I have completed my 2 ACW brigades (pause for applause). When I started the Challenge many lifetimes ago I planned to paint the Harry T. Hays Brigade of Early's Division of Ewell's Brigade circa 1863 and Graham's 1st Brigade, 1st Division, III Corps. I had purchased 2 brigade sets of Perry's plastic 28mm ACW infantry with 2 artillery pieces for £45 each about 12 months ago and had based them, undercoated them and then hid them. In addition to these I had a box of zouaves and I purchased a box of cavalry over Christmas.
The Challenge gave me the opportunity to paint them otherwise they would have stayed there. I thought that it would take me all the challenge but I have finished them already and greatly improved my skills and standards.
Firstly I finished the 4 artillery pieces, 2 each.They are nominally the Louisiana Guard Artillery and the 1st New Jersey Light Artillery. I have added spare officers to command each unit from the infantry boxes. There are far too many officers in boxes and I've been turning them in mad scientists and fighting vicarsetc .
Next I needed to finish the commanders. The brigades each came with a mounted general but they were Stickles and Pickett so needed some conversion. Hays just needed a beard trim but Graham has an mad beard that I made out of the packing material, that came with the artillery, dyed black. This worked well but picture is rubbish, need better lighting and better camera.
BG Charles Graham
BG Harry T Hays.
These are the forces. My house has a design fault such that the painting room has the head space for the stairs in it. Seller was very apologetic and price was lower than similar houses. It is a 4x3 foot waist high flat space that is perfect for skirmish gaming on. I didn't let on how delighted I was.
The rebel brigade has 1 unit less than the Union but I have enough figs left to paint reinforcements, once I've picked an interesting unit. I also have dismounted cavalry to paint - 30 figs to go.
I'll have to find other things to paint now but have loads of things sitting and staring at me.
Thanks for all the help.
From Curt:
Great entry! I particularly liked the final shots of your ACW collection to date. That is an impressive amount of work and a testimony to the hobby pressure-cooker that the Challenge encourages.
It's always good to finish a project Martin. That's a nice collection you've painted up during the Challenge so far.
ReplyDeletethanks little amazed that i did them all. feel like I need a week off. Instead I have a desk full of knights to practice shading on
DeleteThat's quite a horde! Excellent work.
ReplyDeletecheers, will have to get the big table out a play with them
DeleteGreat work. I also like the idea of "finished(ish)" - no project is truly finished, after all...
ReplyDeleteI tell my students that coursework is like great art. It's never finished you just stop working on it.
DeleteVery impressive Martin. That's a huge number of figs and really well painted to boot. Love the bushy beard too, never seen that done before and it looks spot on.
ReplyDeleteCheers. The beard was an act of inspired desperation. I'd tried it with liquid green stuff but it loked like he'd swallowed a beaver. So I picked it off and grabbed the packing material - the stuff that comes with perry and foundry minatures. I halved the amount I thought I needed and then halved it again, dipped it in black ink and then glued on to the chin. It is robust and looks good. Wish I'd done it to the infantry
DeleteGreat work and congrats on getting a project out the door
ReplyDeleteIan
Thanks. That monkey is off my back
DeleteCongrats on finishing such a massive project! I'll bet you're itching to get them on the table.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yes I am. Tend to write my own rules so have some play testing to do.
ReplyDeleteThat is an impressive sight! Love the group shot! Mine are still lanquishing in storage as I still need quite a few more to build up the forces!
ReplyDeleteI found that as I started to paint them I was inspired to buy more - cavalry and dismounted cav. If I had a bigger space I would have bought limbers as well. You never know where it will take you
DeleteLove the beard! and Nice work all around. What makes an "interesting" Union unit for you? I did a fair bit of research as part of putting together my army for Longstreet and might have a suggestion or two.
ReplyDeleteCheers Adam. I'm new to ACW, although it was always my 2nd choice when choosing periods to collect. Any suggestions for interesting units is always welcome.
DeleteI picked these 2 brigades because they had Zouaves, and that's the only reason. I know lots of people pick the Iron brigade, for example, as they fought pretty much all the time, but for me the thing I love about infantry is that they were ordinary blokes doing extraordinary things. I solo wargame, too many rules lawyers, and I like to think that my units build their own reputation in my spare room. Therefore fairly anonymous, farm boy units are the things I find interesting.
When building my own Union force I started with units that were local to me Massachusetts then tried to find information about units that fought in the same brigade or division. I also picked a few because they had interesting uniform frills. The 35 Indiana an Irish regiment that's men purchased their own green Kepis for head gear. I agree every one seems to do the Iron brigade I like their uniforms so I got the miniatures but did mine as US Regulars instead.
DeleteThanks for that, the green kepi's sound interesting. Will investigate further and look for similar unique flourishes in my divisions.
DeleteCheers
Martin
Very nice painting work.
ReplyDeletethanks
DeleteWell done. It's fantastic that you are getting these done. I think you are on to something with the bushy beards for ACW. I think your pictures are fine, you just need to soften the light a little. The hard shadow looks like you are shining the light right on it. This tends to make too much contrast. Try reflecting the light off a surface or diffusing it through paper or fabric, without burning it if you are using really hot lights.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I do like the bushy beard thing. Will look at the lights, the main one has tissue over it but will play with others. Never been a photographer, inside or out.
Delete