Mr Stadden at Waterloo

 Inspired by yesterdays' Minot-fondling I rose early (Was it only 05.30? Surely not!) I combed through my small collection of vintage 30mm Napoleonic miniatures. I was seeking inspiration. I found it in the form, of a Stadden British company officer - still available from Tradition. he was in a bit of a state. Originally painted in enamels, his white trousers were patchy and scarred and his jacket was much chipped. His sword was bent and one corner of his base was turned over upon itself.

Tsk! This would ever do! I cannot think of a single officer of the British Army who would permit himself to meet the enemy in such a state! So, out with the red (albeit with a dab of brown to dull it down), the grey for new trousers, a dab of bright gold here and there and a lovely bright silver for his carefully straightened sword blade.

Ready for anything the French can throw his way.

He is now able to meet the French upon terms that would not be an embarrassment.

Barry Minot

 Some of my favourite miniatures are the Naploeonic range made by Barry Minot in the 1970s.

There were British and French for Waterloo. I know of infantry for both, and Cuirassiers for the French, The Cuirassiers came in the form of an Officer, bugler and a couple of troopers - at least. that's what I have of them.

I thought I would put up some pictures of the few British Infantry I have. They are beautiful figures, slim and well proportioned and a delight to behold

Where should one start but with the veritable "BN1" of the range. A member of one of the 'Centre' companies, he marches with a determined air, "Belgian" shako set square on his head.

Note if you will, the neatness of the paintjob. I wish I could paint as well as this.

Our next entrant I shall call "BN2" - centre company, standing, firing. Again, look at the fanatic neatness of those tapes on his jacket. Marvellously precise paint-work.

BN3. British Drummer, Belgic Shako. Or not, it does not matter. Another lovely figure. The painting may or may not be accurate; I am not enough of a button-counter to try or even be qualified to critique another hobbyists work. Again, though this is a lovely, clean piece of painting.

Maybe BN 4, maybe not, Nonetheless, I shall name this composition so. What a wonderful piece this is. Charming animation to this single-piece casting.

All the fab four (five?)-some.

The Minot figures scale quite well with the Willie range for height and pleasing looseness of style. They remind me of the Stadden range in terms of their and bulk and fineness of detail.

I give them a 10/10 for my favourite Napoleonic figures and if anyone wants to sell me any, drop me a line at bloggerator@gmail.com.

WIPPY Orc

 Not a Russian lost orc either.

I have been playing about a bit recently with colour and technique in ways I have not really done before. So much of "toy soldier painting' is colour by numbers. Grey coat, red cuffs. The right colours have to go in the right places otherwise the miniature is "not right". And that's fine and there are so many miniature painters whose work I deeply respect who paint historical miniatures (and certain fantasy and SF miniatures) without going outside the lines so to speak.

However, I have been chafing under these restraints for a while and decided it would be nice to paint outside the lines on occasion and play more freely with colour and technique. So, here's a WIP shot of a GW LOTR Orc. He's largely painted over a military green base coat with an overspray from above with a 'cold' off white then given a GW yellow wash. Some rough overpainting of metallic colours and that's where we are now. I might do some edge highlights on the armour to sharpen the definition. Some more washing to grunge it up a bit and I think that might do.

UPDATE: Finished with some poo-brown ground work and some of the sickliets grass tufts in the inventory.