Wednesday 5 August 2015

SLAP Miniatures Survivors 01

Today, I have for you a set of heroes you probably never expected to see on my blog - Popeye and friends. I kid you not! SLAP Miniatures produce a range of three 28mm scale figures known as the Yacht Club. Although they have been renamed to avoid copyright problems there is no mistaking who they are meant to be. In addition, I also review another couple of humans from the same company.
At the far left of the photos directly above and below is Skipper Fred. Yeah, right! We all know it's really Popeye the Sailor Man. Popeye was created by Elzie Crisler Segar and made his first appearance in the Thimble Theater comic strip in January 1929. Can you believe he's been going that long? This figure has been beautifully sculpted. Yes, it is slightly exaggerated with the over-sized head but still passable for a normal looking human. I love his lantern jaw and pipe, which has so many uses you couldn't imagine - a cutting torch, jet engine, propeller, periscope, and, of course, a whistle with which he produces his trademark toot.
In the centre of the group is Steward Gladys, or as we all know her - Olive Oyl, the woman loved by both Popeye and Bluto. Personally, I could never see the attraction but different strokes for different folks. However, I do think think she is the best sculpted figure out of the trio. I am also extremely happy at how well I have painted her. By the way, Olive Oyl was created in 1919, a full decade before Popeye. Popeye's comment about her measurements is that she is a perfect 57... 19-19-19. (WTF!)
Rounding off the trio is Bosun Ace, whom we all know as Bluto or Brutus. Bluto made his first appearance in 1932 and quickly became Popeye's main antagonist. He was originally called Bluto the Terrible but in 1957 his name was changed to Brutus due to a misapprehension that the name "Bluto" was copyrighted by another company. Bluto is, of course, Popeye's arch-nemesis and love rival for Olive. Once again, the figure has been expertly sculpted and does not look too cartoon-like.
Moving away from Popeye and friends we come to a sculpt known as Angry Chef. On the SLAP Minis website it is suggested that you can use him with the Yacht Club or in a Pulp or Post Apocalypse setting. I favour using him in a zombie apocalypse game. The obvious influence for him is chef, Gordon Ramsay, but I already have a not-Gordon figure in my collection of Zombicide Season 3 Survivors. So, as a fan of the TV series, Masterchef (and its spin-offs), I decided to base him on Marcus Wareing, a judge with a fearsome reputation as someone not to be messed with. I renamed him Marcus Mainwaring and painted on his beard and moustache so that he looks just like the real life Marcus.
Finally, we come to Ms. Whiplash, a dominatrix whom I have named Dominique Strickland. She is dressed from head to toe in a sexy leather costume and wields a studded whip. Like Angry Chef, she is not a person to be messed with. As with all of  these figures, I like how she has been sculpted. She isn't too brazen, unlike some other dominatrix figures I have seen and own.
Angry Chef and Ms. Whiplash are obvious candidates for Survivors in a zombie apocalypse setting but I'm not too sure what I'm going to do with the Yacht Club trio. Even so, I just couldn't resist buying them, especially as they were all being offered at discount prices.
Currently, all five figures are on sale on the SLAP Minis website. Skipper Fred, Steward Gladys and Ms. Whiplash each cost £2.39 instead of £2.99. Bosun Ace costs £2.79 instead of £3.49. Angry Chef costs £1.59 instead of £1.99. You can find them here - http://www.slapminis.com/humans-23-c.asp 
I received my figures within two days of placing my order. Great service! Stuart Powley, who runs the company, also sent me a free a free Goblin Pirate figure, whom I will use when I receive my Rum and Bones game.

16 comments:

  1. While I have no use for these it is very interesting to see them painted! Makes me wonder if you have a Popeye and Zombies game idea up your sleeve. Knowing your sense of humour you just might!

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    1. I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no, Clint. It is a possibility, however. :-)

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    2. Thanks, Gordon. I'll see what I can come up with.

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  2. Very cool bunch of survivors Bryan! Seeing the Yacht club in action would be hilarious, I think. I'm so glad you changed your Angry Chef rather than have terrible twins in the kitchen. Ms Whiplash looks like my kind of girl, cracking arse. All very nicely painted too Dude!

    It would be great to see another of your excellent ATZ batreps Bryan, I'm missing them loads.

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    1. Many thanks, Bob. You are a man after my own heart. It would be a shame not to use the Yacht Club. I certainly didn't want two Gordon Ramsays so Angry chef had to be changed. I totally agree with your opinion on Ms. Whiplash's arse. It's peachy!

      ATZ has gone for now but is not forgotten. It will definitely return, I can assure you.

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  3. I think this post is a genuine first for me, Bryan, as its the only time which I can think of where I've not immediately looked to see how I can get my hands on the figures you've posted. But you know why that is don't you... 'cause you've already encouraged me into buying them before :-)

    Great to see them painted up and looking good, and if I didn't have so many minis on the go at the moment, you'd certainly have enthused me to get painting Popeye up for a dramatic team-up with the Dark Knight himself. Toot Toot :-)

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    1. Very true, Simon. I do remember you telling me you had these figures. Having too many figures to paint is a perennial problem of gamers everywhere. I'm no exception either. Too many figures to paint and nowhere near enough time to paint them all!

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  4. Absolutley fabulous figures. Cheers.

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  5. I do like miss Whiplash there Bryan, for some reason she reminds me of the old Two Ronnies serial "The worm that turned" I wonder if you could get Messer Corbett and Baker in frocks from somewhere?

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. I remember that series very well, Roger. I suspect that figures of Barker and Corbett in dresses will be impossible to find. Conversions would seem to be the best bet.

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  6. Nice figures and paintjobs. There certainly fun to have in your collection. I quite like ms Whiplash its a nice sculpt.

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    1. Thanks, Simon. Ms. Whiplash has certainly proved to be very popular... and I'm not surprised!

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  7. Lovely stuff vampie, thank you for buying these and showing them off :)

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