Pontonier Update #4: The Browns

The latest Minden pontonier in-progress photograph.

Lots going on here at the moment, including some final grade calculations, so these can be submitted in the next 24 hours online, and then it's relatively smooth sailing into Christmas. Nevertheless, I've managed to ma e a bit more progress on the 28 Minden pontoniers, including various brown boards, tools, black stocks, and dark blue facings on the four figures wearing their coats. Plus the usual and inevitable tiny touch-ups of course. Not perfect by any means, but they don't look half bad.

Getting to the home stretch with these soon. Really just hair and/or wigs, a few pouches and scabbards and wrapping up the two pontoons in the background. Plus the usual and inevitable touch-ups before a couple of coats of acrylic gloss varnish are applied, and I call 'em finished. And then it's onwards to General von Bauchschmerzen and his wicker carriage. With any luck, I might be able to wrap up most of the work on that before Christmas Day. Cross your fingers!

-- Stokes

And here is today's rather quiet seasonal Swedish (or Norwegian?) vintage greeting card, depicting a remote farm with its 'nisse' (a small gnome-like creature) in the snow outside one of the outbuildings. Makes me want to hitch up a couple of horses to a sleigh with some jingle bells and go for a ride around the valley.

Here's an RSM Painting Update

Here's a picture illustrating my (S-L-O-W) progress with the second company of Stollen's Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers. You can see I'm doing things a bit differently this time, altering the painting process to keep it interesting basically. This evening, I'll do the white gaiters and, if that goes reasonably quickly, and time allows, the red breeches. Still lots to do, but I like the way these fine fellows are shaping up along side the completed 1st company that's standing in formation just off camera, to the left here. Until tonight then!

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!

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

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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