David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Thursday 28 July 2016

Council of War

On a visit to Wargames Foundry earlier this year I picked up a set of 'Early Austrian Generals' from one of their Casting Room ranges. I discarded the Hussar on guard duty, as he was depicted in the later shako with peak, and added an old table with clutter, which I picked up from Colonel Bill's bits box, to the mix. They finally reached the head of the painting queue this week, along with the C18th coach set from Westphalia Miniatures that I bought from Graham of Cran Tara at the Carronade show in May!
On the Foundry website the painted examples are all in general officer uniform, excluding the two Hussar figures of course. I wanted something more colourful and varied, and this is the result ~


















I used as references a set of period colour illustrations which I located on the net. The figures are meant to show, from the left: two Austrian generals, the seated figure is rather improbably seated on a drum; a General Adjutant; a Staff Officer; and lastly, a Hussar Staff Officer. The Casting Room miniatures in the Napoleonic ranges have a rather naive style, but I will accept that given my age, arthritic hand and eyesight issues! All those issues are only too clear to me when I see the enlarged figures in the photos; you will have to take my word for it when I say they look fine on the table. Here are two more views from different angles to give an overall feel for the piece ~


































While pieces like this serve no rule related function in the game, I like to have pieces such as this to decorate the table, especially in those areas near the baseline when your armies have advanced to glory {or otherwise!} I have my eye on another set from the same source, a surgeon in action, which I hope to purchase later in the year on another visit to Foundry!
Turning now in closing to the C18th coach set I mentioned earlier, I am afraid to say that I am defeated in painting it by my hand's inability to hold its base safely! Phil has kindly offered to finish it off for me when he can fit it in to his commission schedule. I have all the base colours on the coach, horses, driver and feed box, so it is a more affordable commission for me. If you've not seen Phil's work, then you are in for a treat when its done!

8 comments:

  1. Neat little grouping there Mr. B, they all look very business like.
    It will certainly do.

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    1. Thank you, Phil. I'm quite pleased with it myself!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thank you Colin for your economical and succinct reply!

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  3. Lovely little vignette David!

    Christopher

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Christopher, your kind words are appreciated.

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  4. It is that kind of little detail that makes a table, very nice.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you agree, George. I feel that I need more of these vignettes for the FRW games.

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