Feberuary 15th-May 15th, 2013 Painting Challenge Output. . .

The title of today's post says it all! The results of the recent painting challenge.

Here's a photograph of everything I've managed to accomplish in the last three months. . . wife, child, career, students, and life notwithstanding. Approximately 74 figures (if my addition is correct), some horses, musical instruments, picnic items, and artist's equipment either wrapped up, or painted from start to finish, in some cases some scratch-building and/or figure conversion, everything glossed, and scenic effects applied to the bases. A delightful mix of figures by Minden Miniatures, Jackdaw, Eureka, and RSM95 along with a few more by Fife & Drum Miniatures, Miniature Figurines, Spencer Smith, and two or three extra pieces of picnic paraphernalia by Foundry on the lower left-hand corner of the plastic tub shown above.

Among theses are some civilian vignettes as well as those with a more military theme. Each vignette is quite a bit different from its fellows. A refreshing and fun painting challenge all around. This is perhaps the biggest reason why I enjoy the hobby so much. It always provides an artistic outlet of some sort and a chance to practice, refresh, experiment with, and/or refine painting and modelling skills.

Of course, a number of other similar small tableaus wait in the wings here in Zum Stollenkeller in another large plastic storage tub -- 25 figures on foot and mounted plus 19 horses -- but I won't get to those until July. Once May Term is over, the Grand Duchess has another conference for a few days, and then we pack for an almost three week vacation in Mexico, where the three of us will visit my mother in Merida and spend several days at the beach just outside of Progresso on the Yucatecan coast where she has rented a fantastic beach house for the four of us.

In the meantime, I plan to put up my painting feet for a little while and get to some other pressing work, including an article that needs writing and a Norwegian-English translation that needs, well, translating. Coincidentally, today, May 17th, is Norway's National Day. God Nasjonaldag alle!/Happy Independence Day everyone!

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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