Friday 30 January 2015

From SamuliS - 28mm French Middle Guard at Waterloo (243 points)

Another larger entry. This time the Middle Guard Grenadiers at Waterloo consisting of 3 Battalions and represented by 16 men each. I actually finished them last week, but being the clever boy that I am I forgot to take pictures in time...Well better late than never so here they are :)



They are all Victrix plastics. Not the best quality miniatures with a lot of soft detail and bayonets that snap very easily. Still they were extremely cheap coming at about 30cnt per miniature from a sale so that does compensate quite a bit for all the shortcomings. The flags come from GMB designs.







On most my Napoleonics I like to keep the paint job simple as there are hundreds of these little buggers to paint if you really want a proper large battle. These were basecoated blue with an airbrush and then block painted with the main colours. To add some variety I tried painting the backpacks in different colours and then added some extra detail by highlighting the skin parts as that's what people tend to look at first and it does seem to help give a better overall impression. All this was followed with a wash to add some shading. Finally some mud on the clothing to look like they've been trudging through the rain soaked field at Waterloo and to make the paint job look better than it really is :) Distraction is always the great asset when trying to make a quick paint job look better and mud is a great quick way to add something extra that most people don't seem to bother with.



I'm quite badly behind schedule and haven't been able to paint as much as I want, but I do have a "good" excuse as I've lately fullfilled a male dream as a wild red head has made it's way into my life. Probably not the beast that Gentlemens' magazines seem to promote though as this redhead goes on four legs, is very hairy and is actually a guy. Curt should be pleased to hear that we've settled on a Canadian breed with the Novascotian Duck Tolling Retriever and both the parents are imported dogs from Canada, so our family is now one third Canadian :) In the future he'll be accompanying me when hunting ducks and grouse and will hopefully bring some much needed skill to the hunt when I can only provide luck (albeit very bad luck at that) and wildly exaggerated success stories. In the meanwhile he'll continue what every Toller does best, and that is coming up with new ways to trick their unfortunate owner. Damages have so far been limited to a single shirt, but that is definately bound to change in the future as he is continuously figuring out new ways to delight us with his tricks. He already did manage to open one low cabinet containing prepped minis, but luckily I spotted the looming disaster in time and saved my minis from a horrible fate and the little dog from massive stomach ache and a trip to the Vet.

25cm 'Realistic' scale dog



From Curt:

This post is wonderful on all accounts! Your Middle Guardsmen are very nice. I've put together my fair share of Victrix plastics and can attest to both their ease of conversion but also how fragile some of their parts can be (especially the bayonets). As you say a bit of strategically placed dirt and mud seems to strangely elevate many figures.


Your new puppy is awesome! I love his face and white paws. Sarah and I spent conducted the necessary 'awwws' and had fun checking out the breed online. What is the little fella's name? I have no doubt he will propagate Canada's good reputation in your fine household (shirts, shoes and nummy figures notwithstanding). :)





17 comments:

  1. Lovely pup Samuli :)

    Were there some figures in this post? *scrolls back up*

    Ahh, there were indeed. Cracking looking Nappies :)

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  2. Nice work on the Guard, but that pup is clearly garnering more attention! Bonus points for the cuteness factor, Curt?

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  3. Thanks guys!

    The little fella is called 'Jekku' which is trick or prank in finnish :) Seems to suit his current behavior quite well. It's also the nickname for the lovely German drink Jägermeister. I'm hoping the missus doesn't realize someday that it is the reason I proposed the name in the first place :) But a hunting dog has got to have a proper hunting name and what better than something derived from that

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  4. Great post. How did you do the mud?

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  5. The Napoleonic's are very good. I was suitably distracted by the mud and will start adding it to my figures where appropriate.

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  6. The guard looks great. If the puppy counts as an entry I fear Sarah's choice may be all sown up.

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  7. As fantastic a contribution as ever I saw one! Great painting and a very nice pup. What brand is it? ;-)

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  8. The Naps are really good but over shadowed by the pup :-)

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  9. Great looking French. It's useful to know that Victrix are fragile... I'm thinking of picking up some for skirmish gaming

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  10. Your Guard figures are glorious. I always love seeing well done Naps in this scale and yours are brilliant.
    Puppy looks very realistic. :)

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  11. The guard look grand! I like the mud! So, that is the secret!? Block colors cleanly applied with a splash of wash!? I've only one regiment partially completed in three years, the bits are driving me crazy! ;)
    Congrats on your new family member too! He looks diabolically sweet! ;)

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  12. As ever you've done an excellent job on these guys! Napoleonics isn't really my cup of tea but the blue you used is striking.

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  13. Love the figures but love the puppy more! I have never really got to know one, but I understand that they are wonderful dogs.
    Cheers
    PD

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  14. Great painting work. The puppy is really nice!

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  15. Wonderful brushwork Samuli. Love the blue!

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  16. Thank you all!

    The mud is just done by first stipling a darkish brown on the base and then followed by a light shade which is applied where mud would probably dry first. I used Vallejo Flat Earth and then about a 50/50 mix of German Camo light brown and Iraqui Sand for the lighter shade

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