He even painted up OK.

 S

See where these little diversions lead us?

Huh, he looks like he just took a snowball to the head.

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

 OK, off topic, but I could not resist. And, besides, it's seasonal.

I'll paint him up tomorrow.

So, I've never really sculpted anything before, so this is a bit new and quite a bit of fun while watching "A Nightmare Before Christmas" with Erin.

A Troop of Shew

There's no business like Shew business I whistle through my teeth as I put the finishing touches on my latest for the Brig.

It was different, it was a little out of the ordinary. I thought, oh it's a royal bodyguard for the Graf. Idly I wondered how they would go in "Charge!". A quick puff on my cheroot and I opened the window to let the smoke out and palmed down a mint so mother wouldn't suspect.

Whatever might the Brig be up to? They certainly didn't look like anything from the VFS.

Ye Sealed Knotte

'Twas the week (or two) before Christmas, and all through the house was the rustle of quiet industry.

Mother was creating plum puddings and mince pies and trifles of many kinds.

Father was busy converting Spencer Smiths into panzer grenadiers with two-minute epoxy and a straight-edge razor. 

I was fiddling about at the small desk in my loft bedroom with a number of half-pennies in a desultory fashion. I had just finished the Brig's 'The Cavalier Army'. What a cracking good read it had been; everything you could possibly wish to know about the Civil War. My brain was buzzing with the possibilities. 

I had had an idea of what might be achieved upon the tabletops of Mars with numbers of pikemen and musketeers in the service of the King.

"Eureka..!" I muttered and drew up the following diagram upon a sheet of foolscap.

You know, I pondered aloud... I wonder if the Brig would be interested in this. 

That called for a shot of VAT 69. And a small cheroot. I had to be careful not to overindulge as I had Finals coming up the next morning.

Whoever said Ed Suren did not have a sense of humour?

 

Surely this miniature was sculpted after the founding of The Sealed Knot?

Oh eBay, thou temptress

 

Oh, the shame

I regret nothing. Nothing!

Some cutting in, a few details, maybe some back-lining, and they'll slot right in with the Littler Britons.

Yes, yes, I fell down a rabbit hole.

 One dug by Lord of the Rings.

That'll teach me to watch a few episodes of Amazon's "Rings of Power".

I pulled out my pile of LotR shame, and oo-er, it's a big one.

I was thinking, Uruk Hai, Minas Tirith, Warg riders...

So this happened over the weekend.

They need finishing, but that is how I am heading. I think I have 8 or 9 painted and another 6 or 7 in various states. Enough to give Rohan some trouble.

The GW Uruks always suffered from bendy or plain old broken pikes, but I have salvaged a dozen which are now now on the paint bench.

Wouldn't a pike block of 60 of these fellows look good? 3 ranks, 20 files. And because pikes are Landsknechty, I had to do this:

Nothing like a Berserker with a two-handed sword for ruining your day.

And then there was Minas Turith. I have a few goodies and some scattered infantry, but, I want to go fairly big on this army, so went for this for the core of the army.

I'd add Citadel Guard and Guardians of the Fountain Court and probably more knights as well. However, I think this is a good start!

The High Command

So to speak.

Some years ago I inherited a random and diverse collection of French for Egypt. Some were Willies for the later battles of the campaign, ditto some Old Glory. I believe they were surplus from the Collection of Charles Grant which he's probably had in the 1990s while he was writing his books on the campaign and his series of articles for Practical Wargamer.

Some bits of this collection were useful and joined my current army which is my round about way of saying I painted something.

I forget which regiment this is...

Will he be the beginning of another regiment or will he hang about the Corsican Tyrant?

One just needs a large enough piece of plastic to mount them on.

I do like the uniform and will likely do a unit. I am keeping my French cavalry units fairly small as they did not get to Egypt in any great strength. The 7eme bis Hussars are 8 troopers and an officer for example, and that's the standard I'll build the two mooted units of Dragoons I have in mind as well.

Well, that's enough 'castles in the air' for one day.

Keep on smiling. 

The Ongoing History

 

In one rank

In two

I've sent the past dew mornings on basing the Mamluks and this is where I am, currently. I'm quite happy with how they look. I want to add some more 'rabble' infantry and push the cavalry part to twelve figures at least.

Things ought to look pretty spectacular when there are 24 or more on the table.

Just Passing Through

 Enthused after playing with my French infantry, I have gotten on with starting to base my Mamluk cav
alry.

I think I have posted here about the concept for the basing, so I won't go over it again.

Cha-a-a-a-arge!

The idea is to build up one large unit of Mamluks in the style you see in the picture; quite diorama-like with the smattering of infantry figures thrown in. The effect I am seeking is one of movement which I hope to emphasise with flags and banners. They will be the mainstay of the army. 

I will also build up smaller units of armoured cavalry and I hope, some camelry to really sell the diverse nature of the army. I want to create a large unit of 'rabble' infantry that I can break down into smaller units as scenarios demand as well as small units of musketeers that might be the private retinues of slavers and similar types.

Lastly, I would like to put together a unit of Janissaries because, well, this is officially the Ottoman Empire after all.

Numbers are still a work in progress, but 12 to 16 figure sub units suggest themselves.

Catching Up

 Sometimes I realise that a lot of what I am working on does not always make it to the blog, so to make up for that, let me post a few pictures of a long-term project.

Now, I simply need a horde of mamluks.

A Savant with an exciting piece of natural history to describe.

General Bonaparte passes the time with General Kleber.

A few of the 7ème bis de hussards. There are some more that need to be based.

The Long War of the Quar

 It seems the Quar have always been at war. When the first wandering clans of insect gatherers built their low, mud-walled buildings, it was as much to keep out other Quar as the wild animals. As they first learned to make tools to get food, they quickly learned to make tools to defend themselves. The mud walls quickly became fortified citadels, and then city-states. In five thousand years of civilization, the only constants of their culture have been the changing of the seasons and the threat of war.

So says the fluff. And there os a lot of fluff concerning the Quar and their world of Alwyd. The sustained and deep world-building behind the se figures and the associated game are strong draws. And then there are the miniatures...

Heavy shotgun team

A humble Rhyfler

There have been a few iterations of the Quar in miniatures, the 28mm, 15mm and 6mm metals that go back about a decade and just last year Wargames Atlantic brought out a plastic range to support their version of the game.

I love the slouched, somewhat down-trodden look of the quar. It reminds me a little of the underground comics from the 1960s. That's driven my desire to paint them in something of a Vietnam War style.

I got distracted.

 

I have a bit of a thing for the older Games Workshop stuff...

Recently was inspired to go and scrounge up some of the old RTB01 plastic Space Marines and paint them in the heraldry of the Lamenters chapter.

Just remember. White base coat and two thin coats of yellow...

Prussian Pottering

 

Not much time spent at the painting Desk on the Prussians because I got distracted by another project. 

Still, I have made a little progress as you can see.

I'm aiming to finish them off over the weekend.

Wish me luck!

Back on the Tools

Or back on the Prussians at least. After a remarkably long wait, a small parcel of figures arrived in the mailbox last week, all the way from Sweden. Hurrah, I thought, my Stadden Prussians have arrived! I have myself a couple of days to psych myself up, then turned with due heroism to the task of removing flash. Done and now primed, I started painting.

The proud Fahnenjunker bears before him the Leibfahne of IR#5

For my next trick... the Regimentsfahne.

Tweaking Mameluke basing.

 

Chaaaaaaarge!

I think this might do the trick. Not every horse-man will get his base so liberally garnished with followers, but ... enough will. Then there might also be a subsequent rank to reinforce the illusion.

I need to get my hands on some more 40x75mm Renedra bases to see how an entire unit looks.

What do you think?

Building Little Boats

 or...

Dhow are you?

The bits.

Still painting Frenchmen in Egypt, be reassured.

However, I was reading the excellent 'Napoleon in Egypt' by Paul Strathern and is starting to become clear to me that I would benefit from some watercraft, so wat could be more appropriate or more multi-use than an Arabian Dhow.

I well remember the templates available on the Major-Generals' marvellous website, so off I flew via the Wayback Machine (http://web.archive.org/web/20060614041903/http://zeitcom.com/majgen/index.html) and downloaded them.

The lead ship in her class.

In the photo above you can see the deck united with the hull. The smaller pieces are the fore and aft decks that will be raised a little higher then the level of the main deck by means of some shims underneath them.

The decks are heavy card with the planking drawn in black biro and then with the odd plank picked out with a wash of one colour or another. It's surprisingly colourful and effective. I'm kind of regretting using such strongly coloured paper for the hull - a manila folder seems a better option in retrospect.

Next comes the mast, yard, sail and some rudimentary rigging.

I am thinking three or four might be a good number for this flotilla?

Some Mamelukes

 Can I call them mamluks please?

Anyway. this is the start of the Mamluk cavalry horde.

The whole collection

I'm thinking this is the ranty army commander Angry Bey

The leader of the light cavalry. Murat Bey?

Breaking up the look of the cavalry with varied weapons &c

I’ve been looking at these figures and thinking a bit.

How does this seem – mount each horseman on a 50mmx50mm base and allow him two ‘followers’ on 25mmx25mm bases that can be placed behind him. They’d be the people picking up his discarded muskets and pistols for him. They might also be used (or re-used) as infantry in other contexts.

One or two might be equipped with banners to add to the spectacle.

Thoughts?

Napoleon in Egypt

 Well, now. What to do when you are a little weary of painting tartan and your Prussians are yet to put in an appearance?

Why, you pick up the threads of an old project, of course.

Trudge, trudge, trudge. le desert mauvais... le cafard... les mirages

I painted three of these over the weekend - the thirds' base is still a bit of a WiP so he's not made the cut photographically.

They really are quite enjoyable figures to paint and I can get one done in about an hour without too much of an effort.

They will be joining the 9eme de Ligne in short order.

Using the Charge! organisation is something of a cliché with me, but, you know you pays your money and takes your choises.

The ultimate plan here is three Charge!-style units of three line and one Grenadier company, another unit of light infantry and two units (12 figures each) of cavalry - one of hussars and one of dragoon.

I have 3/4 of the first unit of infantry done and scraps of cavalry units and half the Light infantry.

Then there are the Mamelukes.

Filing in time

 

The 42nd

So, that was a fairly productive long weekend. I dipped into my new stash of Willie Highlanders and pushed out another half-dozen figures including the Grenadier you see in the right of the photo.

Despite the tartan and the separate swords and muskets, these are less of a chore to paint than the Arquebisiers de Grassin and I expect (hope for?) fairly decent progress on these.

I think they are quite a useful regiment to have as they can be used at both Carillion/Ticonderoga and Fontenoy with some companies also being used at Prestonpans of all places.

Small update

I just painted myself out of Prussians. IR 5 stands currently at eight figures.

I've put in an order, so watch this space.

In the meantime, a small order for the 42nd has arrived, so I'll get on with that for the moment. I've painted one figure and prepped another half dozen, so expect pictures soon..! :^)

There is nothing quite like...

 

...Stadden Prussians

A small follow-up as to what's been coming off the painting desk since my "What's Next" post of a few days back.

IR #5 has had a few minor additions with a few more yet to come. Then I'll be out of stock locally and will have to make a decision on whether I should order more in if I am to continue.

My question to myself is do I want to commit to painting another 50? At my rate of painting, they would take me about two months of my hobby time.

To ask the question is to have the answer.

La poudre noire et les Guerres de la Révolution Française

 

This kind of works for me

So, where to start.

A few years back I had from John P. a couple of hundred (maybe a few more than that) very nicely painted Elite Miniatures French infantry of the Revolutionary period.

I started basing them up, 4 to a 40mm base because it seemed like a good idea at the time. That done, I sort of ran out of steam as I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with them or even what ruleset I liked the look of. Besides, they were just the infantry and needed cavalry and artillery to be added to get them into some sort of fighting shape, so they got boxed up and put away. 

However, they always lurked at the back of my mind. 

Now, I'm not sure why, but Back Powder cropped up in some wargamey context recently and these fellows started jumping up and down and waving their bicornes and tarletons at me. "Choose us! Choose us!"

So I looked at them, laid them out. Took a good look at the BP unit organisations and thought, "Hm. This could do."

Then I slapped myself on the forehead with the realisation that this was a wargames army that really only needed the fun stuff painted. You know, the units and stands you use as motivation while you crank out the masses of infantry.

I always was a little slow.

Arquebusiers Unchained or, What's Next?

 Well, it has been a long job, but I have finished the Arquebusiers de Grassin.

Lurking in a wood near you.

They were not a tough job, but there was a fair bit of flash on them. In retrospect, I would question using the remastered minis that are on the Tradition website. They do not seem to offer much extra value; the officer is identical to Suren's original and has all the flaws that it came with. There is a Grenadier which was nice, but it was so miserably sculpted that it was painful to paint. It would also have been nice if it could have been provided separately so you could adjust the proportion of them in your unit. There is a drummer which I have not yet had the heart to paint, but looks like a bit of a trial to assemble drum to drummer. The fusiliers have all been modified, but when that's happened, the cartridge boxes have somehow been rather 'flattened' and pushed into the miniature.

So, while I am glad I did them, I am glad I won't have to do them again!

So, now the question arises... what' next.

I have a few options. I spent some time last week painting a few sample Highlanders I have had knocking about here for months. I have a method now for tartan that works well for me; it's a bit impressionistic, but looks 'right' and I can knock out an infantryman in the course of a 45 minute painting session. I'd build the unit to the "Drums of War" organisation (4 x sub units of musketeers @ 19 figs each plus additional Grenadier and Light companies, two of each) - but it's a double-sized unit so it would be a long project. The first batch of figures are on order.

42nd Highlanders

44th Foot

Next option would be to finish off the 44th Foot. This was a hard-working regiment in the French and Indian war, being present at numerous engagements, not the least of which were the Monongahela and the siege of Fort Niagara. I started work on this unit when I finished my third French unit for the French and Indian war. I only need to paint about a dozen figures and flag the unit to put this one to bed.

Another project that tempts me is to crack on with the 46th Foot. I have some of the command in Staddens. I also found a few Grenadiers unexpectedly this morning which has dangled temptation in front of me. They are very handsome figures.

IR 5

So, who does not like a Stadden Prussian Grenadier? This chap got painted this morning. Took about an hour because they are quite demanding figures to paint as they require your very best in terms of precision. 

Lastly, I also watched on Henry Hydes' YouTube channel his restoration of the Spencer Smith "Oldenberg" Regiment and some of Charles Grants' rather super old buildings which have come to him. and now I have an itch to pull out some of my unpainted Spencer Smiths and have a go at them. 

Top Tips for Speed Painters!

 Don't do it!

I see a lot of YouTube videos with various people - some very good painters among them - smashing out units or armies of war games miniatures.

They have plenty of tips and tricks, some of which I have emulated at times. They are often very good and promote a tightly disciplined way of painting so that you can get that new unit on the table asap.

Now, this is great, and I am sure it helps many get just that result - a neatly painted unit ready to game with in a short period of time. So far as that goes, I suppose that's a good thing. I mean painting is not that delightful an occupation for many who just want to game and need to have painted miniatures to do that.

Speaking for myself it's a shockingly joyless activity. Take 'x' minis, prime them, then... paint all the trousers. By the time you are done with the last pair, the paint will be dry on the first and you can start over with the jackets!

Woo-hoo I say with poorly feigned enthusiasm. I recently had the experience of painting a box of Perry Napoleonic French. I assembled (why are there not enough covered shakos for the entire unit?) and primed them. I was about done here, but I kept on and did all their trousers in contrast paints per the speed paint guide I fund online and conked out due to the tedium.

So, I'll offer my 'method'. I paint what I feel like. I often have 2-3 units on the go at the same time. I never paint more than three of four minis at the same time and they are almost always all different in some way. This keeps me mentally active while I am painting.

The other thing that I do is keep the completed part of the unit out next to the painting table. My motivation is watching it expand and, as it grows into it's shape, I can see what I have done and what needs to be done - for me this is important when building large units of Willies to the "Charge!" or "Drums of War" rules which both require a large supporting cast of extras alongside the basic types.

So, just now as you can see in the accompanying pics, I am working on the Arquebusiers de Grassin* and some extras for my French-and-Indian Wars units. 

Avert your eves, please from the disorganised hell-hole that is my painting desk.

The expanding Grassins. The officer in the foreground shewing a leg is an unattached ADC. Each of my units has one for the look of it. It may not be too obvious but they are well into their second company or Grand Division now.

The la Reine and Béarn Regiments. Each is having a Light and a Grenadier company added per the "Drums of War Along the Mohawk" rules.

The la Sarre Regiment and assorted livestock. You will see a harried ADC dashing forward with a despatch from M. le General.

These French regiments are a pleasure to have out on display. I never pass them by without stopping and gazing upon them for a moment or two and maybe daydreaming about what might next be added to the collection. 

And in some ways this is the heart of why I paint as I do. For me one of these regiments is a thing of craft and beauty to be treasured and admired and added to lovingly. The thought of knocking a unit out is the opposite to what I am attempting to achieve.

Now, I'll have a step-ladder to get down off my high horse.

* These are largely the original Suren castings. I bought some of the remodelled ones and they are not a patch on the originals. There are a couple of interesting ideas among them -a Grenadier and a Drummer, but the quality of the casting and the mould making is poor. I have miniatures from across the remade range and would not go there again. Too many mould lines, imprecise detail, pits and pockets in the castings. they have been a bit of  chore to work with.

A Weekend of Warriors

 

That was a busy weekend...

"Er, father..."

Father was busy so he could only spare me  half an ear. The Brigadier would be arriving at our little house on the morrow and he was deadly keen to finish a new unit of light infantry for the War Game.

"Have you seen the new catalogue by Mr Suren?"

He shaved off another few flakes of plastic from a Spencer Smith grenadier.

"No... Why?"

"There's really something I think you ought to see."

Father was teasing some epoxy glue to form something like a mirliton. And some fur trim. The tip of his tongue was protruding from the side of his mouth. "Oh? What's that my lad?"

"These. If you look at the pages for Frederick the Great's Army."

Father's eye trailed down the page. "Whatever has Teddy Suren done this time? More blackamoor servants or naked lady sailors?" he quickly dashed some paint onto another set of gray gaiters. "A little lining in with black india ink and these fellows will look spanking," he sighed in satisfaction. 

"Right at the end. Past the Cuirassiers and Dragoons. Look. The Arquebusiers de Grassin..!"

"But.... but... they're not even Prussian!" The eyebrows went up, the pipe dropped from Fathers slack jaw. 

Straight into his tumbler of VAT 69. 

It made a frightful mess.