Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603)

Manufacturer: Ademola 22

Item Code: 200 0019

Scale: 200mm

Material: Metal

Sculptor: Roman Rux

Review Publication Date: May 11th 2008

Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) reigned as Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Often referred to as The Virgin Queen, Elizabeth was the sixth and final monarch of the Tudor period. While certainly not without her own problems and controversies, subsequent to the short reigns of Elizabeth's brother and sister, her forty-five years on the throne provided precious stability for the realm and assisted in fashioning a sense of national identity.

Ademola 22’s 200 019 Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603) is a 200mm scale resin bust sculpted by Roman Rux with him also having done the box-art. The figure represents Queen Elizabeth I of England during the latter stages of her life. The sculptor does not appear to have based the sculpt on anyone single artwork, but appears to have used various artworks of the regent as a source.

My review on Historicus Forma

Great haul, and yet...

Time for what seems to be a monthly post. Apologies, things have really just been a bit crazy with trying to get things sorted for "The Thing". I'm not quite ready to discuss "The Thing", but I promise I will be spilling the beans soon. Probably towards the end of the month, but inevitably everyone will know soon anyways.
Anyways, as the title says, "Great haul, and yet...".
About 2 days ago I received a phone call from a good friend of mine, Roland, who happens to run a hobby shop. "Rudi, my old chum, my old mate, oh great guru of model related items" he says (okay... he didn't say "old chum"), "I've just received a call from a fella whom is selling an Aztek airbrush, in wooden box with 3 nozzles and a hobby compressor for R500." Now I won't get into the exchange rate discussion or even the math, but know that R1 (ZAR = South African Rand) equal about US$7-8. This is one good deal!
"What's wrong with it?" I says, being all too sceptical of this all too good sounding deal. "Well I haven't actually seen it," my chum says, "but apparently nothing. This dude needs cash urgently, today even, and is desperate to sell. I don't know too much more, but he bought it from Brian (the owner of another LHS) a few years back." Now, knowing what Brian sells, I probably have quite a good idea of the value of the item.
"Hmmm," I thinks doing the sums in me noggin (not only did I pass Matric with an A in mathematics and do 'varsity maths, but I can multitask!), "this all is worth over R2000 at least. The compressors sell for at least R1000-1500." Roland gives me his number and I prepare myself to tackle the next huge hurdle: clearing this transaction with the missus!
I'll spare you the embarrassment of me discussing (i.e. asking permission) this with the lil' lady, which I think must have brought a big smile to the faces of my colleagues, so we'll leave it at she said yes.
So, now having permission, I ring the seller up - no answer. A bit later, I ring him again - he answers. Turns put he's actually visiting Brian's store, which is not 5 minutes from where I'm working. Since it was near quitting time, I asked him to wait there for me.
With ants in my pants I eagerly watched the clock drag it's lazy arms for those 15 minutes before rushing out, telling the security guards to sod their Apartheid style car search.
Their waiting in Brian's store was a rather rough looking middle-aged gent. Unshaven and looking the worse for wear he'd definitely seen better days. We took a stroll out to his little hatchback sedan. I noted the Zimbabwe plates.
As we chatted, he revealed he had been working for a gent up in Zim, keeping the farmer's equipment running for many years. The gent had recently passed on through a series of unfortunate events: partially due to the state of that nation, partially due to illness, partially due to money hungry family members. The mechanic had been promised something for his years' service, but this had not materialised due to the meddling of aforementioned family. Now, he had moved down to SA in the hope of making a new life. Hard up for cash he was now selling off his modelling gear.
I checked the brush and compressor, I paid him and we parted ways.
But why the title "Great haul, and yet..."? Well simply because when I got home I gave the gear a really good looking over, and it's in great condition for stuff about 6-7 years old. Without a doubt, I've scored big time here. Seriously a great bargain! Great haul!
And yet... I feel guilty. I know the guy is hard up for cash. I know this stuff is worth more. I know if he had gone to a pawn shop or waited a few days more he could have got double, if not triple, the amount I payed him for it.
Should I feel guilty? I paid him exactly what he wanted...

Lord of War 3

Manufacturer: DraconiaItem Code: FAN-03Scale: 54mmMaterial: MetalSculptor: Phillip DamontReview Publication Date: April 30th, 2008

Draconia is a relatively new figure company brought to us by Jose Jarque, who also brought us Ares Mythologic. The range of figures currently comprises of 30mm and 54mm fantasy figures. The subject of this review is the third of the four Lords of War: the 54mm “Lord of War 3”, or “Lord of the West, Brother of the South, North and East, Maestro of the Steel”.

FAN-03 “Lord of War 3” is a 54mm white metal figure sculpted by Phillip Damont with box-art by José M. Palomares. The warrior is portrayed wearing garb with a mixture of Asian influences advancing holding two large and dangerous looking swords.

http://www.hfmodeling.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=3179

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/data/21698/thumbs/LordofWar_3.jpg

12 SS Grenadier Set

Manufacturer: Alpine Miniatures

Item Code: 35060, 35061, 35062

Scale: 1/35

Material: Resin

Sculptor: Taesung Harmms

Review Publication Date: April 23rd 2008

In 1943, while stationed in an Italy under the administrative control of the SS, Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler seized immense amounts of Italian camouflage clothing. The 1929 Italian pattern camouflage, or telo mimetico ("mimetic cloth"), later used to equip the 12th SS-Panzer Division Hitler Jugend and Leibstandarte’s own recruits, was used in the manufacture of many garments, from suits in the same cut as the “pea dot” suit to tunics in the same cut as the M44 suit. Perhaps the most famous of these garments was the camouflage coverall worn by the 12th SS-Panzer Division Hitler Jugend in Normandy.

35062 – “12 SS Grenadier Set” is set of two 1/35th scale resin figures sculpted by Alpine’s owner Taesung Harmms. The two camouflage clad Hitler Jugend grenadiers are portrayed on patrol in Normandy during 1944. The poses are a departure from Alpine’s traditional more neutral pose. It is also worth mentioning that, as far as I can tell, this is the first 1/35 scale figure set from Alpine to include a MP40 submachine-gun.

Released in January 2008, the box-art is painted by regular Alpine box-art painter Calvin Tan (Calvin’s blog describes the set as being “12.SS Pz.Div HJ PzRgt.25 Normandy 1944”). Both figures are also available individually as figures 35060 12 SS "HJ" Grenadier NCO and 35061 12 SS "HJ" Grenadier.

My review on Historicus Forma

Lord of War 1

Manufacturer: Draconia

Item Code: FAN-01

Scale: 54mm

Material: Metal

Sculptor: Phillip Damont

Review Publication Date: April 8th 2008

Draconia is a relatively new figure company brought to us by Jose Jarque, who also brought us Ares Mythologic. The range of figures currently comprises of 30mm and 54mm fantasy figures, the first of which (and the subject of this review) is the 54mm “Lord of War 1”, or “Lord of the North, Brother of the South, East and West, Maestro of the Magic”.

FAN-01 “Lord of War 1” is a 54mm white metal figure sculpted by Phillip Damont with box-art by José M. Palomares. The warrior is portrayed wearing garb with a mixture of Asian influences standing feet astride holding a pole-axe type weapon.

My review on Historicus Forma