Skip to main content

A Few More Generals and ADC's. . .

General von Drosselmaier (center) and his retinue of officers watch in disbelief as the sun sets on their carefully laid plans, and the Zichenauer forces march gaily into the village of Pelznikkel, during my refight of Charles Grant's 'Action' in August 2008. The figures are a mix of MiniFigs and RSM95.


Looking back through the various photographs I've snapped over the last few years, I was surprised to see that I have painted quite a few mounted generals and aide de camps. In fact, there is a plastic tub with 12-15+ such figures on the shelf to my left where my armies are quartered when not fighting tabletop encounters of one sort or another.

Typically, I paint two or even three such figures at a time, using them to take much needed breaks between those more labor intensive larger units of infantry and cavalry that are the hallmark of the growing Grand Duchy of Stollen collection. While I set out to paint all of my figures to a pleasing standard, these personality figures usually get a little more careful attention and a bit more in the detail department. So, they almost always end up taking longer than is absolutely necessary. But I have discovered in the last few years that I actually enjoy the process of painting figures, especially personality figures, more that I thought previously. Then again, maybe it's just the onset of middle age? ;-)


Here' s a much brighter photo, showing the flamboyant cammander of the Stollenian cavalry arm, Count Pavel Petrovich Buttinski and his dour aide astride a dun horse, painted during July 2008. The count served in the armies of Russia, Saxony, and Denmark before finding his way into Stollenian service, following the conclusion of the Seven Years War. Buttinski's shaded canary yellow coat and heavily powdered wig, plus the black-lined silver lace on his coat, help to illustrate the extra attention I give to the painting of my personality figures.


Last of all, here is an obligatory close-up of General Buttinski's front. I remember being especially pleased with how all of the black lining turned out around the silver lace on the good general's saddle cloth, coat, and waistcoat. Definitely would not want to do this for normal infantry, cavalry, and artillery figures in their hundreds, but it certainly brings one's tabletop "personalities" to life.

Comments

Capt Bill said…
Great officers, especially Count Pavel Petrovich Buttinski.
Mad Carew said…
Beautifully painted figures. I like your banner pic - those buildings are very striking. Great style.
justMike said…
That black outlining really tends to animate the mini Stokes. As one who has outlined all of the St. Maurice forces, it is indeed a lot of work. In my case however, it coverith up a multitude of sins. Great character in your officer corps. Well done. - Mike
Bluebear Jeff said…
I'm quite fond of Count Buttinski too. Lovely painting; good character.


-- Jeff
Fitz-Badger said…
I think Count Buttinski is one of your best minis. Very well done! Yellow is not always an easy color to paint, but you did a great job on his coat.

Popular posts from this blog

The Eventual Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment. . .

  The Anhalt-Zerbst regiment musters in the drill square to sort themselves into platoons and companies during the coming weeks  Fall maneuvers if you will. A large dose of real life the last few days with the start of classes next Monday, various preparatory meetings, and finishing up a few other things this week.  But, I managed to sort out 60 or so Minden Austrian infantry from the pile and get 'em stuck to temporary painting bases.  Must carefully drill out the hands of several NCOs for flagpoles and pole arms this weekend before the usual basecoat.   I'm thinking of mixing the usual white gesso with the usual light gray to kill two birds with one stone so to speak.  Applying both base- and undercoat in one fell swoop as my grandmother used to say. In the meantime, the recently finished squadron of Saxon cuirassiers has been placed carefully in one of the clear acrylic boxes on my shelves until I have the suitable flag to affix.   -- Sto...

And We're Off!!!

  Arrrgh!  Gotta go back into camera settings on my iPhone to bring all of the frame into focus.  Blast! Painting is underway on the 60 or so Minden Austrians, which are slated to become my version of the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment of AWI renown.  More or less indistinguishable from Austrians of the era really, right down to the red facings and turnbacks, but the eventual flags (already in my files) will set them apart.   I went ahead and based-coated all of them over a couple of days lthe last week of August, using a mix of light gray and white acrylic gesso, before next applying my usual basic alkyd oil flesh tone to the faces and hands.  In a day or two, I'll hit that with Army Painter Flesh Wash to tone things down a bit and bring some definition to the faces and hands.   As usual, the plan is to focus on about 20 figures at a time, splitting the regiment roughly into thirds along with the color party and regimental staff.  Depending on ...

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!