These are (mostly) very old figures from Eric Knowles' collection, so this has been a return to my Refurb Factory desk. Eric used larger units than I do, so there are some extra command figures added to make up the numbers. I am pleased to say that I am happy with my new technique for painting musicians in the Kings Livery, which has removed an amount of stress from my current push to progress my French contingent.
I have tried to keep the appearance consistent with Eric's original, freshening everything up as necessary, and am pleased with the result. These are the two battalions of the Régiment de Champagne, all ready for the Duty Boxes. The flags are used by kind permission of David at Not by Appointment - no problems this time, with the flags laser-printed on thinner paper.
As always, these are Les Higgins figures - smallish 20mm - though the mounted officers are by Irregular, on Higgins horses.
There will be some more French units arriving over the next few weeks, so the barracks are getting swept out, ready.
A pair of handsome regiments! Nice, neat, clean painting, Tony!
ReplyDelete(I'd just paint the edges of the flags)
Thank you Peter (I'm sure you would).
DeleteAfter one recent fright, my new system for touching up the edges of paper flags is with half-dried-up whiteboard pens, which colour the paper without wicking into the surface. I've got a suitable green marker somewhere, so will dig it out now the glue is well dried.
Those look great Tony - excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ian - I think I've got enough half-decent ex-Eric figures to refurb about 6 battalions, and a few which will need stripping - apart from that, I'll have to use unpainted castings. Target for the French is 14 battalions, 4 guns, 8 cavalry, 2 dragoons plus staff. Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.
DeleteAfter the French there may be Dutch - if I'm spared...
Fantastic unit every time I see these beautifully painted figures I want to make an army.
ReplyDeleteDavid's flags are very nice, I use the regularly.
Keep up the good work.
Willz.
Thank you Willz - I'm enjoying this project - there's a lot to do, but the results are pleasing.
DeleteGreat flags - agreed - convincing Malcolm the Printer to run them off on 80g/sm paper has been a big improvement.
I had a smattering of Les Higgins figures as a lad, back in the day, I always thought they were very nice, crisp little figures. You gave done a great job tidying these ones up. The flags on Not by Appointment keep suggesting a SYW project to me, just so I can use some of them, but I think I shall be able to resist!
ReplyDeleteLuckily for me, a great many of the French flags changed very little between 1700 and the SYW, so I can take advantage of NBA's goodness. WSS flags for Austria, Britain and other nations changed constantly, with Emperor's initials and Union Flag and all that.
DeleteThese look superb. Look forward to seeing them in battle.
ReplyDeleteAny month now, I think.
DeleteLooking sharp, Tony! I have been working on building a SYW French army (very early stages) and David’s fine flags will be featured.
ReplyDeleteHi Jon - hope things good with you. WSS suits me nicely because it is more distinct from Napoleonics (and simpler to play!).
DeleteLovely toys Tony…
ReplyDeleteA classic French unit…
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly - having a productive week - must be the earlier sunrise! I think the next logical French subject for me (to keep things balanced) will be the artillery - that should be fun. I recently bought in some pre-owned guns, but they seem mostly to consist of some pretty horrible glue, so I'll start again from scratch. In this (eccentric) scale, the guns by Lancer Miniatures are very nice - they do mortars and all sorts - though I wouldn't give their figures house-room, to be honest.
DeleteVery nice indeed Tony and you have captured the Royal Livery well, makes a nice contrast to all that off white.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee - best I can do with the Livery is hint at it - I paint the lace in as white bands (should be off-white, probably) and use my patent button-stick to put rows of cherry-red spots along them. Works surprisingly well (for me!).
DeleteA bit confused by "Eric used larger units than I do, so there are some extra command figures added to make up the numbers". Does this mean you're getting two units out every one of his?
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough I also agonised over French Royal livery but found, like you, that you can get a good impression with quite a simple paint job.
Not quite 2 to 1, but something along those lines. Also (bless him) Eric had some pretty disastrous ideas on officers' dress, so I have tended not to attempt to refurb his command figures - mostly they go in the stripper jar. I also like to include a mounted officer in my infantry units, in the style of Charles Grant. I have a large number of Eric's French WSS infantry officers dressed in blue, waiting to be stripped. Eric's WSS artillerymen were usually uniformed for the SYW, too - his armies were general-purpose 18th Century! That's all fine - I wish to change a few things!
DeleteWhat colour did you use for the main coat colour? The white ‘frilly neck thing’ (to use the correct period term) stands out really well.
ReplyDeleteI have a number of similar "porridge" shades, including one that Aly mixed for me. Since this particular batch of figures was in goodish nick to start with, I went for a colour that was closest to Eric's original - I used Foundry's Arctic Grey (33B), which won a small beauty contest by a short head from their Austrian White (67A, I think). I'm a bit alarmed to note that the photo shows it with a slight blue tinge, which I don't think is visible in the actual paint job. Probably a combination of my fancy "daylight" painting lamps and my whimsical camera, which is a little deranged. I have always wondered what the true name for those frilly things was, so thanks for this.
DeleteYou’re welcome. If you want to know any more terms for 18th century military costume, just ask. 😁
DeleteA beautiful looking unit - and I'm glad that doing the flags on 80gsm paper laser printed has helped! :-)
ReplyDeleteCheers,
David.
Thank you David - no more hardboard flags for my soldiers!
Delete