Skip to main content

A Painting Update on the Generic Frei-Infanterie. . .



Still not quite there with these 15 Fife & Drum Hessians, but making some nice progress since the last update nonetheless.  Getting down to the small details now (and touch-ups).  These are not really noticeable at arm's length, but we know they are there, don't we?   

With nondescript old ranges like, for example, the 15mm Peter Laings, which had their own charm about them, you could easily get away with leaving out all but the most general colors, and it worked.  With more current lines as nice as these 1/56 figures, however, it makes sense, at least to me, to spend a bit more time and effort on the tiny bits if at all possible, to add that extra bit of sparkle.  Both literally and figuratively speaking. 

Hence my attention past and present to things like buttons.  That said, I have yet to address the hundreds of gaiter buttons, for example, on infantry and artillery units.  I know.  I know.

Giving a nod here to our model railroad brethren, whose level of detail on so many of their layouts is breathtaking.  But it is that same painstaking attention to detail that takes their work well beyond simply playing with toy trains on an oval of track in the basement or attic.  

And while wargamers -- in the name of playability, modular use, and storage -- can't quite aspire to exactly the same thing, we can nevertheless take a page or two from the model railroaders' playbook now and then.  When it comes to the quality of our work, level of personal satisfaction, and presentation to the of the wargaming hobby to the outside world that is. 

See what you think.  Not master class collector standards by any stretch, but I like to make my painting as effective as, and improve it wherever possible.  I hope to get this batch of figures closer to being finished this weekend in any case.

-- Stokes

Comments

tradgardmastare said…
The figures look great Stokes. I do think that the basing is an excellent way of showing what the unit is by the simple device of shape. As for the figures they will serve well for you on the tabletop, you have shown them love, time and energy. For this reason they will do you justice and reward your efforts when the dice start rolling…
Duke of Baylen said…
Like you I prefer to get all the detail painted I can, rather than take the more impressionistic or view from X feet away approach. Unlike you I don't do much by the way of highlights - I let the gloss varnish find those for me.

Stephen
Stryker said…
Great work with these Stokes and that blue really pops. The detail work you put in never fails to impress!

Popular posts from this blog

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

Keepin' an Eye on the World Going By My Window . .

'The Nap at the Palace' by Jose Triado Mayol N ot much in the way of hobby-related activity happening here in the Grand Duchy lately.  Sigh.  And no surprise there really since there are only so many hours in the day, only so much mental and physical energy to spare, and you sometimes simply just have to give in and know when to say, um, "When!"  A glass of wine and/or evening yoga by the hearth with the Grand Duchess (who has practiced for over 20 years), and then off into la-la land.  Zzzzzzzzz.   More immediately, I'm recovering, mentally speaking, from a grueling Friday in which I was involved with three (online) conference sessions, one right after the other, followed by a 90-minute meeting at the end of the day. Also virtual. My brain has been mush ever since, so an easy, completely unproductive Saturday watching intermittent snow fall outside (no accumulation however) and drinking coffee while the visiting handymen completed some repair work down her