The Grand Duchy of Stollen

An 18th century table laid out for the evening meal. V ery quiet here at The Grand Duchy of Stollen in recent weeks what with the onslaught of daily life, but hopefully some time in the hobby chair during the long weekend.  In the meantime, allow me to wish any U.S. visitors who drop by, wherever you might find yourselves in the world, a Happy Thanksgiving.   The Grand Duchess and Young Master are busily preparing the final dishes upstairs in the kitchen.  The Young Master and I whipped up the pumpkin pie and one of our planned side dishes yesterday afternoon.  In fact, my small, freckled partner in crime did just about everything with only minimal assistance from yours truly and did it very well.  The pie and casserole ought to be extra good this year as a result.   I am now off to shower and shave before dressing for dinner and placing a couple of calls to family elsewhere.  Enjoy the day everyone, and don't overdo it too much....

A field of poppies. “P atriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism, nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. . .  In saying ‘our interests first and who cares about the others,’ we erase what a nation has that’s most precious, what makes it live, what is most important: its moral values.” -- French President Emmanuel Macron -- Stokes 

A long with millions of others, m y maternal grandfather and various great uncles -- Methodists, Episcopalians, a Baptist, and one Catholic -- once went to war almost eight decades ago, in part, to stop the sort of thing that happened yesterday.  On Saturday during religious services at The Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , an individual with a history of antisemitic behavior murdered 11 people:  Joyce Fienberg, 75, Rose Mallinger, 97, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Cecil Rosenthal, 59, David Rosenthal, 54, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88, and Irving Younger, 69, Richard Gottfried, 65, and Bernice Simon, 84, and Sylvan Simon, 86.   During the first half of the 1990s, I used to catch the bus to and from college daily just up the street from this particular temple in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood where you might think this kind of thing would never happen.  Have we learned nothing?    --...

Here's where we stand now with the second squadron of (Germanic) horse grenadiers in cuirasses and bearskins.  That's not a warped base in the rear row, but rather a hardened dollop of super glue dripped onto the cutting mat ten or more years ago that causes the slight lean of one particular pair of cavalry figures and mounts. V ery quiet here in the Grand Duchy of Stollen during these last couple of weeks.  The usual encroachments of life into free, uninterrupted hobby time you understand.   It's pointless cataloging the various impediments to painting since school began again a month ago.  There has to be an easier way, but, as yet, I have not figured it out.  As lamented any number of times here before, by the time The Young Master is tucked in at 8:30 in the evenings, I simply want to collapse into bed myself and not do anything but read or binge on the latest British or Australian TV series that the Grand Duchess and I watch via Netflix or Amaz...

The figures in question, looking not so very different from their last Kodak moment in August.  Isn't it funny how the figures seem like lifeless blobs of metal and paint for so much of the painting process?  At some point, however, there will be one key step completed that breaks the back of a project and makes them spring to life.  Hopefully, I'll get there before too much longer. O r so went the wisdom in the war adventure Snow Treasure (1967), a film adaptation of the Marie McSwigan novel by the same title, all about secret efforts by Norwegian school children to transport gold bars out of the country following the German invasion of Norway in April 1940.  A mountain (large task) is really just a series of small hills.  This is how I prefer to think of figure painting , especially during those times when progress slows down to a glacial pace.   And so the small painting hill yesterday (Saturday) afternoon and again in the evenin...

Two photographs of Eureka Miniatures' "Oh, you're so awful!" vignette, painted by yours truly in June 2018. A fter a busy Saturday putting finishing touches on some hobby-related projects (not actual painting or gaming I fear), and whipping up a batch of delicious spaghetti meat sauce in the late afternoon, I retreated back down here to Zum Stollenkeller Mk. II for a couple of hours to play with a camera and my light tent kit.  You might recall that the latter was purchased via Amazon after Christmas and the New Year last January, courtesy of an online giftcard from my parents.   Took about a dozen or so photos of the above vignette, two of which seemed good enough for some minor editing (basically just clicking on 'Auto Levels') and cropping in Pixlr online.  Not quite Orson Welles, Anthony Mann, or Edward Dmytryk quality as far as deep focus (depth of field) is concerned, but we're getting there.   A useful trick seems to be backing off the...

"One o'clock and all is we-ell!"  Or is it?  The sleeping Village of Borszchardstadt somewhere in the Mark of Schleiz a contested territory nestled between The Grand Duchy of Stollen and its nemesis The Electorate of Zichenau.  Borszchardstadt from the south at approximately 1:15am on the morning of 2. September 1763.  No, those are not Dalmatians grazing in the background but rather a small herd of 1/64 Holstein cattle. Our heroes lurking in the woods south of the village.  From left to right: Captain Pedersen from the Stollenian Corps of Engineers, Corporal Heinrich 'Heinie' Rahnzahn from the 1st Musketeers, the legendary Oberfeldwebel Klatschen from the Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers, and Gustl 'The Kid' Goshen, who volunteered to come on this mission chiefly because he idolizes the older and more seasoned Klatschen. Our band emerges from the woods at the start of the game and makes its way carefully across the f...

Blues and red silk bags done, red facings and turnbacks next, but I should probably finish up the metal bits on the horse tack before that. A spectacular late summer evening here, cool, sunny, with just the sound of crickets in the background.  A perfect time for an after dinner family bike ride around the neighborhood, or The Tour de Cul Sacs as we call it.  The Young Master had so much fun that he requested we go around twice.  We were away an hour.  The longest he has ever ridden on his own bike under his own power.  It was the most fun I've had since the three of us were out on cross-country skis together last winter.   Following his bedtime this evening, I stole back down here to Zum Stollenkeller Mk II to finish up the True Blue highlight on the jackets.  Metal parts on the horse tack tomorrow, which shouldn't take too long, just small dabs of paint really, so I might take out three small shrubs in a couple of beds before the sun...

The blue squadron of my composite cavalry regiment with silk bags newly highlighted with Scarlet on top of darker Cherry Red. S adly, today is the final day of summer vacation 2018.  Classes begin tomorrow bright and early at 8am for yours truly with my Henrik Ibsen and Society course on social problem plays since the late 1870s.   Syllabi have all been revised and uploaded to the cloud where students can access them after 1am Wednesday morning.  I've also uploaded various supplementary readings to the respective online course schedules and grade pages.  It has been a flurry of activity around here for the last two weeks, which explains the slow-down in painting and related updates here.   However, I have been able to return to the painting table during the last couple of days and pick up where I left off back on August 12th.  After finishing the medium-dark gray highlights on the black leather horse tack yesterday, I decided to give my...

Still not much to look at, but the horses are starting to look more like, well, horses in this second squadron of horse grenadiers. I 've spent about six hours over the last couple of days working on the horses, painting white markings and hooves, plus applying black GW acrylic black to the boots and bearskins of the riders.  I'll go ahead and work on the horses now until they are finished before returning to the troopers and trumpeters.   The next couple of steps will be the application of that medium-dark gray as a highlight to the horse tack plus the silver and brass oils to the bits and buckles of said tack.  The bald-faced horse in the front row (third from the left) will also get some fleshtone around its nostrils and lips.  I also need to work on the trumpeter's horse to prepare it for dappling.  Lots to do over the next several days then! -- Stokes

A pair of historic British infantry standards, which help to illustrate today's off-topic post rather nicely. I t's been some time since I have had one of those dreams.  Relax boys!  I mean a toy soldier dream that I remember the next morning.   My dream last night was a little different in that it was actually a painting table dream, and I was painting. . .  A gosling green infantry standard for some Napoleonic battalion with green facings.  Can't recall which regiment, but in the dream I was actually adding lighter green highlights to some of the folds, and there were 50 or so red-coated figures already on the table in the background awaiting their glossy coats of varnish.  That's all I remember.  At some later point, I woke up. Profoundly disturbing, and it can mean only one thing.  At some subconscious level, I am thinking of Napoleonics once again.  "Madness" to borrow a word from Young and Lawford's Charge! Or How to Pla...

A thin glaze of the alkyd oil Ivory Black over a medium-dark gray acrylic undercoat yields a pleasing basic black horse which can then be tailored by the random addition of white markings, hooves, and the occasional flesh-colored nose or lips. A fter a few evenings off doing other things, I buckled down and spent two sessions yesterday afternoon and again in the evening applying a glaze of Winsor & Newton alkyd oil Ivory Black to the rest of the horses in the second squadron with the exception of the trumpeter's horse, which will get a lighter treatment with some additional dappling if I can pull it off.  Need to think about how to do that though.  This morning early when I stole down here to Zum Stollenkeller Mk. II with that first mug of coffee before anyone else was up, the air was faintly redolent with the aroma of oils.  Ahhhh.  Not everyone's cup of tea, of course, but to me, this is one of the most pleasant side effects of using this particular med...

Three edited images of the test figures (after Auto Levels, brightening, and cropping) to make everything a bit easier to see.  I almost think this second batch will be more fun to paint, and turn out even better, that the first batch.  I spent two sessions today undercoating the horses in medium-dark gray,  Tomorrow (Monday) evening, a glaze of Ivory Black alkyd oil thinned with Liquin Original. T hree shots of the almost finished test figure(s) for the second squadron of horse grenadiers.  Thought the trooper still needs some light dry-brushing of medium-dark gray on the upper parts of his bearskin, I must admit that I am pleased with the way he and his trusty steed have turned out so far.  I especially like the effect of the metallic oils and the fleshy upper lip of the horse.   Yes, the horse's lip.  In much the same way that men's neckties enable us to personalize our more formally attired selves just a bit, hoof colors, w...

Two views of the current test figure after a couple of happy hours or so at the painting table. I spent some time, after my usual summer evening walk around the neighborhood, in the painting chair yesterday (Thursday) at work on a single test figure for the second squadron of 14 horse grenadiers.  Everything is pretty simple and even mindless at this early stage.  For instance, the blue coat and saddle cloth began with an undercoat of very dark Ral Partha 'Dark Blue' with some judicious 'True Blue' highlights on top of that.  The silk bag atop the bearskin has been given a quick slop of dark 'Cherry Red,' which is later highlighted with 'Scarlet.'  A few of these recently purchased cheap craft paints have their uses. The horse was painted with a very, very thin glaze of alkyd oil 'Ivory Black' over an acrylic 'Zinc' undercoat, a color I would describe a medium gray.  He appears a wee bit dark in these photographs, but the horse...

  No question about it.  You just cannot beat oil-based metallics for their glittery brilliance.  Silver, gold, and brass (a nice bright mix of the first two colors) where appropriate.  The finial and cords received a heavy dry brushing of gold. T wo more, slightly better, in-progress worktable shots of the first squadron of Wurttemberg-inspired horse grenadiers with all of the metallic bits done.  All very small to miniscule, but they impart a nice glitter to the unit that was absent before this step.  The trumpet banners still need so work, but for now these 16 figures have been put in their Allen Edmonds shoebox while the remaining 14 men and horses get some TLC.  First up this evening, undercoating the horses with yellow, tan, light gray, and off-white before the subsequent oil glaze of Paynes Gray or Ivory Black.  I haven't decided which yet.  Probably best to try a single test figure before spending the time to do all of them, ...

Not the greatest photograph, but look closely, and you'll spot silver stirrups and bits along with brass rings and buckles on the halters of the horses. A few different painting sessions today to finish highlighting the black leather and next begin applying the metallics (silver and brass oils).  To approximate spurs on the rear of the boot heels (not visible here), I satisfied that particular need with a nice small dot of silver using my old 000 sable round.  Happily, not too many flubbs with the brush today. Just the scabbard tips and sword hilts to do, and then I'm taking a break from these for a few days to allow the oil bits to dry.  While the painting iron is hot, I'll jump to that second squadron waiting in the wings and apply yellow, tan, and maybe some orange undercoats to the 14 horses before adding the oil washes to get that multidimensional glaze effect that so nicely approximate horseflesh. -- Stokes

A close-up of the dark gray being applied with a feather touch and an old 000 sable that has served me well for 20+ years believe it, or not. S o, how are we faring with those horse grenadiers?   Well, getting very near the end, or rather nearer.  This weekend, I have spent various painting sessions, usually no more than 60-90 minutes at a time given the tedious nature of the work, applying dark gray highlights here and there to the various areas of horse tack.  Yes.  I know, I know.  It's official.  I need my head examined.   Once dry and at arm's length, however, it adds some nice dimension to the figures and the overall impression they make.  Blame the work of Doug Mason and others as featured so long ago in Miniature Wargames and early issues of Wargames Illustrated , which has always been my pot of gold at the end of the proverbial painting rainbow where my own efforts with the brush are concerned.  Just a few more...

Here's where things stand for that first squadron of horse grenadiers this early Saturday afternoon.  All harnesses, reins, straps, etc. are finished.  Metalics are next!  A few enforced days away from the painting table here.  The Grand Duchess and Young Master returned from their visit to the maternal grandparents very late Monday evening this last week, which, as is so often the case, threw a monkey wrench into my painting plans.  And we just have the one child.  I don't know how   men in larger families find any time at all for themselves.  It is certainly a challenge for yours truly. ------------ It's odd how society has shifted since I was a child in the 1970s and a teenager in the 8os.  Our mother and father played with us, took us places, and did things with us when we were small.  Maternal grandparents too for that matter.  Reading to us, running around outside with a ball, bicycling, tobogganing in the snow, mus...

The test figure in question, and yes, I see the white areas in need of touching up.  That's the final step before glossing. A nother cool, gray, and damp morning here in the Grand Duchy of Stollen, fitting for a Monday. So, following coffee and a small breakfast, I sat down to the painting table for a test drive of the paint brush, that is try my plan for the reins, bridles, martingales, and cruppers: black with a hint of dark gray as a highlight.   I used the orange-handled #2 round brush still with a reasonably good point, glimpsed above propping up the test figure, took a deep breath, and turned the key.  The application of the black went fairly well, with just a small mistake, easily wicked up with a damp brush, before it was onto the dark gray as a highlight.  The end result, sans the later metallic bits, small dabs of brass and silver to suggest the buckles and bits, is shown above.   A fairly decaffeinated hand and a very light touch w...

Just the bridles, reins, martingales, and 'cruppers' (that funny strap between the back of the saddle and bases of the horses' tails) to do next.  Thank you for the information on the correct terminology, Steve! T oday was unseasonably cool for late July -- mid-60s Fahrenheit, overcast, and damp. . .  My kind of day actually -- so why not spend the afternoon and evening here in Zum Stollenkeller Mk II teasing small dabs of paint onto even smaller areas?   During two, or perhaps three (I really cannot recall at this point), sessions at the painting table, I took care of the white markings on muzzles and fetlocks, painted in the hooves, and finally applied more thinned Ivory Black, this time to the lower muzzles of all but two horses in this first batch of 16.  Not too many mistakes to fix, which is always nice, although these days I have become a pretty dab hand at wicking away misapplied bits of still damp paint with a wet brush before anything dries an...