Skip to main content

Another Test Figure Underway. . .


Two views of the current test figure after a couple of happy hours or so at the painting table.


I spent some time, after my usual summer evening walk around the neighborhood, in the painting chair yesterday (Thursday) at work on a single test figure for the second squadron of 14 horse grenadiers.  Everything is pretty simple and even mindless at this early stage.  For instance, the blue coat and saddle cloth began with an undercoat of very dark Ral Partha 'Dark Blue' with some judicious 'True Blue' highlights on top of that.  The silk bag atop the bearskin has been given a quick slop of dark 'Cherry Red,' which is later highlighted with 'Scarlet.'  A few of these recently purchased cheap craft paints have their uses.

The horse was painted with a very, very thin glaze of alkyd oil 'Ivory Black' over an acrylic 'Zinc' undercoat, a color I would describe a medium gray.  He appears a wee bit dark in these photographs, but the horse's musculature comes out nicely in person, though I think I might try a lighter gray undercoat on the rest on the squadron's mounts.  I might also try 'Paynes Gray' for the wash on a second horse to see how that looks before I dive in headfirst and tackle the rest.  

At any rate, things should begin to look a bit more, well, interesting on this test figure after additional parts are painted this evening.  Stay tuned!

-- Stokes


P.S.
The Ral Partha 'Dark Blue' above is one of two remaining bottles that I purchased as a graduate student more than 20 years ago from a now long gone gaming store on State Street in Madison, Wisconsin where I lived while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Amazingly, it just keeps going and going as does its partner bottle of 'Leather Brown.'



 


 Two versions the uniform worn by The Royal Cravate Cavalrie from Kronoskaf.  The lower 1753 version is a bit simpler and thus perfect for the second squadron of my composite regiment of horse grenadiers.  Both serve as the inspiration behind the current test figure and planned second squadron of my composite regiment of horse grenadiers.

Comments

Der Alte Fritz said…
OMG you are using acrylics? 😱

I still have my Partha Paints / Iron Wind Miniatures bottles of True Blue, Red Brown, and Dark Grey and I use all of them frequently. The TB color is what I use for blue highlights on my figures.

I cried on the day that my Partha Silver and Flesh bottles dried up after 15-20 years.

Jim
Oh, yes! I use a mixed media approach, most of the time using thinned alkyd oils on larger figure surfaces and acrylics for smaller details in most cases. Before my extensive collection of Humbrols dried out, I also relied on those for certain things too. I finally bit the bullet when we packed tthe house for the move to Michigan three years ago and tossed out the last dozen or so sludgy tins that I've never bothered to replace.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Popular posts from this blog

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Taking Stock Part II: The (As Yet) Unpainted but Planned OOB. . .

  Two companies of Reichsarmee grenadiers painted back in 2017 or 2018.  Minden Austrians of course. A lovely early autumn day here in the grand duchy.  Bright sunshine and a light breeze with cool temperatures will make for some very pleasant late afternoon lawn mowing in a little while.  But first a bit more discussion of painting plans for the future. Last time, I looked back at the various and sundry units, support troops, and civilians that I've managed to paint in the last 17 years as the Grand Duchy of Stollen project has developed.  So today, let's look into the seemingly bottomless Drawer 'o' Lead to my left for a clue to the new direction.  Be forewarned, it's not going to be a quick job getting everything painted and based, but there we are. The following plans are based on the pile of unpainted figures already here.  Any future purchases will be limited to small things that might be needed to fill out the envisioned units (the odd few officers mounted o

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a