Coffeefiend's Rambelings.

[Coffeefiend]

Earlier this month I ordered enough SYW French to do the Battle of Fontenoy (Yes, I know War of Austrian Succession.  Anyone who points this out will serve a detention after school.) using the Age of Honour rules. A joyous message was received today from Leon informing me that the order has shipped and will be here in San Diego by this Friday. The plan is to track my progress on this projectwith the ultimate goal being to have a convention ready game, the Battle of Fontenoy, by next April. It will be an interesting journey.

[paulr]

Best of luck, I will follow with interest

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sounds like a great plan. Will watch with interest.

[Leman]

Worry ye not - WAS and SYW full-skirted French - it's the same uniform. Will be interested to see how these paint up.

[Coffeefiend]

The minis arrived yesterday and I started working on sorting them into the needed units. Each unit is now in its own little plastic bag and a notecard indicating critical information, such as colors of the cuffs, waistcoats, etc. Those cards will also allow me to make notes as I paint up each unit.

Next step will be to prepare the first unit for priming and painting. I feel for the first unit, I will be gluing them on the bases and painting them that way.

[Steve J]

Nice idea on info in each bag re: the painting.

[paulr]

I feel for the first unit, I will be gluing them on the bases and painting them that way.

I put all my figures onto temporary rods for painting, this allows enough elbow room for painting

I know some on here base then paint but that seems to be for periods with troops in fairly open order. I have seen some who base every second figure for these denser formations

YMMV

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

And I do all three!

[Coffeefiend]

I like the idea of basing every other for the denser formations. I am not having any problems painting my test unit, but there are a few details that are a bit trickery.

The test unit is the Grenafiers of France, a unit which was formed after the WAS. I want that unit for SYW, but no need at Fontenoy. My attempt at painting the silks has been less then stellar and the results are best described as "ham fisted". That means paper flags it is. When I finish up this unit, I shall post pictures.

The figures themselves are well cast and clean up quickly. The detail is nice, but not overwhelming. Due to the scale, I will not be obsseing over issues like buttons, and painting for that massed army effect. I feel that the scale might be perfect for this time period, or at least what I want out of it. The number of figures will look like any army, and not just a bunch of guys standing in the field.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sounds like you've got 10mm sorted!
Remember, a shade lighter on table looks amazing!

[Leman]

I have to admit that some of my best looking battles are the 10mm SYW.

[Coffeefiend]

The project continues! We wouldn't be gamers if there where no adjustments to be made. The first is that I am going to go with Might and Reason. This has a far more realistic chance of being finished by April.  I have finished my first unit - The French Guards. When I get some time, I will post a picture.

Painting progress has been a bit slow this week. House emergency - nothing serious, just more "joys of home ownership" - and getting ready for the end of the school year has kept me busy. I head to Salt Lake City to read essays for Advanced Placement exams, and then on to a proper summer rest for a week before Summer Football (American) starts.

[Coffeefiend]

Back from SLC and I have been busy, but managed to get a few units finished up. The first one is IR Gardes Francaises.



Sorry for the image quality, but I wanted to get something posted. Next to figure out how to take better pictures and to continue painting up French infantry.

EDIT: Image size increased.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Very nice unit.

[paulr]

 

...Next to figure out how to take better pictures and to continue painting up French infantry.

A suggestion to improve your pictures - lighting

I would suggest having you light source lower and in front of your figures that way the detail is not hidden in the shadows. Also having two light sources one from each side would help. If you don't have two lights use another sheet of white paper as a reflector