Officers, NCOs, and Musicians in Progress. . .

The number of small details to attend to with musicians, officers, and NCO's is always surprising even though they do not carry muskets or kit.

Somewhat more sporadic painting this last week due to the start of the fall semester/term, but the long Labor Day holiday weekend here in the U.S. has permitted a number of 30 to 60-minute sessions in the painting chair thus far. So, we're getting nearer to the glossing and permanent basing stage. I need to check what I have in the way of bases and put in an order to Litko if necessary.

A few tiny touch-ups to make here and there, but I'm relatively pleased with the way the drummers are shaping up. For the red, white, and blue drum hoops and white cords I reached for a very, very tiny sable brush that has not seen use in at least 20 years. Consisting of just a few hairs (12? 24?), it certainly helped although I don't think the results will win any painting awards. But they look about right at arm's length and give a reasonable impression in passing.

According to Armies of the Seven Years War (2012) by Digby Smith, the drummers for the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry had five white lace chevrons on each sleeve. I'm not that talented, so I'll leave the three drummers above well enough alone. I have, however, painted in white piping along cuff edges and the visible coat pockets on the rear of the figures using that same very tiny sable brush, and I am toying with the idea of additional white piping along the lapel edges of my three musicians just to make 'em a bit more showy.

Last, I used dabs of pure silver to highlight the halberds carried by the three NCOs pictured above just to make those stand out a bit more from the bayonets and musket barrels of the enlisted men, which were left in straight gun metal gray. Less visible here are the sword hilts and sword knots (light gray, highlied sparingly with tiny dabs of white) for the 13 figures shown.

Buttons for everyone along with officers' sashes a gorgets next, I think, followed by silver hat lace, white highlights for five pairs of officers' gloves, the horse furniture and detailing of the animal itself. Then, I'll look closely to see what I've no doubt missed and start to finish things off.

-- Stokes

Keepin' an Eye on the World Going By My Window . .

'The Nap at the Palace' by Jose Triado Mayol N ot much in the way of hobby-related activity happening here in the Grand Duchy lately. Sigh. And no surprise there really since there are only so many hours in the day, only so much mental and physical energy to spare, and you sometimes simply just have to give in and know when to say, um, "When!" A glass of wine and/or evening yoga by the hearth with the Grand Duchess (who has practiced for over 20 years), and then off into la-la land. Zzzzzzzzz. More immediately, I'm recovering, mentally speaking, from a grueling Friday in which I was involved with three (online) conference sessions, one right after the other, followed by a 90-minute meeting at the end of the day. Also virtual. My brain has been mush ever since, so an easy, completely unproductive Saturday watching intermittent snow fall outside (no accumulation however) and drinking coffee while the visiting handymen completed some repair work down h...

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!

And It's the End of September!!!

Saxony's Ploetz Cuirassiers, an illustration lifted from the Kronoskaf website, which has thus far guided my spectacularly glacial painting of 30 28mm Eureka Saxon cuirassiers purchased all the way back in October 2016. A gray, cool Saturday here in Mid-Michigan with rain in the forecast. The Grand Duchess is away at a conference, so it's just "The Boys" here at home. The Young Master (almost 15) has retreated to his room for something or other following breakfast while I have stolen back down here to Zum Stollenkeller (masquerading as my office) with a second mug of coffee and both cats comfortably ensconced nearby. Enjoying the late morning and still in my pajamas! Not much planned for today beyond designing a couple of promotional flyers for workshops my department is presenting (small parties we will throw?) in October and November. With maybe a bit of on the next podcast script. More important, I am toying with the idea of returning for an hour or...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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