I thought I'd squeak this submission in before we leave for the Valentine's weekend (shh, don't let the missus know...).
Here are six very, very cross Russian peasants for my 1812 French Retreat project.
The figures are from the Perrys' 28mm Napoleonic range. I kept them in fairly natural earth tones as I think they wouldn't be too flashy, being too busy eking out a life in the frozen steppes of Russia for such frippery.
I've included a few shots of them seeing off some unwelcome French callers.
I also just completed a Russian cottage from 4Ground. This is a laser-cut MDF kit that comes flat packed and pre-painted.
I really had a wonderful time putting this together. It took me back to my childhood days when I used to scissor-out and glue together paper farmyard buildings that came in large format scrapbooks (does anyone else remember these?). Anyway, it took me several enjoyable lunch hours at work but I managed to puzzle through it all. It's actually quite an involved little kit, with lots of detail both inside and out, but every piece fit together flawlessly with little fuss or muss. Highly recommended if you have the patience.
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| Nice interior detail. |
There is one thing I'm not too wild about with these MDF kits and that is the laser burn marks around the edges. When they first came out I could get past it as they were still unique but now when I see them it just screams to me, 'Look, another 'painted' MDF kit with burnt edges'.
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| Here is a side of the cottage 'stock' with the burnt laser markings clearly evident... |
But it's an easy fix. I took 10 minutes to quickly drybrush the walls with a couple tones of light khaki and light grey to soften the burn marks and I really think it provides a better overall finish, well, to me anyway.
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| ...and this is with a bit of simple drybrushing. |
Next to go will be those 'socket-marks' in the roof and corner joins, but that will be for another day.
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| Hooray Igor! Get out the vodka, we're eating French tonight... |
The cottage notwithstanding, these six pissed-off Russian peasants will give me 30 points to chip me along. (NOTE: I've increased my Challenge Target to 1K which will be a definite stretch for me but I guess that's the purpose of the whole affair.)
Oh, and just as a reminder: Due to me being away for the next couple of days the 'Casualties' Bonus Round has been postponed until next Sunday (this will not affect the date of the 'Favourite Character' Bonus Round, which remains March 2nd).
Great peasants Curt - and yes, those small extras on the cottage make a world of difference - Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Paul. I had the peasants done a little while but I wanted to roll them out with the cottage as a backdrop.
DeleteGreat work Curt, what rules are you planning on using for these??
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray, I'm using a modified version of 'Muskets & Tomahawks' which gives a nice and fast (and bloody) game.
DeleteTake a look at the new Donnybrook rules, they'd be perfect for the period!
DeleteBelieve me I'd love to but the f*cking shipping is complete and utter extortion (at least the last time I looked). I'll have to get one of you guys to pick me up a set at SALUTE and I'll get it when we're there in May.
DeleteNice peasants Curt :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tamsin!
DeleteVery nice... Now you just need a pack of wolves to finish the poor devils off!
ReplyDeleteI so know what you mean re the MDF buildings. I am really no sold on the pre painted.. All to the same for my tastes, but I understand the attraction.
Stick a blinky light in the fireplace for home comforts feel!
Great job.. We need to see a game with these.. You can play it outside for us for added realism. :-)
Ahh, I actually do have some timber wolves done up. I'll have to remember that for a game.
DeleteIf we tried playing outside the game would probably last 20 minutes before we expired from hypothermia. That's taking role-playing to a new high (low) :)
Nice house, how many does that score? ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat grubby peasants too.
Haha, not a pip of course (wiseass).
DeleteThanks for the comment Mr. Phil!
Very nice work. I think the French might get a roof over their head tonight though. Muskets tend to win against wooden farm implements! (well mostly)
ReplyDeleteUnless the musket locks are frozen and/or the men are out of ammunition...
DeleteGreat looking peasant's those poor French boys
ReplyDeleteIan
Thanks Ian! And those poor French lads were only asking directions to Poland.
DeleteCurt
ReplyDeleteI like the peasants, they looked even better routing Sylvain's frenchies off table last week. I like the house too. Enjoy your weekend in a much fancier rustic retreat.
Cheers
PD
Yes, they had a great debut under your command (and your moose definitely helped to soften up the French line).
DeleteThe peasants are very lovely! Great Addition to your other minis!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the prepainted buildings. The burnmarks are easy to paint over. I did that on my medival buildings from 4Ground. Once you found a matching colour it goes fast. I will leave the burn marks on some of my ruined WWII buildings from them to add to the ruined character though.
Thank you! Yes, modifying/cleaning up the buildings is really quite easy. I'll definitely be getting more.
DeleteVery nice, Curt, the figures and the cottage. I like a lot the colours you have used for the poor peasants.
ReplyDeleteThanks Juan! I must say it was difficult finding them enough varying shades of tan and brown.
DeleteVery, very cool! The figures and terrrain/building are perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean!
DeleteNice looking peasants Curt and that cottage is a nice bit of terrain.
ReplyDeleteHere's wishing you and the missus a lovely weekend!
Thank you very much Anne! We indeed had a lovely time out in the country, thanks!
DeleteLovely work on both the house and the figs.
ReplyDeleteThough I can't help but recall that line from Woody Allen's Russo-Napoleonic epic 'Love and Death'; "We have to burn the food so the French don't get it. But it's tough to light borscht."
Haha! Good one, I loved that movie.
DeleteNapoleon: 'I wonder if you would be more difficult to conquer than Russia.
Sonja: ' Well, I weigh less.'
Lovely work once again Curt. Can't wait to see some AARs from these. Care to share your technique for the snow bases?
ReplyDeleteHopefully I'll have something up after the Challenge.
DeleteThe snow is 'natural sand' Liquitex texture gel (which cures quite smooth) then I drybrush it with two shades of cool (blue) grey, with a final highlight of bright white. Very simple but it gives a good overall effect.
Wonderfull COBs! I think the peasants aren't taxed enough though, they are heating the home so well that all the snow has melted away from the roof! ;)
ReplyDeleteHa, yes I need to figure out some way to do an effective snow coating for the roof. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteOnce again, these are lovely Curt.
ReplyDeleteCheers Kev!
DeleteWell done on the figures Curt.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks Christopher!
DeleteGreat stuff, Curt; I have to say, the jury is out for me on the MDF buildings. They look nice, although a little 'cartoony' and I must admit, the price is putting me off a bit...
ReplyDeleteI can understand your thoughts on the buildings. They are too perfect in their corners and dimensions. But I still like the overall effect (with some modifications). Frankly, I'd prefer resin models but the shipping costs here to central Canada is shocking due to their weight.
DeleteHa! Yes, I'm sure 19th century Russian building codes for serfs were pretty lax...
ReplyDeleteAwesome figures.
ReplyDelete4ground buildings are just excellent. They can be enhanced by a bit of paint and creativity.
cheers
Thanks Brendon! To be honest I was not sure about them to begin with but I really had a blast working on this kit and will add to them in the future. As you say they can easily be modified to taste.
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