December 2023 Workbench: Monsters, Mamelukes And Friends

 As usual, my painting and conversion exploits are very heterodox.

First up is a metal Roman workman, nailing something. He might have been a better figure for Easter than Xmas. He could be part of an engineer unit.

Italeri mameluke, Republic of Texas soldier 1830s to 40s. The black is an undercoat and will be painted over with grey. e started off as a BMC Mexican from the alamo set. copy of Timpo cowboy, ElastoWit FFL.

  ElastoWit FFL close to completion. I can't stress enough that they need a white glue or Modge Podge undercoat and overcoat to take away the tacky feel and to stabilize the paint on the rubbery plastic.

  Mamelukes again. They are very nice figures. The negatives are they were not given carbines but this makes them more adaptable for earlier periods if you ignore the pistols. The other is that the hard type of soft plastic is hard to carve and there is a wedge between the front legs on some horses. The positive is that the plastic holds paint better (but I still advise good quality spray undercoats, preferably clear car primer followed by good quality spray white, black or brown - I use GW). The other positives are the great animation and sculpting, notably on faces.

    More monsters, left to right, the first three are from an old set that had options for weapons of SF or sword and shield. These figures will be added to a zombie unit. The last two figures were from a tube of monsters set that came out not that long ago. The pink one could have had the head cut off and replaced a horse's head to make it into an undead one. I might yet do this with some spare figures. The trees are pinecones coated in PVA, sawdust and paint.

   Gorilla warfare! I have been collecting cheapo gorillas and finally painted up a 'unit'. I might use them as part of an Ozzz army or a Narnia one. They might also be part of a Beastman army or as jungle hazards.

  I got this pic off the Internet and it depicts the FFL in the 1930s. I see the havelock is dyed sand color but I made mine white, just for contrast.