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The Sloppy 16. . .

 

Nothing much to look at, and still on the sloppy side, the first (slightly more than) half of the 30 Saxon cuirassiers are nevertheless underway.

Sounds like a film title, eh?  One of those war dramas from the 1950s or 1960s.  Kind of along the lines of The Guns of Navarone, The Heroes of Telemark, The Dirty Dozen, or perhaps Where Eagles Dare.

Cinematic delusions of grandeur aside, it seems like a good idea to share some painting progress where those Eureka Saxon cuirassiers are concerned.  Not much to look at quite yet since I am still at the stage of blocking in main colors, but it's  a start.

The first squadron and regimental HQ  mounts have already received two coats of black.  Not sure yet whether I will dry-brush these with a dark blue or a dark gray before adding white markings to muzzles, legs, and the moving onto the hooves and horse furniture, which will be highlighted here and there with dark gray before adding metal highlights where appropriate.  Not everyone does this, but I like the extra sparkle it brings to a unit whether cavalry, infantry, artillery, or transport.

As for the men themselves, the 30 figures will represent two squadrons from two separate regiments to provide maximum color when it comes to (eventual) facings and flags.  Saxon heavy cavalry provide many wonderful possibilities, and I have not yet been able to make up my mind although dark blue, yellow, orange, and possibly dark green tickle my fancy.  

For reference, I have been looking closely at the Project Seven Years War website as well as my copy of Stephen Summerfield's Saxon Army of the Austrian and Seven Years War (2011).  I've decided to undercoat the musician coats and officer/trooper kollets in gray and then highlight with a creamy off white rather than Hollywood smile bone white given the information on uniform color that these sources provide.  Hard to tell from this quick shot, but it should become more apparent as further painting is completed.

Ok, it's 11:59 am Sunday morning.  Just finished a program on Van Gogh courtesy of BBC Radio 4 online.  A complicated guy.  Time to move onto other things now.  Classes for the spring semester/term begin tomorrow, and I must make sure my online course pages are up to date.  Sigh.  One of the less exciting aspects of teaching undergraduates.

-- Stokes 

Comments

tradgardmastare said…
I imagine that the Van Gogh programme was part of the “In our time “ series. They are always interesting and well worth a listen.
The cavalry are just beginning to muster. Give them time to have their ale and rye bread breakfast prior to donning their paint uniforms. All will work out.
Alan Tradgardland
1:26 AM
Wellington Man said…
Nothing sloppy about Saxon cuirassiers. Here's to wishing more power to your brush and a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2024.
All the best
Matthew
6:26 PM
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