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| Nearly there with the white highlights on the third and final batch of the Anhelt-Zerbst Regiment this Sunday morning at the end of March. |
The Young Master and Grand Duchess are away for a few days visiting friends and relatives in our old stomping grounds of Central Illinois since our progeny has his Spring Break this coming week. It's a whirlwind trip though. They'll be back this evening, and he has his wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday. Sadly, ahead of the Easter holiday, so the Easter Bunny will have to bring our Paul a variety of soft things to enjoy (cups of chocolate pudding/custard?) since chewing will be a challenge for a few days while his mouth heals up
So, Bad Dad has been free to hang out down here in Zum Stollenkeller a bit more than usual with coffee, the cats, and paintbrushes in hand. I've managed numerous sessions in the chair since Thursday evening to tackle the many remaining tiny details on the final batch of the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment as a result. Here's where things stand this Sunday morning.
You'll note that besides most of the white coats, I've tackled the drum plus dry-bushed the finials and cords on the flagpoles since last we met. Ah, and also damp-brushed the sashes worn by the two ensigns. Not done yet, but the entire batch of figures is coming together nicely I think.
What next?
Well, finishing the white highlights in a short while after fetching another mug of coffee in the kitchen upstairs. Nine more figures in the front rank above. Then, the tiny red/gold hat tassels for the officers, NCO's, and men. These were red with a yellow center for the musketeers, but I'm happy just to stick with the red since there is no way I can manage the yellow center!
The many buttons and touch-ups on the Anhalt-Zerbst figures pictured above will be tackled on Monday and Tuesday evening this coming week, and then its onto glossing, the flags, and permanent basing later in the week. So, not quite making the self-imposed end of the month deadline, but close. Maybe another week or 10 days to finish everything if real life does not intervene too badly.
But life is unkind sometimes. And of course, I have another large batch of student teamwork to evaluate and assign grades this coming week, a time-consuming and mentally taxing process. We'll see how all of that goes since previous experience suggests that I'll want to do something else in the evenings besides spend even more time sitting in a desk chair.
At any rate, once all of the remaining painting/glossing/basing above has been completed, a day or three off to catch my painting breath, and then it's. . . Hussar Time! Lest we forget, I've got 55 or 60 Minden Austrian mounts and men to paint up. A number of smaller batch-sized projects that will, no doubt, take me into 2027. I know, I know. . .
On a related note, and since Summer 2026 marks the 20th year since the Grand Duchy of Stollen Project began in earnest -- And Sonja's and my 20th wedding anniversary!!! -- I think a long delayed game will be in order. A Sittangbad refight sounds like a good idea since it was that battle I set out to recreate after seeing the wonderful photographs of The Wargamers' (Henry Hyde, Phil Olley, John Preece, and Steve Gill) refight of the storied tabletop battle at the May 2006 Partizan show, later featured in an early issue of the much missed Battlegames magazine. Now, some might say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I'm happy with monkey see, monkey do.
But I digress.
Ok. More coffee, and then back to the painting desk. Happy Sunday everyone!
-- Stokes
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