"...Volleyed and Thundered."

Getting back into the rhythm of painting after the enforced break required careful thought and preparation once the few Roosian infantry figures were done. Best not contemplate a full unit and risk the muse going AWOL I thought. My solution, three Roosian guns and accompanying gunners. Three pieces and nine figures in all needed painting, an achievable target in the circumstances I felt. Anyway you can judge for yourself now as I post the two 12lb guns along with the 32lb naval gun ~

The figures and 12lb guns are from Great War Miniatures, as are the 'naval' gunners, but the 32lb gun was from the Prodigal Foundry Collection. Careful examination of the artillerymen provided two to proxy for sailors via paint conversion, while a third figure, the officer, comes from the Roosian High Command set. With all of them I struggled with the piped headband around the fatigue caps. My advice is not to look too closely! As the naval gun will most likely be deployed in works I made a simple wooden platform out of spills which I glued down and clamped followed by staining and dry brushing. Naval officers' uniforms were black, though white trousers were worn in summer months. Black is a difficult colour to highlight I've found. I've used both Foundry Slate Grey shade and Equipment mid on figures. For this project I seem to have settled on the former for leather equipment and the latter for uniforms. Does it matter? Well, not much at gaming distance I'd suggest, but each to their own.

Next up for the project are the Rifle Brigade, 18 figures mounted two to a 40mm round base to function as skirmishers for the British army. All dark green and black in the main, so I hope for decent progress. Two underway so far as test pieces!

Third Roosian Infantry Battalion

I had almost finished these when the virus struck, so as my health improved they were amongst the first figures I completed after the mounted Highland officer. The figures are from Great War Miniatures of course, the flags from North Star and bases from Warbases as always. Not a lot more I can say about them really ~

One or two of you have commented favourably on my basing of this project so I thought I ought to say a bit more in detail about my approach. Firstly, the bases themselves are 3mm MDF rather than my usual 2mm. I hoped this would reduce if not eliminate any tendency to warp during the process. Sadly it seems to have been the former. 

Then I attach the figures with UHU Power with an added spot of Super glue. This produces a strong and almost instantaneous bond meaning handling the base as you go along is reasonably safe. I find that the larger bases mean you can attempt more diorama style bases when arranging your figures. Often the sculptors have done the work for you in designing the range. The Roosians have two useful packs in this respect: Casualties and NCOs dressing the ranks. Both are used to effect in this Battalion. At the same time I fix one or two larger Woodlands Scenics 'rocks' to the gaps in the basing ~

Now I coat the base around the figure bases with School PVA from Hobbycraft,  dipping the base in my mix of Woodlands Scenics Buff Ballast. As the figures are securely fixed you can turn the base upsidedown to loose the surplus mix. I leave this to dry overnight.

The next stage in the process is to wash the base with my preferred Crafters' Acrylic shade of Country Maple. As I mix the wash by eye there is some variation I've found as the ratio of paint to H2O differs each time. It's not an issue which bothers me I have to say.

Leaving the wash to dry off for the next day means when you add static grass there are no damp areas to retain the grass strands where you don't want them. Bitter experience speaking here! I apply the PVA in a sort of camouflage pattern, mainly to disguise the figures' bases and break up the inevitable rectangular look of the base. I use a mix of Jarvis Spring and Summer grasses, though other brands are available. 

While the PVA is still fresh I apply tufts to suit in a mixture of styles and colours. I buy the Gamers' Grass Tufts from Great Escape Games at shows or from Arcane by mail order. You may have noticed there are no flowering shrubs in evidence. I didn't think they'd be suitable for the Crimea so I used the Weeds packs, light and dark greens, to vary the look of the tufts ~

So there you have it, hardly cutting edge ideas, but I hoped a few readers might find it of interest. Next up will be a some Roosian artillery and naval types so do pop back soonish please.

Highland Brigade Command

About two weeks ago I was struck with a viral infection which was so worrying I had to see my GP. Cue appointment, consultation, examination and prescription for very strong antibiotics! A combination of illness and drug side effects laid me low, so little if any hobby stuff was possible beyond posting several preprepared blog entries. Eventually though I turned the corner and managed the odd minutes with figures and brush. I managed to finish the Great War Miniatures mounted Highland Colonel to join the officer on foot I did as a test piece weeks back now. Finally the base is ready to display, despite my only completed unit for the Brigade being the Royal Scots, which have also featured back in the day. Anyway, here it is, Colonel Morrison and his ADC Captain Calder ~

Hopefully things will be getting back to normal as we head into November so I've earmarked some Roosian 12lb guns and crew to paint next. Amongst the returned Prodigal Foundry Collection I found a Roosian naval gun. By carefully checking the figures which accompany the 12lb guns I've been able to assign two figures to man this piece, together with an officer from the Roosian High Command set, which will give me a further artillery option. They are also assigned to the painting queue now. 

Something a little different...

...in the forthcoming issue of Wargames Illustrated, the hobby's leading magazine! Well, as I have often contributed numerous articles over many years I would say that, wouldn't I?

The November issue features the theme of Pulp Adventure Gaming. This is the second article I've penned against the background of P.G.Wodehouse's Blandings Castle novels. The first appearing in #300, the special anniversary issue; Lord Emsworth's Last Stand being one of the themed article. This time the action is rather more 'Pulpy', but you'll need to buy it though to learn more...

Lord Lucan and ADC

Though I have yet to rebase any of the British and Roosian cavalry from the Prodigal Foundry Collection I have completed a Command stand for the British cavalry in the collection. The figures are from Great War Miniatures of course, being Lord Lucan and a figure I have preferred for my ADC figures on Command stands, even though it's listed as General Cathcart ~

Four views of the Command stand so noone is fooled into thinking I'm anything more than a journeyman painter. At game distance in the heat of battle this will do the job for me. Next up on the 'filler-figure front' of the painting schedule is a mounted Highland officer. Mind you, all hobby progress has been somewhat disrupted by recent illness. Hopefully I'm on the mend now, I even painted for a short while this morning.

🎼🎶"Sing tow-row-a-row, etc

For the British Grenadiers!" Or in this instance the third and last of the units for my Guards Brigade, the 3rd Battalion, the Grenadier Guards. These are Great War Miniatures of course with flags from North Star and bases from Warbases as ever ~

I added two figures from the British casualty pack to give the unit a little more character. As the casualty figures are Line Infantry and not Guardsmen I have painted the facings yellow to emphasise that perhaps they had fallen in an earlier attack ~

I seem to have been painting these figures for eons, mainly because they were interspersed with the refurbishment and rebasing of the Foundry figures. I feel relieved I have to say rather than pleased that they are finished now!

I have Lord Lucan and an ADC well on the way to being finished as well, though I've not rebased any of the Foundry cavalry as of yet. The Third Battalion of the Roosian infantry regiment are underway too, with four figures finished to date, though the rest will take me a while to work through!

🎼🎵🎶"I'm never ever sick at sea!"

 The Royal Navy shore contingent {from HMS Pinafore} man the 32lb naval guns hauled inland from their saucy ship ~

Bases in a style which could be used on either sea or land deployment in my view. These were based by Jon before the collection returned and was not one I would have dared attempt, hampered as I am by ten thumbs when it comes to conversions.

Captain and crew deployed as skirmisher bases to defend their guns. All the figures of course painted back in the early 1990's and from the Prodigal Foundry Collection of course. As are these last few Roosian infantry making up a few skirmish bases ~

And channeling my 'inner Jock' and not wanting to waste any figures, a Command stand for them ~

And with these remnants all the infantry, Command figures and artillery have been refurbished and rebased leaving only the cavalry to process over the winter months. Next up here for you, the Grenadier Guards.