Skip to main content

The Dog Days of August. . . Whew!

It’s another hot one here at Stollen Central with temperatures hovering somewhere in the low to mid-90 degree (Fahrenheit) range. And the forecast calls for more of the same at least through next weekend. Ugh!

At any rate, following a 50+ mile bicycling event outside of Peoria, Illinois – The Interplanetary Ride -- with the Grand Duchess and our transplanted Australian friend “Leo” yesterday (my recently purchased hand-made Cannondale perfomed wonderfully, than you), today has been reserved for less taxing activities in the air conditioned cool of the spare bedroom that doubles as my office, painting, and radio room – or as we like to call it, The Purple Room!

So, what has my pleasantly fatigued and slightly sunburned self been up to today? Well, a used copy of Stuart Asquith’s Guide to Solo Wargaming (1988), in very good condition, arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon. I’ve been perusing it rather closely this afternoon and will post a brief review of the book here later in the week. The cover of the book is neat because it shows what I am pretty sure is Stuart’s imaginary mid-18th century set-up, made up of nicely painted plastic Spencer Smith figures – as described in one of his articles in an early issue of Battlegames magazine.

This evening, while the Grand Duchess works on some of her own projects, I’ll be back at work on the third company-sized batch of 19 1/72 Revell Austrian SYW grenadiers, trimming the mold lines and generally getting the figures all ready for a base coat of artist’s acrylic gesso. If all goes well, and I manage to get the final 19 figures finished by midweek, I’ll begin base coating and undercoating with Liquitex acrylic black paint for the entire 80+ figure unit. Then it’s on to the fun part – painting!

This particular unit will be (of course) based on white coated Austrian troops of the SYW period. Briefly, the uniform will look some like this: Coats and breeches – white, facings and turnbacks – purple, gaiters -- black (officers and NCO’s -- white), bearskins – brown, and silk bags – red. If you refer to an earlier post here (from sometime in June, I think), you’ll see a reasonable representation of what I’d like these fellows to look like.

Oh, and for the flag? Well, I'll again use a metal 25mm MiniFigs Austrian figure (for added weight and stability, like I did with the Von Laurenz Musketeers last summer) with the standard based on one of the Catholic principalities of Mid-18th century Central/Southern "Germany" although I'll mess with colors a bit. Hats off to the Warflag website by the way. In any case, I’m hoping that the painting will proceed fairly rapidly given the predominance of white on these figures. We’ll have to see, but keep your fingers and toes crossed.

And on the longer term bicycling front? Well, the Grand Duchess already has us registered for the two-day Hilly Hundred, a premier cycling event in the Midwest, which is held each October outside of Bloomington, Indiana. Not content to let our leg muscles atrophy until then, Sonja also has also strongly suggested the one-day No Bologna Ride in mid-September. Again, this ride is outside of Peoria, Illinois, so we might just have to rope our friend Leo into riding with us once more. Looks like there’s little rest for the wicked over the next couple of months!

Comments

guy said…
Hi Stokes,

I should hopefully on friday have in my hands some SYW Prussian Art Miniaturen figures from Germany. After many twarted attempts to buy some, (their web site is inpenetratable!), I followed a hint on another web-site and asked a friend's german wife to order some. Crucially she had them delivered to her parents address in Germany. They have safely arrived there and she is flying back on thursday.

I have ordered a selection of their officers, both mounted and on foot, standard bearers, NCO's, drummers and their rederick the Great figure. I have decided not to follow your suggestion of using the Minifig range as they are just too bulky for my Revell figures.

i will send you a report when I have examined them.

Regards,
Guy
Hello Guy,

Sounds intriguing! Please do let me know how the figures in transit work out for you.

Best Regards,

Stokes Schwartz
Any update yet on the Art Miniaturen figures? I'm not familiar with these. I've been planning on using either Musket Miniatures or Outland Games, I have samples coming of both and have heard that they will mix well with the plastics. I've missed out on 3 great auctions in the last few days on Ebay because I'm not willing to pay outrageous collector's prices like $30 a box for Austrian Artillery or Prussian Hussars. I did find a dealer in the UK with 25 boxes of Austrian Infantry on sale for 2 and half pounds a box and reasonable shipping, have 6 boxes on the way. If either of you need Austrian Infantry, let me know and I'll send you the link.

Sir William

Popular posts from this blog

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Taking Stock Part II: The (As Yet) Unpainted but Planned OOB. . .

  Two companies of Reichsarmee grenadiers painted back in 2017 or 2018.  Minden Austrians of course. A lovely early autumn day here in the grand duchy.  Bright sunshine and a light breeze with cool temperatures will make for some very pleasant late afternoon lawn mowing in a little while.  But first a bit more discussion of painting plans for the future. Last time, I looked back at the various and sundry units, support troops, and civilians that I've managed to paint in the last 17 years as the Grand Duchy of Stollen project has developed.  So today, let's look into the seemingly bottomless Drawer 'o' Lead to my left for a clue to the new direction.  Be forewarned, it's not going to be a quick job getting everything painted and based, but there we are. The following plans are based on the pile of unpainted figures already here.  Any future purchases will be limited to small things that might be needed to fill out the envisioned units (the odd few officers mounted o

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a