Skip to main content

The Missing Gulyás. . .

The until recently missing figure, known henceforth as Goulash the Shirker.
 

Sounds like a lost episode of Wallace and Gromit, eh?  Sean the Sheep might want to keep his head down though.

Just returned from another extended ski weekend sans the Grand Duchess and Young Master, it's Spring Break Week, and time to get myself back to the painting table to maintain some forward momentum.  There's a skate ski reference in their somewhere given my work on V1 and V2 Alternate technique the last few days.  But I digress!

I've decided to name this particular figure Gulyás the Shirker because, well, he is something of a sad sack who manages to avoid his duties, delay following orders, and go suddenly absent without leave.  Sort of a Balkan Beetle Bailey who gives his sergeant fits and, as a result, is more or less on permanent KP duty.  Or at least anywhere the action is not. 

The moniker seems rather fitting for a misplaced figure that has managed to escape my painterly attention thus far in the ongoing efforts to paint this final company of mid-18th century Croats. Once back from the optometrist later this morning, base-coating with white gesso and painting proper will commence.  I'll come up with some special coloring or markings to help him stand out on the table once he joins his fellows.

To conclude on a cross-country skiing note, I have finally achieved that holy grail of the sport and can balance on one leg while moving swiftly forward on flats and down hills.  Balance and weight shift from one ski to the other and back again.  Still much to learn and perfect next season, of course, but things should begin coming together rather more quickly than has been the case for the previous quarter century.  Hurrah!

-- Stokes

 

Not sure which one of the instructors took this particular photograph, but I like its unaware, unposed nature.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The 18th century? What's the Fascination?

Hessian musketeers by All the King's Men Toy Soldiers of Snellville, Georgia, U.S.A. Just a quick post post today, but I thought the above question might be interesting food for thought. Obviously, there is an array of possible periods, theaters, and conflicts that might catch our eyes. But what is it about the era 1700-1799 -- either real, or imagined? Is it the commanders and politics? The fairly straightforward tactics? The myriad of uniforms and flags? The variety and scope of the conflicts? The patchwork of various and sundry petty states, (at least in Central Europe)? I'm very interested to learn your thoughts. Don't be a lurker! Please leave a comment -- or even two or three. Have a nice day everyone!

An Early July Hussar Update. . .

  Marginally neater in appearance with green bases, girths, and ivory horse markings added, but I need to neaten up some hooves now before moving onto the rest of the tack. W here in the world did June go? While I still ponder the answer to that question, how about a quick painting update on the first batch of 14 Minden Austrian hussars and Nadasdy? Good.  I'm glad we are of a like mind. Still on the sloppy side, but I've managed to move things along, painting the green bases, white (ivory) horse markings, and beginning the miles and miles of tack adorning the various horses.  I always like to begin with the girths spanning the horses' ribs which helped hold the saddles in place.  Even with the figures mounted individually on temporary painting bases, these can be kind of tricky to access, but there we are. I've also used various Army Painter washes (Mid-Brown and Strong Tone) as well as their Speed Paint (Grim Black) to make the manes and tails of the horses a bit m...

And a few more photos. . .

Ok, here are a few of the 2nd Musketeer regiment in process during late-July and August. Enjoy!