Friday 5 February 2010

Finally Austrians (I hope you lot like white...because you are going to be seeing a lot of it)

Here they come, the first units of Elite Austrians. I've been painting quite a bit more than it appears here, as one of the methods I've been using is to mass produce figures which get painted but are waiting for other bods before getting based up. So I have nearly enough for 3 x 48 man units (2 line, 1 grenz) plus a load of guns and gunners and about another 20 skirmishers in addition to whats on show below. This way hopefully  plenty of units will be appearing here at regular intervals.
This is very much a "work in progress" and I think my white style will change a bit as I produce more units. The figures here were sprayed white and then washed with a thin tan with then a grey white and finally a normal white applied. For the next batch I'm going to try a yellow ochre oil wash rather than the tan as I think this will be more controllable. I doubt anyone could tell the difference but you know how we all get a bit quirky about these things.
The Grenzers are nice, one of those very rare occasions where you can get away with mixing manufacturers. Most are Elite but I "found" about 80 odd Connoissuer Grenzer lurking in the Box. They mix nicely. They are old soft metal figures so I've managed a few head replacements and twists to give them variation, The 48 man unit is awaiting finials for the standard bearer but is finished other than that.
I also discovered that Elite do yet more skirmishing Grenzers in the old 1796 style headgear. I'll have to investigate these.
I like the green facings for these chappies. Just about every wargames unit of grenzer I've ever seen always has red facings....no idea why, they had all sorts of colours...(I'm drawing the line at pink, though)
As usual GMB provides the flags, Austrian standards being what they are these are really detailed, and make a massive difference to the finished unit
No need for any conversions in the line unit, there are so many variants in there anyway.
So, thats a bit of a start to my Austrian adventure. I had to smile the other day reading some waffle on TMP. Someone was enthusing about embarking and nearly finishing a "big project"  which was some 150 figures....It suddenly occured to me that that was about the number I've finished and I sort of view these as samples as much as anything...hmmmm the perception of scale. Mind you, I bet his are better painted than mine.
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14 comments:

john de terre neuve said...

I am about to start an Austrian project myself, your figures look very nice. Austrians are definitely something you would want to mass produce. I used army painter for the first time a couple of days ago, I will put a couple of pictures up on my blog in the next day or 2. One unit was some white coated hussars, the med strength army painter was maybe a little to dark. I am going to dry the lightest army painter, I suspect that this maybe what you are trying to accomplish with the amber oil. The army painter may be just what you are looking for.

Best wishes,

John

jmilesr said...

Great work - those are some big units!

As for Army Painter and white uniforms, I've found it best to go with the light tone. Hopefully I can get some painting done this weekend as we are expecting 20-30 inches of snow!

Have a great weekend
Miles

Chris Cornwell said...

I've played about with light army painter..I still have a big old tub of it...I've not given up on it, but I'm going to try the oil-wash first. I think it may be subtler

Christopher(aka Axebreaker) said...

Nice looking unit.What rules are these for again?

Cheers
Christopher

Anonymous said...

Nice to see you're back painting again, any chance of that horse tutorial by the way?

Axebreaker the rules are "In The Grand Manner".

Noel.

Chris Cornwell said...

Rules are indeed, the one and only "In The Grand Manner" (accept no pale imitations).
Horses all in good time, I'm still in infantry mode at the moment, but I'm going to finish the units I've got on the go, and then I think I'll try an Uhlan regt. So, I'll stick my neck out and say in about a month.

Anonymous said...

Chris,
Nice work. I wonder where you got the standard finial? I have the generic type sold by Front Rank, but this looks more accurate to the Austrians.

Great to have you back posting new pics.
Chris

Chris Cornwell said...

The Finial is from Bicorne...I've run out at the moment and have just ordered more, I think they are £3.00 for 5.
They are very finely cast, and the detail is right for Austrian/Russians
I don't think that Austrians should actually have cords but I can't bring myself to chop them off

Anonymous said...

VERY smart...an impressive tally of figures without snow-blindness! Looking forward to seeing more.

Matt

Anonymous said...

Thanks Chris. Just found it on the Bicorne site.

Also just received some more Elite Napoleonics. I had never ordered the Austrian Variation packs -- nice. Got some more Russians at the slope -- I think the best pose of any Napoleonic figures. Also got some of the Italian Campaign French -- beautiful. I'm going to stretch these to 1805. I just couldn't resist these guys.

Cheers,
Chris

Mike Siggins said...

Very nice. Just thinking about Austrians. I think I will go for Elite/Variations and mix in some of the new Old Glory.

Grenzers looking good too.

Galpy said...

I painted around 300 Austrians infantry 100 cav and guns and stuff it nearly drove me mad, but wow these guys look amazing no even better than amazing they look incrediable, well done and those tables below they look like a great time was had.
Cheers Kent.
Maybe yu might pop over and see what you think of a new blogger on the block
http://kentspainting15mm.blogspot.com/

BFG said...

I have to say, these ook great Chris, superb.

BFG said...

Look I mean't!!! Curse these fat fingers!!