Friday, January 13, 2017

Pulp Project Work In Progress: The Rockies Ablaze!

Picking up on my last post, here is a preview of where my 1930s Canadian Pulp Project, The Rociies Ablaze, is going.   First, here’s what I’ve done thus far, artfully arranged on top of a roll of Christmas Village snow from the local craft store (Michaels).  It rather looks like dry ice at a rock concert, but it does give an impression of snow and thanks to post Christmas sales, I have rather a lot of it. 

 The Mounties mix well with the Bob Murch Yukon types I’ve painted so far.

“I’m telling you, Sergeant, it were a big balloon, and it passed south over Dead Man’s Pass."

 Here’s the big balloon (sorry, not a balloon, an AIRSHIP - step outside!).   Obviously it’s not to scale, but it will serve as a backdrop over the picturesque Rocky Mountains, if I can devise some sort of stand for it.

 The Zeppelin crew - Bob Murch Zeppelin Troop scrulpts/  They look a little more Imperial than Nazi, but no matter, they are darn cool, and they may need some sort of bridge mocked up for them to hang out in.

 Zeppelin troop landing party complete with oxygen tanks.

 Zeppelin troop landing party in gas masks.  Some sort of gas might be useful to allow them to secure their primary objective, namely capturing a werewolf to take back to the Reich for crossbreeding and research.  If I was tasked with capturing a werewolf, I would want to have lots of sleeping gas on hand.

 More Zeppelin troops in gas masks.  I probably have enough Zeppelin troops now.  There is a question of how they will get to the ground … either fast roping or perhaps some smaller airship that can tether to the zeppelin mother ship, in which case I need to scratch build something.   Perhaps my friend Dan H, the master of scratch building disaster, can help here.  Thoughts?   

 i picked these guys up from a bring and buy table earlier this year.  They are BEF early WW1 signal troops, which appealed to me because the Mounties might need aid to the civil power from the Canadian Army Permanent Force, doubtless Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry from the Calgary garrison.  Certainly a command and signals group would be useful in giving some admin support to the Mounties’ command post.

If I want to flesh this out a bit, I have some suggestions thanks to the stout chaps at LAF, including what look like early WW2 BEF Tommies in greatcoats from Gorgon Miniatures, or some minis from Tiger  Miniatures from their Winter War series, about the 1919 Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War - while slightly primitive sculpts, the troops have greatcoats and fur hats and look like they would fit in with the Pulp Figures stuff.  There is also a pack of late WW1 British infantry in greatcoats from Great War Miniatures which could pass easily for interwar Canadian troops.

 Finally, for no particular reason, but just because I adore Bob Murch sculpts, I felt the need to allow for a canoe chase between a mad trapper who is quite possibly a werewolf ….

 

… and the Mounties.  Note that neither Sgt. Prestown nor his amazing dog Cuddles are wearing flotation devices.  Terrible examples, Bob. 

 

Well, chaps, that’s the project for now, slowly taking shape.   Given that the last months have been pretty rough, I am not sure when I will have something playable, but as long as I have fun.   Now, where did I put my trusty shoeshoes?   <whisltles>  Come along, King, there’s work to do and bad men to catch.  Stay vigilant, chaps!

Blessings,

MP+

29 comments:

  1. Great stuff Padre! Can't wait to see how this pans out ('pans out' - hm, crazy werewolf prospectors?)

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    1. Yes, I see what you did there. Werewolf prospectors ... hmmm.

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  2. This looks like a grand project Padre - can't wait to see you painting up all those shinies :)

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  3. You could just build a rope ladder from the sky, Padre! I did one a few years ago, the only picture I can find of it is here, last photo in this post: http://www.warbard.ca/2011/04/01/photos-from-the-amulet-of-fire-game-at-dakkon/

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    1. Thank you Brian, I looked at that photo and it was most helpful. Also looked like a terrific game!

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  4. O this looks great already and those additions are going to really beef up the cool-factor!

    To transport the landing troops, how about a bi-plane with skis for landing-gear?

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    1. Oh, the idea of a bi-plane of skis is an excellent idea!

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    2. You chaps are bad, giving me notions like that. A quick tour of the inter webs shows at least one company with an appropriate plane, a 1/48 scale Russian PO-2 on skis. There may be more, or I can improvise one, I am sure.

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  5. Replies
    1. Murch's latest German Jet Troopen look pretty cool too. Sure you don't need some of those too?

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    2. I saw those, and I liked them, but I am invested in the Zeppelin concept. Do you really want fellows with hot jets stopped to their backs flying near a giant hydrogen-filled gasbag?

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  6. Looking fantastic so far, and loving where it is going!

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    1. Thank you, it is the project that gives me the greatest pleasure to think about lately.

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  7. Such delights awaiting you and us. I can,t to see the first battle...
    Alan

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  8. What a great idea, the pulp stuff are some of my all time fav's.
    Looking forward to see how this shapes up.
    Cheers
    Stu

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  9. This looks great, another vote for biplane with skis from this quarter too!
    Best Iain

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    1. Bi-plane noted. See above. Maybe a PO-2 as a proxy for something the RCAF would fly. I suppose one could launch a biplane from a Zeppelin, but recovering it would be another matter.

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  10. What about sasquatch to be added to this already heady brew?

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    1. Not sure about a sasquatch, but I do have some critters on order from Reaper, including a Dire Bear that will serve as a dreaded Grizzly.

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  11. Nice to see your project taking up steam Padre! Those German Zeppelintruppen certainly will look quite imposing when ready.

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    1. Thank you. I am thinking of painting them in Luftwaffe uniforms, rather like Fallschmirjagers.

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  12. Looking forward to see all this painted up and played...ehr, gamed with.

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    1. I am happy with the word "played" vs "gamed". It's what my wife says I do. :)

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  13. Awesome looking minis. Look forward to seeing them painted. Did you see the Statuesque Sky Pirates?

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    1. Thanks mate. I DID see them. I have always wanted some of their products, and the Sky Pirates fit with my idea that only females can work with werewolves as handlers. It bears thought.

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  14. Couldn't a Zeppelin land in an open spot? A rope ladder sounds like a good idea or something like a eindow washers rig, a platform suspended on ropes raised and lowered by winch.

    Ahh Cuddles! "When I awoke....."

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    1. True. And a large basket or some sort of rig could be fairly easily made out of balsa, plasticard, old soup tins, etc.

      "I was sitting in lonely log cabin, on the 15th floor of Mountie HQ, with my incredible dog cuddles, when suddenly, the chief burst in!"

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