Perry Napoleonic Russian High Command

Here's the latest addition to the Napoleonic Russian army - the high-command set, including Marshal Kutusov.

I added some spare (leftover) plastic grenadiers to fill out the oval-shaped base.

The Perry site shows the marshal wearing a green cap, but a few paintings of the Battle of Borodino show his cap being white topped (and visor-less). I think the white contrasts nicely with the dark green and reds.

I used Micron pens (black, blue and green) for the maps - one on the drum and one held by a general to the marshal's left. I also scribbled something on the page held by the staff officer writing down something. The pens are about 10 years old, and the ink is still fresh - very impressive product.

The green coats are a bit darker than the previous ones I painted. This time I mixed Vallejo Deep Green with a little bit of Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue. I also added white to this mixture for the highlighting.

The red-coated figure is supposed to be General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson - a British observer/advisor; at least according to the Perry's website.

I think the grenadiers are appropriate here as one of the paintings of the Battle of Borodino shows a unit of grenadiers standing behind the high-command observing the battle. Here's the painting below. Although this painting shows red sashes, other references show blue for the Order of St. Andrew.

A comparison between the Perry Russian command and the old Foundry (Perry sculpts) Napoleon command set. The Foundry figures are slightly stockier than the current Perry's, but match up well enough. Both sets are based upon paintings of the Battle of Borodino. As you may notice, I painted eyes on the Foundry set - which was painted some years ago. I've since given up on this practice as it not only comes out badly, but also bad for my eyes as well. I can see that I've become a bit sloppier with my painting, and highlighting a bit more harshly as well. I've come to realize that on the gaming table, which these are intended for, a lot of the intricate details really can't be seen.

These figures complete my Russian Army for now. I hope to add some cavalry later - particularly the plastic Prussian/Russian Dragoon set the Perry's are supposed to release in a few months (I hope). In the meantime, I plan to start a smallish AWI project; first time delving into this period. More to follow. Thank you all for stopping by and checking out the blog. Wishing you all good health and happy hobby pursuits!

Victrix Mercenary Hoplites With Battle Flag Shield Decals

The decals arrived yesterday - only took about a week and a half to arrive to WA State (Westcoast USA) from the UK. As posted earlier, the figures themselves were already painted a few weeks ago.

I used about four or five left-over LBMS transfers, just for varieties-sake. The Battle Flag set comes with 50 decals of assorted designs; which is more than enough for the 48-figure  Victrix sets of Hoplites. Quite a good deal, and they are traditional water-slide decals, so very easy to apply. In fact, for round shields like these, I much prefer water-slide as you can move them around to center them. LBMS, nice as they are, can be a bit of a problem if they aren't centered correctly when first applied as they have an adhesive face and can't really be moved around once they're on.

In fact, I was very pleased with these decals from Battle Flag. They are very durable and can be moved around a lot without breakage. I did use a decal softener to seat them better, but again, no issues as they are quite tough.  I was a bit worried as the Roman shield decals I used from them before were kind of brittle and harder to apply. They seemed thinner than these Greek Hoplite ones.

I used a small dab of acrylic caulking to "glue" the shields onto the figures. This worked great, as they shields could be moved around a bit  before hardening. I then went over with some watered down brown to paint over any of the white caulking showing.

The one shield motif that I don't really care for is the somewhat cartoonish Medusa head that both Battle Flag and LBMS make; I think I only used one of them.

Next in the pain queue is the Perry Russian high command set. After those, I might try my hand a scratch-building some gun emplacements for the Russian guns. As far as the Russians themselves, I think I'll hold off on more foot figures and await the release of the Perrys' plastic Dragoon set. Well, so much for now. Hope you all had a good weekend and ready to take on the new week. Until next time, best wishes to you all!

Perry Napoleonic Russian Jaegers

These are metal figures, and likely the last Russian infantry I'll work on for awhile. I have the high command set to paint up too.

Although they likely still had white summer trousers at Borodino, I like them in their matching dark green pants with red stripes. Kinda the iconic look for Russian Jaegers, IMO.

I wonder if Warlord Games will ever add Jaegers to their line. Would be nice to mix them up with these.

I had some Foundry Russian Jaeger (Perry sculps) before and liked them a lot.

The ammo pouches are supposed to have the regimental numbers on them, but left them off as I didn't want to mess up the numbers and also didn't want to be specific with the unit.

Hopefully the Battle Flag hoplite shield decals will arrive soon so I can complete the Victrix guys. Until then, I'll start working on the Russian high command set.

Thanks as always for stopping by and checking out the blog. Best wishes and good health to all of you!

Victrix Mercenary Hoplites - WIP +1

After touching them up and adding highlights, went ahead and based them. Still need to add their shield - once the Battle Flag decals arrive.

Took a little bit of effort to arrange them on account of the overarm spear poses of the first two ranks. Quite happy with them so far.

Just wanted to post this image for a quick update to show how nicely the stain worked on the linothorax. Adding a bit of white highlighting to the armor also makes the armor pop a bit. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and best wishes to you all.

Victrix Mercenary Hoplites - WIP

 Here they are with a stain of Minwax over basic block painting.

I used a white undercoat as most of them are in linothorax. I like how the stain helped define parts of the armor, especially the pteruges.

Awaiting the arrival of shield transfers from Battle Flag. Thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Perry Napoleonic Russian Artillery

Finished the two 12pdrs and unicorns (20 and 10pdrs). These should be enough to fill up two or three fleches if I ever get around to hosting a "mini-Borodino" game. Plus, I need to add some cavalry - hopefully the Perrys will release their plastic Prussian/Russian Dragoon set in a few months.

The crews are placed pretty tightly around the guns as I like to use smaller bases. I don't want the bases themselves taking up too much table space.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I like the Russian uniforms (at least the foot), because the main colors (green and red) are a nice combination, and they don't have too much piping or lacings - like their French and British counterparts.

I plan to have them in batteries of 2 or 3 guns, and in emplacements. Need to someday build appropriate terrain for the gun emplacements.

Pictured below along with the earlier painted 6 pounders.

I'll probably work on the Victrix Hoplites next - and get around to the metal Perry Jaegers and Grenadiers later. Thanks for stopping by and best wishes and health to you all!

Work Bench Update

My Perry Napoleonic Russian reinforcements have arrived. Started on the artillery - two 12 pounders, and a couple of unicorn mortars. Stained with Minwax - awaiting highlight and basing.

Prior to the staining, with a very basic block paint job.

I also started on a box of Victrix Greek Mercenary Hoplites - a trade I had made a couple of days ago with a local buddy. I usually don't work on different projects simultaneously, but I didn't think the Perry order was going to arrive so soon - only took about a week and a half to arrive. Added a few Samnite and Macedonians heads.

Just a quick update to let you all know what I'm currently working on. Thanks for checking out the blog and best wishes to you all!

Pavlograd Hussar Kit Bash Painted

They're temp-based as I plan to mix them with some of the metal figures from Perry (command and saber wielding guys).

Although there is a surviving dolman and pelisse of the Pavlograd Hussars with red braiding and lacing, I went with their earlier (pre-1809) look with yellow braiding. I did paint the dagged edge of the sabraques red, though.

The blue isn't as turquoise colored as I wanted, as I only mixed existing blue and green paint together.

The pouch should be attached to the red-brown leather strap, but wanted to keep this conversion a simple as possible.

Waiting on the arrival of a second Perry order of more artillery, Jaegers and high command. Until next time, wishing you all the best and appreciate you dropping in and checking out the blog.

Pavlograd Hussars - Kit Bash

Using left over parts from previous kits, went ahead and put together a few Pavlograd Hussars carrying lances.

Perry Britsh Hussar bodies/legs and sabretaches/sabers; Victrix Polish Lancer right arms/lances and horses; and Perry Russian kiwer heads.

I scalpeled off the gauntlet cuffs on the lancer right arms, as well as the "N" and eagle monograms from the shabraques. Oh, I just now noticed that I need to add hilts to the scabbards.

I like the color combination of their uniform - dark green dolman with turquoise blue facings. I'll have to paint the dog tooth ends of the shabraques.

I also had to scalpel off the bread bags from the British Hussar bodies; as well as some of the saddle to fit the leg better.

I'll likely add some of the Perry metal Russian Hussars to make a unit of 8 figures (the size I use for standard Black Powder cavalry units).

Perry Napoleonic Russian Commanders

Here are the last figures from the Perry "Brigade Deal" of Russians.

To fill up the 50mm round Litko bases, I added a couple of spare grenadiers, as well as a French casualty from their French Infantry set.

 

The mounted commanders are all cast as one piece - rider and horse.

Their lineage from Foundry sculpts by the Perrys is visible - particularly the one in the 1809 shako.

These were nice to paint up using block painting followed by Minwax staining and then highlights.

Good to have these done as my order of reinforcements (more cannon and some skirmishing Jaeger) are en route.

Thanks for stopping by and wishing you all the best.

Perry Napoleonic Russian 6 Pounders

These are the two artillery sets that come with the "Brigade Deal," along with 6 boxes of plastic infantry and three mounted commanders.

I really enjoy painting Russian Napoleonic foot uniforms, as the green-red color combination looks good, and they lack some of the more intricate uniform details of the French and British; different color lapels, lacing and piping (although the artillery and jaegers do have a little bit of the latter on cuffs and collars).

The green for the jackets could be darker, I suppose, but I've used about a 50:50 mix of Vallejo Model Color Deep Green and Vallejo Game Color Dark Green - mainly because I have them on hand. Plus, the Minwax staining seems to darken it a bit. I also gave the folds some highlights of lighter greens. At least they should be easily identified on the gaming table.

To flesh out the Russian force, I recently placed another order from the Perrys; two 12 pounders, two unicorns, some skirmishing Jaeger and the command set with a sitting Kutuzov.

I'll start on the three mounted commanders next, as long as work issues don't flare up. Still teleworking, thankfully - hopefully I can milk this set up for a few more years until retirement. That all said, wishing you all good health and happy hobby pursuits!

Pz.Kpfw KV-1 756(r) by Hobby Boss

Another Beutepanzer, this time from the Second World War. This is a 1:48th scale plastic kit (with a few metal parts) from Hobby Boss of a captured Russian KV-1 with a modified turret sporting a German 7.5cm KwK 40 gun. I don't know how to use an airbrush, so brushed on the camo with watered down paint and then dry-brushed over it to soften the look. I also gave it a wash of Future/Pledge floor wax mixed with Vallejo Black Ink and Flesh Wash. After the wash it was dry-brushed again very lightly with the base color - Tamiya Dark Yellow. In the image below, a Victory Force Mini's FJ is next to it for size comparison.

At arms length, the camo doesn't appear too bad - for brushed on. I cut the hatch to have it opened, and need to add TC later.

A few shots comparing it with a 1:50th scale Corgi Panther and a 1:48th scale New Millennium Panzer IV.

I think the KV-1 756 was something in-between these two "proper" German tanks. Maybe even better armored than the Panther. For the record, I "airbrushed" the camo on the Panther many, many years ago with one of those cheap Testor's airbrushes with aerosol compressed air cans - it kept sputtering the paint out - I was lucky to get this far on it before it quit on me.

Although the hull/chassis of the KV-1 seems slightly lower than the Panther, the taller turret makes up for the height difference.

Well, so much for tanks, now I will get back to the Napoleonic Russians from Perry; two cannon/crew and mounted commanders. Thanks for stopping by the blog and checking it out. Wishing you all the very best!