Further Croat Progress. . .

Another 90 minutes or so in the painting chair yesterday evening once the house was still. The session saw very slow painting with a fairly new #1 synthetic round in which I carefully applied acrylic colors to the capes slung over the shoulders of most of the Minden figures comprising this 14-figure company. The RSM95s in the firing pose have their capes fashioned into overstuffed bundles atop their upper backs. I've turned a couple of these around to show them here.

Most figures had a coat of GW Khorne Red applied to their capes while the others received light gray, a yellowish leather brown, or dark brown. The red, leather brown and light gray will get corresponding Army Painter washes this evening if time permits. Since I pull out of here tomorrow morning for another solo cr0ss-ocuntry skiing jaunt two hours north, a bit of grip and glide waxing is in order for two pairs of skis, so we'll have to see how things progress.

In any case, next week is our Spring Break Week here at MSU, which means nine slightly more relaxed days largely to myself here at home. With that in mind, the next painting session will be devoted to applying careful washes again, to the capes and muskets before moving on to the numerous small details. Hair locks, queues, and mustaches probably make the most sense for a start.

-- Stokes

A Found Figure Thursday Afternoon P.S.

Well, I just KNEW there were 15 Croats, and this afternoon during a quick break between Zoom meetings, I thought to peek into the clear acrylic box over on the other desk where in-progress figures stay between painting sessions. And what do you think I found?

Yep. The missing (overlooked?) RSM95 Croat in the standing and firing position but still in his bare metal state. Grrrr. I thought it was odd that the current in-progress batch had just 14 figures, and was all set to blame the cats for its disappearance, but sometimes the mind plays tricks on us. So, next week once I am back from skiing up north, it will be time to bring him up the same level of completion of the other 14 figures in the batch.

I am semi-pleased to have found him, yet also mildly annoyed that a few extra hours will be necessary to get him up to speed with his fellows. I know, I know. First World problem.

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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