Some Painting Progress Photographs. . .

Here is a progress photo, showing the second batch of Huzzah figures on the painting bench. So far, just the larger areas and flesh have been painted along with the hatlace, yellow/black pompoms, and musket slings. If there is any time this weekend (doubtful since we have dinner guests this evening and I've got student projects to review and grade tomorrow), I'll start the red facings and turnbacks.

Bad alliteration notwithstanding, here are a couple of promised photos, showing where I stand with the second batch of Huzzah musketeers. Lately, I've been painting in 30-60 minute bursts (I usually prefer a couple of hours between breaks or other activities) when the baby is asleep during the afternoons, or in the evenings after bedtime. The trouble is that I must then read and plan the lesson for the next day of my May Term film course. So, sadly, there has not been as much painting time as I would like. Still, the Grand Duchy of Stollen project is moving ahead even if at half steam, so I suppose I shouldn't grumble too much.

Once the third batch, er, company, and indeed the whole unit, has been completed in early June, it's on to another two-gun battery of artillery and crew, which I'll paint in either Bavarian uniforms or those of Shaumburg-Lippe. What can I say? I like light blue! And then, it's time to get cracking on that 30-figure unit of Holger Eriksson dragoons, purchased last summer and sent to our apartment in Berlin. I've always admired Phil Olley's units of these, used in the Partizan 2006 Sittangbad refight, so I'm excited by the prospect of painting some myself and further reducing the pile of metal here in Zum Stollenkeller.

Now, some of you might remember that, although I've been sorely tempted of late to add some RSM Austrian pandours to the painting queue, plus replace my plastic Revell artillery crews with RSM figures, I'm holding off on any more purchases until I make a more substantial dent in said pile of unpainted miniatures. Chaaaaaarge!!!

And finally, here is a close-up of an infantry private from the same batch under better lighting conditions. Still a way to go, but they're coming along.

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!

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...

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...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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