First signs of Spring in the air here, the Crocuses are popping their colourful heads above the ground and it's warming up .... just slightly. I'm working out the months painting schedule and the plan is:
Old John Strelets mounted Confederate Generals set (x12), Strelets Union Personalities on foot (x35) plus assorted plastic Engineers and gunners, 4 lovely Russian Falconers and finally 4 Airfix US cavalry which are not on the order of painting list BUT I simply cannot resist them!
Geoff 2mm bases for half scale DBA. Now I'm back in the swing of things I'm sure I can get these painted as Geoff has been incredibly patient.
Noel The final 5 Epic ECW infantry sprues/regiments before we start on the cavalry next month. This will be a total of 21 Regiments of Foot each of 80 figures painted so far. This will be a solid couple of weeks work.
April will then begin with more US cavalry for Mark.
'Battle Cry' ACW side project. The above represents a comfortable amount of painting for me and still leaves me plenty of spare hobby time for the start of 'Twydall' shunting layout and the new side project using Epic ACW sprues. I have now decided that I'm keen to carry on with this but I don't want to go down the whole expansive terrain building rout again so I'm going to build it based on the simple 'Battle Cry' ACW board game using 60mm frontage bases and a printed 13 x 9 hex grid fleece mat from Tinywargames with 75mm grid. I'm sure this will keep me engaged for a good 6 months or so at least.
The Epic ACW's are coming along and I'm enjoying doing some again. Progress photo below. I'm just deciding which flags to go with as the Epic flags are on the small side. I think I may go with wargame Designs. I bought a box of Union Cavalry and Zouaves from Ebay for just £22.00 which will give me my Union and Confederate mounted and dismounted cavalry bases, a couple of skirmish bases (2nd Sharpshooters?) plus the two Zouave bases which is all I require. As the box includes 3 sprues each containing a command strip and 3 infantry strips there will be a leftover 60/80 figure Zouave unit going FREE is anyone doing Epic ACW can use it (Norm?).
Photos below show the fine Strelets Confederate Generals set. I noticed that the horses feature a mix of nosebands and non nosebands which seems to be born out as correct at the time of the Civil war by research, a nice touch Strelets!). The black undercoat and flat brown drybrush is my go to method now for ACW's (both sides) and the Pony Wars commission, in fact I even use it for the Epic Pike and Shot as it quickly establishes high light points and gets all of the tricky pikes and muskets/rests/ etc done from the start and an additional careful dry brush of Flat Earth gives a highlight. Let's just say that it works for me.
 |
| The great man himself! |
 |
| Superb detail in these plastic figures. |
 |
| John Bell Hood, Texas. |
 |
| Tried to get variety into the Reb uniforms. |
 |
| Just bases and varnish required. |
 |
| Todays painting, Zouaves. |
 |
| A great value set for £22.00! ( note, same set for Rebs just Grey sprues!) |
 |
| The alternative to a wet palette, useful for dry brushing and horse painting etc. |
 |
| Pure nostalgia, Decades since I last painted Airfix US Cavalry! |
A list of painting jobs like that would scare me into immoblity!
ReplyDeleteThe joys of retirement Rob! I'm lucky to be able to supplement my pension doing something I get genuine pleasure from and it's good self discipline :)
DeleteThat is a goodly list. I think the Epic / Battle Cry on 60mm frontages is a grand idea and a very do-able project. Thanks for the generous ACW sprues offer, but I have moved everything Epic (ACW and Napoleonic) on!
ReplyDeleteNo worries Norm, I know plenty were put off by having to buy a full Brigade box of Zouaves and was surprised when this box came along including the single regiment (12 strips inc 3 command!). I know what I said previously but I'm enjoying adding the odd base as and when :)
DeleteCheers,
Lee.
Good stuff Lee 👏👏 Has your new light arrived and, if so, does it perform as well as anticipated?
ReplyDeleteAfter today I just have 8 more days to work prior to my retirement in May. I intend to be a gentleman of leisure - reading, wargaming and walking our 2 dogs. My wife, however, is insistent that I squeeze some time in every day for household cleaning and chores.
OK - perhaps my books will read themselves then. I think not…
Cheers,
Geoff
Hi Geoff, so far I have delayed investing in the lamp I want as it costs in excess of £100.00! I might compromise and go for something a bit cheaper if it will still do the job. I'll be dedicating a week to your bases from Monday anyway Geoff, I'm taking a generally more relaxed approach now I'm a Pensioner :)
DeleteNot far to go now for you. Bus pass, half price haircuts and cheap meal deals beckon, ah the joy.
Cheers,
Lee.
Very interesting with the Battlecry project! I have long been thinking about making units that better reflect the scale in Battlecry (than 4 1/72 minis as original). I would like to keep the original board and hexes tho so it's a bit of a puzzle getting it right
ReplyDeleteThank you. I really like the Battle Cry board and would suggest 6mm figures based on 50mm bases possibly? I did the same for C&C Napoleonics a few years ago and enjoyed it.
DeleteCheers,
Lee
https://napoleonictherapy.blogspot.com/2013/02/commands-colors-napoleonics-with.html
Thanks for your input! The 6mm looks great! I will look into it further
DeleteBest regards
Carl