Pulp Figures – Dangerous Dames

A couple of years ago, Bob Murch of Pulp Figures and Crucible Crush released a Kickstarter called ‘Dangerous Dames.’ It was an exciting concept, superbly done. The range has 33+ women in 1930’s clothing and gear, plus a sacrificial altar, a motorcycle with sidecar, exotic pets, and a pack of accessories. There is a mix of body types, and a refreshing lack of cleavage.

Now that they are no longer a Kickstarter, they have been released as a number of packs, each with a loose ‘theme,’ some more coherent than others. (And spread out through several of his ranges) These figures are a few from the release. I have made no effort to sort them by pack in the pictures.

The figures are crisp and clean, and the detail is easy to bring out. Mould lines are minimal. My painting doesn’t really do them justice.

First we have a pair of Adventurers flanking what I imagine as a Special Agent.

Our next selection is a trio suitable as Investigators, witnesses, or whatever you need.

Now we have another Adventuress, and a pair of two Women from the Mysterious East.

Finally we have an Investigator, a Scholar (with a suspicious-looking sculpture) and an Aviatrix.

Going through the Pulp Figures catalogue to count figures in the release, I was mostly struck by how many exciting figures I didn’t show. (Although a few are in other posts.)

Pulp Figures are always great. (I am a fan) and these are especially so. The Kickstarter was fulfilled quickly and with no problems, so the service was great too. Thoroughly recommended.

Pulp Figures Zulu Wars British

Bob Murch is one of the most talented sculptors around. He’s known for 1920’s Horror, SPACE 1889, Flint & Feather to mention a few. Lately he has expanded to Dark Ages with Saxons and Normans. (For more information try Pulp Figures or Crucible Crush.)

However, he has also recently released packs of ‘African Kingdoms‘ figures, Natives suitable for the Zulu Wars, and lovely they are! To go with these (Not yet released, but go check the site) he has sculpted Victorian British infantry. They are hefty 28mm, and remind me very much of the old Northwest Rebellion and SPACE 1889 figures – But they won’t mix well, being to a more modern scale. They are beautifully sculpted and proportioned, and would be marvelous if given to a better painter than me.

Not a lot more to say: They are single-piece castings with a variety of poses, and I really enjoyed painting them. In style, they are everything I like, and a subject I like. They are just lovely, satisfying figures.

That being said, they also took me back to a happier time, painting scads of Ral Partha British, and RAFM 1885 Canadians. They are great for Colonials and VSF alike. You want them.

VBCW: Woodbine Indian Infantry

I was building a trio of Birch Guns, for which I needed a number of Woodbine Designs WW1British heads. Since I was putting an order together, I decided to add a unit of Indian infantry to my VBCW forces.

These are from their WW1 Indian Infantry range. I specified ‘All advancing or charging figures’ and they were kind enough to provide a great selection. They have separate heads, and I chose Hindu rather than Sikh heads.

The officer is a Woodbine British officer. I had a few spares, so I just slotted one in.

Thinking about it, I already have plenty of Indian troops in my WW1 and Colonial forces, so there was no real need to get more. But I am very glad I did.

The Woodbine Indians were a joy to build and paint, I actually felt like they were painting themselves. The detail is good, and well-defined without being coarse or overdone.

Here’s a comparison with Great War – Woodbine – Wargames Atlantic – Crucible Crush.

All in all, lovely fellows, and highly recommended.

VBCW: Spode’s Black Shorts

I wanted a unit based on Roderick Spode’s Black Shorts in the Jeeves & Wooster stories. I found a perfect base in The Crucible Crush 8th Army figures: Early war British equipment, and short trousers.

I had enough figures for two units. The first unit was built straight from the box. They were given black shorts and socks.

I put the figures with helmet covers in the second unit, and added helmet covers to their companions. This made for an easy way to tell the two units apart.

I also had two Bren gunners – A bit late for the period. So I converted them to Lewis gunners. I’m not thrilled with my Lewis guns, I may buy a couple and replace them.. someday…

The figures are lovely, and a joy to paint. With these and the Pulp Figures Highlanders, I really wish Bob had also done some inter-war/early war British infantry.

VBCW: Pulp Figures Scots

(Apologies to Bob Murch, I originally titled this as ‘Pulp Miniatures’ – Sorry)

I started collecting forces and terrain for VBCW gaming after reading AAR’s on the ‘View From the Hill‘ blog, and many discussions with the author.

I recently picked up several packs of figures appropriate for VBCW from Pulp Figures. Mainly known for packs of Pulp Personalities, they are also a good source for various Inter-War troops that cannot be found elsewhere.

These are my Highlanders, painted to match the old Britains Swoppets and Herald Khaki Infantry. I loved them in my youth, and I love the look even now. They are fielded in a 10-man unit.

These are the poses used, without duplicates. They are well-detailed, essentially flash-free, and are a joy to paint. They scale well with my various other VBCW figures.

I also have a Tommy Gunner and a Vickers gunner – I can swap one or both into the unit to give it a bit of ‘punch.’

Otherwise they are attached to the Headquarters.

In case it’s not obvious, I recommend these figures to one and all.

Bob has also sculpted a set of 8th Army miniatures that match perfectly in scale and style, that I will be using to make Spode’s Black Shorts. These are available from Crucible Crush.

Figures used:

PBT 12 Highland Infantry Command

PBT10 Highland Infantry Rifles

PBT11 Highland Special Weapons

PHP18 Rugged Sons of the Empire

Pulp Figures Mounties 2

 

Back in 2017, I painted a set of Pulp Figures  PYP05 ‘The Scarlet Patrol for my friend Doug’s VBCW campaign. Since then, they have saved the day so many times that we felt the force should be increased to a full 10-man unit.

Like all Pulp Figures castings, they were well-designed, well-cast, and a pleasure to paint.  I’m actually a bit jealous, because they look pretty spiffy on the table.

The pictures don’t do them justice, my camera is not giving good results. This is frustrating, as I have waited months for picture-taking weather.

The figures I had already sent have one figure with a pistol, plus four riflemen. The guy with the pistol takes care of unit command, but we need to up-gun the force. This needed a bit of delicate surgery, so I bought a fine razor saw at Lee Valley Tools.

 

The figure with a pistol had his right arm removed with my new saw, and replaced with the rifle arm taken from the standing figure with Winchester. It was a simple conversion, but quite effective.

The next conversion was not as easy.

I removed both arms from the standing figure, being careful to not damage the hat under his arm. I removed the hat from his arm, sanded the base of the hat and extended the brim a bit with putty, and fitted it to his head.

It doesn’t look all that great, so I think I’d have been better just attaching the crown, and making a new brim from plastic card.

The weapon arms came from a sailor figure: I cut the arms away from the body (with my new saw!) and worked the Lewis gun free. I then used files and a Dremel to remove netal from the inside section of the gun. I wanted the arms and gun as a unit to ensure the gun looked natural, and not like a random bit glued in place.

When the arms and gun fit, I slid them into place and added a drop or two of glue. There was very little filling needed. Some putty was used to make gauntlet cuffs.

They are based on 3/4 in (20mm) OD fender washers, covered with glue and sand.

So now Doug will have a complete unit, with a little more ‘kick.’ I’ll ask him for a photo of the unit all together.

Update June 5, 2019: Doug sent a picture of the unit all together!

See also: Pulp Figures Mounties

See also: The View From the Hill

Pulp Figures Mounties

This is Pulp Figures‘ pack PYP05 ‘The Scarlet Patrol.’ Although intended for the Canadian Yukon, they can also serve (painted khaki) as dismounted Canadian troopers in the Boer War. They are well sculpted, and paint up really well.

I painted them as a gift for a friend, reinforcements for his VBCW forces (As seen on his blog, ‘The View From The Hill’) A group of sharpshooting Colonials was just what they need to tip things in their favour.

I also found a pair of souvenir zinc-cast Moose in the local dollar store. They are well-detailed, and a good size for 28mm. At one dollar each, they would be an economical source of mounts for a fantasy unit of some sort.

I didn’t send them off with the Mounties, I kept them for my Flint & Feather natives to hunt.

 

Flint & Feather Huron Warriors – A review and a WIP

I have finished my first batch of Huron/Iroquois warriors, and I want to show them off. (They are not of course my FIRST Huron/Iroquois, I had plenty of the old RAFM ‘Flint & Feather’ range.) These are the first from Bob Murch’s NEW ‘Flint & Feather range, released recently at Historicon. They are available through ‘Crucible Crush.’

Bob was inspired by reading Joseph Boyden’s ‘Orenda,’  a novel about warfare between the Huron and Iroquois peoples. Bob really was inspired, they are just cracking miniatures. I have hardly done them justice at all. (Although I have labelled them as Hurons, they are suitable for either Nation.)

They are from the earliest period of European contact, so there are no guns or steel weapons to be seen. As always, the anatomy is spot on, and poses are natural and interesting.

My painting ‘style’ is to base coat various areas, then highlight them, then do various coloured washes to bring out details. These figures are very well designed for this style: The detail is crisp and well defined. I was daunted at first (especially after seeing Bob’s paint) but I found them a joy to paint and I am quite pleased with the result 

I am a bit disappointed with the how the shield looks in the picture above: I gave it a subtle wash that just hasn’t shown well. I am pleased with the effect, I am not pleased with the photo.

 

My skin tones are darker than a lot of Native American figures I see on the internet. Most seem just too light for people that spend their lives outdoors. (I tan darker than most of the native figures I see. I may well be wrong.)

Howard Whitehouse and Roderick Robertson are writing a set of rules (‘Flint & Feather‘) to accompany the range, designed for forces of about 12 figures a side. The link goes to a description of the rules, they seem quite interesting.

Overall, I recommend this range. I like the figures, I like the style, and I like the sculpting. Buy them. Then they will make more.