Sunday, February 28, 2010
French General and Aide
Here is the first of my three command bases. To make It a bit more enjoyable for myself I painted them one at a time rather than en Mass. This allows me to see the results a lot quicker and Is more satisfying.
Messing with mud
I tried a few things out and settled for the quickest and easiest way, with so many bases to flock It had to be something effective but fast to do.
This involved flocking the base as normal but as the PVA was still wet, I pushed a brush loaded with brown paint into it to make footprints. Puddles were created by exposing the flat base underneath, when this is painted dark brown and gloss varnished, It will give the effect of a muddy puddle. Very quick and very easy.
This involved flocking the base as normal but as the PVA was still wet, I pushed a brush loaded with brown paint into it to make footprints. Puddles were created by exposing the flat base underneath, when this is painted dark brown and gloss varnished, It will give the effect of a muddy puddle. Very quick and very easy.
French Aide de camp
'Tom T' asked me to post a little about how I paint my faces. Very simply is the right answer, I have given this one eyes as he is on a command base.
I start with painting a base coat of Flesh b from Foundry. When the coat is dry I give It a wash of brown Ink, them highlight with Flesh b again. The most Important thing I think Is painting in the crows feet next to the eyes and maybe a line across the forehead and as much facial detail as you can make out. Oh well I told you It was simple. For this guy I mixed 50/50 Flesh a and b to get the shade colour as I didn't want It too dark. I hope this helps Tom.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
The 42nd Highlanders hold off French Lancers at Quatre Bras 1815
Two days before the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon sent Marshal Ney to engage Wellington and stop him meeting up with Blucher and his Prussians and to drive a wedge between the two forces if possible. Ney engaged Wellington at the cross roads of Quatre Bras, but delayed in using his Superior numbers to good effect, allowing Wellington to re-enforce his meager holding force and a full scale battle developed.
Due to the undulating ground and high crops of the area, many Battalions were leapt on by squadrons of cavalry before they could form their defensive squares. Most were simply ridden into the ground but the brave, hard fighting men of 'Blackwatch' managed to fight back to back and hold off the attacks. By the end of the murderous day, some 300 officers and men of the 42nd lay dead. Never was a regiment more deserving of being singled out for praise than the 42nd in Wellington's report that day.
Due to the undulating ground and high crops of the area, many Battalions were leapt on by squadrons of cavalry before they could form their defensive squares. Most were simply ridden into the ground but the brave, hard fighting men of 'Blackwatch' managed to fight back to back and hold off the attacks. By the end of the murderous day, some 300 officers and men of the 42nd lay dead. Never was a regiment more deserving of being singled out for praise than the 42nd in Wellington's report that day.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The Might of Rome
Roman War!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Waterloo 1815
Napoleon decides to wait a few hours more to give the ground time to dry out for his Artillery, these extra few hours will give the Prussians time to arrive and cost him the battle and the war.
The time wasted on that morning in 1815 changed the history of Europe forever, so let's just enjoy the moment when Boney made the decision...
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Waterloo Reference
The other day I took the chance to go back in time to 1815 and actually take a few pictures of the battlefield. You can clearly see the state of the wet ground after the Union Brigade had swept down the hill. I will use these as colour and modelling reference for basing my Waterloo armies and thought they might be useful for anyone else thinking of doing the same.
Hundreds of heavy horses have left the ground a churned up quagmire.
Hundreds of heavy horses have left the ground a churned up quagmire.
French Top Brass
The time has finally come to start the 'cherry on the cake', the favourite figures you always leave til last and never get around to starting. Well, I'm going to learn from my lessons and just start them. These Generals and ADC's are from Front Rank and the detail is very good. I plan to spend a little longer than usual on these guys as they are command figures, hence the blackened eyes ready for whites and pupils.
I have taken the time to arrange and pair them up on imaginary bases before I start. My usual rule is two figures for Division command and three for Corps, but because I have the figures I'm going to make one base a little larger. After these three Divisional command bases I will start on the Marshals.
I have taken the time to arrange and pair them up on imaginary bases before I start. My usual rule is two figures for Division command and three for Corps, but because I have the figures I'm going to make one base a little larger. After these three Divisional command bases I will start on the Marshals.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Heeeeeere's Jonny!
Study of an Enthusiast
No 6: Weapon Bit Box
Monday, February 08, 2010
French Skirmishers finished
Saturday, February 06, 2010
5th Chevau-Leger Lancers
After doing a little research, I armed most of my second rank men with the sabre. The lance was very effective as a shock weapon and could gain the advantage in a charge, however, In the swirling melee that followed, the long lance could become a hindrance. For this reason the men of the second rank carried the sabre to help even the odds in close combat.
I had seen that the Perrys had produced a range of sabre carrying lancers and cursed the fact they had not been around when I collected the bulk of my army. However, looking through Front Rank's web site I saw they produced separate weapons including sabres and to my delight, they fitted very nicely into the open hands of the figures, job done. Now I feel like my unit is a little bit more historically accurate than It was before.
Like my Regiment of Dragoons earlier, this unit of Chevau-Leger Lancers is at full strength with four squadrons.
I had seen that the Perrys had produced a range of sabre carrying lancers and cursed the fact they had not been around when I collected the bulk of my army. However, looking through Front Rank's web site I saw they produced separate weapons including sabres and to my delight, they fitted very nicely into the open hands of the figures, job done. Now I feel like my unit is a little bit more historically accurate than It was before.
Like my Regiment of Dragoons earlier, this unit of Chevau-Leger Lancers is at full strength with four squadrons.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
DAY 5, West Face, Lead Mountain
Monday, February 01, 2010
Thank You!
Well I don't know what to say really...a huge thank you to everybody who voted for me, It's a great honour to receive this. Over the years as home life and work life took up more and more time, I almost quit the Blogging world many times, but receiving this award from fellow gamers and hobbyists has really made me glad I carried It on, Thank you very much indeed, Secundus.