Whilst viewing Vagabond's excellent "Little Whiskey" Wild West campaign on his blog (see
here ) I noted that he had added a new character called Donna, an absolutely superb sculpt from Colonel Bill's Belt Fed Gaming range, and I immediately wanted to add her to my own collection. This is the picture taken from John's blog that so impressed me. (I hope he doesn't mind me showing it here).
Browsing through Colonel Bill's webstore, I noticed that he had a few other Wild West ladies in this range, so I ordered them all, and I have to say, I was mightily impressed with them all. They are quite superbly sculpted metal miniatures, and are so full of character. Let's take a look at them.
At the far left is Dolly Mop - Victorian Harlot, whom I renamed as Dolly Mopsey. Many Victorian era figures fit in well in a Wild West setting and I knew that I could use Dolly as a saloon girl. Despite the fact that she is baring her breasts, I see her as a high class lady who has fallen on hard times and has to sell her body to get by.
Another lady baring her breasts is Calamity Jane, whom I renamed as Calamity Kate McCormick to avoid confusion with the real life Calamity Jane aka Martha Jane Canary. She is chewing on a cigar and is wearing a 7th Cavalry tunic and hat. I have yet to decide what profession to give to her. An outlaw seems the most likely choice. On the other hand, she could be a stage performer in a bawdy saloon. Clearly, she is a woman with no shame.
At the far right is Dulce Maria - Mexican Bandito. I kept her name but gave her the surname of Espinoza. Apparently, there is currently a Mexican singer called Dulce Maria Espinoza - who knew? This really is an outstanding figure. Armed with two pistols and a Winchester rifle, and carrying a bottle of booze (whiskey or tequila?), she is not someone you want to mess with.
Finally, is Doll-Face Kitty - Wild West Outlaw. She is available in foot and mounted versions. Her mounted version is the very first 32mm scale figure on horseback that I have painted. That figure will increase dramatically over the coming months. The figure reminded me of someone I'd seen in a film and whilst lying awake in bed one night thinking about it, the answer came to me.
She is Lily Laronette, played by Drew Barrymore in the 1994 film
Bad Girls. This is one of my favourite Western films and after watching it again, I knew that I wanted to have all four
Bad Girls featuring in my Wild West campaign.
I found this picture below and based my colour scheme for Lily and her horse on it. The woman alongside her is Anita Crown played by Mary Stuart Masterson, another one of Lily's gang. I am currently on the lookout for suitable figures for Anita as well as gang leader Cody Zamora, played by Madeleine Stowe, and Eileen Spenser, played by Andie MacDowell to make up the rest of the gang. It shouldn't be too hard given the amount of great sculpts of Wild West females currently available.
You can find these five figures on Colonel Bill's webstore here -
http://shop.colonelbills-store.co.uk/epages/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/4f27da57-42ee-48c0-9cb8-22c9dd921a68/Categories/130
Prices are very reasonable - £3.00 for each of the foot figures and £6.75 for the mounted and foot versions of Doll-Face Kitty/Lily. I have always found Colonel Bill a pleasure to deal with. He always delivers any order very promptly.
Very nice Bryan, I have two models that I got from Northstar that have a mounted & on foot model & its something I find is great for gaming, maybe that should be four models two on horses & two on foot :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, Frank. Having foot and mounted versions of the same figure is a great idea.
DeleteNice painting Bryan,may have a look at Vagabonds blog as well
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dave. Be warned, however, Vagabond's blog is incredibly addictive and just leaves you wanting more. His batreps are a joy to behold.
DeleteNice looking figures Bryan. Col Bill do make some excellent figures.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Ray. I have been very impressed by the quality of the Colonel's figures and his customer service.
DeleteTop stuff Bryan. I really like the colours you've used on Dolly Mop, the white and skin tones really 'pop' (the nipples too, actually).
ReplyDeleteYeah, I converted my own versions of the topless girls. I simply painted a shirt on the cavalry figure (so I could use it in a DMH gang) and created some nipple-tassel things for the Dolly Mop figure for a display model.
I know the foot and mounted versions of Doll Face kitty suffered from a delayed release of the foot version. The mounted version was available for months before the foot was available and subsequently didn't see much sales. The Mexican figure came about after Andrew Wylie (of NE show fame) suggested such a figure to Stu, so he could use it in his participation games at the shows. I know he's currently after a Mexican wagon crew, so whether Col. Bill's ever make such in the future we'll have to see.
Many thanks for the info on the production of these figures, Roy. Very much appreciated. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed painting these figures - it was a real labour of love. I pretty much stuck to the colour schemes for Calamity Jane and Dulce Maria from your webstore, but for Dolly and Lily, I knew exactly how I wanted to paint them.
DeleteHmm, a Mexican wagon crew sounds intriguing. If ever Colonel Bill makes one, I'll definitely be interested in purchasing them.
I have been very tempted to get these in the recent past. Perhaps I am just becoming a dirty old man!
ReplyDeleteNice work mate
Ha ha! Cheers, Clint. I'd say, that like me, you have an eye for beauty.
DeleteCol Bill does do some smashing figures, and all of the above are very tempting, though I think I'd have to sculpt some "coverings" on the first two ladies (not that I have an aversion to topless ladies (don't tell the wife!), and have a few in my own collection (don't tell her that either!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely painting as always.
Cheers Roger.
Thanks, Roger, and have no fear, my lips are sealed. ;-)
DeleteLOVELY!
ReplyDeleteWe need more mounted/on foot character models like Doll-Face Kitty, specially in Western games! :O)
I couldn't agree with you more, Edu. Well said!
DeleteFoundry have a good collection of models with the characters on foot & mounted, not as pretty as Doll Face but nice mins just the same :)
Deletehttps://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/old-west
I hope you don't mind me posting the link Bryan.
Good call, Frank, although I would caution that they are true 28mm scale and they might not work alongside taller figures such as those produced by Black Scorpion or Shadows of Brimstone. Still, as I never bother about such issues, it is a good source to browse.
DeleteI have no problems when folk post such useful links, Frank.
Thanks Bryan, I never have a problem with it on my blog either, as for the difference in scale the way I look at that is people are all different height's so why won't models be :)
DeleteMy thoughts exactly! That has always been my view.
DeleteHi Bryan, you've done a nice job on these western girls, as Roy said the skin tones have worked well, I do like the Calamity figure but she would need a shirt on to be a serious cowgirl ;-). If I thought my skills were up to it I would have a go because the sculpt has attitude.
ReplyDeleteLooking at your version of the mexican lass I see the bottle has a label on it which I completely missed, your eyesight is obviously much better than mine. Well done.
Good idea with the characters from Bad Girls, you'll have fun choosing the others and I think it's a thought worth following, my brothel girls are all based on real characters from the old West and looking at wikipedia the lives of many of the real characters are so wild you couldn't make them up.
I'm pleased you liked the Dulce/Donna figure, it's this interchange of ideas that is so good about the blogosphere. I think she is an ideal western character and really appreciate you citing my blog.
Cheers
Hi, John. You mentioned one of the things I most love about the blogosphere and that is the interchange of ideas. It is wonderful that we can share ideas and learn from one another. Long may it continue.
DeleteThanks for the kind comments about my painting. Since having eye surgery a few years ago, my vision is much improved.
Like you, I have read quite a few stories on Wikipedia about various Old West characters and they certainly lived very colourful lives.
I was more than happy to pimp your blog - it deserves all the support it can get.
Fabulous work. I to noticed Donna. Will pick her up from a show at some point later in the year probably will be squeezed into my post apoc games :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Simon. I could well see her working in a post apocalypse setting.
Delete