A bit windy today?

It seems at present that my painting efforts are as changeable as the British weather. I normally manage an hour or so first thing in the morning when hand and eye are properly rested, after that it's a lottery really. Having said that, recently I've been a bit more productive. I have finished the 31st Legere for my Wars of the French Revolution project, using the Brigade Games figures I purchased not long ago. These are the first I've tackled from that range, by Hicks I believe. The service from Brigade Games was first rate, just over a week from ordering to receipt. Can't argue with that from the USA to home! On the down side, some mould making or casting issues were sadly present: not so much flash and vent runs as missing buttons on cuffs and coats. Annoying really, as where they had cast correctly they were easy to paint! As I'm on a roll seemingly I've also started the Ligne regiment from the same manufacturer I bought  from the Flea Market at Derby Worlds last month. I hope to finish those before the festive season rolls into view!

Between finishing the Legere and starting the  Ligne I finished working on a European windmill which I hope will do for games from the ECW to the Great War. It has a bit of history to it which might be of amusement to you. I purchased it in March from a sale at Grand Manner. It languished in GHQ until August when I finally took the plunge and cleaned it up and sprayed it dark brown. All was going well, until... I just caught the sails on the corner of my desk! Disaster, the sails shattered into several pieces! Even though the breaks were clean it was obviously always going to be weak and, knowing how ham fisted I can be, it was sure to repeatedly fail. I might have been able to stick it to a backing of plasticard, but I mentioned my disaster to Martin at Warbases and he offered to have a look so I posted the bits northward! I had imagined he might make a 2mm MDF backing for the piece, so imagine my surprise when I rolled up at Derby Worlds to be presented with a completely new set of sails cut from MDF and ready assembled for me too. Now, that is service! they fit the bill perfectly and are lighter than the resin originals, but you can judge for yourselves in the picture I'm sure.

No game in GHQ this week as Phil and Di are away, up north in the Lake District. Looks as if they will have a decent few days, if cold. As I'm back in Billy No Mates mode I hope to make progress with my second Brigade Games French battalion, this time the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Demi-Brigade de Ligne. So, back to the painting desk it is. A Bientot mes Amis!