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| The first recruits in the Hesse Seewald Corps of Mounted Guides (using Fife & Drum AWI 16th Light Dragoons figures) |
I think that the most gorgeous military uniform of the Horse and Musket Era has to be that of Napoleon's Chasseurs a Cheval of the Guard. The mix of green, red, gold and buff are really hard to beat. So with that in mind, I have long had this scheme to paint one of my Hesse Seewald light cavalry regiments in the colors of the Guard Chasseurs a Cheval.
I paint one of these figures every so often, in between some of the last painting commissions that I am working on. After these are done, I'm getting out of the figure painting business as it has become a crushing burden of obligations what with also having to run a miniatures business, hold a day job and keeping the family happy. Add to that the fact that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -- long hours at the painting table are painful. I can't paint at the fast rate that I used to be able to do. Those days are long gone.
Back to the Corps of Mounted Guides: I chose the castings of the 16th Light Dragoons from my AWI Fife & Drum Miniatures range just because I like the figures, especially the Tarleton Helmet. Their coats are painted dark green with some highlights that I mixed myself; tan breeches - a color that always looks good with green; red facings, and yellow/gold lace and trim.
The rank and file have a red roach on their helmet while the officers have one that is half red and half green. The trumpeters will probably have a white roach and the light troop will have a green roach.
The Guides will have two squadrons of 12 figures plus 2 or 3 mounted skirmishers per squadron. So that works out to a total of 24 regular officers and troopers plus 6 skirmishers in the light troop.
Let me know what you think - I'd appreciate your feedback, good or bad.
Gidday, Jim!
ReplyDeleteThe Hesse-Seewald forces are really looking great, and these are excellent.
As regards the carpal tunnel (I share your affliction), I find getting up briefly every 30 - 40 minutes, stretching the neck & back, and twinkling your fingers with both arms held straight up above the head, helps immensely to relieve the numbness! Good luck.
Cheers, Rohan.
They look amazing, Jim! Darn. All of these new figures due to come out, followed by your Russian infantry and now these. I just don't know which way is up. What's a guy to do? The simple answer? Buy, paint,and collect more. . . Oh yeah, and have a game once in a while.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Dear Stokes, as you might surmise, the answer to your dilemna is "all of the above", especially that part about buying. :}
ReplyDeleteJim
Alte - those are some of the nicest painted figures I've seen you do... I'm not a fan of painted eyeballs, and these mark a departure for you?? Either way - lovely, just lovely..
ReplyDeleteI agree a handsome color-scheme, especially for cavalry. I am, of course, a fan of using figures I like for our Imagi-Nations so this is a win-win.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you have to stop painting. I can't imagine what it would be like if that left my life, though I'm not nearly as prolific as you. Bon chance.
Der Alte,
ReplyDeleteThese are superb figures and unique or nearly so. Mr. Ansell did a wonderful job, they have a sort of Georgian restrained dignity about them. The coats must have been tight about the chest! Love the Tarleton. Green for cavalry other than Horse always looks sharp, especially with red or yellow and you have both here.
Lord Albermarle and the de Saxe wicker sedan are both stunning as well.
Take care of the TCS so that you can paint just enough for yourself. I'm in the same boat. It is all about economy of effort painting no more in a stretch than you can handle. Otherwise, my hands are on fire for days.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteThese are very dashing figures!
Jim
Jiminho: sometimes I don't paint the eyes if the figure is wearing a helmet, shako or hat that nearly covers the eyes. This unit qualifies for the No Eyes option.
ReplyDeleteI've been working on my eyes technique to make them as small as possible, with varying success, but they have gotten better over the past year. :)
Jim
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI am very lucky and happy to have a a few of your figures and their eyes were one of the first things that jumped out at me when I received them (my beautiful precious grenzers!). They really do give the figures life, I was somewhat surprised by that.
Anyway, in the circumstances, I wonder if there is another approach to faces that keep you from having to choke up on the small brush needed to paint on that tiny magnificent detail. Might a wash over the eye socket effectively "draw" this part of the face with less effort. A compromise indeed (and there aren't any in your painting in general, I realize!) but one that might let you spend your limited comfort time on maintaining something more like the scale of production you are used to, with those immense battalions of yours.
Just an idea.
Jim
Very handsome brushwork!
ReplyDelete