To paraphrase Monty Python’s Flying Circus, “…and now for something completely different…” – specifically, Pollywomps.

After Christmas but before New Year’s Eve I managed to complete a Pollywomp brigade for my Wars of Ozz games. The brigade right now will be led by my Sleestak Command Base that I shared a description of recently in this blog. It was actually completed by December 30th, qualifying almost the entire brigade (less the Sleestak) for for Dave Stone’s annual “Paint What You Got Challenge”. It’s a fun and global challenge to paint up figures between Christmas and the end of February. The Pollywomps were perfect candidates for it.

So who are these Pollywomps? According to the “Wars of Ozz supplement“, they are denizens of “The Principality of Dismal”, also known as “the Bottomless Swamp”, and subjects of Prince Wartskin.

The “Wars of Ozz Supplement” describes them as follows:

Nobody would ever accuse the Pollywomps of being smart. Savage, impulsive, sometimes clever – yes, but never smart. Thus, it was a wonderment when a trio of garishly accessorized Pollywomps visited each capital of the major kingdoms of Ozz and announced themselves as speakers for Prince Wartskin of Dismal. Nobody had ever heard of a place called Dismal, and with good reason, it didn’t exist until it was announced, nor was it called Dismal, but rather some blurpy Pollywomp word that sounded, at best, like Dismal. According to the Pollywomp speakers, Dismal was the city and the new principality, sometimes called the Bottomless Swamp. And just like that, another nation emerged overnight….

…The Pollywomps are more than just spear-armed infantry. In addition, Prince Wartskin fields Pollywomprats as light cavalry. Pollywomp artillery is all light cannons acquired from the Munchkins (and sometimes Winkies). They have unlimbered and strapped onto the backs of giant lumbering turtles raised in the swamp. While the turtles are slow, they do not require unlimbering to fire, and their massive shells provide some protection to the fishing crews. The wizard Nemo Mudbottom is Dismal’s foremost mage and often travels with the army. When he is among the ranks, his mere presence triggers the ability for nearby troops to blend with their terrain. Other wizards who serve, even if they are Pollywomps, lack this unique ability.

My brigade currently consists of an infantry regiment, a cavalry regiment, an artillery battery, Nemo Mudbottom, and the Sleestak Command base (which will lead until the Prince Wartskin figure becomes available anyways). I decided to consolidate the brigade into this one blog post as I worked on the units and Nemo simultaneously.

With the exception of the resin giant turtle, the figures are all metal, and 28mm. The infantry and cavalry soldiers look like the Gill-Man from the classic 1954 film “Creature from the Black Lagoon“, so I painted them as such, with some turquoise modifications around the gills and back fins.

The artillery crew and Nemo Mudbottom are fishmen. Rather than make them look swampy, I decided to give them metallic blue and green shades to simulate their scales. The bases for all were painted up to represent swamp, mud, and puddles as you will see. As for combat stats, here are their stats:

There were 20 infantry figures, 11 mounted cavalry figures, 5 artillery crewmen, 1 giant turtle with a light cannon, and Nemo. Below is what I started with:

Let’s see each type of unit more closely:

Pollywomp Infantry Regiment

I did give the regiment a banner that I made out of green stuff and a plastic jungle leaf, even though the regiment does not have a regimental commander. All have glowing green eyes.

Here are some jungle shots of the regiment in line and column formations:

Here are some closer shots of the individual bases:

Pollywomp Cavalry on Pollywomprats

The cavalry regiment rides on “pollywomprats” which resemble a cross between an alligator and a monitor lizard. As the pollywomprats are supposed to have varied colors (similar to how the Munchkin cavalry has ponies of different colors), I made sure that no two were alike. Unlike the infantry, the regiment does have a regimental commander, which gives the unit an ability as rolled by dice. This regiment got “The Swift” giving them a +2″ bonus when they move. I also gave them a leaf banner. The riders were painted exactly the same way as the infantry color-wise.

And here are some closeup shots of the bases, starting with the regimental commander’s single-figure base. Very muddy bases!

Both Pollywomp infantry and cavalry have limited missile capabilities. Each base can fire twice per game. So, for both I made small markers to keep track of that in the game. The markers are just toothpick pieces on washers, lightly painted, but small enough to put on the bases unobtrusively.

Pollywomps Artillery Battery

As described previously, the Pollywomps artillery is a light cannon on a giant turtle, crewed by fishmen. I painted the turtle to resemble a snapping turtle – like the ones that I shared photos of during my garage build. Both of these large turtles were trying to take advantage of my newly-seeded areas to lay their eggs.

I painted up the turtle, its gun, and carriage and prepped the artillery base for the crew. I gave the gun a rusty iron look as befitting a swampy artillery piece.

For painting the artillery fishmen crew, I experimented on a leftover piece of polystyrene. I made a palette with it using some metallic and airbrush paints to get the right combination of colors.

The crew painted up quickly.

I flocked the artillery base similar to the other Pollywomps as you see here below. The mud puddles were fun to do.

Let’s have a few swampy jungle shots:

Nemo Mudbottom, Magical Swamp Mage

Lastly, we have Nemo Mudbottom, the Magical Swamp Mage. This wizard has three spells – Raise the Dead, Fear, and Heal. He also can provide a chameleon-like benefit to nearby troops that makes them tougher to hit with musketry.

He is larger than the Fishmen crew, but I gave him the same color scheme.

And some closer shots to highlight the figure:

After finishing the brigade, it was time to end 2024 in style as my wife and I usually do with some big lobsters!

That is it for now – next in the blog I will do a roundup of 2024 as I have done at the end of every year (well usually anyways). 2024 has been a bit insane hobby-wise…and golf wise!

Final Note

If you want to check out the excellent Wars of Ozz figures’ range – there are two places to get them and to get the rules (and I make no money from this btw). The game rules and the figures are available from the next two places:

In the US Old Glory has a site – Wars of Ozz Miniatures.

In the UK go to Sally 4th.

And the new Wars of Ozz Supplement is available as a PDF download from the following two websites:

• Drive thru Cards
• Wargame Vault

Below you’ll see a loooong list of paints and the like that I used on these – and they are more useful for me when I need to recreate a color scheme in the future than maybe you – but in any case that’s why I post them.

Miscellaneous details and references for those interested in that sort of thing:

For all of my earlier posts on Wars of Ozz games, figures, units, and other related projects – please see this page.

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THE POLLYWOMP INFANTRY REGIMENT:

1. Popsicle sticks
2. PVA Glue
3. Vallejo Premium White Primer
4. Vallejo Thinner
5. 2″ Square War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU Number 21)
6. Secret Weapon Washes “Sewer Water” (wash)
7. Army Painter “Dark Tone” (shade/wash)
8. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
9. Vallejo Model Color “Off White”
10. Vallejo Mecha Color “Green Blue”
11. Citadel Contrast Paint “Akhelian Green”
12. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Maize Yellow”
13. Secret Weapon Washes “Green” (ink/wash)
14. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Carmine Dragon”
15. Army Painter Warpaints Fanatics Effects “Data System Glow” (effect)
16. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Brownish Decay”
17. Army Painter Speed Paint 1.0 “Malignant Green”
18. Citadel “Contrast Medium”
19. Craftsmart “Pearl White” (pearlized)
20. Citadel “Stirland Battlemire” (texture)
21. Citadel “Stirland Mud” (texture)
22. Gorilla Glue
23. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Slimy Grime Dark”
24. Americana/Decoart “Raw Umber”
25. Citadel “Warpfiend Grey”
26. Vallejo Flow Improver
27. Vallejo “Gloss Acrylic Varnish”
28. Vallejo Premium Color “Matte Varnish”
29. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Wet Ground” (texture/basing paste)
30. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Muddy Ground” (texture/basing paste)
31. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Still Water”
32. Gamers Grass “2mm Moss” (flocking)
33. Gamers Grass “6mm Dense Green” (flocking)
34. Gamers Grass “Jungle XL” (flocking)
35. Gamers Grass “Elephant Ear” (flocking)
36. Green Stuff (kneadatite)
37. MOMOONNON various pieces from 100 pcs Model Diorama Supplies Scenery Landscape Set (flocking and as banner)
38. 4Ground TSM-123 “Loose Brown Leaves” (flocking)
39. Poster tack and specimen jars
40. Pendraken 12mm dice frames

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THE POLLYWOMP CAVALRY REGIMENT:

1. Popsicle sticks
2. Gorilla Glue
3. Number 18 x ½” wire nails
4. Paper clip wire
5. Vallejo Premium White Primer
6. Vallejo Flow Improver
7. Vallejo Thinner
8. MDF Base from Wars of Ozz Miniatures
9. 2″ Square War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU Number 21)
10. War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU FOW1)
11. Alligator clips and stands
12. PVA Glue
13. Army Painter “Dark Tone” (wash)
14. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
15. Vallejo Model Color “Off White”
16. Citadel Contrast Paint “Snakebite Leather”
17. Citadel “Stirland Battlemire” (texture)
18. Citadel “Stirland Mud” (texture)
19. Army Painter Speed Paint 1.0 “Sand Golem”
20. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Peachy Flesh”
21. Citadel Contrast Paint “Gore Grunta Fur”
22. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Aged Hide”
23. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Goddess Glow”
24. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Warrior Brown”
25. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Dusk Red”
26. Citadel Contrast Paint “Space Wolves Grey”
27. Citadel “Contrast Medium”
28. Citadel Contrast Paint “Gulliman Flesh”
29. Vallejo Mecha Color “Green Blue”
30. Reaper MSP “Pink”
31. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Maize Yellow”
32. Citadel Contrast Paint “Akhelian Green”
33. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Carmine Dragon”
34. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Brownish Decay”
35. Army Painter Speed Paint 1.0 “Malignant Green”
36. Citadel Contrast Paint “Bad Moon Yellow”
37. Army Painter Speed Paint 1.0 “Fire Giant Orange”
38. Citadel Contrast Paint “Baal Red”
39. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Moody Mauve”
40. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Moon Lake Coral”
41. Army Painter Speed Paint 1.0 “Zealot Yellow”
42. Citadel Contrast Paint “Magmadroth Flame”
43. Citadel Contrast Paint “Blood Angels Red”
44. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Purple Swarm”
45. Citadel Contrast Paint “Nazdreg Yellow”
46. Citadel Contrast Paint “Doomfire Magenta”
47. Citadel “Warpfiend Grey”
48. Army Painter Warpaints Fanatics Effects “Data System Glow” (effect)
49. Balsa wood
50. Pendraken 12mm dice frames
51. Vallejo Flow Improver
52. Vallejo “Gloss Acrylic Varnish”
53. Vallejo Premium Color “Matte Varnish”
54. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Wet Ground” (texture/basing paste)
55. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Muddy Ground” (texture/basing paste)
56. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Still Water”
57. Secret Weapon Washes “Sewer Water” (wash)
58. Gamers Grass “2mm Moss” (flocking)
59. Gamers Grass “6mm Dense Green” (flocking)
60. Gamers Grass “Jungle XL” (flocking)
61. Gamers Grass “Elephant Ear” (flocking)
62. Green Stuff (kneadatite)
63. MOMOONNON various pieces from 100 pcs Model Diorama Supplies Scenery Landscape Set (flocking and as banner)
64. 4Ground TSM-123 “Loose Brown Leaves” (flocking)
65. Poster tack and specimen jars 

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON THE POLLYWOMP FISHMEN ARTILLERY BATTERY:

1. PVA Glue
2. MDF Artillery sabot base from Wars of Ozz Miniatures
3. Gorilla Glue
4. Red Sharpie Pen
5. 1/8″ neodymium magnets
6. Vallejo Mecha White Primer
7. Vallejo Thinner
8. Army Painter “Dark Tone” (wash)
9. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
10. Vallejo Model Color “Off White”
11. Citadel Contrast Paint “Snakebite Leather”
12. Citadel “Stirland Battlemire” (texture)
13. Citadel “Stirland Mud” (texture)
14. Citadel Contrast Paint “Gore Grunta Fur”
15. War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU number 17)
16. War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU FOW1)
17. Popsicle sticks
18. Citadel Contrast Paint “Aggaros Dunes”
19. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Brownish Decay”
20. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Carmine Dragon”
21. Citadel Contrast Paint “Creed Camo”
22. Citadel “Contrast Medium”
23. Army Painter Warpaints “Rough Iron”
24. Citadel “Blood for the Blood God”
25. Createx Wicked Colors “Pearl Blue”
26. Createx Airbrush Colors “Pearl Green”
27. COM-ART Colours “Opaque Aquamarine”
28. Reaper MSP “Pure Black”
29. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Aged Hide”
30. Army Painter Warpaints Fanatics Effects “Data System Glow” (effect)
31. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
32. Vallejo Thinner Medium
33. Pendraken 12mm dice frames
34. Vallejo Flow Improver
35. Vallejo “Gloss Acrylic Varnish”
36. Vallejo Premium Color “Matte Varnish”
37. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Wet Ground” (texture/basing paste)
38. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Muddy Ground” (texture/basing paste)
39. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Slimy Grime Dark”
40. Secret Weapon Washes “Sewer Water” (wash)
41. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Still Water”
42. Gamers Grass “2mm Moss” (flocking)
43. Gamers Grass “6mm Dense Green” (flocking)
44. Gamers Grass “Jungle XL” (flocking)
45. Gamers Grass “Elephant Ear” (flocking)
46. MOMOONNON various pieces from 100 pcs Model Diorama Supplies Scenery Landscape Set (flocking)
47. 4Ground TSM-123 “Loose Brown Leaves” (flocking)
    Poster tack and specimen jars
     

PAINTS, INKS, GLAZES, SHADES, WASHES, PIGMENTS, FLOCKING, GLUES AND MORE THAT I USED ON NEMO MUDBOTTOM, THE MAGICAL SWAMP MAGE:

1. PVA Glue
2. MDF Base from Wars of Ozz Miniatures
3. War Games Accessories Steel Bases (SKU FOW1)
4. Vallejo Mecha White Primer
5. Vallejo Thinner
6. Army Painter “Dark Tone” (wash)
7. Vallejo Mecha Color “Off White”
8. Vallejo Model Color “Off White”
9. Citadel Contrast Paint “Snakebite Leather”
10. Citadel “Stirland Battlemire” (texture)
11. Citadel “Stirland Mud” (texture)
12. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Brownish Decay”
13. Popsicle sticks
14. War Games Accessories 1″x 1.5″ Steel Bases (18)
15. Createx Wicked Colors “Pearl Blue”
16. Createx Airbrush Colors “Pearl Green”
17. COM-ART Colours “Opaque Aquamarine”
18. Citadel Contrast Paint “Nazdreg Yellow”
19. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Aged Hide”
20. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Carmine Dragon”
21. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Aztec Gold”
22. Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 “Bony Matter”
23. Army Painter Warpaints Fanatics Effects “Data System Glow” (effect)
24. Battlefront “Chocolate Brown”
25. Vallejo Thinner Medium
26. Pendraken 12mm dice frames
27. Vallejo Flow Improver
28. Vallejo “Gloss Acrylic Varnish”
29. Vallejo Premium Color “Matte Varnish”
30. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Wet Ground” (texture/basing paste)
31. AK Terrains Diorama Series “Muddy Ground” (texture/basing paste)
32. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Slimy Grime Dark”
33. Secret Weapon Washes “Sewer Water” (wash)
34. Vallejo Environmental Weathering Effects “Still Water”
35. Gamers Grass “2mm Moss” (flocking)
36. Gamers Grass “6mm Dense Green” (flocking)
37. Gamers Grass “Jungle XL” (flocking)
38. Gamers Grass “Elephant Ear” (flocking)
39. MOMOONNON various pieces from 100 pcs Model Diorama Supplies Scenery Landscape Set (flocking)
40. 4Ground TSM-123 “Loose Brown Leaves” (flocking)
41. Poster tack and specimen jars