Tuesday 16 February 2016

Are you lonesome tonight?

It would appear to be my turn to have a liberal interpretation of the fortnightly bonus round themes in the 'VI Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge'. 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.
*L'amour was the theme for this round with publication falling on St. Valentine's Day.
 
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 when 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 was starting to grasp 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.
**VIP = Very Infected People 
I appreciate that this is not going to be to everyone’s tastes***, but hopefully it will raise a smile or two.  I must ,of course, remind you gentle reader that my entry is only one of many and if you are in the slightest bit curious as to how a group of wargamers and hobby painters interpret the theme 'L'amour' you need only go here; perhaps even cast a vote for your favourite?
“Thank you very much”
***my apologies for the dreadful pun

85 comments:

  1. That's just mental.

    Top drawer stuff sir!

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  2. Brilliant. This bonus round of the painting challenge has thrown up some fantastic work!

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    1. Thank you, I'm certainly enjoying dreaming up ideas for them.

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  3. So much fun! Literally laughing out loud sir :-D

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    1. Thank you and I'm delighted it brought a smile to your face.

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  4. Enjoyed that... and yes bloody mental. Great entry

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  5. Superb! I really look forward to your bonus round entries...always so original and inspiring!

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    1. Thank you Gordon, but it is getting harder to dream up new ideas! ;)

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  6. Very very cool! Great work Sir.

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  7. Hola Amigo
    GUAUUUUUU que pasada de escena,me encanta
    Los zombies muy buenos pero el Rey si señor es un gran punto
    Un Saludo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you J.D. I certainly got lucky with that last photograph.

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  8. Though stretching the theme to its limits it is truly a superb piece.

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    1. Thank you Joe, it was such a blast to put together.

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  9. A very circuitous route to an excellent destination- bravo!

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    1. Thank you my good man, certainly fun getting there.

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  10. It's brilliant! And I'm predicting that Elvis is about to be eaten; he doesn't seem to be really paying attention to his surroundings.

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    1. He certainly seems to have stumbled into something that is out of his comfort zone.

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  11. There´s zombies to the east
    There´s zombies to the west
    But this is one of the posts
    that I love best!
    Outstanding, you don´t cease to amaze, Michael!! Cheers!

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  12. Absolutely wonderful, really astonishing!

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  13. Excellent work Sir Michael! Truly the fevered imaginings of a very disturbed mind. May apocalypse the musical commence!

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  14. Outstanding!

    Those undead clearly have a hankering for some Brains a la King. Bubba may have a very limited engagement, I fear.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mr. Finch, it could be curtains for the King.

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  15. A vignette worth a thousand songs.

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  16. You're weird!

    In a good way. Love it! :)

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  17. Whilst you had dropped hints as to which models were currently awaiting your brush, like the Spanish Inquisition, no one was expecting this! Absolutely superb, Michael, and your puns brought a very smile to my lips.

    On a completely unrelated note, as a reward for your support for my humble efforts over the last year, I have a small parcel for you awaiting a destination. Drop me an email at jeremy@allmain.co.uk with your address and I shall dispatch the crows at my command to deliver unto you your bounty (not actually a chocolate bar, but something far more 'Awdry').

    Regards Jez

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    1. Thank you so much Jez, I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together so to finally see it finished is such a blast. Thank you so much for the kind words. Off to write an email now.

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  18. That is so brilliant on so many levels it is not even funny. An absolute feast for the eyes!!

    Your dioramas just go from strength to strength!

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    1. That is wonderfully generous of you, incredibly kind words, thank you.

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  19. Wonderfully done Michael, your quite the master of Vignettes! Bubba Ho-tep, worth a watch if you haven't seen it & are a Bruce Campbell Army of Darkness fan!

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    1. Thank you Terry and now there is a film I need to dig out and watch again.

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  20. Excellent vignette. And now at least we knew a true fate of Elvis. :)

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    1. Thank you, yes it looks like it could be a sticky end for our hero.

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  21. The creative part of your cortex must be HUGE! I absolutely adore this and your write up too. I'm a little sad you cannibalized the Whitchapel vignette. To create, sometimes one must destroy. ;-)

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    1. Thank you so much Monty, giving Whitechapel a facelift was a tough call, but it was only gathering dust, this way it breaths new life into the piece.

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  22. Wow - top stuff as usual dear sir.

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  23. Wow - top stuff as usual dear sir.

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  24. I have exhausted the list of superlatives to describe your vignettes mate. As good as ever. :-)

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    1. Why thank you good Sir and gratefully received as always. This year has been such a bountiful year in the bonus rounds, it is great to be part of.

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  25. Stunning piece of art Michael! As always your choice of colours is flawless and judging by how you set the models in scene, you should have become a movie director. Your eye for small details surely would be of much use there.

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    1. Dear Nick, thank you so much, what a lovely thing to say. Whilst I'm not sure I could ever be a film director, film definitely plays a part in my work, whether that be in the references or the composition of a scene - so influential.

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  26. You sir, are a treasure to the hobby and should have UNESCO heritage status.
    That being said, I worry about you. ;)

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    1. Thank you Michael, I shall be suggesting this to the Saintly Mrs. Awdry although I fear that it may fall on death ears.

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  27. Mate - you are just 'off the chart'. You are mad mad mad but in a good way. Superb!!

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    1. Thank you, I'm partly blaming your enthusiasm for all things Zombicide for this! :)

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  28. Excellent set of miniatures! And nice job converting the background piece to a new era! Works very nicely for a zombie hunting "Elvis" :)

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  29. Superb! Outstanding work Michael.

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  30. Wounderfull work Michael !!!

    a very entertaining blog post:)

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  31. I think that link is up there with giant spider episode. It is however wonderfully rendered!

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  32. Very nice setting and figures but I think it is a pity to alter the Whitechapel-diorama for something new. I really liked the "Whitechapel".I have the "King" myself and maybe I will try for a setting of my own now that I got inspiration from you!? :)

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    1. Thank you Ptr and it was tough cannibalism the original to form the new. My rationale was that I had done nothing with the piece and it was starting to look very shabby. Perhaps in a couple of years it will be reborn again?

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  33. There are so many levels of awesome in that group shot that I don't even know where to begin. AND your post is hilarious XD .......... I'm just a hunk, a hunk of burning love. Just a hunk, a hunk of burning love .... NOW look what you've done.

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  34. Great work Sir M, but I can't believe you broke up the Ripper vignette!!!

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  35. I like this it`s quirky and fun. Beano Boy

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  36. I like this it`s quirky and fun. Beano Boy

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