An October Update. . .

Things have not been completely quiet here in The Grand Duchy of Stollen lately. Although I have heard a few late season crickets chirping now and then. Just the usual out of whack work-family-life thing. You know how it is.

Still, I have managed to keep plugging away at my version of Austria's Wied Infantry. Most recently cleaning up lots of ragged edges on the third batch of the regiment. The usual light gray before starting the white cross belts, hat tape, and various washes of white on the coats, waistcoats, and breeches plus a few of the usual touch ups as you go along.

The wash stage is an inexact science, but the end results look pretty good. Not that artificially enhanced Hollywood Smile bleached bone white Tom Cruise thing, but a more subdued gray-white, which, in my view, is probably a bit closer to what actual uniform items must have been like after a few weeks in the field in the days before washing machines and colorfast dyes.

This (Monday) evening, a few quick touch-ups planned on the dark brown shoulder belts -- over the right shoulders -- and then I'll move on to the (eventually) white shoulder belts -- over the left shoulders. That along should help them start to look a bit more soldierly next to the rest of the unit.

The first two thirds of the regiment are not yet finished, but getting close to it. Still things like drum hoops, cords, and buttons, buttons, buttons. Followed by the inevitable touch-ups before applying acrylic varnish and then the flags, which should be, if not spectacular, then at least reasonably convincing at arm's length. I like to print out and then paint in the colors (and a highlight) to both help the flags fit in with my painting style and combat the fading of computer printer inks with time.

-- Stokes

Here's an RSM Painting Update

Here's a picture illustrating my (S-L-O-W) progress with the second company of Stollen's Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers. You can see I'm doing things a bit differently this time, altering the painting process to keep it interesting basically. This evening, I'll do the white gaiters and, if that goes reasonably quickly, and time allows, the red breeches. Still lots to do, but I like the way these fine fellows are shaping up along side the completed 1st company that's standing in formation just off camera, to the left here. Until tonight then!

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!

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...

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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