General Dabrowski & ADC

I have been working on preparing castings mainly this week, but I have been able to complete another Polish command stand to give Prince Poniatowski someone to command. General Dabrowski and an ADC figure both by "Front Rank" - really good crisp castings a pleasure to paint. Dabrowski's horse is an old favourite light horse by "Connoisseur" and the ADC's is an "Elite"one.  I wanted the stand to tell a picture of the ADC having just galloped in and pulled his horse up and the look of an animated conversation. I think it has been achieved with the choice of figures and horses and how they are placed on the base. The horses were completed in the last big batch so they were all ready waiting for a project to come along. I did however have to add a saddlecloth and saddle made from Milliput to the Elite horse (took about 5 mins to do) as the ADC casting comes without one and would normally require a S1 type Front rank horse.

The blue used for main colours is a Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue (70899) which is highlighted with with a mix of the DPB and Flat Blue. The Polish crimson is created with Humbrol 73 (wine) as a base then highlighted with a 73 and Matt white (34) mix.

Silver used is Vallejo Model air silver as it it flows easily and works well on fine detailing. This was highlighted a little with a sligh mix of white in to too. Faces and flesh tones as per my usual 4 colour method.

More castings work this week as busy preparing a Vistula Legion lancer regiment and a Dutch Belgian Hussar regiment.

French Light Infantry

This week I have been completing the light infantry unit I started last week. A fairly simple paint scheme as trousers, tunic and waistcoats etc are all blue. The figures were undercoated Humbrol 67 (Tank Grey). Black was added for shako, boots, scabbard, cartridge pouch. The main blue was added using Humbrol 104 (an Oxford blue) . once dried then a light drybrush all over the figure using Humbrol light grey 64. Vallejo Flat Brown used for the backpack and musket. These are then highlighted by drybrushing a Vallejo Khaki Grey/white mix for the back pack to pick out details, and a neat khaki detailing on the musket.  Next up faces as per usual using my 4 colour method.  White was the most fiddly colour as lots of little details to add such as shako chords, belts, piping on cuffs and and around the chasseur companies boot tops. (These guys are a "full dress" casting). Then its facings (collar, eppaulettes, boot tops, sword knots , shako trims , pom poms etc depending on type of company) using Vallejo Flat Red and Deep Green. These are highlighted using Scarlett a Deep Green/Light Green mix. Voltiguer company has flat yellow added for the different pipings , tassels and swordknots  A light grey highlight is added to pick out the greatcoat folds on the top of the backpack. The blue is then worked on with thinned Vallejo Dark Prussian blue being painted in deeper recess areas. Vallejo flat blue is then used to highligh top areas, elbows, knees etc.Overall a nice unit. I am not basing this one.

Figures are "Elite miniatures"

So the holding area board is empty again. I will be delving into the lead pile again tonight, and filling it up with projects for the next few weeks. I think it will be another Dutchy of Warasw commander this week to start off with and the Vistula legion lancers are also calling as the flags have arrived from GMB, as have the Coldstreamers.

British Heavy Dragoons

I have been working on a request for a British dragoon unit from the peninsular. The 1st or Royal Dragoons. The figures are "Connoisseur" and they are a very nice casting to work with. Horses were completed in oils with a variation of base colour between humbrol 74 (yellow) and 83 (ochre) and then Burnt Umber and Burnt Sienna oils , this all gives a range of final horse colours.The riders were undercoated a dark grey as usual for these kind of top colours. The main red is Vallejo Flat red (70957) which is washed with a Citadel Devlan Mud (stoopid names!). It is then highlighted with a Vallejo flat red and scarlet (70817) mix .The blue used is a strong Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue (70899) which is then highlighted with a medium blue (70963) and flat blue mix (70962).

They have come up very well. I am not basing these , so will ask for photo of them fully completed.

Flag is GMB , a simple drill and pin to replace the cast sabre.

Also started work on a French Light Infantry unit.

Elite miniatures casting these guys, more next week.

Some British

This last week I have been working on horses and completed 32 of them various browns and a few whites. The warm weather has helped to speed the oil drying time.I was even able to varnish them as well. I usually have a few command figures on the paint board at any time as they can be easily dipped in and out of and one of these has been completed as well. A British command stand with a mounted infantry officer and a mounted highland Black Watch officer.(who has a suitably stern look on his face!)

The riders are both "Front Rank"  as is the far officers horse. The highlanders horse is an Elite miniatures. I was in Hereford recently on my travels and I came across a really great model & railway shop The Hereford Model Centre (they are online too). The kind of place you rarely find these days a real Alladins cave and.with friendly knowledgable staff.  I picked up a range of supplies including the "grass" used on this base . Made by  Noch and marketed by Gaugemaster - Code 192 Rough Grass Beige. It comes in a matting form about 9 inches by 7" and is about 1/3 inch thick (it was not the cheapest item  - it was about £7 for the pack but it will last a good while) . It can be cut or just torn to shape. I think it gives a really good look for dried out grass/scrubland. It was attached to the plywood base using white PVA prior to adding the sand and stones mix. I was very happy with the finish.