I am still working out the best arrangement of units in my draft OOB - I'm waiting for some more source material to arrive, to help with the reference, but it is somewhere in the Xmas postal storm.
This isn't going badly thus far - I'll get some more troops into the foot-baths tonight (old ice-cream tubs, warm water), to soak off the old bases - maybe 2 battalions plus a battery, or maybe some cavalry, so see how that goes. The units I have bought in were mostly already labelled up with regimental identities, but some of these don't quite line up with the dates I am aiming for, and I need to check out the Austrian facing colours!
So this isn't really a big step forward, but it maybe goes to show that I can do small steps quite quickly!
Once again, I have done as little re-painting as possible - the paintwork you see here, chip repairs apart, dates from the early 1970s. For some reason, the flesh colour on the faces seems to have faded, so I've freshened that up a bit.
The missing colonel I mentioned could be quite interesting - I have prepped an Irregular figure, mounted on a Higgins horse. As an experiment, I undercoated him in matt white acrylic, and gave him a wash over with Citadel Chestnut Ink, supposedly to pick out the casting detail. Erm - no detail showing, but the figure is now a nice, even, toilet-soap pink colour. Anyone remember Camay? The Contesse had a look at him, and assumed he was plastic! Nah - he's just pale pink.
Camay? Yes. And Rula Lenska. Athough her TV ads here in the U.S. were for a hair product if memory serves. Lovely figures by the way.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Rula Lenska - yes...
DeleteLovely figures - quite so...
Those LH figures definitely have something about them. Most inspiring, especially as I think the range is still available from John C? Would make a nice side project even using the new castings... food for thought. Your unit composition looks just about right and the three bases means you keep the officer and colours in the centre which is good.
ReplyDeleteHi Lee - I won't reply here, since I sent you an email - thanks for the links to your pictures in the previous post.
DeleteComing along nicely Tony...
ReplyDeleteThere are some very pretty Austrian flags...
I would recommend the Robert Hall book from The Pike and Shot Society.
All the best. Aly
Hi Aly - I've ordered a CD from Baccus about the Austrian army, which is by Robert - is it the same book? It's a lot cheaper than the book, anyway - see how I get on. I was going to rebase some Austrian horse today, but I convinced myself to wait until I'm working less in the dark. I have some Austrian cavalry regiments all ready to go, but the given names and the shabraque/facing colours don't match any of the sources I've got. I'm going to base up the horse in 9 figure units - I have plenty of figures - if historically any regiment should be a lot bigger than that then they can have two separate units.
DeleteI now have a process for minimising base flock without damaging the paintwork - involves a finishing-off stage with a medium toothbrush and a lot of running water. If I could only do something about the chilblains I'd be even happier!
Yes it is the same book...
DeleteI use a wax 5 sculpting tool to clean off old flock from bases...
It’s blunter than a scalpel so less chance of causing damage to the toys...
I have had mine for decades... so I am not sure where to get one now.
All the best. Aly
Righto Aly - thanks, I've got that - a Sculpt 5 Waxing Tool - I'll get right on to it....
DeleteThey are quite handsome. I like a bluish grey wash on white figures myself.
ReplyDeleteThis is the original 1970s painting, Peter, so I've left them pretty much as-was. The colour is supposed to be somewhere between white and "pearl grey", I think, so it will do! I'm working on the principle that it's best not to retouch the Mona Lisa if it comes up at auction.
DeleteAgreed - for dead white some kind of wash is nice, though my 1809 Spaniards turned out OK by the simple expedient of the light grey undercoat showing just a tad through the white.