Welcome to my blog, the story of my continuing journey into the World of Zombie Wargames.

Monday 21 August 2017

More Villagers

The complete group
I managed to finish the Villagers pack from Col. Bill's this last week  and whilst mine  are not as display-case worthy as those in the shop , they're food enough for my own purposes.
They were bought to pad out any village scenario in my pirate project, and although they are far more suited to the supposed beginning of the "pirate era", they'll serve well enough for the entire period imo.
The women
 The three women in the pack are a bit of a mixed bunch, when it comes to purpose.
The two women peddling their wares (ooh err missus) are great additions and wouldn't look amiss in many different eras, though I didn't like that I had to glue one of their platters to them, (no-one told me that modelling/assembly  skills were required) though it was not mandatory to have it  so.).
The centre figure in the photograph to the left is wearing a "Scold's Bridle" (look it up), which even if vaguely amusing, is a waste as I'd much rather have had a plain figure, but that's just personal taste.

The women's rear view
The two "gentlemen" (not from Verona necessarily)
Next up are two of the men whom I believe to be well suited as civilians of the period. (the flash on the camera seems to have made the chap on the left rather bleary-eyed though!)
The chap on the right looks nothing like the chap on the web site, as their one has both his hands clasped on his cane.
My version's left arm (a detached piece) wouldn't fit in that position easily and if it was just left hanging down his side it would have reached below his knee! (a scale four foot long arm).
I chopped the hand off the arm, re-modelled another  from the stump, crooked his arm slightly using pliers and glued the new length arm on the figure,
Their rear views (for those that like that sort of thing)
"A yokel, a Priest and a beggar walk into a bar..."
The the final three are a stereotypical country bumpkin, complete with smock and pitchfork. Whilst the pitchfork is great the smock I'm fairly sure is more late 18th century than the 17th/ or early18th century, but it doesn't matter to me as he's a cracking figure.
 The chap in the middle  looks very church-like but is dressed as a fairly typical 17th villager.

When painting him I though he had a flagon in his right hand, but it turns out on close inspection of the photograph that it is in fact a book! (making him even more likely to be destined for the clergy).
The third chap looks shabby (not difficult with my painting skills) and I think is meant to be a beggar, I like this figure a lot too.
Overall they're great pack of figures for the price (£1.25/figure), though they should come with a warning that some assembly is required!
The whole ensemble in the back yard of the church
In other news, I now have three of my four new terrain boards finished to my satisfaction (the harbour one needs  more work doing to it); I've been preparing my next three posts (I've never had so much material to work with) and I'm working on some new rough terrain pieces ready for my first solo foray into "Jimland".

So that's it then for another week, thanks as always for taking the time to visit, whether accidentally, to just look at what passes for eye candy and of course you comments are welcomed and appreciated.  

26 comments:

  1. These Villagers looking really great!

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    1. Thanks you Michal, much appreciated but I'm sure you would turn them in to miniature masterpieces.

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  2. You raise a good point about the need for assembly information, Joe. Which is something that other companies do mention, I know.

    On the above matter, and the reason why you couldn't get the guy's hand to reach the cane top, is that the male figure is actually a peddler and has a tray attached to his hip beneath his outstretched hand, that is offering over (money) change or whatever he's sold. Again, if the pack mentioned the need for assembly, it could have also mentioned what miniature parts a-fixed to which figure and how. This being something not considered until a customer (yourself in this case) experiences the issue first-hand, and possible solution needs to be made by the seller.

    To be honest, I'm not familiar with this pack of figures, so had to look up what was what from this set of photos on the webstore (if you click on the larger picture it will enlarge inside a pop-up box - not that silly zoomed in magnifier, a proper 'made large' picture). Links below to the page I used to look at:
    http://shop.colonelbills-store.co.uk/epages/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68/Products/DBH012

    I'll pass on your experience to Stu, as its useful feedback (well, I think it is anyway).

    Cheers

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    1. Hehe, I really wrote all that assembly plus instructions nonesense that with tongue firmly in cheek!
      Only one photgraph on the Col.'s page shows the chap selling from the tray and his arm is definetly not as straight as a die as the one I received was!
      I wouldn't take anything I type too seriously as I always write with a smile on my face and with the intention to at least amuse rather than upset.

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    2. Joe, no worries mate. I didn't take anything you wrote as criticism - I don't think Stu would either, if I'm being honest. But you do raise a good point about 'needs assembling' (I'll have a look on the back of the blister and see if it says anything as such - I buy loose figures, so don't now how they sell normally).

      Ultimately, its not my business, so I don't take any offence when reading things written on the Internet. For example -
      http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=460864&page=1

      I just view all this as research and gaining knowledge for my own benefit, just in case its ever of use to me in the future.

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    3. Point well made, Iagree it's a case of personal taste etc.

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  3. Great bunch of characterful minis, Joe, and that final 'group' shot of them going about their daily business is terrific :-)

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    1. Thanks Blaxx, the final shot was really an afterthought too - who'd have thunk it ?

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  4. I do like these Joe and although not your favourite I am quite taken by the lady wearing the Scold's Bridle, certainly a bit different.

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    1. Thanks, Michael the bridle adorned figure is a good figure but I feel it's a little too 'twee' for my liking. Strangely though, your comment has also reminded me that I have a kilogram (or so) of lead in a bag somewhere that does have (from my pov) some more suitable female minis from the redoubt Musketeer/ECW ranges.

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  5. Cor, they're bloody smart. Well done matey.

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    1. Thanks Irqan, always nice to hear from you.

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  6. We must have sent our orders to Col Bills at about the same time Joe, but you've beaten me to the brush - I've just got mine on the painting table.
    I had a bit of trouble attaching "that arm" as well, down to my none-too-slender fingers having to negotiate around the tray which I'd already fixed in position. It would have been a LOT easier if I'd fitted the arm first and then the tray but I just put that down to my crap modelling.
    I hope I can turn mine out to look as good and characterful as yours!

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    1. Thanks WA, they're a great set overall but I wish I'd known the tray was for the pedlar ! I'm sure your own versions will be great too.

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  7. More lovely set/scenery dressing. Or maybe they can be something else..... hostages for randsom, targets of robbery or assassination or well anything your imaginiation can dream up really/

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    1. Thanks Clint, I'm pretty sure they'll be all of the above and the women especially as I have so few of them.

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  8. As always Joe I've really enjoyed the post and such an entertaining set of minis. I can't wait for you to start documenting your Jimland adventures

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    1. Thanks dGG, I have two terrain types I would like to get done before venturing into Jimland, one is rough ground (already underway and the other is a stream which is currently in the planning stage.

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  9. Useful set of civilians, very nice.
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks you Iain, they're a pretty versatile bunch even if squarely aimed at the 1640s era and at the price you really can't go wrong!

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  10. Nice work Joe they all look great. Looking forward to some game reports.

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    1. Thanks Brummie,though not up to your high standards, they'll do for me. A jimland game should soon be in the offing.

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  11. Wonderful citizens, great colors!

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  12. Thanks Phil, there are very few colours that have to be avoded when painting 17thc figures.

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  13. Nice to see these painted up. I've had my eyes on them for a while as a possible addition to my witch-hunting games.

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    1. They're a good overall set imo and would fit in with any 17th century setting.

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