Napoleonic Russians from the 'Riazan' Regiment - 28mm Foundry

This is an 1812 period Russian infantry battalion whose colours identify it has having been recruited from the Riazan area of Russia.

To be perfectly frank, I need to paint Russian Napoleonics like I need a hole in the head. I actually finished this unit as a 'poke in the eye' to Sylvain who is currently lazily sitting on a pile of unpainted Victrix early-period Russians that he acquired last winter. When I told him that I was going to work on all my other projects PLUS match his Russian 'commitment' battalion-for-battalion he responded with typical Gallic style by saying (in his charming French accent), "Ah, is zis another one of your charming, how you say, challenge 'Gauntlets', Cuurt?  Pff, add it to the pile..."

Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Pepe le Pew. ;)

Anyway, perhaps the Painting Challenge will put a fire under his butt, we'll see.

I quite like these Perry-sculpted Foundry castings (I think they were created late in their association with WF). They have great proportions, deep folds for shading and a lot of variation to give units greater character. I started these last February to experiment with Army Painter Quickshade and thought I'd get the unit done and off the table.

I went a little overboard on the groundwork but I'm still happy with how they turned out on the whole. The flags are by the indispensable 'Flag Dude'.

I have enough castings in The Lead Reserves to do a good portion of the 17th Division of  Baggovut's 2nd Corps which saw heavy action at Borodino. Cripes, yet another project on the roster...

Painting Challenge has met the Cut

Wow! What a wonderful response! I'm very pleased with the level of interest that this year's Painting Challenge has generated. We have many of the regular 'Old Salts' pitching in plus some new people whom I'm delighted to have join us. Nonetheless, we have now hit my target of twenty 'Challengers' (actually a bit more) and I'm thinking this will be more than enough for me to manage! To those who missed getting aboard this year I apologize but I'm sure we'll be doing it again in the future.

All of those who have agreed to be part of this silliness will have now received a note from me which has an update on the scoring, reiterates the rules (such as they are) and generally gets us all acquainted. For those of you who will be following the progress of the Challenge I will be posting all entries onto this main page as they are submitted, but it is my plan to make-up another linked page that will serve as a gallery for all the entries. In addition, the right-hand sidebar will have an updated tally-sheet of the standings (you can see the list of 'Challengers' there currently). So remember to visit often, encourage the lads and enjoy the show!

The Gauntlet Dropped - The 2nd Annual Winter Painting Challenge

Sigh. He's back again. That spiteful, hateful, nasty git: Old Man Winter. 

Bugger. Him. 

Here in Saskatchewan the temperature is now well below freezing, the trees are bare, the ice is on the roads and I can categorically say I don't want to hear A SINGLE WORD from my sun-kissed compatriots near or below the equator about their warm weather. I hate you all (but of course in a benign, friendly way).

Oh well, the upswing is that it forces me to slow down and spend more time indoors, which in turn gives me more time for my hobbies. So, in order to further encourage industry, camaraderie and a bit of friendly competition I thought I'd issue another Painting Challenge similar to the one last winter.

The Painting Challenge Rules:

'The Analogue Hobbies Winter Painting Challenge' will extend from December 20th to the first day of Spring, midnight March 20th.


Those wishing to participate are to contact me via this blog.


As opposed to the previous Challenge, which was exclusively Napoleonic, I thought it would be interesting to broaden the Challenge to include ANY HISTORICAL wargames figures.


The Scoring:

• 5 points per 25/28mm foot figure 
• 10 points per per 25/28mm mounted figure 
• 10 points per 25/28mm artillery piece or limber model 
• 4 points per 20mm foot or unmounted horse figure 
• 8 points per 20mm mounted figure 
• 8 points per 20mm artillery piece or limber model 
• 3 points per 15mm foot or unmounted horse figure 
• 6 points per 15mm mounted figure 
• 6 points per 15mm artillery piece or limber model 
• Vehicles will be scored on a model-to-model basis 
• We'll keep it to figures/models only - so no terrain, sorry! 

(Other scales/models points value will be determined by The Judge)

Figures can be primed prior to the start date (Dec 20th) but no colour can have been applied until the start date. In order to be scored the figures have to be based and any groundwork completed. The figures have to be painted by you. The honour system will be followed in relation to the completion and entry of figures to the Challenge. Woe goes upon the head of anyone who besmirches themselves in the painting of toy soldiers!

On top of general bragging rights, smack talk, etc. prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. (Prizes will be gift vouchers (or their equivalent) from a wonderful online hobby store.)


In order to be scored, photos of the completed figures/units are required to be submitted to me (The Judge) for posting here on the Analogue Hobbies blog. Updated scoring for 'The Challenge' will also be tracked on this blog.


The Judge (me) will participate in the competition but will not 'place' as a scoring competitor (i.e. no prizes for me).

But, you see, I have a cunning plan...

There is ONE condition to your participation to The Challenge. To be counted as one of the vaunted members of this august enterprise you will be required to paint one Viking figure for my collection. I will send out a figure to you with a self-addressed return enclosure. It will count as 10 points towards your score but it has to be submitted back to me before the end of the Challenge.


This way I get both a momento of the Challenge, and, in a sense, all the participants will form part of my Viking warband. Now, how neat is that!


So, there you have it. If you're interested please drop me a note. I hope you take up my challenge and join me in getting a bunch of stuff done over the coming winter months!


Warm Wishes,


Curt

Product Snapshot: 'Architects of War' Resin Tree Bases

Earlier this year I picked up eight of these resin tree bases from Architects of War (amongst other assorted stuff) and managed to take some time this past week to get them done up. 

I got these as part of a larger online deal of which I've finished the Garden and the Plowed Field. I still have a whack of other models from them to do, but one thing at a time, eh?

Like the rest of the Architects of War products I've worked with, these resin tree bases are very well made - they're very sturdy, have no warping and possess excellent detail. It was just a matter of blocking in the colours, drybrushing, adding a little groundwork, glueing in the 'Woodland Scenic' trees to the matching sockets and they were done. Highly recommended.

I also made up a bunch of single trees mounted onto large fender washers to act as 'filler' foliation between these bases. In addition, I think I'm going to make up some large chamfered/flocked MDF bases to set these on. That way when figures move into the woods then the trees can be freely moved around to accomodate and the larger MDF base will indicate the limits of the treeline.

From the Lead Archive: Chasseur a Cheval de la Garde Imperiale - 28mm Foundry Painted by Brian Homenick

Whenever I think that my painting skills may be improving I pull this old chestnut out from my display cabinet to get a reality check. This Chasseur a Cheval officer of the Imperial Guard was given to me as a gift about 15 years ago by my friend Brian Homenick (of Vaubanner Graphics), who is, as you can plainly see, a phenomenal painter. 

This is a venerable 28mm Wargames Foundry casting, sculpted by Alan Perry, which still holds its own amongst the best out there today. The pose is taken from the famous painting by Theodore Gericault titled "The Charging Chasseur" which was first exhibited in 1812 and can be viewed today at the Louvre (see above).

I remember Brian giving me the model in an almost nonchalant manner, just a slight smile and a shrug. Almost like, "I thought I'd give this one a whirl, and well, here you go." Awesome.

A few years ago, when I was living in Ontario, I met up with another good friend, Dallas (another venerable member of the Fawcett Ave Conscripts), to check out a Games Workshop's 'Games Day' event in Toronto. It was pretty cool as the energy level from all the kids was completely off the hook, but the real reason I was excited to go was because the Perry twins were in attendance to show off their latest work for GW and visit with the geeks. I duly stood in line with what seemed to be a battalion of pimply teens and managed to chat with the both of them for a few minutes. During this time I pulled out a few of my favourite Napoleonic models of their design and asked them to sign the bases for me. Of course Brian's Chasseur was one of these and Alan Perry was kind enough to oblige. 

I remember we all thought it pretty funny being at an event which showcases EVERYTHING Warhammer and here we were gabbing on about Napoleonics. I came away completely stoked and I remember Sarah nodding and smiling indulgently as I described by field trip and the cool 'autographs' I received. Yep, complete nerdgasm.

Anyway, there you go. The Chasseur remains a prized gift and a constant source of inspiration. Thanks Brian!

Note: Brian also painted for me the complete set of Foundry's dismounted Napoleon, Marshals and staff (its the one with Napoleon seated with his boot on a drum). As you can imagine its a real treat and I'll post it up in the future.