Old School Franco-Prussian War

 I have been doing a little painting these last couple of weeks and decided it was time to do a small update on a project of - er - mature years.

So, quite some time ago I started painting some Willie Franco-Prussian War figures. I wanted a very definite style for the figures and basing and this was what I came up with on my first unit.

I liked that very much so I applied it to my first cavalry unit.
 

Very much in favour of how that turned out! So, I cracked on and painted four Bavarian Infantry and primed another eight and... then... ran out of steam.

Basing is a work in progress, however, still I'm liking the result.

I'll finish them up tonight.

Consider this a slow Zoom.

The horse-holder needs a rifle and something to connect him to the horse.

Don't talk to him about Blood and Iron.

Coming up, I have a French Line Infantry unit that just needs a few touches and it'll be finished.

Willie Franco-Prussian War

 Not too long back, I was gifted by the very kind and generous GW a pile of Willie Franco-Prussian War figures that had come to him from Larry Brom.

This is a period I don't know a lot about, but do rather enjoy the uniforms of. That's more than enough excuse, correct? Free figures, pretty uniforms and a War with a reputation for dash and occasional atrocity.

So, off I went and plunged in with a vague idea of building a small collection that might work with Featherstone's rules as laid out in "Tackle war Games This Way". 12 figure infantry units, six figure cavalry units, a gun is a battery and so forth. Stuart Asquith wrote up a version which float about online. 

I thought it best to start with the Zouaves. Get them out of the way and everything else seems easy by comparison!

The flag is by Warflag, representing the First Regiment of Zouaves, First, Division, First Corps, Army of the Rhine under Marshal MacMahon. I agonised somewhat over the basing, thinking I might even Plinth the stands on nicely polished quarter inch timber. Then sanity prevailed and I went for Renedra treated with Acrylic oils to simulate timber grain, sealed with varnish then garnished with figures, terrain paste and a variety of tufts and static grass.

Prussian Uhlans awaiting their treatment. What gets me about the older production Willie figures was how they would arrive in the post (presumably) with their weapons soldered into their hands. Oh, how I sigh for times past. 2nd Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment Nr 9 if you want their full title!

...and based on my lunch-break.