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"Ooo, Shiny. . ."

 


Well, Sir.  The glossing of my version of Austria's Wied Infantry is finally complete.  Yes, at long last.

Two and a half coats, by my estimation, of Liquitex Professional High Gloss Acrylic Varnish.  The last half coat is applied just to raised areas of the figures more likely to be touched as units are handled (upper arms, front of left leg, rear of right calf, tricornes, cartridge pouches, etc.).  It also catches the light in a most pleasing way

Warmer temperatures today (Saturday), which means some cross-country skiing this afternoon after the Young Master's usual Tae Kwon Do practice.  The careful process of transferring the 60+ figures from temporary to their permanent bases is slated to begin this evening.  

With any luck I can get that all done, snap a few photographs of the entirely finished regiment, and then basecoat those 15 Minden Prussian jaegers tomorrow.

Photographs with this post, taken using my iPhone, include two brightened and cropped along with the original at bottom.  I am rapidly reaching the conclusion that, at least for hobby purposes, I can take clearer pictures with said phone than through messing around with any of the cameras lying around here.  It's certainly simpler.  Just enough light followed by a few edits using the Fotor online app, and away we go.

In other Stollenian news, the Young Master is off on an overnight school trip for a few days in the coming week.  A milestone of sorts.  Winter Camp they call it.  He is really excited as you might expect.  You know, getting to have fun and be gross with his friends for a few days without Mom and Dad around asking and reminding him to mind his manners.

Sigh. 

My sad impression is that few parents provide that kind of guidance anymore from what I observe.  Sure, plenty of children and young people do remember say "please" and "thank you," but many of the other, once common social graces seem largely absent from their DNA.  This unfortunate development has, of course, been a long time in coming, but we're there.  And it certainly makes interacting with anyone's children, or indeed college students (young adults after all), in any capacity something rather less than pleasant.

But I digress yet again.

At any rate, we'll collect Young Master Paul on Friday afternoon and head at once several hours north for another weekend of skiing at a couple of Nordic centers along with and lessons from a PSIA-Level III ski instructor Sunday morning.  You know, because all three of us use a little help with our respective techniques.  Should be fun.

But in the meantime, bases and jaegers!

-- Stokes




Comments

tradgardmastare said…
Nice day for a gloss Wieding😂
I wish the young master all the very best for Winter Camp. I am sure it will be a tremendous experience for him and his peers.
Also l wish you and the Duchess well as you are left behind and wait for his return, rest easy in the knowledge he is in good hands.
The cross country skiing sounds excellent.
As the Duchy of Tradgardland , circa 1790, has recently invested in some ski troops l would be interested to hear how much faster one can move on snow on skis as opposed to on foot or on snowshoes. Also is it far less fatiguing to cross country ski? The Duchy’s gaming is in your hands, sir!
Best wishes to you and yours
Alan
1:40 AM
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said…
Thank you for your kind words, Alan! I've seen you ski troops, and indeed, if the snow conditions and technique are in synch, you can schuss along the trails very fast.

Wonderfully fatiguing. After three hours yesterday (Saturday), I was very mellow and relaxed following my return home, a shower, early pajamas, and the most delightfully quiet evening in a long time here at home. Like cycling and swimming, a cardiovascular workout for the entire body. Much like the so called "runners' high" that I have read about but much lower impact.

Kind Regards,

Stokes
8:57 AM
Independentwargamesgroup said…
As lovely as always Stokes, well done. One the reasons I enjoy travelling to the USA, well certainly the South is because of your manners. I tend to trawl around some fairly salubrious clubs and bars hunting for music and even in these joints the manners are on the whole good. Sadly in the UK on the whole we gave up on such an important matter.Remember manners maketh the man.
6:42 AM
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