Tuesday 8 October 2019

Bavarians

Attentive readers may remember that just six weeks ago I agonized over whether to collect a Danish or Bavarian Napoleonic force. The decision of course was Bavarian and the first figures arrived three weeks ago.

My intention was to build a force from 1813, organized from the order of battle for the Battle of Hanau, the 3rd Division to be precise. I chose that division because with six line, two militia battalions and two batteries it makes quite a nice little force to work as an ally. Those six line battalions come from five different regiments, so there is a nice mix of facing colours. But when the order arrived I realised I had ordered light infantry command instead of line.

This forced a rethink. The only light infantry at Hanau were in the 2nd Division. Yes I can make it work: there are four line, two light, four militia battalions and two batteries. The only disappointing thing is that the line battalions are from just two regiments, reducing the variety of facing colours.

So here are the 1st Light Infantry and the combined 5th and 6th Light Infantry.

The 1st was painted with the contrast colours and I don’t like the result. I struggled to get definition on the crossbelts and the whole effect is grubby. 




The 5th and 6th combined battalion  I have done using my more traditional method and I am much happier with them. This battalion has two command stands so that if I want to break the single battalion into smaller units I can.



This experience of working the Contrast Paints has settled my view on how I should use them and that is as support for my normal style. I think the white provides an excellent finish over a base white and I like the way the red can be used to either provide a dull brick red or be built up to a very intense bright red. The browns provide some excellent horse tones and the yellow gives as an excellent single coat colour over a white or light bone base coat.

14 comments:

  1. Very nice Mark...
    I am always slightly surprised when I see Bavarians in green... ;-)
    I agree with you re contrast paint... using them as a support to my normal style while trying out new shades and techniques as I go along seems to be the right approach...
    I have yet to paint a figure using only the contrast paints... I think it will be an interesting experiment/challenge.

    All the best. Aly

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    1. Yes it was the thought of cornflower blue that was the attraction, which is why I am so annoyed with myself for not double-checking the order before pressing submit.

      I have just started another unit of AWI British and am using the contrasts for the white and red and they are coming up well.

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  2. Looks great to me! Interesting to do so many of the Light infantry, I guess you could still maybe do them as line though if you wanted to?

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    1. The rank and file are just fine for the line Tripp’s, but my error was in ordering the wrong command and coming from a “waste not, want not” generation I had to put them to good use. I still have 24 figures on hand, sans commend, that will be the basis of the first line battalion. The next lot of Bavarians will be ordered at the end of the month...and I will certainly be double checking the order before submitting.

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  3. I, too, was surprised to see light infantry come off your workbench first. This is a fine pair of battalions and I like the look of both. Nice job!

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    1. I must admit I was really looking forward to working with the blue. This is my fourth Bavarian force (spread across the WSS, Napoleonic and Franco-Prussian eras) and I do like working with the lighter blue shades.

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  4. Nice looking Lights and Line. I see what you mean by the differences in paint. Maybe the white would work ok for Austrian line?

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    1. Indeed the white would work perfectly with Austrians. As I said above, I have just started a battalion of British AWI and the white on the leggings has come up really nicely.

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  5. Interesting to see the contrast between the different paints (no pun intended... well, maybe). The trousers done in your traditional style make the other whites pop more. Interestingly, the 'grubby' look of the first unit reminds me of Rick Scollins illustrations for some reason - one of my favourite military illustrators.

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    1. I enjoy puns! Hope you are enjoying the school break.

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  6. I have still yet to try the contrast paints, but prefer your traditional approach for these as well. I’ll be waiting to see how the reds turn out through as I have yet to find one I’m completely happy with for Napoleonic British, apart from Humbrol oils and I’m not keen to go back there again.

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    1. I like the red. I am using it on the British AWI. The problem I have is that I have been using a black undercoat and that covers a multitude of sins, but these paints work with a white, bone or grey undercoat and painting errors and sins are obvious. This is why I think that mixing the mediums is the best way forward.

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  7. Lovely looking Bavarians, looking forward to some cornflower blue ones next!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain. I too am looking forward to the boys in blue!

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