Skip to main content

Plugging Away on the Revell Austrians. . .

Nothing earth shattering happening here at Stollen Central during the passed few days. The start of the new academic term at school has left little time for work on figures, but I’ve managed to get half of the monster-sized regiment base coated with artist’s acrylic gesso. They look pretty good this morning now that everything has dried. This evening, if all goes well, I’ll get an hour or so to move on with the third batch of 20 figures.

As for school, yesterday went well, although things always start far too early in the morning for me. My students seem nice and relatively attentive for now, but we’ll see how that goes in the coming weeks. There are always a few who end up M.I.A. (missing in action) or fall through the cracks somehow.

Sigh. The end of summer vacation is always a bit sad. When I was a high school and university student myself, the start of school was always an exciting time. But I suppose I’ve become a bit jaded now that I’m on the other side of the desk. Sure, I enjoy teaching writing and composition, but talking about the subject is never as much fun as doing it.

The really interesting course that I’m teaching this semester does not begin until next week – another film noir course, but this time with a writing/research intensive component. THAT course is one that I’m looking forward to. You know, I’ve really gotta get myself a fedora to go with that trench coat!

Comments

Bluebear Jeff said…
Hats are wonderful things. It is so easy to change from one hat to another and to feel your "world view" change with the change of hats.

So, yes, definitely get a fedora.


-- Jeff
2:41 PM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
That tears it then -- a fedora it is!!! I'll add it to my birthday/Christmas list, and we'll see what "Santa" and her elves come up with. ;-)

Enjoy the day,

Stokes
3:03 PM
M McCown said…
Great photograph and what a great course to teach! I haven't had my passport stamped at the Grand Duchy border in quite some time, but I am glad I stopped by today. Congratulations on a year in country!
8:39 PM
Fitz-Badger said…
I have a small collection of hats that include an Indiana Jones-style fedora, a British Bobby's helmet, a French Foreign Legion kepi, a gray Civil War kepi, a khakhi pith helmet, 2 or 3 baseball-style caps, a "coonskin" cap, and a blue Scotsman's-type "bonnet" (made by loosely covering an old beret with a blue cloth cover). A good quality tricorne would be cool. :-)

Go for the Bogie fedora :-)
8:40 PM
Fitz-Badger said…
By the way, MMG, you have created a wonderful collection of photos on your blog! :-)
Evocative, heart-warming, simply beautiful.
8:56 PM
marinergrim said…
I've never liked the end of hoidays at any age. They've always signalled a return to the routine and mundane, or so it seems.

as for the Fedora - it all sounds good until it comes to wearing it and finding that you're the only one in the street/town/county wearing anything on your head other than a cap or beanie. But it does sound good and it does create that "look".
2:07 AM
Stagonian Jeff said…
Irwin Amadeus II receives a gift of a fine pair of obviously highly-bred hunting dogs.

The note with them simply says (in a feminine hand) . . .

-- "from a lobster lover".
4:10 AM
Post a Comment

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!
35 comments
Read more

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...
9 comments
Read more

Basic Reds Done at Last. . .

  S till quite a way to go with the current batch of 20 human figures and a horse (of course), but they're actually starting to look like something after all of the red distinctions.  Quite a bit of painting in hour-long sessions the last week as and when time has allowed.  Mostly applying the basic dark red to facing areas and turnbacks followed by the inevitable touch-ups to clean up wobbly edges and those misplaced, minute splotches of Citadel Khorne Red.   They're looking like so many Austrian infantry regiments of the era at this point, but the eventual flags will turn them magically into the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment, more or less, of the AWI period.  But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. One frustrating point (ahem) of sad discovery.  I've started trying to use those Winsor & Newton 'Series Seven' brushes (#1 rounds) purchased last spring, and the blasted things simply will not keep a point.  Very frustrating since I have heard over the y...
3 comments
Read more