Anhalt-Zerbst and More Experiments with AI. . .

The next unit to go under the brush. I give you the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment!

Apropos of nothing, I found an AI that, among other things, easily removes backgrounds from photographs, leaving just the subject in the foreground to paste into or against another background. Pixelcut.ai it is for anyone who might like to mess around with it to see what it can help you produce.

Otherwise, just wrapping up summertime activities before various meetings and things kick in Monday morning at 9am with classes beginning the following Monday the 25th. While I well and truly enjoy working with (most) undergrads, my colleagues, developing/revising courses, and the scholarship of teaching and learning in general, I really could do without the departmental and program meetings which always go on far too long and come at less than convenient times whether in-person, or online. Sigh.

I know, I know. Lots of people in the world right now with far worse problems, so I should hush and be thankful. Back to toy soldiers!

I am leaning toward adding another infantry regiment to the Electorate of Zichenau's forces, this time the based heavily on the Anhalt-Zerbst regiment as it probably appeared during the American War of Independence. I'll use a batch of 60 or so Minden Austrian line infantry from the infamous Drawer o' Lead to my immediate left here at my desk in Zum Stollenkeller. An hour or so this evening to stick 'em to temporary bases ought to do, and I've already got a very nice speculative flag designed a few months back by David of the Not by Appointment blog, who really does some amazing work with his secret blend of source materials and technical know-how.

On a related note, there is a neat Facebook page belonging to a group of reenactors who model the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment. The photographs alone are well worth a look. Of particular interest is the fact that much of the nominally white pieces of uniform are in fact a creamier shade of off-white wool or linen. A point worth keeping in mind for those of us painting white uniforms. I might have to revise ever so slightly my current approach which involves damp-brushing white over a light gray undercoat.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Gotta check the stock of temporary card bases for painting and maybe cut out a few more strips to hold five or six figures each, making painting a bit easier. Huzzah!

-- Stokes

Here are the recently finished von Polenz Cuirassiers with the background neatly and quickly removed using Pixelcut.ai. Haven't figured out what to do with the image next, but just consider the possibilities.

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

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