A couple of 18th century grenadiers -- Not Prussian but Hessian (Shock! Horror! Gasp!) -- with some jaeger standing in the background in honor of Zvezda's forthcoming release.Another week has just finished, and while it didn't strike me as particularly packed with activity or terribly busy, it's sometimes amazing how little seems to have been accomplished in any given seven-day period. . . on all fronts! But, my recent opponent, the good Major Wolfgang von Hirschbiegel, and I have been discussing the preliminaries of a joint project that is related to the recently concluded battle, so I guess things have not been entirely inert. More on this later when we have a bit more direction. And as a taste of other things yet to come, I thought I'd mention just a few additional points of interest this evening before the Grand Duchess and I sit down to dinner.
First of all, look for an after action report of sorts on the recently concluded Action at Pickelhaubewicz, in which you'll learn how the conflict between the Grand Duchy of Stollen and the Electorate of Zichenau was concluded in January 1769 follow the defeat of Stollen. There will also be a few more photos of the battlefield as the tactically inept, and now much maligned, Colonel von Grundig leads his remaining men away to the north under the watchful eyes of Pillau-Zerbst's Wolmar-Bock Regiment, currently in the service of Zichenau. Next, it seems high time to include another snippet of conversation between grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II and his English manservant Hives, in which the former waxes philosophically about his country's recent bad fortunes on the the field of Mars.
Third, remember to stay tuned for a second play-by-email game right here at the Grand Duchy of Stollen blog. This time around, it will be version of the Grants' Sawmill Village, perhaps with a tiny bit of cavalry added just to add some visual and/or tactical interest. Of course, this will mean that the Grand Duchy of Stollen campaign calendar will have to be advanced a few months with some requisite preliminary events and dilly dallying before open hostilities resume between the two countries. My e-opponent this time will be a certain gentleman from Stagonia. Or was that Saxe-Bearstein? I can never keep all of these Central European "statelettes" straight! ;-)
And of course, there will be some more painting progress discussion/description and photographic updates as I continue on those 80 or so RSM95 Prussian fusiliers, which have been sadly neglected over on the painting desk recently. But Phil Olley's recent update over at his War Cabinet site coupled with Jim "Alte Fritz" Purky's progress on his Minden Austrians and his fictitious 18th century campaign have just about shaken me from my post-Christmas lethargy. I'm going to sit down and pick up the brush again tomorrow morning!
Last but not least, Guy Barlow sent me an e-mail earlier today, informing me that Zvezda are due to release a SYW Prussian grenadier set sometime this summer (thank you again Guy!), which is wonderful news to say the least. No box art to pirate and post here, but the prospect of some new period specific plastic figures is exciting. Zvezda's figures are true 25mm in size, so they aren't as big as some of the so called "heroic" 28mm metal figures on the market today, but the company's sculpting and molding, in most cases, seems to be first rate from what I've seen online and in the flesh. You can read a little bit more about the planned release over on The Miniatures Page (link at right). And now, enough shilly shallying! It's off to dinner for me.
Comments
On the other hand, the vile fiends in Stagonia are well-known troublemakers and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they just attacked anyone at any time.
So surely it is those vile fellows in the service of Mad Ludwig du Vile who would violate your Grand Duchy's territory.
-- Jeff
I am glad to read that my efforts have a hand in getting you back to the painting table. :)
There's no reason why you can't use cavalry in Sawmill Village. Bill Protz and I did exactly that when we played the scenario last January.
Myriad joys to look forward to here at Stollen Central! I am glad you have been inspired and look forward to seeing your efforts.
Do you line your figures in black ink or paint and what number of brush do you use?
Alan
Jeff -- So those vile people of Stagonia are allied with the Electorate of Zichenau in some sort of sinister plot?
Jim -- No, at this point I probably will not use any of the plastic GNW Swedes in my ongoing project. Actually (and don't let my wife hear this), I think I have more than enough figures to complete the Grand Duchy of Stollen project with the notable exception of some more mounted general officers and another two-gun battery of artillery. . . I have the guns, but not enough crew at the moment.
Alan -- I'm afraid that my patience and skill don't allow for black lining although I tried it to reasonably good effect on the independent company of the Wolmar-Bock regiment last summer. More typically, I use a black undercoat instead and carefully paint the various uniform colors and flesh over that, leaving tiny lines of black visible. It's a fairly easy and effective way to achieve the same effect as black lining. The brushes I use for the bulk of my painting these days are #1, #2, and #3 Cottman synthetic rounds along with a much larger #5 round for figure bases, horses, and equipment. Once in a while, I still have use for a Loew #001 sable spotter. But I have found over the last dozen years or so that my painting skill has improved little by little, so a really tiny brush like that has become less necessary though I do keep a few around just for those days when a steady hand eludes me (too much caffein (sp?) and/or mental fatigue). The main thing I have found to be true is that a brush with a good point is absolutely necessary, which is what all of the figure painting manuals and books stress. Funny, that! Anyway, I use these synthetic brushes as long as they hold a good point and then either throw them away or retire them to the basecoating/undercoating bin.
Best Regards Everyone,
Stokes