I picked up the Perry's today, they consist of 7 Spanish Guerrillas and 7 more French Voltiguers, every one a gem as usual in it's own little black box.
On order I also have more Sash & Sabre figures, Highland infantry command (5), Cuirassier troopers (7) and Cuirassiers command (3). These may be a couple more weeks and I'm having them delivered to my daughter in the UK.
But to return to the plastic Sails of Glory Napoleonic ships for now, I have been doing a bit of work on two of them to see what can be done. The sails got a wash of thin paint, the masts were painted in a more accurate shade and the yards painted black. I then added the basic standing rigging using Rod Langtons excellent guide. I'm now searching for a method of replicating ratlines before I add some of the running rigging in buff cotton.
So far so good I think, and certainly an improvement on the basic models. I think the ratlines will make a huge difference to the appearance, disguising as it will some of the nasty white plastic behind the sails. Current thinking is possibly dyed medical gauze or curtain netting, hard to find in Spain though. Any ideas chaps most welcome.
A few pics, one Spanish and the other a 1st rate British ship.
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| I think the darker sails on the Spanish ship look better? |
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| Broadside! |
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| Starting to look better I think. |
Your shipwork is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jonathan, I'm finding it an enjoyable change from the figures.
DeleteBeautiful mate, made especially nice I think because you've taken those "meh" plastic ships and turned them into little works of art.
ReplyDeleteCheers JBM, I just need to solve the ratlines problem next, I enjoy getting the old brainbox around things like this, I'm sure I'll stumble across a solution somewhere.
DeleteGreat looking ships! Much improved by your painting and rigging, to me the Spanish sails are just a bit too dark? Split the difference between the British and Spanish tones? Either one is so much better than the way they were!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Hi Iain, you could well be right about the sails, the Spanish ship looks a touch too 'grubby' I'll tone it down a bit. Of course I'll need to re watch 'Master and Commander' yet again for research :)
DeleteBlimey, I'd be more than happy with them as they are! How do you plan to resolve the "lost mast" issue in your games? A marker?
ReplyDeleteHello Steve, must admit I'm pleased with them myself. De masting will have to be marked on the ships record card I think, I'll be using the same rules as Jolly Broom Man, they have produced some excellent small games on his fine blog. I foresee a lot of gaming pleasure from these little plastic ships.
ReplyDeleteLee, any damage to masts and rigging is marked either by counter next to the ship or on a ship data card, which is my own invention, not required for the rules but keeps the game area clutter free. Happy to share it with you if you don't wish to reinvent the wheel.
DeleteCheers JBM, I'm all for minimising clutter/markers so I will probably take you up on that offer, thank you :) I do hope you are keeping cool there, I enjoy the hot weather but had to resort to walking around in my underpants last couple of evenings indoors, gave my wife a good laugh at least!
ReplyDeleteHave you considered the photo-etch brass ratlines available from Rod Langton?
ReplyDelete