From DavidB: Ray's Favourite Thing - Christmas Nutcracker (25 Points)

Behold the chaotic wonder of the man-cave....er boy-cave!

As you may notice, I was successful in cleaning it before the challenge ball dropped. Obviously!

I almost finished the white scar marines left over from last year, but they got swarmed by choice bits from the mountain of neglect.

I did get a lot of stuff primed, but distractions of forgotten shiny bits left little rhyme and reason to the batches prepped.

I will attempt to get this sorted and stowed before Christmas, as I really need to clear counters, tables and shelves to contain anything I get completed...and I will need space for photography.

I can also use some room to walk too!

I have just today finished my work week till Sunday. I work 12 hour shifts and was planning to dive into a squad of sci-fi infantry. My wife surprised me with a DIY nutcracker and a challenge of her own.

I have a sizable contingent of nutcrackers of many sizes, colors, styles, and even providence. This is my first one I had to paint myself. 

After five hours of brushwork, this is the result. The style of his uniform is in the colors of General "mad" Anthony Wayne's American Legion. We visited the battlefield of Fallen Timbers in Toledo, Ohio this past Fall. My wife was almost as disappointed as I that there were no soldiers or kits in Toledo that could serve as a souvenir of the trip.

The hat is wrong of course as the had campaign hats with black plumes. The Legion did not have the epaulettes either. Dark blue coats with red cuffs, turn-backs, and collars. The legion also had dark blue trousers and black boots with dark gray gaiters.

I added some painter flair to spruce him up and did a lot of wet on wet blending. 

My wife added a further challenge of limiting my choices. I was given one simple dollar brush and her collection of craft paints. The nutcracker is a soft wood and it really drank up the cheaper pigment paint...kinda glad I wasn't allowed to use my more expensive paints!

I wasn't too certain on my success of her challenge until I got to place him by his fellows. He does fit in well with this small group. Since I couldn't use detail brushes and the craft paint is chalky, I went impressionist painter with him and used purple to shade his blues and oranges and yellows to tint the reds. The red paint was really more pink than red, so it really needed the help to get there.

I rather like the effect although I was unsure how it was going to turn out till the end.

On my neglected blog-spot I shared a post on my nutcracker collection... RayR finds them creepy so be sure to direct him to this post! ;)

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Haha! I love the chaos that is your man-cave, David! I also quite enjoy that your anticipated opening gambit were sidelined with a home-assigned challenge. Bravo! You took it up with aplomb! I must say, your General Wayne looks quite spiffing, and your artistic flourishes with his uniform have been tastefully executed. I know he will take a place of honour amongst your family's collection. It is obvious that in the Bromley household no nut shall go uncracked! :)

Let's score him as two 54mm foot figures with a few bonus points for the holiday season.

Well done David! Now, let's crack-on, eh? 

*ahem*

- Curt