Bad Squiddo Women of WW2 - I've started work on the project at last!

Around this time last year, the  Bad Squiddo Women of WW2 Kickstarter (which has been available in the shop for ages) was shipped. Since then, so much has happened, apart from me actually painting anything from my pledge. This has now begun to change. I have several figures near to completion, but only one completely finished, and here she is;

This is SOE Annie, a wartime equivalent of the Sci Fi Raging Annie, who can be seen here, on the right of the photo.

Here she is from behind.

I have to say that I absolutely love this mini. The pose is terrific and the details excellent. I can see her featuring in a lot of Pulp settings as a femme fatale, straight out of the pages of a Raymond Chandler novel, or a feisty female private eye, as well as in some suitable TFL Chain of Command scenarios.

I thought that it was only fair that I painted her first. Next up will be a couple of real life SOE characters.

Two Determined Young Ladies for Victorian Sci Fi games

 Here are two more additions to my VSF collection, once again from Ironclad Miniatures.

These two Determined Young Ladies are Miss Dorothea Huntley-Palmer (on the left) and her cousin Miss Emily Ward.

Dorothea is the daughter of Sir Arthur and Lady Caroline Huntley-Palmer, and therefor the niece of Sir Henry. Since her travels in Syldavia a few years ago, she has become a formidable swordswoman, an excellent horsewoman and a passable shot with the pistol. She has also earned herself a reputation as a scholar of certain arcane areas of what we might call the Dark Arts.

Emily is the younger daughter of Jacquetta, the sister of Lady Caroline, who is married to a prominent American archaeologist and scholar, Professor Charles Phillips Ward of Miskatonic University, Arkham, Massachusetts. Emily is an excellent shot with all manner of firearms and is a noted investigator of the Occult. She has accompanied her father of an number of archaeological expeditions to the Middle East, Central America and the Caucasus.

The Shooting Party

Four more nice figures from the excellent Ironclad Miniatures Victorian Science Fiction range, described on the website as "Victorians armed with sporting guns".

I have decided that these are four associates of Sir Henry Huntley-Palmer, old friends, drinking and shooting partners and also stout chaps who can always be relied upon to accompany him on his occasionally dangerous missions and exploits, which are sometimes sanctioned by a Mysterious Government Agency but might also be unsanctioned freelance operations.

From left to right they are George Davenport, a retired Metropolitan Police Officer, "Gentleman" Jim Mason, a bon viveur and alleged cracksman, Sir Arthur "Binkie" Beaumont QC, a former criminal barrister and Percy "Nobby" Nobbs, Sir Arthur's gamekeeper.

When Sir Henry requires their services they are always available and collectively they are known as "The Shooting Party".

In Her Majesty's Name is clearly where they are going to see most use, but they should also be useful where tentacled unpleasantness and eldritch goings-on are likely to happen.

Toadstool Brownies

Last week I received a small parcel from Ian Brumby at Fenris Games, with the cryptic comment "teasers for the Kickstarter".

Inside were three really cute little minis, which I have duly painted up. Here they are from the front.

And here is a rear view;

I cannot tell you anything about these three tiny creatures, except that they are very nicely sculpted and cast and have plenty of character. They were a joy to paint and I am sure that they will be welcome to all manner of gamers who like fantasy armies with small little folk. They are around 18-19mm tall, so half the size of a 28mm figure.

I could see these being useful for Saga: AoM players who want a nicely different Swarm for their Lords of the Wild levies, and also in other settings where the the tiny inhabitants of magical forests and hedgerows might be encountered. 

I think that the Kickstarter will be launched very shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for details on various social media platforms.

The Household Staff

 Finally, I've finished something in April.

These are the household staff of Sir Henry Huntley-Palmer, who I have written about here. 

From left to right we have Mrs Miggins, the cook, Molly, the maid, Mr Hodges, the butler and James, the footman.

As you can see, Sir Henry expects his staff to be prepared for all possible situations.

Mr Hodges (known as Mr 'Odges to the other staff) was formerly a Troop Sergeant Major in Sir Henry's old regiment, the 10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars and the two men have a shared history going back many years. 

James Smith, the footman is another former member of the 10th Royal Hussars, where he attained the rank of Corporal of Horse. James's face carries a terrible scar, acquired from a Pathan scimitar on active service on the Northwest Frontier.

These figures are from Ironclad Miniatures Victorian Science Fiction range, and they are very nice figures indeed. They are destined to find a place in many games of In Her Majesty's Name and probably other things too.

Bad Squiddo Winter Soviet Kickstarter update

OK, so there is more news about the Kickstarter. It will now be happening on the 7th of April, for administrative reasons and will run for seven days.

Anyway, I have now finished the two sample figures Annie sent me.

We have an officer, with a pistol and a crumpled map, and a infantry figure with a PPSh sub-machine gun. 

Here is a rear view;

Lots of nice details on the two sculpts here, so plenty of scope for really going to town with textures and shading.

I decided to go for a nondescript grey greatcoat for the ordinary soldier and a better quality sheepskin-lined coat for the officer. The officer is also wearing a nice pair of leather gloves.

I didn't want to overdo the snow effects, so restricted it to a bit of frosty ground and frost on the dead grass around the feet of the two soldiers.

These were really nice to paint. Lovely crisp casts with plenty of detail and character to the minis.

I used Vallejo paints, Army Painter strong tone wash and Gamer's Grass tufts.

Here is the announcement for the Kickstarter;

A new Bad Squiddo Kickstarter is nearly upon us.

This is just a short post to let people know that Annie Norman of Bad Squiddo is planning a short Kickstarter, planned to open on March 31st.

The subject is one close to her heart, 28mm WW2 female Soviet troops, this time in winter uniforms with greatcoats and Ushanka fur caps, to add to her existing range of Soviet troops.

There will be a number of different figures, rifles, PPSh-41 SMGs, a LMG team with the obligatory Degtyaryov DP-27, an officer and other figures.

The picture below shows what will be available, and also shows some of the current minis too;

I have been sent two figures to paint myself already, they are currently based and undercoated and I am planning to get them completed over the next day or so, puppies permitting.

I am happy to report that they are up to the usual high standards we have come to expect from Bad Squiddo.

These will be perfect for Chain of Command, Bolt Action or any other set of WW2 rules.