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Saturday, September 21, 2013

Dead Man's Hand Desperados

"Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country."

Horace Greeley wrote these famous words in 1865 in a New York Tribune editorial. In it, he encouraged Civil War veterans to take advantage of the Homestead Act and colonize the public lands.  And why not? After the Civil War, some Southern soldiers returned home to discover they'd lost everything. Other veterans found it impossible to return to their old way of life on the farm or in the city. Some veterans went West for a fresh start, some for the solitude, and others dreaming of fame and fortune.  That's the long-winded explanation for the Civil War veterans in the set below.


The Desperado set might be my favorite in the Dead Man's Hand line.  They're a wild and colorful bunch, and that's how I think they've turned out. If you field this set, I wonder if there is a chance that the Union and Confederate fellow go after each other instead of the enemy?  
I can't resist the opportunity to share Linda Ronstadt's live performance of Desperado. There's no go-go dancers, bright lights, foam fingers or distractions of any kind. Just Linda, a piano and nearly silent audience. Brilliant!

25 comments:

  1. They are indeed a very characteristic lot. Nice work.

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    1. Thanks Andras! Just keep these fellows away from all banks!

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  2. Sorry, laughing. As soon as I saw the title, I was planning on linking Johnny Cash singing this ;)

    I really like that last set, with the commanchero-y guys. Great work.

    FMB

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    1. Thanks Marcus, it goes to show that great minds think alike!

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  3. I'm writing this comment while listening this fabulous song...thanks for the great paintjob, thanks for the writing, and thanks for the song...a GREAT post Monty...this is the end of the song, and the end of my comment...
    Warmed regards,
    Phil.

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  4. Great looking gunslingers - a great variety of poses and attire. Love the guy in the Confederate jacket. I'm also a big fan of Ms. Ronstadt too. Best, Dean

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    1. Thanks Dean, you don't want to tick off the old Colonel!

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  5. Top notch work as usual, Monty; your gunslingers look suitably ornery!

    The colours are rich but not garish, and they look like really characterful casts.

    But who will dare oppose these miscreants who so blatantly flout the law with their robbery, cattle rustling, murder, and square dancing in a round house?

    Do they make a Judge Roy Bean figure perhaps?
    ; )

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    1. Thanks Ev! No Judge Roy Bean but there are lawmen on the way to clean up.

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  6. Another handsome batch of gunslingers, Monty! They all could be characters out of a Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. Your recent western foray gets me into thoughts of dragging my collection of gunmen out onto the gaming table for a little TRWNN action.

    Great post.
    Jon

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    1. Thanks Jonathan! I hand't heard of TRWNN. Now I have to read about it at TMP.

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  7. Great bunch of Desperados Monty.

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    1. Thanks Cyrus! It's a little bit different for me but so far, so fun!

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  8. Another handsome batch of gunslingers, Monty! They all could be characters out of a Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. Your recent western foray gets me into thoughts of dragging my collection of gunmen out onto the gaming table for a little TRWNN action.

    Great post.
    Jon

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    1. Thanks Jonathan! I'm going to have to read up on TRWNN as I hadn't heard of them till I saw this acronym. ;-)

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  9. Looking lovely! Really glad you are doing more and more 28mm these days! It really makes your skills shine!

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    1. Burkhard, thanks for your kind words! I don't think I'll ever go back to painting most or all 15mm. 28mm is really a visual treat.

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  10. Great models! Absolutely must have. Thanks for inspiration mate. Your blog is absolutely brilliant!

    Cheers :)

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  11. Another nice looking bunch Monty. That version of the song by her is one of the best. I like her so much better when she went back to her Hispanic roots and began singing in her native tongue.

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    1. Thanks Anne! You are so right. Living in Tucson (her home town) I got to hear her songs in English and Spanish very frequently.

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  12. Another very nice looking bunch gunslingers!

    Christopher

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