Friday 19 February 2010

Austrians on parade

I have now finished 4 x 48's of the Austrians (+18 skirmishers), which I think is not bad going. I feel heartened to realise that this is about 20% of the line infantry done! Although that does mean a bit of selectivity in ignoring the small point of the grenadiers, cavalry and artillery, but it makes me feel better. I should wind up with about 16 x 48 of line  plus 4 x 48s of Grenzer, so I'm sticking with my 20%.
Considering thats about 2 months work which included a long period of doing no painting at all because of the Falmouth game I'm well chuffed. Even MORE so because in the last month I've also re-done the kitchen, laying a new oak floor, redoing most of the woodwork and re-decorating it. So, not only have I managed to get this done and keep up the painting, my Brownie-point quotiant with the missus is through the roof.     
IR 4. "Hoch-und Deutschmeister
We also have a new tweak to the basing, in the above photo, you can see the addition of some little flowers which I couldn't resist from the Fredericus Rex catologue. I'd seen them on some other pics and liked it. I'm going to limit them to just one base per batallion (probably the command stand). I might bung some on Generals' bases etc.
IR 4 in the lead, IR 1 behind and IR 9 on the flank 
IR 9 (green facings) on the left in the above pic is a bit wierd, its flag has come out pink in all these pics!.In the flesh its a slightly paler yellow than normal which looks quite good and faded. Must be my terrible lighting.
I couldn't resist breaking a golden rule with this unit.: Mixing manufacturers. The mounted officer is a Front Rank figure,bunged in with the Elite masses. Personally I think there is a lot of cobblers talked about how "you can't possibly mix x with y". It might be true if you have 12 man units but in a batallion of 48 it really doesn't matter. 
I really like Front Rank as a company. They make what wargamers want. They do well detailed figures which are very painter friendly, they still sell singly instead of ripping folk off with packs made for "ease of production" (profit). They charge sensible postage. Individually their figures are lovely. The trouble is, if you put more than about 6 of them together they look boring. I've no idea why.
Some of their ranges suffer from "stumpy musket" syndrome, and their horses are a bit horrid, but generally they are great figures. They just don't do it for me. I wish they did. I find them really easy and nice to paint.  
So, what next? I'm quite in the groove for doing the infantry, so I think I'll do 2 more 48's and finish some gunners and then I'll have a division of sorts, rather than pitch into the cavalry just yet. I might treat myself to a Hungarian regt next. Shakos rather than helmets which will make a bit of a change.
Little yellow flowers shown to good effect
Off up to Cambridge tomorrow to Lander's for the week-end (cashing in on my BP surplus) for a Crossfire game. I'll get in some Napoleonic phots too.
On a final note, I bought some paints from Net-Merchants this week. Brilliant service! Ordered them monday morning, they hit the door-mat on tuesday. I've never had anything but good news from this firm.Highly reccomended.
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW...impressive output! For some reason Front Rank are like Marmite..I love Marmite, but Front Rank, sorry but they only do lovely accessories!

Matt

DeanM said...

Wow! seconded. Uniformed, 48-figure units - I'm floored. - backing away, bowing.

jmilesr said...

I thought 36 figure units were large - your unit's look fantastic. Wonderful work (as usual). Sometimes when I see some of your completed work, I'm reminded of Wayne and Garth's credo "we're not worthy...."

john de terre neuve said...

Great looking stuff Chris. One question, your 48 figures represent a battalion or a regiment?

John

Doc Smith said...

Chris - they are great. IR No 4 with flowers - well I never... Maybe its a Masonic Lodge thing - apparently most of Hoch & Deutschmeister officers and NCOs were members.

I agree entirely with you on Front Rank - they make beautiful figures (albeit a bit Teletubby-ish in proportion) but it is the lack of variety in animation and poses that lets them down. In that aspect at least they don't come close to Elites.

Proof's in the pudding - your massed Austrians are the duck's guts for the wargaming table.

Mate, your a workaholic - can't wait to see the Grenzers etc.

Cheers,
Doc

Chris Cornwell said...

Thanks, chaps

John:
In theory they represent a btn, ITGM being (again in theory) a 1:20 ruleset. However, a lot of big games might have a "corps" being about 7 units + a btty and some cavalry. So I tend to be rather elastic about these things.
Doc:
Thats the first time in my life anyone has called me a workaholic!..There is one Grenzer unit done, its lurking in the first pic. I'll put up some close ups soon.

Der Alte Fritz said...

Those Austrians are tough customers in the ITGM rules because with 48 figures, they are significantly larger than the 36 figure French.

Things are looking good so far.

Secundus said...

Really excellent work there, I'm loving the big units.