A review of the armies for 2019

Today I decided to to an approximate head count of my 40mm painted armies.
The results are below:

Nation                               Infantry                          Cavalry                    Total
Prussia                                  700                                  150                          850
France                                   580                                    68                          648
Austria                                  320                                    96                          416
Hungary                                120                                                                  120
Croats                                     30                                                                    30
Russia                                   100                                                                  100
Reicharmee                             42                                                                    42
Saxony                                  134                                                                  134
Jacobites                                 44                                                                    44
Great Britain                           70                                                                    70

Total                                     2140                                314                         2454

Austria and then Prussia were the armies which I started with.
Most of my French army has been painted in 2019, which means that I averaged about 2 x 40mm figures per day, which is about right. ( I do have another life). 2500 x 40mm figures seems a lot, but there are always more to do, and more projects to start. I want to build a Hanoverian army and add to the British in 2020. I will also probably dabble in other countries and add some units, The Saxons & Reicharmee will probably get some attention.
My favourite army tends to be the one I am painting at the time (with the exceptions of Hussars, which I find a pain in the a***!), but I have really enjoyed the French, although I was put off for years, by what I considered to be bland uniforms. How wrong can I be ! Indeed I have recently completed some figures in white coats, waistcoats, white sleeves and facings, (Bourbonnais), and I consider it one of the most striking of all the French units.

So the message for me is that you can never have enough armies and regiments, and there is always another uniform to paint or figure to sculpt, that you just have to make. I suppose that is the beauty of the hobby and collecting in general. It is never ending and there is always something fresh to focus on.

A big thanks to all my hobby friends for making 2019 the best hobby year ever.
I look forward to seeing/hearing from everyone again in 2020 and hopefully to enjoy our great hobby even more.
A Happy Hogmanay to all when it arrives !!

Colonel General Cavalerie - France

                                           Colonel General Cavalerie - France

With the family festivities finishing on Boxing day, I took the opportunity today to finish the basing of my latest French heavy cavalry regiment. Most of the information was gathered from Kronoscaf and a Funcken book which shows the regiment. The flag was hand painted. When I first saw it on Kronoscaf, the flag seemed very challenging, but quite pleased with the result and it did not take too long to finish. Of late, I have fully assembled my cavalry figures and attached them to their horses before painting. I have also started to solder the flags for a more permanent attachment. I find that by assembling the model first and then undercoating it, I can complete a figure far quicker than if I assemble it once painted. I have ran out of heavy horses or I would have added an extra squadron to this regiment. I have a reasonable stock of hussar horses, so with a little conversion, my next regiment will be the Turpin Hussards.

Brabant: Hildburghausen in command

Today I had the opportunity to browse through one of my must have books, which was under the Xmas tree. Having spent much of 2019 working on my French army, this particular volume focussing on 1757 and the run up to Rossbach is particularly valuable and a great read. One factor that comes out is the poor discipline of the French troops and the lack of interest and resolve of the lower rank French officers, usually the younger sons of lesser aristocrats with little interest in their profession.
I look forward to more in depth read over the next few days.  Not a cheap buy, but essential reading material for all 7YW buffs.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

*** A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND FESTIVE ***         PERIOD TO ALL OF MY BLOG READERS 

                *****

              

Lt General Francois de Chevert

Chevert was the French general in command at Hastenbeck, one of my favourite battles of the Seven years war western campaign, and a battlefield which I was lucky enough to visit this year. In many ways he won the battle because Cumberland retreated faster than the French.
Chevert was an addition to my French army which I wanted to make, and the finished command base is below.

A tale of two painters - part 2

Thank you everyone who posted their comments on the two painting styles. I tend to agree with everyone that the brighter style stands out more. This finish is important for smaller scale figures to enable the eye be drawn to them. For larger scale, 75mm upwards, and busts, I think that the duller finish can work very well. I also think that this finish works better for WW1 onwards. For the earlier "full dress" periods, a brighter finish will make the uniforms stand out.
January 1st, I tend to make a start on my British and Hanoverian armies. (I already have a few British units, but these armies will be by main focus for 2020, while still "topping up" my French, Prussians, Austrians and Reicharmee units for some variety. Lots of plans, but by February it may all change !

A tale of two painters

I spotted the work of a professional painter at a recent show I visited, and I asked him to do some "test" figures for me.
They have arrived today ... and I am not sure. The style is very dark and realistic, in comparison with the rest of my collection, which uses brighter more vibrant colours almost "toy soldier" style.
I have taken a photograph of three samples of each to do a comparison. I think that I prefer my current style, rather than the duller finish. What do you prefer ?

Les Higgins - Part 2

Painted up 8 x 20mm figures and mounted them on a 45mm x 50mm base. There is still room for an officer and NCO at the rear to give a 10 figure base. Marlborough's regiments tended to have 13 companies including one of grenadiers. I am allowing for 4 figures per company giving a total of 52 rifles.  6 bases of 8 rifles, NCO & officer, 1 base of 4 rifles, 2 drummers, 2 ensigns. This should make a total of 68 figures per regiment, plus a mounted colonel. I still have to research the use of btn guns, and whether the British converged their grenadier companies at this time. Any information would be appreciated, as I may change the regimental strength when i have more info.
The 8 figures took a couple of hours to paint up. I will probably complete a full regiment to see how it looks, before deciding whether to proceed with this project.
I do like the sculpts. Very fine detail, and anatomically they look right.

French admiral

I finished a French admiral to command one of my newly purchased ships. Still to name the chap.
Slowly painting and converting crews for the ships.
The admiral looks splendid in full uniform with a chart to his side.

Colonel General Dragoons (France) take to the field

Finished this 12 piece unit today. A nice addition to my French cavalry regiments.
Once again, Sash & Sabre 40mm with a small amount of conversion. The 12 figure unit will represent 3 squadrons.

Going old school with Les Higgins

I have always liked 20mm. Like most of us, the Airfix range first got me into the hobby. My first box was the British guards set, followed by the British 8th army, and not long after a box of Confederates.
My interest in 20mm was regenerated through the old "A Military Gentleman" forum, which took us through the process of John Ray sculpting a delightful range of 7YW armies in 22mm, which covered Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Russia & Saxony, if my memory serves me correctly. Alas, these sculpts never went into production. John felt that the range would only have limited appeal, but I do think that the scale would have been ideal for German collectors. Recently while visiting Graham Cumming, to view his 3d printer, he showed me some 20mm Austrians which he had printed. These instantly appealed to me, and I hope to paint some up soon. Later that evening, back in my hotel room, I was killing time "googling" 20mm figures and some of the Les Higgins Marlborough range popped up. I was impressed by the sculpting of these figures. They looked thin, elegant and anatomically correct and just seemed right for the early 1700's. I was delighted to find that this range is still made, and even more pleased when I found that a small collection of 47 of them were for sale on Ebay. After spending more than I had intended, my bid was successful, and they arrived today.

I am very pleased with the look of these figures and I hope to start painting them shortly.

If I reduce the oval bases by cropping the sides, I will be able to mount 2 rows of 4 figures and 2 officers, drummers, ensigns or NCO's at the rear of each base. Three bases of 10 figures will allow me to represent a btn, and six bases a full regiment, where appropriate.
Looking forward to getting these chaps undercoated.

French Staff officer

I finished this French staff officer today, as a break from painting artillery and cavalry figures.
Based on an illustration in the Osprey French army of Louis XV series, it depicts a Lt General circa 1756. Converted Sash & Sabre French/Indian wars officer.

Battleground show - Real estate purchase

I spotted this piece of real estate at Battleground last Saturday. I got some very strange looks when I purchased it, but it will make an ideal country estate scene for my 40 mm pieces.
I now need to paint up some civilians to complete the setting.

The church on the left side of the picture was purchased at a bring and buy last year. It needs some "weathering" but I am sure it will be ideal when finished, and a fine addition to the 40mm township

Chasseurs de Fischer

Chasseurs de Fisher
I managed to complete this regiment yesterday. I always struggle with hussar style regiments, and I find them very time consuming, and always a relief to complete.
French cavalry regiments tended to be smaller than Prussian & Austrian units, therefore I have gone for a 12 piece regiment as opposed to my usual 16 figures. There is no source for a cavalry standard in Kronoscaf, so I have elected not to go with one. I intend to do some figures to represent the foot soldiers of this unit in due course. I want to have them depicted as light figures in shooting and loading positions, so a little conversion will be required.