From SidneyR: Regiment of the Duc de Luxembourg, Flanders 1688 (125 points)

“Never allow them to move unthreatened. Always watch their lines of approach. Deny them a direct line to the flanks of your foot, My Lord.  Force them to stand.  Place them under fire at every opportunity if at all possible.  Above all, never lose your sight of their location in the Field. The regiments of Horse of the Sun King are the thin, sharp knife of His army and, unchecked, will cause the shipwreck of all our hopes.”

From the journal of Don Fernando de Torrescusa, Marquess de Girona, Envoy of His Most Catholic Majesty, Carlos the Second, King of Spain, to the Flemish Free City of Laarden in 1688.

For my second submission to Challenge X, I’ve painted up a regiment of French Horse from 1688 - being the regiment of the Duc de Luxembourg. The details of the uniforms are taken from Robert Hall’s book on the armies of the Sun King: "Standards and Uniforms of the French Cavalry Under Louis XIV, 1688-1714" (published by the Pike & Shot Socierty). The figures are 28mm from the older Wargames Foundry range - this is not quite a venerable range of figures, having first come out in 1989, but with a little bit of care I still feel they can look very fine on the table. They are perhaps more “big 25mm” than "true 28mm", and are a perfect match for Perry Miniatures and 1st Corps and Old Glory figure. They also fit very well with 28mm miniatures from The Assault Group, although the TAG horses are a little larger than the Foundry ones. They each come with a couple of arms so you can chose the pose of the arm, hand and sword. This adds a nice flexibility to the figure but does require a little fiddling with. 

I swapped out the Officer’s arm for a sword - which is more martial than his original hand which seemed to be completing a ducal wave. I also changed a couple of horses around from the ones supplied.  As with otheer French figures I've been painting, I added liberal amounts of green-stuff for feathers, knots of ribbons on shoulders, cravats and some extra hat lace. The French troops were known (like earlier Spanish Tercios) to be fancifully equipped with such non-martial additions to their uniform. 

No doubt this was to help distinguish regiments of different combatants, or maybe to engender pride in a unit formation. Whatever the reason, I think it looks fun. And, also, there is a certain black amusement in being confronted by a six foot angry French cavalier on a ferocious horse charging at you while being festooned in more ribbons, bows and spectacular Pom-Poms than would be stitched onto any Texan cheerleader’s costume.

 The standard finial is from Bicorne and the flag is from GMB Designs.

I undercoated all the figures in Halfords car primer - sprayed on in a couple of smooth actions.  I have no idea why I had such problems with the spray priming in the last Challenge.  These (and other) figures for Challenge X seemed to prime very easily.

The paints were Vallejo, with the coats on the figures being painted with a base of Vallejo VMC Light Grey and washed with a mix of Vallejo inks (Grey, Umber and a drop of Black).  I tried to keep the horses as simple as possible.  I feel I have some work to do in that regard, particularly on the chestnut/roan horses.  I might experiment later in the Challenge with horses which are much more basic, ideally to make the mounted figures’ uniforms “pop” a bit more.  We’ll see.

So, on to the points.  Twelve figures, at 10 points each, adds another 120 points to my currently small, rather work-shattered total... Ah well, "c'est la vie" as the Duc de Luxembourg probably never had to say...

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By Paul:

Another stunning Sidney special! What a wonderfully dynamic and thematic entry. I dont think you need to worry about additional work on the horses, these guys pop all my themselves.  Their Cavalier Uncles would be most pleased I'm sure

I always find your entries challenging to score Sidney, resisting the urge to just throw large amounts of bonus points everywhere because they are so visually impacting. Take 125 with a modest addition for the flag and conversion work.

Wonderfully done Sir!

From SidneyR: French Hussars from 1688 (120 points)

It's a little embarrassing (...and depressing...) to think that this is only my second contribution to the wonderful Challenge IX.  Alas, my day job has conspired in an unpleasant way against me this time, and my output has been way down on last year's.  Ah well, such is life, dear Challengers... such is life.

Rather than being downhearted, I've tried to press on with the squadron of French "hussars" that I had high hopes of finishing by the end of December 2018!  Ah yes, it's taken a long time to get these Croatian and Hungarian rascals finished!   The figures are 28mm from The Assault Group and Wargames Foundry, with some additional conversions and green-stuff nonsense for added fun.  Bases are from Warbases, and the (possibly excessive tuft-age) is from WSS Models in the UK.

At this point, I'll make a note or two to myself for the next Challenge.  Don't start the Challenge with a difficult unit and every figure wearing a wacky Eastern European-style 'uniform'.  It kind of slows things down.  Something nice and standard like Union infantry, circa 1863, might do the trick next time!  Oh, and never pick up the phone on the 28th December when it's a work call; it's never going to be good news - I think I'll remember that lesson...

So who on earth are these chaps, and did the French really have hussars in 1688?  The truth is, perhaps, stranger than fiction.  The Sun King's army in Flanders in the Nine Years War does appear to have featured a regiment of "Hussars", but these seem (according to David Chandler) to have been little more than Croatian and Hungarian deserters from the army of the Hapsberg Empire.  Led by a dubious faux-nobleman, describing himself as the Baron de Kroneberg, the "Hussars" caused no end of disciplinary problems in the French camp, and amounted to little use in the field.

But the idea of copying the screens of Croatian cavalry which were seen by French forces when fighting Imperial armies was a good one, and from such small beginnings, a legend was born...

These two hussar scouts were meant to have been finished by me, with some other figures, for the first Challenge IX Themed Round of "Reconnaissance".  Clearly these Croatians are not as adept at scouting as their Versailles paymasters might have hoped, turning up very late and in the wrong blog post!  Perhaps, in truth, par for the historical course!

Of course, un-constrained by historical reality, there's every chance to beef-up the French hussar's role on the tabletop.  Here's some nonsense I put together while sitting in the office and not painting over the past three months...

So, in all, 12 figures in 28mm, giving me 120 points for a rather low total for Challenge IX.  Oh well, on the bright side, two more days to finish the rest of my target of 730 points.  Where's that airbrush? ...

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Ah, it's a good day for the Painting Challenge when Mssr. Sidney Roundwood submits an entry for us to enjoy.

Lovely work on these Croat, er, Hungarian, um, 'French' Hussars, Sid. I love the eastern modifications you did to their uniforms to make them distinct from their more urbane compatriots, especially their plumed hats, capes and draped coats. Beautiful!

These stylish ruffians will give you 130 points, with a few more added for your very effective conversions. We look forward to your final gambit before midnight Wednesday's close.

From SidneyR: The French King's Hussars (20 points)

.... and from Roundwood Towers based in Perfidious Albion....

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Just beneath the sledgehammer of doom for the Lost Painting Souls of Challenge IX, here's some nonsense from late seventeenth century Flanders for your (very) late Saturday night and Sunday morning viewing.  Two hussars from the army of Louis XIV, somewhat hastily painted (please don't look too closely!).  They're fine sculpts, one from the old War-games Foundry range, and one from The Assault Group.  

Both in 28mm, and a total of 10 points - a small amount, but 'from acorns come oak trees...', right?

I've not been in the Challenge so far - for which many apologies.  Well done to everyone to date!

I got absolutely stuffed with a work project which commenced (unexpectedly) on the 28 December and have hardly been home since.  It happens, it happens, dear friends - no violins, please.  

Here's some more Laarden themed nonsense I wrote about French hussars in 1688 Flanders.  Hopefully more to come in less work-filled days in February.  Keep those brushes busy until my return, mes braves!!

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Sidney - we've missed you buddy. 

I dunno Sid, you say you proffer us poor brushwork, but these hussars look superb to me. I particularly like the chestnut, the riders' stylish headgear and their cloaks (animal skin?) jauntily draped over their shoulders - even the hornist is the very picture of the ostentatious hussar!

These two horsemen will give you 20 points as your debut to the roster. Well done, Mr. Roundwood! Now, get your work tucked away and then come back to us with your brush swinging in earnest. :)