Just Three More Buttons. . .

A reprise of the second-from-the-top photograph, but this time brightened and cropped to show just the three figures making up the company command vignette. Or it will be a vignette once some minor terrain features have been added post-glossing.

Well, I mistakenly THOUGHT that my Ansbach-Beyreuth company of 15 (Fife & Drum) jaegers was done. But -- and it seems there is always a 'but' in these matters -- there are three, or possibly four or five buttons down the front of the officer's waistcoat that need a dot of gold. And one or two more touch-ups that I spot now looking at the pictures.

But then I will stop this madness and call them done save for the usual acrylic gloss varnish and some Woodland Scenics materials on the bases.

In any case, here are a few photographs snapped this (Saturday) morning to illustrate where things stand at the moment. Some of my favorite castings, I think, among the many gems produced by Minden, F&D, and Crann Tara. There are a number of other brands of mid-18th century miniatures that I like, and many more than that on the market (we all have our favorites), but these three are far and away the very best in my view.

And it's amazing what a tripod with timer will do to improve one's picture taking results! I did not brighten the pictures in the online editor I use (Fotor), however, to give a truer idea of my color-wash combination of the Citadel, Army Painter, Vallejo, and craft paint products used to paint the figures shown.

In a nutshell, the breeches, coats, and flesh received appropriate washes after the basic colors with many, but not all, of the surfaces highlighted sparingly as the final step. As the song goes, it's getting better all the time. . . It couldn't get much worse!

Otherwise, the company should be ready for the Young Master to command in our game set for next weekend. The planned Battle of Spargelzeit. We'll be using our emerging set of morale rules from our totally derivative A Tangled Mass set, which has a had a few changes and additions since our last outing.

Stay tuned!

-- Stokes

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!

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...

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

Search This Blog