Friday 16 November 2018

The Return of the Butterfly Effect

My relatively tight focus in recent weeks has given way as I flit between projects to complete a number of items that have been sitting on the edge of the painting table, or finished waiting basing for some time.

First is a bunch of plastic French Napoleonic cavalry figures. These were left overs from the plastic kits and amounted to one hussar, one cuirassier and six dragoons figures. Most were painted  about six months ago. The dragoons I decided to amalgamate into a couple of escort squadrons, the sort of unit that might be assigned as protection to a high ranking general, or might even be assigned as supports for several artillery batteries.


The hussar and cuirassier I decided to turn into couriers or ADCs. Another four chasseur a cheval and two hussar figures still in work will be put to a similar use.


There are also three French colonels that I have painted as senior artillery officers.


Next was another British in Egypt limber and its sailors.


Third is a British artillery set in stovepipe shako, this time with a howitzer.



Fourth is something a bit bigger. When in Paris recently I visited a model soldier shop called Noxa in Place Colette, beside the entrance to the Jardin du Palais Royale. It is a wonderful place, filled with stunningly painted 54mm at extraordinary prices. The beautifull oil-painted flats were very appealing to my magpie tendencies, but I resisted and instead I bought a couple of 54mm unpainted figures. So here is the figure of a Mameluke of the Empire, scuplted by Bruno Leibovitz.




The second figure, a hussar of the 9th regiment from the Revolutionary period, is assembled and undercoated. I hope to have it finished by the end of the year.

14 comments:

  1. You are a prolific worker, Mark!

    Your Mameluke is unbelievably fine. That is a great piece. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Jonathan. The Mameluke is indeed a lovely figure as is the hussar figure that is started now.

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  2. what a lovely mix of figures. I like the idea of having cavalry escorts in games.

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    1. Thank Norm. It is a nicecway to use up those excess figures in the Perry plastic packs.

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  3. Nice collection of different figures Mark - when did you last paint a 54mm figure - I have not done so for 20 or 30 years! When I was in my mid - late teens I had a reasonable collection of Tamiya 1/35 figures - I had a plan to do WW2 skirmish gaming in that scale - but as yet it has come to naught!

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    1. I can actually answer that with accuracy...it was in October 2013 and it was two figures bought from the same shop, a French corporal from 1914 and the other was Berthier.

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  4. Lovely eclectic mix of figures! The 54mm figure is excellent!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain. Things should become less eclectic soon with two significant projects drawing to a close.

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  5. Awesome Mameluke and splendid units as always Mark!

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    1. Thank you Phil, the 54mm hussar should be equally impressive when he is finished.

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  6. I like the idea of the escort Squadrons... I will probably steal it... ;-)
    I personally think that Brono Leibovitz is one of the best miniatures designers out there I love his style ... Elegantly understated with the focus on the uniforms.
    Just browsing through the Metal Modèles website is inspiring in itself.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. I agree about Bruno. I want to do some more of his work. I am keen to do something from the Second Empire. I saw one of his figures, I think it was a carabinier, stunningly painted in that shop in Paris for the insane price of €750.

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  7. Another fine selection Mark.
    I don't know how you find the time.
    The sailor crew look fantastic.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thanks Stu. I need to stress that not all these were completed this week..most of the cavalry was done months ago, just based this week.

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