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Eureka has a two-pack of figures in their Pax Limpopo line called "Hench and Coach," and they are the most corpulent double-chinned British spherical bastards imaginable; Dickensian caricatures after the style of Nast or Tenniel. I had to have them. Didn't bother affixing the coachwhips. They are about halfling-sized in 32mm scale, and walrus-like giants in 15mm scale. You should be able to hear a bassoon-and-tuba soundtrack when looking at them. I'd also painted up some minis from Artizan's "Thrilling Tales" line: Miss Greentree, Private Campbell, and Tankie Bob. Each of them is full of personality. Greentree I painted as an Agent Carter-type. Campbell was where I found tartan is not my forte. Could have come out worse. Bob is a scruffy fanatic and I love the sculpt. I figured Ungentlemanly Warfare was a good setting for the three of them. More pictures below.

From Artizan's Thrilling Tales line, a distinguished academic in kente robes and kufi hat, with a colobus fly-whisk. A venerable elder deserving of respect and attention. I cheated a bit; a lot of the lines are in pen. Tried to make it clear there are at least two different patterns of cloth going on.

And now a small vignette from the Gangetic plain! The Thuggee is one of the first minis I ever painted. Didn't have nearly as many paints at the time, and used a tiny bit of blue-black wash in his skin tone (he spends a lot of time outdoors in the sun). Need to touch up the hilt of his tulwar. The Swami (Artizan Thrilling Tales again; the name is accurate) was much more recent. Like a dumb chump, I painted his mudra upside-down, but it came out well enough that I fear repainting it. :-) He is here to find inner peace and chew betel leaf, and, brother, he is all out of betel leaf. I'm not sure what exactly is going on in this sequence, but it will definitely be an instructional parable on the virtues of harmony and tranquility. The Buddha statue was from a "Wonders of the World" Toobz that was on clearance. (Also included a tiny Sphinx and some Easter Island moai; good stuff.)

Just a couple more Artizan minis: Jamal, the Bedouin in traditional garb and Osman in linen suit and fez. Versatile for a number of characters, from late Victorian expeditions to cosmic horror to pulp adventure to Cold War thriller. It's been a long day and I'm too tired for a dialogue story, but I fancy the two are engaged in espionage with a paranormal twist, as in Tim Powers' "Declare." They would CERTAINLY love to get their hands on that coffer Aziz and Farouk stole; there are agencies and empires that would love nothing more than weaponized curses. ...Ah nuts. It has been a long day; this was supposed to go under "Show Off." My apologies.

And here we see the manor's inhabitants and staff outside on their spacious grounds. Sir Autumnheath and Rigsby the gamekeeper are played by an RAFM Call of Cthulhu Professor and a Black Cat Townsfolk, respectively. Meg the chauffeuse and Mister Price the groundskeeper are again from Artizan's laudably expressive Thrilling Tales. The car is a Star Wars-themed promotional vehicle, but the lines seemed perfect for the subject. "I say, Rigsby, almost had that dashed fox, what?" "Went to earth in Betton Woods, he did, sir, and if you'll take my advice, sir, that's where you'll leave him. The folk around here tell some queer tales about this place, and won't none of them venture in after dark, not for love nor money neither." "Superstitious twaddle, Rigsby; gin-addled old wives' tales. We 'boys of the bulldog breed' are made of sterner stuff, I should hope!" "Ay, sir, but all the same it don't feel canny. Air smells off somehow here." "Evenin's comin' on, Meg. His Nibs ain't back yet?" "Nay, Mr. Price; Himself took off a-hunting down yonder with the gamekeeper out by Bettonstowe." "That's powerful close to Betton Wood, innit? Won't no good come to the master nor anyone, he goes a-pokin' in there." "..." "Egads, Rigsby, what is THAT? SHOOT IT!" "I am shootin', sir! It don't do no good! Run, sir!" "Suppose as it might be good to go and fetch 'em, afore aught comes to harm, eh Meg?" "Suppose as you might be right, Mr. Price." Also featuring a very special guest appearance from an RAFM Dark Young, and Reaper's own Cairn Wraith as the Statue.

More class-conscious minis! Featuring a pair of Artizan's Domestic Servants, Reeves and Maisy; Artizan's Remy as the long-suffering waiter and Signor Ferrari as a Titan of Industry, and another of Eureka's 1920's Women as a Bright Young Thing. Remy, unfortunately, had a cat-related fall which gave him an unwanted nose job. The tycoon looks like his paint is abrading; that's an artifact of silver-on-grey pinstriping. Looks good in 3D but did not photograph well at all. TFW you've had about enough of your employer's broccoli: The whole crew