you were alone.

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TIM

Peter des Roches – Bishop of Winchester

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This weeks Footsore Baron’s War figure is a nice little sculpt of Peter Des Roches, Bishop of Winchester.  Now I’m not going to pretend I know anything about this particular little chap and what little I have learnt thus far is confined to Wikipedia which I have copied and posted below.  Clearly he was a significant personality of his age.

As far as the painting goes for this figure I elected to go with a scheme similar if not identical to that shown on the Footsore website.  I assume it to be a pretty accurate depiction but even if it isn’t I quite liked the look anyway.  A mostly straight forward paint job but the shield did offer a freehand challenge.  The heraldry for the Bishop is shown as two keys and a crossed sword. 

Hard to know just how pious the clergy were back in these days.  I presume the mace he is carrying wasn’t just for show and that he was an accomplished fighter.  Makes me wonder what people would make of today’s clergy if they took to the pulpit wielding AK47’s or something similar?  I reckon it it would make for an interesting sermon.  It would certainly grab my attention!

Wikipedia narrative below followed by images of Peter des Roches.

TIM

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WIKIPEDIA 

Towards the end of Richard I‘s reign, Peter became Lord Chamberlain and an influential counsellor. He held the ecclesiastical offices of Archdeacon of Poitiers, treasurer of Poitiers, and was a precentor of the diocese of Lincoln in 1204.[2]

In early 1205, through John’s influence, Peter was elected to the see of Winchester.[3] His election was disputed but, on appeal, confirmed on 25 September 1205 by Pope Innocent III.[4] Peter was consecrated on 24 March 1206.[3] Nonetheless, the new bishop stood by John’s side during the whole period of the papal interdict set upon him due to John’s refusal to accept Stephen Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury despite Papal warning.[citation needed]

In 1213 Peter was made Chief Justiciar in succession to Geoffrey Fitz Peter.[5] This promotion was justified by the fidelity with which Peter supported the king through the First Barons’ War. However, by 1215, Hubert de Burgh was Chief Justiciar.[5] In 1216, Peter was named Sheriff of Hampshire.[6]

At the battle of Lincoln in 1217 Peter led a division of the royal army and earned some distinction by his valour; but he played a secondary part in the government so long as William Marshal held the regency. After Marshal’s death in 1219 Peter led the baronial opposition to Hubert de Burgh, with varying success. At first the justiciar was successful.

Peter was responsible for founding several monasteries in England and France,[7] including Titchfield Abbey[8] and Netley Abbey,[7] both in Hampshire, England, and La Clarté-Dieu[7] in Poitou, France. He gave his protection to the first group of Dominican friars to come to England in 1221.[9]

In 1225 a plot to ship Eleanor of Brittany, who as cousin to Henry III always posed a potential threat to the crown and was thus viewed as a state prisoner and then confined at Bristol Castle, away to France, was reported. The plot might have been false and only fabricated to discredit Peter, and he eventually fell out of royal favor in spring 1234.[10]

Crusading bishopEdit

Peter participated in the Sixth Crusade alongside William Briwere, who was Bishop of Exeter.[11] An army of other crusaders accompanied them to the East, although whether they were English or mercenaries recruited on the Continent is unclear. The contingent left from Brindisi in August 1227.[12] Both bishops were influential advisors to Frederick II the Holy Roman Emperor[11] even though Pope Gregory IX had ordered that no one collaborate with Frederick, who was at the time excommunicated. Both bishops ignored the papal orders and worked closely with Frederick’s agents and Frederick himself. The financial resources both bishops brought were especially appreciated by the crusaders.[11] Both bishops witnessed the treaty on 18 February 1229 with the Sultan of Cairo that restored Jerusalem to the Christians,[11] the Treaty of Jaffa.[12] After the crusade, he spent time in Italy.[6]

Peter died on 9 June 1238.[3]

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TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 110)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This week saw two more archers done and with it the completion of Archers Pack 1.  Two more archer packs to go based on a quick glance of the to do pile.  Still progressing well but more impressively I’m managing to maintain my discipline with the project.  Although I’m confident of getting all the figures painted, albeit not for a while, the real challenge is not deviating along the way. So far so good but I’m sure a couple of unrelated figures have been winking at me!

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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Give Me Five

This week I got to thinking about cars in movies, particulalry vehicles which have become iconic.  Unsurprisingly there are quite a lot, more than I had anticipated in fact.  Needless to say opinion will be divided as I have left out some great vehicles but my top five, in no particular order, are as follows:

  1. 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond, Goldfinger)
  2. 1963 Herbie, VW Beetle (The Love Bug)
  3. 1961 Ferrari California Spyder (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)
  4. 1968 Ford Mustang Fightback (Steve McQueen, Bullitt)
  5. 1981 DeLorean (Back to the Future)

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“Don’t Leave Me This Way” by The Communards.  An excellent 1980’s cover version of a 1970’s classic.  I love this version.

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This week TIM has been watching …

“Salmon Fishing In The Yemen” starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.  A quirky little film which came out ten years ago but caught my attention this week.  Easy going and very enjoyable and not what I was expecting.

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Remember …

Always live within your income even if you have to borrow money to do so.

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TIM

Knight Command No: 1

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There are several Command packs in the Footsore Baron’s War range and this is the first of these two figure packs.  I had already painted and published the knight figure previously but hadn’t gotten round to getting the banner man done until now.

The colour scheme for the banner man isn’t based on anyone I’m aware of, if it is then it is by pure coincidence.  Colour wise I settled on light blue and white as I thought it would add visually to the army of figures further down the line.  Unsure what freehand to go with I eventually settled on a black Fleur de Lys for the shield and tunic.  For a simple shape I found it oddly more difficult than I had anticipated.  No doubt I’ll do more of them and next time it will prove easier.     

The actual banner was a simple affair made from Japanese writing paper and painted in the same light blue and white as the tunic and shield.

Below are a few images of the banner man and of the knight he is paired with in the pack but which you have seen before.

TIM

 

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TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 109)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This weeks miniature is Robin Hood.  Last week I painted Friar Tuck who is paired with Robin as a pack of two figures in the Baron’s War range and this week I manged to get the prince of thieves himself done.  Images of the iconic rogue below along with a couple of him together with his religious side kick.

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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“Florabunda”

Well my little ninja turtles I discovered three websites a few weeks ago which I thought I would share with you.  All are very much geared to basing, specifically in respect of flora and fauna and although  they may not be new to you they are to me.

Tajima1 is based in Cornwall, not a million miles away from me, and a small order I placed arrived very quickly and the quality of the items I bought was excellent.  They don’t have a huge range of items compared to the other two sites but still we’ll worth checking out in my opinion.  I’m sure I will be buying from them again.

I also bought a couple of items from Model Scenery Supplies.  They are a railway accessories stockist but OO gauge is more than good enough for 28mm.  In their blurb they rated MP Products as the dogs bollocks so I targeted a couple of those items and was again most impressed with the quality.

Finally I came across an Italian company, Diorama Presepe, who I have yet to buy anything from.  Their range is very impressive and they have some great looking stuff.  I will all most certainly be making some purchase once I have trawled the site and decided on what I want to buy.

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Give Me Five

This week I thought I’d take a look at badass females.  Now whilst I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of any of these young women I’d be more than happy to be dominated by Jennifer Lawrence and/or Scarlett Johansson!  In no particular order my top 5 female characters not to mess with are:

  1. Ellen Ripley – Alien (Sigourney Weaver)
  2. Hit Girl – Kickass (Chloe Grace Moretz)
  3. Katniss Everdeen – The Hunger Games (Jeniffer Lawrence)
  4. Sarah Connor – The Terminator (Linda Hamilton)
  5. Black Widow – The Avengers (Scarlett Johansson)

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“Lying Eyes” by the The Eagles.  I was in an easy going mood for a change this week which is another way of saying I couldn’t be arsed to do much.  There is no better music to listen to when in that sort of mood than The Eagles.  If I wasn’t horizontal before I put the music on I was afterwards.  I should also add what a cool album cover this is too.

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This week TIM has been watching …

“Snatch” starring Brad Pitt and Jason Statham amount others.  For some reason this film passed me by but my brother reminded me of it so I finally managed to sit down and watch it.

A most enjoyable couple of hours I must say.MV5BMTA2NDYxOGYtYjU1Mi00Y2QzLTgxMTQtMWI1MGI0ZGQ5MmU4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDk3NzU2MTQ@._V1_

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Remember …

No matter how bad things get don’t let gravity get you down.

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TIM

TIM’s Miniatures & Musings (No: 108)

Featured by theimperfectmodeller, posted in Musings, Uncategorized

Welcome to this weeks Miniatures & Musings!

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This weeks miniature is the Baron’s War take on Friar Tuck.  I nice little sculpt which will sit alongside Will Scarlet and Little John who I painted a week or so ago.  Tuck is sold as a pair with Robin Hood which surprised me as I would have paired Robin with Maid Marion who is sold as a single figure, not that it matters a great deal.  All being well I’ll get Robin and Marion painted soon.

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Well It Made Me Laugh

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The Knights On TIM’s Modelling Table

Outside of my WordPress blog I’m not a great one for social media.  The main reason for being anti social on the World Wide Web is mostly an age thing but I’m also aware from what others have posted that various platforms have there pros and cons.  The biggest con being that far to many people are incapable of being kind to one another, the complete opposite of our little WordPress gang.

Nevertheless I recently posted a few images of my knights on Facebook having discovered by chance that there is a Baron’s War group.  On a number of levels it’s not a patch on WordPress blogging but I have to report that so far it has been a pleasant surprise.  Time will tell if I continue to contribute but I must say some of the posts have been very informative and as a further research source it has proven quite useful.

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Give Me Five

This week I’ve been pondering unsolved mysteries.  In reality there are hundreds to choose from but if I live long enough I’d like to see these five resolved before I expire.  Not much chance though!  In no particular order:

  1. UFO’s and Alien life forms, do they exist?
  2. Who was Jack the Ripper?
  3. Does the Lochness Monster exist?
  4. Was there a city of Atlantis?
  5. Was George Mallory the first man to climb Mount Everest?

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This week TIM has been listening to …

“You can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon.  I remember when the Graceland album came out.  It was very different at the time and was a very popular album and one I played a lot.  I’d forgotten just how good it was.

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This week TIM has been watching …

“Kill Bill Volume 1” and “Kill  Bill Volume 2” starring Uma Thurman.  Classic Quentin Tarantino.  Totally over the top but fun.

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Remember …

When having sex it is OK to say “Yea”, “Yes” and “Oh Yes” but not “Yep”.

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TIM