Ready, set, paint!

Here are the thirty RSM95 Austrian cuirassiers -- purchased last year to celebrate the publication of my article in Battlegames #13 -- all base-coated and ready for painting.

On the advice of Steve-the-Wargamer, I think it is high time to return to painting, which is of course the primary reason behind the Grand Duchy of Stollen blog. So, here is the next unit in the painting queue -- 30 RSM95 (nee Pax Britannica) Austrian mid-18th Century cuirassiers, all base-coated with two applications of black acrylic artist's gesso and ready to go.

I'll attack the regimental staff of three figures with the paintbrush first -- colonel, trumpeter, and standard bearer. One squadron at a time will follow -- one officer and nine troopers -- until the unit is done. With the baby on the way, I fully expect the painting of this unit to take "a bit" (he says with a wry smile) longer than usual. But then I'm not a fast painter anyway, and it's more about the joy of painting and collecting military miniatures right now than about how fast I can get 'em painted.

Although these figures are part of the Grand Duchy of Stollen's cavelry arm, I'll not deviate too much from standard Austrian uniforms worn by these troops because, well, because the colors are already pretty striking thanks to the predominance of white and red. I'll consult my Men-at-Arms volume on the subject though, and might try to provide some regimental distinctions with the shoulder straps or breeches/vests. We'll have to wait and see precisely in which direction my painting muse takes me in the next few weeks, something even I am never entirely sure of until I sit down and pick up a brush. In any case, the horses will be black for the most part -- dry-brushed with dark blue -- so that might speed things along a tiny bit. We'll see how things progress.

A belated thanks to everyone who has sent good wishes to the Grand Duchess and me in recent weeks. Sonja has just finished her seventh month, and everything is textbook and on schedule so far. She looks and feels great, although I suspect Sonja will be glad to have this baby since its difficult for her to get comfortable at night and during the day. But she's been a real trooper about everything and hasn't complained much though. I do know she'll be happy to get back on her bicycle next spring since she hasn't done any cycling this year at all.

We finished our prenatal classes this past Monday evening, the baby's room is all painted (which resulted in an extreme case of painting fatigue for me) and furnished, and our respective families are all goosey loosey about the prospect of a (-nother) grandchild to spoil. In the next few weeks, the Grand Duchess and I have a couple of infant CPR classes to attend and two on nursing (i.e., breast-feeding) in October, before settling down to the relative "quiet" of a newborn in mid-November.

And yes, I've started the new routine of very early morning painting/base-coating since I'm up frightfully early five days a week anyway. Late at night works well too, during the weekends. And with all of this preparation for baby, my latest alter ego (there are many) has manifested itself in recent days -- Herr General Heiner von Puder und Pamper. Who knew that having a baby would lead to the development of a new character in the Grand Duchy of Stollen pantheon? Let's see. To which branch of the Stollenian service might this new officer find himself assigned? ;-)