ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Tuesday 25 September 2018

Serious temptation... Colour tests

Greetings...


So letting myself be tempted even more I have painted a couple of colour/style tests using some 42mm castings I had at hand...







First up...  An Austrian Infantry...


Really not a lot of difference from what was worn in the Napoleonic wars... The shako in the 1830's appears to be a lot more extreme than the one I have here... I will make a few new ones if I go ahead with this project.




Next up...  A Bavarian Landwehr...


This is a lovely uniform... again the shako could be a bit more extreme.






  Finally... A Prussian Cuirassier...


I have gone for a matt finish with gloss leather work and metallics...
This is pretty much what I do now, but with a much lighter wash...the effect is reminiscent of Greenwood and Ball miniatures from  the late 60's and early 70's... though without the black lining.


I have also experimented with thicker bases... these are 6mm... I will probably go for slightly thinner.


I am now tempted to see what they look like with a gloss varnish.


All the best   Aly




22 comments:

  1. Top brushwork on these very charming figures. The figures have a sleek and elegant quality to them. Very stylish.

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  2. Very nice Aly. The Austrian chap is my favourite - he really looks the part.

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    1. Thank you Mark.

      I really like the pose of this one... if I go ahead with this I think I will try and use it for most if not all of the Infantry.
      Also... Austrians ... White uniforms... what’s not to like.

      All the best. Aly

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  3. Love these figures and your paint job , a gloss varnish would enhance them I think .

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    1. Thank you Tony.

      A coat of varnish has been applied and I will post pictures once it has dried.

      All the best. Aly

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  4. As someone who glosses nearly all my figures I shouldn't comment on that but I've enjoyed seeing your figures, I like each one but if I'm to choose, I like the Bavarian Landwehr for the smart piping in white.
    I've painted those taller shakos for the Polish Insurrection of 1830. They look strange [oversized] but are an indicator of that period [you can find pictures on flickr under the name Stephen Caddy.
    Thanks for sharing these,

    Stephen

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    1. Thank you Stephen.

      It is interesting how ‘tall’ everything went in the 30’s some of the plumes are outrageous...
      I couldn’t find you pictures on Flickr... could you post a link ?

      All the best. Aly

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  5. Elegant and beautiful, lovely colors and great job!

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  6. Splendid Sir, go gloss my good man.

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    1. Thank you Phil.

      Glossed and awaiting photography.

      All the best. Aly

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  7. Beautiful brushwork!

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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  8. I'm partial to the Prussian cuirassier, but they're all striking. I'm just wondering, would a 42mm game require significantly more space than a 28mm game?

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    1. Thank you Ed...
      The space for a game really depends on how big you want to go and of course how you represent your units...
      I now this guy who is writing a set of suitable rules that has two stands for each unit with three Infantry and two cavalry on each stand... they look like they will offer a decent game without to large a force...
      You might know him... he has done previous work with Dubious Designs... ;-)

      All the best. Aly

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    2. Egads! Hoist on me own petard.

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  9. If you don’t mind me saying, a pointless distraction into more toy soldiers. Much prefer your historical figures and games myself, but each to their own I suppose.

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    1. David
      Toy soldiers of any kind is never a pointless distraction... as you well know.
      They are indeed historical... whether they fought is another thing altogether...

      As you say... each to their own.

      All the best. Aly

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  10. splendid !

    30's were the top of gentlman's fashion !! Shakos were realy higher than during first empire , and fashion very close to the body.(little size and big shoulders!)

    I would vote for gloos varnish too , but it is just a question of personal taste!!

    i realy would like to see those austrians triyng to invade 1830 Louis Philippe's France .....

    my butterfly is awaking .....not a good thing !!!
    best regards
    paco

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  11. Thank you Paco...
    Indeed the 1830’s was a very stylish period...
    It would be a sin not to reflect it on the wargames table...

    Let your butterfly flutter free... you know you want to... ;-)

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