We're Almost There with the Jaegers. . .

A few incorrect details (Grrrr. . .), but my generic jaeger company -- based loosely on the Anspach-Beyreuth Jaegers, who fought in the AWI -- is almost ready for glossing. Just the brass details along with a few of the usual touch-ups here and there, and Bob's your mother's brother.

I hope to have these all finished for our planned Battle of Spargelzeit in about two weeks. The Young Master, in his guise of the tactically astute General Paul von Stollen, will have the honor of commanding them in their inaugural action.

In the meantime, it's onto the so called 'double blues,' a generic company of frei-corps infantry, which you'll observe waiting in the background. These have already had the basic Winsor & Newton Griffin alkyd oil fleshtone applied followed by Army Painter flesh wash to provide some definition and tone down the bright flesh just a bit.

Very eager to begin in earnest with these since I have wanted to add some to the Grand Duchy of Stollen for some little while. The project has been ongoing for 17 years now if you can believe it! Summer 2006.

The Grand Duchess still teases me about bringing along that first unit of plastic Revell SYW Prussian line infantry and a hobby knife on our honeymoon to the Black Hills in South Dakota. I will never, repeat never, live down that particular lapse in judgement.

In any case, different eventual uniform colors for the 15 frei-corps figures, of course, but equally striking.

-- Stokes

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

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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