A December 14th Cuirassier Update. . .

The now familiar place-holder for a later photographic update. But in the meantime, I kinda like this well-used artist's palette.

Spent another 90 minutes or so in the painting chair last night -- before reconvening with the Grand Duchess to enjoy a second glass of an Argentinian red wine (I know, I know. . . living life on the bloody edge here in the Grand Duchy) -- finally seeing to a variety of smaller details. These included the kettle drum heads and mallets, exposed pistol stocks and holster ends, and the green chevrons along the sleeves of one of the musicians.

I finished the session by starting to apply washes of white to raised areas of the trumpeter's coat. Neither quite pleased with, nor done with that quite yet, but hope to return this evening after a round of final student team projects and decorating the trees, which I am headed out to pick up midday today (Saturday).

Somewhere in the painting left to do, I must also retouch the black neck stocks of several (all?) figures. These were mistakenly painted dark green earlier when, in fact, they are not the kollet collars, which, on these Eureka figures, seem to be obscured by the cuirasses and shoulder belts.

Ok,time for a second mug of coffee and some cinnamon raisin toast at the breakfast table with the Young Master.

-- Stokes

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And We're Off!!!

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I t's amazing how something as simple as applying two coats of Citadel 'Warboss Green' (ex-Games Workshop 'Goblin Green') can enliven a unit of figures and get 'em that much closer to glossing and completion. In much the same way that applying fleshtone early in painting process helps bring the figures to life. Just some limited dry-brushing to bring out the manes, tails, and some equine musculature, and I'm calling my version of Saxony's von Polenz Cuirassiers, circa 1733, done and dusted. Longtime visitors to the Grand Duchy of Stollen might recall (the blog will turn 19 years old in September) that I generally go for an old school approach when it comes to unit bases and paint them a nice, bright green. Exceptions include command vignettes, skirmishers of one kind or another, transport, camp followers, and various other civilian one-offs. The approach is not to everyone's taste, but I like the cheery toy soldier appearance once everything...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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