From ForestP: 15mm VMI Corps of Cadets at the Battle of New Market [Noel's Comet], (175 points)

Having found myself near Noel's Comet I thought about both the miniatures I had currently, what I wanted to paint, and how friendship intersects it all. One of the defining features of my life is that I grew up in Virginia, and spent a lot of my post-secondary education in the Shenandoah Valley. My wargaming took fruit in this fertile ground that was littered with battle sites, primarily American Civil War. In fact, when I was going to college in Harrisonburg, Virginia at one point I lived in an apartment building that literally was on the grounds of the Battle of Harrisonburg (Gen. Turner Ashby fell there, and that is primarily what that battle is known for). So, with that in mind I settled on needing to paint a unit from the American Civil War. Since this was a formative time in my education I settled on deciding to paint the Virginia Military Institute Corps of Cadets as they fought in the Battle of New Market. I did this for multiple reasons. First off, in terms of friendship these were young men, teenagers, children really, who were called up to battle. Their bond as classmates and fellow soldiers I daresay were strengthened by their friendship with each other, perhaps more so than other units. In fact their commanding officer, LtCol Scott Shipp (who was only a mere 24 years of age himself), was their superintendent and knew these soldiers more as his boys than anything else. They equally loved him and called him "Old Billy" because of his penchant for wearing a goatee. On a more personal note when I was completing some graduate classes my friend and classmate, Salmaan, was a graduate of VMI, and would regale me of his tales as a rat (what they call first years), and of his marching with his class between Lexington and New Market to honor the sacrifice of the 10 cadets killed and the 47 wounded. It was even more interesting to me that Salmaan, at the time he was a cadet, was already a commissioned officer in the Army, having previously served as an enlisted combat medic, and going through officer's candidate school since he'd earned an Associate's degree after high school. He would tell me that he had to hide this fact as a cadet because essentially he outranked all of his classmates. His service is actually one of the things that led me to become an Army Psychologist. So, here we are, in honor of friendship both past and present, and the comradeship of soldiers throughout time immemorial, I give you the VMI Corps of Cadets from the Battle of New Market, including their artillery section, and their commander, LtCol Scott Shipp. 

The miniatures are from the Stone Mountain Miniatures range. The infantry were from the ACW15 range, and I can't actually recall which artillery figures I ordered. For uniform painting references I primarily used Philip Haythornthwaite's Uniforms of the American Civil War (1861-1865) by Blandford Press and Philip R N Katcher and Michsel Youens' The Army of Northern Virginia (Men-At-Arms 37) form Osprey Publishing. The I decided to paint the artillery in the colors that VMI is using for its display cannons now, largely because they just look interesting that way. I used the following sites as references: Site 1, Site 2, Site 3.

As usual I mounted the figures on craft sticks with hot glue, and primed the lot with Design Master Flat Black (725). I did toy with the idea of priming all of the figures in gray, but thought I'd do a better job than that. 

I used Privateer Press Formula P3 Bastion Grey to paint the uniforms before giving a light dry-brush of Vallejo Sky Grey (70.989) to bring out highlights. Every 4th figure was also given a very light dry-brushing of Folk Art Camel (953) to give either a dirtier look, or butternut; take your pick. Guns were picked out with Vallejo Mahogany Brown (70.846), and bayonets and swords were painted with Vallejo Natural Steel (70.864). Skin was painted with Vallejo Basic Skin Tone (70.815) and then hit with some Flesh Wash (73.204). Details were painted in various colors ranging from a 2:1 mix of DecoArt Americana Royal Fuchsia (DA151) and Vallejo Sky Grey (70.989) for the socks/leggings, to a 1:1 Vallejo Flat Earth (70.983) and Ivory (70.918) for straps. Canteens were picked out in Sky Grey, pommels for swords were in Vallejo Bronze (70.988), and hair was a mix of Yellow Ochre (70.913) for blonde, 1:1 Scarlet (70.817) and Bright Orange (70.851) for gingers, and Mahogany Brown (70.846) for brunettes. Hats and boots were touched up with Black (70.950).

For the artillery pieces they were primarily painted in Vallejo Flat Red (70.957) and Black (70.950), with the cannons themselves painted with Bronze (70.988).

The miniatures were based up in three companies, and flocked using BTC Open Flock Mix from Battlefield Terrain Concepts. After basing and flocking I hit the lot with Armory Clear Matte Sealer. There looks to be a bit of frosting, and I may attempt to clean it up later with a light gloss coat, followed by another light matte coat. We shall see.

I really tried with these photos, but the gray against the white background is tough for me. Sorry.

I really think taking these photos in daylight, with a bright day, caused everything to look too dark.

I will say, the detail on these figures are great.

I had some wonderful fabric flags commissioned for them from Maverick Models, but they have not arrived. However, flags for my Grand Duchy of Warsaw figures and for the Alamo have arrived, so here they are in all their glory! I fulfill my promises, damnit!

Flags just make everything nicer.

Now that's an Alamo to fight over.

Anyhow, this is my entry; sorry for the delay, work has been hellish. Not to mention weather and traffic issues. So, as an extra bit I quickly painted up a 28mm traffic cone to honor the delay. The traffic cone is produced by Offensive Miniatures, and I got it from one of their sets from the Rioting Mob and the Law range.

28mm D&D mini for scale

In summation, my points are calculated as follows:

69 x 15mm foot @ 2 = 138 points

4 x 15mm artillery pieces (2 cannon, 2 caissons) @ 4 = 16 points

1 x 28mm scenic piece (traffic cone) @ 1 points

Noel's Comet (Middle Ring) bonus = 20 points

Total = 175  points

With that I believe I have burst through my points goal of 1000. Since I was so lucky to get to my point total, I feel like I should stretch my luck further. Millsy, I want to jump headfirst into the Warp Maelstrom between Noel's Comet and LV426. Tell me where I am going next!!!

Forest

PS - With a little research I realized that I am now the second person to attempt the VMI Corps of Cadets in the history of the challenge. I want to give a shout out to AdamC who painted up his boys back in March 2015.

From DaveD - AKA Millsy North 

Thats a great bit of history Forest and you have done a good job - as you say a bit better light on the photo might have helped - buy hey . Congratulations on reaching your points target Herr Millsy will be pleased. I  reckon you may have a few hundred in you yet. I suggest you pop to Mars!