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!

Beutepanzer - Warlord Games British Mark IV Tank in German Service

Finished painting the Warlord Game British Mark IV tank - work was interrupted while I worked on the Perry Napoleonic Russian Infantry.

As mentioned in a previous post, this is a very nice kit that goes together well. I couldn't tell you how many rivets there are, but there's a lot of them. Here it is next to a Wargames Atlantic figure for size comparaison.

Above image shows the Mark IV next to the Warlord Games Renault FT-17 posted earlier. Quite a substantial size difference - and being from the same maker (Warlord Games), it should be "scaled" correctly

Another view next to the Renault for comparison. The Mark IV kit is mostly resin with only a few metal parts. The guns, exhaust pipe, top rails and the wood beam are metal parts.

And another comparison shot - this time with an Old Glory A7V. For the record, I used decals for the crosses on the Mark IV - which were a major pain as they were very fragile and kept breaking apart when I tried to apply them on. Thankfully, there were enough "extras" that I was finally able to get them all on. In the end it was worth it, as I didn't want to try and paint the crosses on by hand - which I did for the A7V (only 2 crosses there).

Anyway, thanks again for dropping by. Just wanted to post this as this tank was in the works prior to the Perry Napoleonic Russians. In fact, I have another tank which I was working on prior to the Russians - the Hobby Boss KV-75/76 - to finish too. Until next time, wishing you all the very best in health and hobby endeavors!

Perry Napoleonic Russian Infantry - Good Enough For Wargaming

Finished them up today - not the best quality painting, but good enough for the table top. This was a down and dirty project with broad brushstrokes and heavy reliance on Minwax staining.

I didn't do any highlighting after the staining as I wanted to see how they look without the effort. I have to say, massed in close ranks, they seem to look okay. The only things I did "above and beyond" was dry-brushing the grenadier plumes and adding a flesh wash after the staining to the face and hands.

Some of the flags were downloaded from the Warflags-Napflags website - which I've been using for many years; so happy to see it's still up and running.

Speaking of the flags; besides the one for the Pavlov Grenadiers, the rest were used mainly because I liked the pattern and colors. I even used the one from the Perry box that is supposed to be for a Marine regiment.

Still have two cannon and the three mounted commanders from the Perry "deal" to work on. Thanks for stopping by the ol' blog and wishing you all the very best.

Perry Napoleonic Russian Infantry - WIP +3 (Basic Painting Completed)

Yes, all of the basic painting is done. Fun Fact: I painted about 1,400 buttons - most of these on the cuff flaps (3 per sleeve) LOL! Plan to stain with Minwax Tudor Satin stain tomorrow.

In this short space of time, I've learned a bit about Russian Napoleonics. For one, they had different colored flag poles for different regiments - and the colors changed a couple of times in this period.

After the staining, I'll go back over and touch up stuff if needed, but since they'll be in rank and file formation, shouldn't be too bad. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and best wishes to you all.

Perry Napoleonic Russian Infantry - WIP +2

Pulled a marathon painting session today and managed to finish the main parts of the uniform; facings (cuffs, collars, etc.), equipment straps and shako cords (less the officers' silver cords and sashes).

Still need to paint the buttons on the jacket, including cuff flaps. The command groups also need work - particularly the musicians. After the uniforms, muskets will be painted, as well as most metal parts - including the Pavlov's mitre faceplate.

Just wanted to update the progress on these figures. Again, very, very basic painting which will be given the Minwax stain treatment. Thanks again for stopping by and wishing you all the best.