Finishing Touches. . .

A lone RSM95 grenadier figure amidst quite a few Minden Austrians. The former are slightly cruder castings, but they nevertheless work well along side their crisper brethren. You can even drop one or two carefully chosen figures into a larger unit without raising any eyebrows. Not sure where this one came from, but he is destined to be part of the color party when those are issued at the end of the current 60-figure painting dance (it's a rather slow minuet). Fitting for a grenadier I hope you'll agree.

Took some time a couple of evenings ago to sort through the many hussars and horse castings, organizing them into squadron-sized batches in plastic ziplock sandwich bags. During the process, I discovered something like another eight or 10 of each, which means I might as well plan on a regiment of 64 or so when all is said and done. I know, I know. . . But since I have them, it seems a shame to leave 'em unpainted

In the meantime, it's back to adding a few final details to the current 20 Anhalt-Zerbst figures (the middle batch) before the usual touch-ups ahead of a coat or two of acrylic gloss varnish. I had hoped to get that accomplished just ahead of Christmas, but family life and celebrations took over. Painting slowed further with the arrival of fresh snow during Christmas Week and related local skiing. I'll never pass up the chance to clip into the bindings and enjoy time on the trails with the Grand Duchess and, once he recovers from his teen-aged malaise, the Young Master.

Needs must, right?

Back at the painting desk, and after a quick inspection this morning, it looks like the following items require my painterly attention:

Sword scabbards and hilts/cages -- Check!
Drum cords, hoops, and heads -- Check!
Brass Buttons -- Friday/Saturday
Touch-ups -- TBD
Glossing by the weekend anyone? -- TBD

Now, the start of the spring semester is Monday the 12th, so I've been occupied with updating course syllabi, related materials, and web pages in our learning management system. However, the Grand Duchess is headed to a conference in neighboring Toronto for several days, which frees up some time during the evening hours. The Young Master, at 16, is in that stage of not wanting to do anything with Dad besides grouse about this or that (how deprived he is, how terribly we treat him, how unfair life is, this, that, and the other ad infinitum. . .), so that too frees things up for more toy soldierly pursuits down here in Zum Stollenkeller.

But, it's 8:59am Wednesday morning and time for a refill of coffee upstairs in the kitchen before the Grand Duchess leaves for her drive with colleagues along 401 east to Toronto. And then there are some work-related things to accomplish before returning to the painting table later. I'll see you on the other side of that.

-- Stokes

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...

Rob said…

It may not be as crisp but I think he has more 'life' than the Minden figures around him.

10:10 AM

A J said…

They do look nice. Are RSM95 still going? Good luck driving to Toronto! We went up there to visit relatives a while back, and it's scary seeing all those speed limit signs in KM threatening dire retribution to anyone going a smidge over the speed limit!

4:28 PM

The Grand Duchy of Stollen

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