FIGZ preparations...

Okay - I've got my Baden infantrymen ready to go. And, of course, no photo unless they've passed the contest. It's unlikely to win a painting contest just with a bunch of Napoleonics - but that's just fine. I mainly do this as a little promotion for Francescos' marvellous figures. ;-)

Before starting to pack my bags for FIGZ, I had to print out some new labels for the units which I have completed in the last few months. Therefore I had to reactivate an old computer which is, so to say, only left because of the software for creating those unit description labels.

So in general, I'm ready for FIGZ now. Hope to see you there! ;-)

Here we go again (and only one and a half week left until FIGZ!)

Well. I've moved. I'm still sitting between packing cases, but it'll be done in a few weeks. Hopefully. ;-)

But sometimes, there is enough time left for taking up the brush and paint a little bit. Achievements maybe small, but at least there are some.

The reason why I haven't finished the Italian guard grenadiers yet is simply that I can't find this certain red colour for their uniforms... it's in one of these boxes... but which one? 

I'm currently trying to finish the Baden infantry until FIGZ (7th of June in Arnhem, don't miss it!) and I'm quite sure that I'll make it right on time.

...little spoiler...

If you like these figures, you should check out Francescos website (www.franznap.com) - it looks as if he currently works on a complete coverage of Baden units for the Napoleonic period: Baden general staff, jaegers, dragoons... my oh my. Will be a heavy blow to my purse, I guess.
But as far as I know, there's no other Badeners in 20mm available on the market, so this is pretty unique stuff filling a gap in the Napoleonic figure range.

By the way - some days ago I received a parcel from Moscow. I ordered the post-apocalyptic figure set A09, which contains some veeeery special figures. Thank you so much, Alex!

That's not Napoleonic? I know. But 1st I'm preparing something non-Napoleonic for this years' Heiden show and 2nd these figures are so damn great that I just couldn't miss them. I've got at least three mini-dio ideas in mind using these figures. The set contains more figures then just these four, by the way. ;-)

In my opinion, Alex is among the top-notch figure modellers in the 20mm scene. His medieval figures are sold via Hagen miniatures. But he also has a small own line that he presents and sells via http://www.alexminiatures.com/. So if you're in Medievals or you like modern army figures, Alex definitely is your man!

So much for today. Oh - and don't forget:

One fast addition

Before packing, I have finished another unit for the Pre Bardin project. Again Italian, but this time something more auxiliary: it's the colonial batallion.

Meanwhile, the Pre-Bardin-'army' fills quite a large part of my cabinet.

And that's not even half of the complete thing. Buying another cabinet will become inevitable.

Pre-Bardin: next units

Meanwhile, I've made some more progress in my Pre-Bardin uniform project. Advancing with the Italian units, I hereby present the conscripts of the guard (the guy in the completely green uniform is from the regimental artillery company)...

...and to add some more colour, I also present you the guards of Milano:

Still on my desk are the guard grenadiers, the 1-7th regiment line grenadiers, the coastal guards and the colonial batallion. When I have finished them, it's gonna be 50percent day to the project. :-)

In addition, I have made a decision on how to go on regarding the French reserve companies. I'll create a display with 28 foot soldiers, representing all of the original 28 legions plus an officer and two or three drummers. A 30 figure display will certainly look quite brilliant.

But at first, it's moving time. My family and me will move to a different house on May 1st, so it's less painting and more packing time. Wish me luck that everything will survive that moving action in good shape. 

First Napoleon (and Mamluk)

Since I started to paint Napoleonics, I have collected a lot of different figures. Among them, I have three figures representing the famous Napoleon Bonaparte himself - two from Strelets, one from Alex. And, strange enough, I have never ever fully painted one of them. Until now.

As I mentioned two posts back, I participate in Jan's (MaBo) great FIGZ-related project 'Benno's figures forum famous Waterloo project'. As time passes quickly, many different figure painters have already shown their great additions for this project which will bring a multitude of Napoleonics onto a special display at FIGZ2015 in Arnhem - in remembrance to the 200year anniversary of the famous battle at Waterloo.

First, it was planned that the Napoleon figure for the project should have been the one from the Strelets French foot staff set, but the decision was switched over to the one that Alex had modelled to be the speciel collectors figure for last years' FIGZ. Following a different example, I cut it off from its' original base and put it onto a small coin base.

Here he is. Ready to lead the troops. But as we all know, every commander needs someone to assist him with the burdens of the day - well, Napoleon had a valet, a Mamluk who followed him everywhere and was also responsible for the emperors' close quarter protection.

This figure ist from the Strelets French foot staff set, one may clearly see the difference in modelling style. Nevertheless, a nice figure except from the fact that it's hard to get that certain line of extra plastic clearly off from the figure. 'sigh'
However, it looks quite pretty - perhaps because it's an exceptional dress.

Oh - and last but not least, I have also painted a Prussian line infantry flagbearer. This one is from HaTs' Prussian line infantry command set.

All figures are ready to go. I must just find a suitable way to ship them. And I'm really looking forward to see the complete 'team-work' at Arnhem this year.

Kingdom of Italy guards - Velites and foot artillery

Italian military always seemed to have a strong relationship to their imperial Roman ancestry. How else is it to explain that they called this light infantry of the guard 'velites'?

In the republican roman army, velites were light skirmishers, armed with short throwing spears. The veliti of the army of the Kindom of Italy were, of course, armed with muskets. ;-)

In the very first days of my Pre-Bardin-Project, I painted one of the velites - this was just before Remco from Bennos' forum popped up with the idea to put my figures onto decorative bases. As refurbishment was no option, I decided to paint all Italian units all over again.
This is the result for the velites of the guard.

A uniform colour combination which I really like, is the dark field-green and black of the guard foot artillery. This display shows an artilleryman and an officer, because I haven't found a picture of the belonging drummer. Although in many Italian units, the drummers had no special uniform at all, I simply didn't want to guess.

However - I should keep in mind to build up a cannon with crew of the Italian guard. Would surely look marvellous.


Whatsoever - as I'm up to paint Napoleon and his Mameluck for the 'Bennos' figures forum famous Waterloo project' plus I have to start with competition figures, the spare time for finishing more Italians is quite limited. With a little luck, I'll have my Baden infantry ready until FIGZ, but that's quite optimistic.

The current status for my Pre-Bardin-Project is:
400 figures to be painted in total
179 finished
221 still to be done

In fact, this one will keep me busy for a longer time then I have ever expected. ;-)

The 'Benno's Figures Forum Famous Waterloo Project'

Jan (MaBo) from Bennos' forum had a nice idea. Because of this years' 200 year anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, he wanted to create a display that shows all the troops that fought there, represented by painted figures from all different 1/72 plastic figure producers.

The results shall be showed at this years' FIGZ exhibition in Arnhem, June 7 (www.figz.nl).
Many forum users from all over the world started to paint their contributions. Every unit type is represented by just one single figure. Until April, they will send their works to Jan who shapes them all up for the display. This is a really great international hobby project, bringing together people who have never met each other in real life.

I'm participating in this project as well. My contributions so far:

Prussia - Brandenburg hussar

Britain - line infantry, light company

I'm also painting a Prussian line infantry flagbearer for this project and - perhaps - some other things. You can watch the general progress on Bennos' forum under http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=17102&p=190159#p189625

Next posting will be the Kingdom of Italy guard velites - I'm currently doing the basework.