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.



Wednesday 14 September 2022

A Camp Vignette

 It's now less than a month until The Other Partizan at Newark Showground, so I thought you may like to see the last of my figure purchases at May's Partizan! This is the Perry Miniatures AWI Camp Vignette and features a campfire with six figures to be arranged around it to taste. Although it's suggested that it's suitable for either side in the AWI, to my eye it looks more suited to the Rebel Americans than to the Crown's forces, so I painted it to suggest the same. The figures wearing their uniform coats I chose to paint to match my Virginia Continental infantry ~

As I know I bang on about, one of the issues of aging that I'm having to confront is that of eyesight and arthritic hand. Perry Miniatures figures take me much longer to paint than say Dixon, Redoubt Enterprises, or Trent Miniatures with their bolder style of sculpting. I am comfortable now with my limitations as I hope my loyal reader is too! Next up on the painting desk are four Redoubt Enterprises figures for a command base of my Compagnies Franches de la Marine in the French and Indian War. Again, as I've said, bold figures I feel I can handle comfortably. After these is plunging once more into my SYW project with figures from Foundry, Crusader Miniatures and Front Rank. More on that as the new units are completed. Now, it's time to finish the preparation for Dan's visit today to photograph the Cold War Gone Hot 15mm project for Wargames Illustrated.

17 comments:

  1. It's a nice scene and a good idea to link the figures to one of your regiments. I did something similar with the Perry Napoleonic Camp scene linking to my 4th Polish Infantry.
    I sympathise about the differences painting figures from different manufacturers. More recently there has been a bit of a style rejection in favour of the slimmer looking figures and finer detail but perhaps as we get older the bolder figures will have their revenge and come back to the front of the painting queue!
    Stephen

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    1. Thank you Stephen for your kind endorsement, much appreciated. I think the issue of figure sculpting style you bring up is worthy of further thought. I may post on this in due course as I broadly agree with you.

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  2. Despite your hand and eye issues you still turn out fine looking figures IMHO. A very nicely finished vignette that would grace any table.

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    1. I do my best, I can do no more. At table distance they will still do, closer I'm less sure of. But it's still fun, mostly.

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  3. Dear Wizzened of Pendeford, They look fine to me and on the plus side if your painting does seriously deteriorate you can join the ranks of "pro-painters" on eBay ;-D

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    1. Most amusing double edged comment there Jon, though glad you think my efforts still up to snuff.

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  4. Superb character base - looking forward to seeing your article in WI. Squeeze Dan for any juicy industry gossip😊

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    1. Most kind Norm, much appreciated. Dan does not do gossip, I've tried in the past, he is the soul of discretion sadly.

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  5. An excellent set up, you do seem to have a talent for these.

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    1. Thank you George. I find them relaxing to paint and useful on the tabletop to fill in the spaces vacated by troops advancing. Mostly though it's for the look of the game which I think is important here in GHQ.

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  6. An excellent vignette David and would work for either side as you say sculpting wise, but agree that these look more suited to the American rather than Crown forces. I too have hand and eye issues to deal with and notice that my painting of late has become more impressionistic shall we say, as I simply do not have the control to do fine detail anymore. Hey ho.

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  7. A very nice base there Dave, well presented and looks the part. these additions make such a difference to the look of the game set-up... well worth the effort! It's obvious that you enjoy your collecting and painting as much as the gaming, and your efforts and results inspire us all! Well done 😄

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    1. I collect too much but cannot stop myself if I'm honest, I enjoy all aspects of our wonderful hobby too much.

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  8. Nicely done David I think I might to get one of those scenes, I do like the way you put them all together and have vignettes for all your collections. I always seem to have more figures to paint !

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  9. A lovely little vignette David…

    All the best. Aly

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