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A Saturday Schaumburg-Lippe Painting Update. . .

 

Just a few buttons and touch-ups to do before glossing.  I must admit to feeling very pleased with the way the white highlights atop the light gray undercoat have turned out.  Kind of inexact washes, which give a nice, slightly variegated look to the figures. 

The first 32 musketeers for my version of the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry are just about done save for the buttons, a few small touch-ups here and there, and the usual two coats of gloss before basing.  

But no rest for the wicked!  I'm getting ahead of myself.  Still another 16 musketeers, three musicians, several officers and NCOS, and the colonel's horse before the regiment can take the field.  And the flags of course.

Parenthetically, wouldn't that be a terrific name for an English pub in a village somewhere?  'The Colonel's Horse.'  It almost screams Midsomer Murders, Richard Jury, or Lord Peter Wimsey.  Digression seems to be a way of life around The Grand Duchy of Stollen lately. 

As I was saying. . .  This weekend, I'll press on with the next 16 figures.  A light gray acrylic color blended into acrylic gesso (combining the basecoat and darker undercoat), Citadel Warboss Green bases, and fleshtone depending on available free time.  Possible thunderstorms are forecast, so just maybe. . .

But what's all of this about buttons?

Well, tiny details like buttons are not really necessary to paint, but they do catch the light, really adding to the glitter and glitz of horse and musket era figures.  No doubt about it.  It just seems right for mid-18th century figures and Napoleonics in full dress somehow.  Plus, it seems a shame not to lavish a bit of extra time and care on castings as nice as Minden, Fife & Drum, and Crann Tara.

Anyway, you cannot see it in this photograph, but I quickly added button color (I cheat a bit and use gold and silver instead of brass and pewter to help these show up better) to a single test figure last night before retiring for the evening, and the results were extremely pleasing.  It's odd how that last little bit of brushwork brings figures almost to life.  Saturday is button day.  And then the touch-ups. 

Why on earth should you paint the buttons?  Because they are there. 

-- Stokes 

Comments

Neil Moulden said…
I wholeheartedly agree. If the details present it must be painted. Even if it's not present on the miniature as on some older sculpts. An important detail such as buttons should not be omitted.
As for the pub name. That would not be out of place at all where I live. Indeed one of my favorite pubs is called the Smoking Dog. A much stranger name I thing you will agree.
Kindest regards.
Neil.
10:15 AM
Matt said…
They really look the part, I admire your work. You are correct, these sculpts are so fantastically done that they deserve the extra attention to the buttons and the like.

As for pub names, my local is The Crooked Billet, they serve a lovely pint!
2:53 PM
Bloggerator said…
Nice work Stokes. A magnificent regiment.

Regards,

Grteg
8:51 PM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
Thank you for your kind words, men! Just under half of the regiment to go.

Best Regards,

Stokes
9:05 PM
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