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| 30 Eureka Saxon cuirassiers and horses stand at the ready for the usual basecoat of white acrylic gesso. |
In between various and sundry other Sunday chores and things, including some mid-Sunday afternoon German milchkaffee (cafe au lait to the rest of the world) with the Grand Duchess, I have managed to affix the 30 Saxon cuirassiers to their horses and thence to their permanent 3mm ply bases from Litko.
This has become my preferred method for painting cavalry, transport, and light infantry formations since there is enough room between multiple-based figures to wield the paintbrush in a way that is not possible for closer order line infantry, who I mount to temporary cardboard strips for painting and glossing before careful transfer to their permanent bases.
The base dimensions I use for my close order troops are those stipulated within the late Peter Gilder's In the Grand Manner. These have always looked pretty close to perfect to me for horse and musket-era troops. Close order line cavalry like the cuirassiers above occupy a 20mm frontage x a 45mm depth per horse and rider. For lighter types, especially horses with outstretched legs, sometimes a 50mm depth base is necessary however. By and large, though, these base dimensions continue to work well even in light of larger modern figures, which long ago surpassed the "true" 25mm size. the slender 1/60 Minden and Fife & Drum figures are nowhere near as overfed as some other lines have become though.
Painting can be a bit tedious here and there when painting figures already tacked down to their permanent bases, sure, but it removes one step from the painting and basing process, which is helpful. Later in the week, I'll base coat the first squadron at left and the two-man/horse regimental staff at center. The kettle drummer will be a new one for me. Eager to see how that goes.
Huzzah!
-- Stokes
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Alan