'L'amour' from Barks - 'Guaranteed to Score'

For the love of the game... Blood Bowl is a game played by men, orcs, dwarves, and other creatures, with one funny shaped ball. This is my interpretation of Thrud the Barbarian, a Star Player who sadly doesn't exist in the current rules edition. It is a conversion of a Hasslefree figure, which I picked up from Crusade in Cardiff in 2005. Hasslefree must have been about a year old as a company, and this figure has sat in my pile of shame for over a decade until I dusted it off for the Analogue Challenge! Foolishly, I primed it on a humid day and it is a far from smooth basecoat. It doesn't show from a distance, and I was in a hurry, so I let it slide. It looks horrible in these close-ups under a bright light, dammit.

'L'amour' from BillA - 'Stand by your Ape-Man'

"He ain't no varmint, Daddy!" screamed Bobbi Jo, "He's my boyfriend!" She planted herself firmly between her father and her lover, standing her ground with rifle in hand as the shaggy-furred hominid slunk into the shadows between the trees.  He never knew what to say during family squabbles.  

The Sasquatch (from Reaper's Chronoscope line) was another Christmas present from Gina; she knows my love of all things Bigfoot (though I'm hardly a "true believer").  As soon as I saw it I knew it had to be painted as soon as possible for the Challenge, and it dawned on me that he would make an entertaining entry for the "L'Amour" round.  Looking for a suitable beauty to go with the beast, the Chronoscope line offered up "Bobbi Jo, Redneck Princess."

I must have taken twenty pictures trying to get a good shot of her in focus, and him properly blurry.

Bingo.  A plan was coming together.  I applied some Green Stuff to a 50mm round base and pressed the two figures into it to provide "slots" for their tabs.  I painted everything, then began to final assembly.  A coat of Army Painter "Brown Battleground" basing grit and some moss glued into place to create some underbrush for Bigfoot to disappear into, and my vision was well and truly realized.

For some reason some of the PVA glue used to attach the shrubbery dried opaque.  Not sure why.

Bigfoot likes the booty.

You have no idea how proud I am to have painted the eyes.

Bobbi Jo faced down her father a minute longer, then took off running after her lover, losing herself in the underbrush.  She really thought he would have taken learning that he was going to be a grandfather better. 

'L'amour' from GregB - 'It All Depends On The Caption'

"I've found a solution for the local teenagers, love..."

In past Challenges I have mostly ignored the bonus theme rounds.  So far this year, I've stuck with it, but this one was difficult.  Couldn't really find anything too creative, or more challenging, the time to do much that was creative.  But I did find these two Wargames Foundry sculpts from their "Darkest Africa" range.  How can it be love - "l'amour"? Well, from my point of view, it all depends on the photo caption...

"THAT is an indecent proposal..."

"I repeat, sir, that I'm NOT interested..."

"I do so enjoy sport hunting Madhists on the Khartoum battlements dear.  The blue Nile is lovely at this time of year..."

You see? With photo captions, you can just do whatever you want.  Here are a couple more photos of the figures in question - I believe the lady with the double-barrelled gun is "Mrs. Capstone", and the chap is "Mr. Poirot" - both 28mm sculpts from Wargames Foundry.

In addition to garnering whatever points I can scrape in this bonus round, I can see these figures playing a part in a pulp game, or even interesting characters in a Sudan game (or other colonial-themed table adventure). 

Not much more to say, other than happy Valentines everyone!

'L'amour' from MarkO - 'French Cantinière'

The L'amour round was a good excuse to start on some of the 'civilian' elements for my Napoleonics. Beginning with this Cantiniere figure from Westfalia Miniatures. Cantineires were not exactly civilians of course, but rather auxilairies to French combat units working to supply them with drink and food, and also helping to nurse the wounded. Quite a few were killed or injured on the battlefield in these roles as a result. If things got desperate they would sometimes fight too, as this lady is getting ready to do loading her musket. There's some great information about Cantinieres at www.cantinieres.com.

This Westfalia figure is wearing a military jacket, which she may have picked up or made somehow, as early Cantineirie of the First Empire did not have official uniforms. Typical clothing would probably be more like the following pictures. Over time military uniforms in schemes complementing the unit they were attached to became standard though, typically including a braided Pelisse jacket, and large hat to protect from the sun.

Here she is next to a Perry Voltigeur. Theoretically Cantinieres had to be the wife of a man in unit they were attached to, though actual enforcement of this varied. And L'amour required no such formalities for many French post revolution I'm sure!

 

'L'amour' from EdwinK - ‘Give pounds and crowns and rubies, but not your heart away’

 
There was once in a kingdom a family, now much reduced in status, who had loyally served the crown for some 700 years. Although the position held by the head of the family was now a sinecure, it was the custom that on reaching the age of 16, that the eldest son should present himself at Court to make homage and give account to the king himself. 

It came to pass that when one son performed this duty the king’s daughter fell deeply in love with him – for he was fair, strong of limb and well-spoken. Many an afternoon they spent together in the palace gardens, and they soon pledged their troth for one another. But the princess knew that her father would never allow the match. 

“Your family is ancient, but poor. You must show yourself worthy of my hand. Go abroad, win fame and bring treasures beyond my father’s dreams back with you. Then he must allow us to be as one. I will wait for you my love!” 

So the young man went a-questing. He fought many a villain and many a demon. And he gathered all the treasure he gained into one fabulous hoard. Finally, after ten hard years, he had enough wealth to impress even the king. He sent word to the princess: the reply shook him. 

“How lovely to hear from you. I often think of those foolish, carefree days of our youth. What games we played! Much has changed since we last met. My father died two years after you decided to go on your travels and I became queen. Naturally, my advisers recommended I find a suitable consort. In the end I married funny old Duke Berthold (remember him?). We have three fine children. You must visit some time.” 

The hero sat surrounded by his wealth, the letter in his hand – until he and it crumbled away from age. 

These are 28mm treasure tokens from Ristul’s Extraordinary Market (sold in the UK by Bad Squiddo Games). They are full of great details – magic swords, war hammers, potions, crowns, jewels and, above all, GOLD! They will come in nicely for Frostgrave. 

When I was painting them the line ‘Give pounds and crowns and rubies, but not your heart away’ went through my head and I had an epiphany – “This what I can do for the L’amour round!” So here you are – for never was there a tale of more woe than of that of love.

'L'amour' from JamieM - 'The Honeypot'

A story as old as time itself..... A sailor, back from the sea has a little drink.....

Will true love blossom if she gets his attention?

 

Possibly not.....

'L'amour' from KeithS - 'The Femme Fetale'

I was originally not going to enter anything in this particular challenge, but then I thought this young lady might actually fit quite well.  The figure is a true 25mm from either Grenadier or Ral Partha dating to the 70s or early 80s, party of my effort to paint really old lead that's been sitting in boxes for decades.  I'm calling her a sorceress based on the fact she is carrying a wand (somewhat hidden behind her back) and what looks like a potion.  Given her scanty attire, and saucy pose, she definitely gives me the impression of a dangerous lady, a regular Siren.

She certainly looks a bit under-dressed for adventuring, but I'm guessing she has a line of guys to take care of all her dirty work.

I generally avoid trying to paint eyes and lips on such small figures, but in her case some red lips were a must.  I also gave her red toe and finger nails but they're hard to see in these photos.  Definitely need a better camera than my iPhone!

The young lass is based for dungeon delving.  I'll have a lot more to say on this for my next regular post -- suffice to say she was just one of many figures upon which I've been experimenting on some basing techniques.

'L'amour' from MichaelA - 'Can't Help Falling In Love'

Can't Help Falling In Love

It would appear to be my turn to have a liberal interpretation of this fortnight’s bonus round theme. This whole bizarre scenario came about through word association: L’amour = love songs = Elvis Presley = Elvis loves fast food = Fast food is made from Braaains! Tenuous doesn’t really come in to it, but I invite you to sit back and enjoy some self indulgent nonsense.

The stage door slammed shut, “Elvis has left the building!” Bubba never grew tired of saying that, but it certainly wasn’t getting any easier being a tribute act. There seemed to be a lack of connect with his audience, certainly a little less conversation, but did he really even understand young people today? There was a time when they just used to scream and occasionally adorn the stage with their underwear but tonight it looked as if there were actually eating each other – that must be burning love he thought. 

Dismissing the disturbing thought to the back of his mind he pushed off into the inky black night to be greeted with a familiar smell that stimulated his olfactory glands, the sweet scent of fried onions, supper was served! Love me (a) tender steak, but there aint nothin’ like a hot dog (sic.), he grinned and as he slung he trusty guitar over his shoulder and went in search of nourishment. 

 
Before his blue suede shoes had had a chance to turn onto to ‘You’llnever Walk’ alone he was sent spiralling as a blood soaked pole dancer, wearing little more than a length of dental floss, ricocheted off him as she chased down her quarry. As the dancer fell upon her prey a plume of blood arched against the nearby wall; these were definitely not kissin' cousins!

Bubba righted himself, glancing down just in time to see a dismembered body pulling itself towards him like a puppet on a string; what was going on? Sidestepping the living cadaver, Bubba made one last attempt for the hot dog stand it's now or never he thought, but his route was barred as a gigantic shape shuffled into sight, that's alright Mama, sighed the tribute act, all the time thinking that she had let herself go, “you’ve clearly got a case of the mean woman blues”.

 Not known for his suspicious minds even Bubba grasped that something was very wrong in the Ghetto tonight and was relieved to feel the cold press of steel tucked inside his belt. The mother of pearl inlaid handles belying a calibre that would return to sender any assailant. Having suddenly lost his appetite and feeling decidedly all shook up Bubba whispered to himself, “I’ll do anything to be lonesome tonight!”

 
Keen eyed viewers will spot that my ‘Whitechapel’ base has been recycled, but with a few subtle alterations. The paving has been ripped up and fresh tarmac has been laid with the addition of double yellow lines and a fire hydrant. A stage door and lintel had to be added along with additional rusty iron security bars across the existing window frame. Finally the addition of a couple of suitably themed posters saw the set transformed ahead of the zombie apocalypse!

The star of the show, Bubba, is from ‘Hasslefree Miniatures’ as indeed is Zombie Suzi who is clearly channelling a St. Trinian’s vibe and both sculpted by Kev White. The exotic dancer and crawler zombie were part of the recent ‘Studio Miniatures’ Kickstarter with the Hot Dog stand coming from the Mars Attacks terrain kit and ably manned by a Zombicide VIP. Finally we have Bonnie Muumuu zombie from ‘Reaper Miniatures’, a P. Muller creation painted with a nod to ‘The Simpsons’ (King-Size Homer 1995).

I appreciate that this is not going to be to everyone’s tastes, (my apologies for the dreadful pun) but hopefully it will raise a smile or two.

“Thank you very much”