Anhalt-Zerbst and More Experiments with AI. . .

The next unit to go under the brush. I give you the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment!

Apropos of nothing, I found an AI that, among other things, easily removes backgrounds from photographs, leaving just the subject to paste into or against another background. Pixelcut.ai it is for anyone who might like to mess around with it to see what it can help you produce.

Otherwise, just wrapping up summertime activities before various meetings and things kick in Monday morning at 9am with classes beginning the following Monday the 25th. While I well and truly enjoy working with (most) undergrads, my colleagues, developing/revising courses, and the scholarship of teaching and learning in general, I really could do without the departmental and program meetings which always go on far too long and come at less than convenient times whether in-person, or online. Sigh.

I know, I know. Lots of people in the world right now with far worse problems, so I should hush and be thankful. Back to toy soldiers!

I am leaning toward adding another infantry regiment to the Electorate of Zichenau's forces, this time the based heavily on the Anhalt-Zerbst regiment as it probably appeared during the American War of Independence. I'll use a batch of 60 or so Minden Austrian line infantry from the infamous Drawer o' Lead to my immediate left here at my desk in Zum Stollenkeller. An hour or so this evening to stick 'em to temporary bases out to do, and I've already got a very nice speculative flag designed a few months back by David of the Not by Appointment blog, who really does some amazing work with his secret blend of source materials and technical know-how.

On a related note, there is a neat Facebook page belonging to a group of reenactors who model the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment. The photographs alone are well worth a look. Of particular interest is the fact that much of the nominally white pieces of uniform are in face a creamier shade of off-white wool or linen. A point worth keeping in mind for those of us painting white uniforms. I might have to revise ever so slightly my current approach which involves damp-brushing white over a light gray undercoat.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Gotta check the stock of temporary card bases for painting and maybe cut out a few more strips to hold five or six figures each, making painting a bit easier. Huzzah!

-- Stokes

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...

Happy September 2nd!!!

T his weekend, the question of what, precisely, constitutes an "imagination" came up in an online forum of which I am a part. To be fair, the issue originates from further afield in a Facebook group that I am not a member of, but I weighed in with my own view. The following was in response to the question posed yesterday (Sunday) morning by an exasperated member of my own rather more gentlemanly town square, who had been met with a strident response to information he shared about his (admirable) hobby activities on said FB group. Here is, more or less, what I wrote: To my mind, the concept of imagi-nation(s) is a broad one. It can range from historical refights or what-if scenarios/battles/campaigns between armies of a particular era, to completely made up combatants operating in a quasi-historical setting, to the rather generic red and blue forces of the Prussian Kriegspiel that examine a particular tactical problem, task, or exercise. ...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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