Coming Soon. . . Minden Hussar Update

An 18th Century painting (ca. 1748) by David Morier, purporting to show grenadiers from Bavaria's Leib, von Seckendorf, and von Preysing regiments. What's interesting is that the blue is quite dark, which seems to throw the issue of Cornflower Blue coats into question. Might that particular feature have been a mid-19th Century innovation that has incorrectly been applied to earlier period uniforms? Thanks Greg!

No photos just yet, but the next four hussars in the pile are nearing completion. Just a few small details on the troopers plus the white markings, hooves, and reins/harnesses on the horses.

In the meantime, have a look at these extremely useful tips on dressing well at the Put This On blog, a site dedicated to helping men dress like adults. I have a look at this almost everyday, and while I knew the basics already thanks to my father and grandfather, I manage to learn something new each time I visit the blog. It's a good read in any case.

Comments

Conrad Kinch said…

Huh. Subscribed.

5:29 PM

tradgardmastare said…

I await visuals of the huzzars with enthusiasm and enjoyed the 18th century painting- stout fellows indeed!
Alan

12:16 AM

Steve-the-Wargamer said…

I came from Britain & we don't have buttons on our vests so I'm lost already.... but they are sometimes made of string.... and sometimes you get matching Y fronts in the same material..... so far I've managed to avoid them, here's hoping that as I head into my dotage I don't succumb... yee gods, man, he calls a weskit a vest!

PS. :o))))

1:53 AM

Funny Little Wars - Garden Campaigns said…

Thank you for the Bavarian picyure - I will be working on four x 54mm Battalions of Bavrarian infantry for a Lace Wars game and am struggling with the cornflower blue. I think I should go darker...

Paul

6:46 AM

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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