Officers, NCOs, and Musicians in Progress. . .

The number of small details to attend to with musicians, officers, and NCO's is always surprising even though they do not carry muskets or kit.

Somewhat more sporadic painting this last week due to the start of the fall semester/term, but the long Labor Day holiday weekend here in the U.S. has permitted a number of 30 to 60-minute sessions in the painting chair thus far. So, we're getting nearer to the glossing and permanent basing stage. I need to check what I have in the way of bases and put in an order to Litko if necessary.

A few tiny touch-ups to make here and there, but I'm relatively pleased with the way the drummers are shaping up. For the red, white, and blue drum hoops and white cords I reached for a very, very tiny sable brush that has not seen use in at least 20 years. Consisting of just a few hairs (12? 24?), it certainly helped although I don't think the results will win any painting awards. But they look about right at arm's length and give a reasonable impression in passing.

According to Armies of the Seven Years War (2012) by Digby Smith, the drummers for the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry had five white lace chevrons on each sleeve. I'm not that talented, so I'll leave the three drummers above well enough alone. I have, however, painted in white piping along cuff edges and the visible coat pockets on the rear of the figures using that same very tiny sable brush, and I am toying with the idea of additional white piping along the lapel edges of my three musicians just to make 'em a bit more showy.

Last, I used dabs of pure silver to highlight the halberds carried by the three NCOs pictured above just to make those stand out a bit more from the bayonets and musket barrels of the enlisted men, which were left in straight gun metal gray. Less visible here are the sword hilts and sword knots (light gray, highlied sparingly with tiny dabs of white) for the 13 figures shown.

Buttons for everyone along with officers' sashes a gorgets next, I think, followed by silver hat lace, white highlights for five pairs of officers' gloves, the horse furniture and detailing of the animal itself. Then, I'll look closely to see what I've no doubt missed and start to finish things off.

-- Stokes

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

Search This Blog