My Russian Leib Grenadiers have been going a bit slowly lately, not least because I decided that they really ought to have two flags rather than just the one. Apart from anything else, this meant I had to carve out another standard bearer despite the fact that he was already partially painted.
The first battalion of the Leib Grenadiers were entitled to carry a "white flag", being a white cross on a field of pale blue, and a "coloured flag", where the colour scheme was reversed. These flags were issued in 1797 and not replaced for another thirty years, apparently.
My main issue with my version of these flags is that the new tin of Humbrol 89: Middle Blue I had to break into produced a blue which was not really all that blue when it came down to it. This concerns me a bit.
I'm all of a dither about this. I've been loyally painting almost everything in Humbrols since I started this project, but the decline in quality in some of the old standards is starting to get really noticeable. The metallics are particularly awful. When I finally run out of the old stock I've managed to scrounge off a few mates I may be forced to take up acrylics. I'm really not happy about this.
Yours, somewhat dejectedly
WM
I wish I had your steady had , brilliant looking flags .
ReplyDeleteThank you Tony. You've cheered me up a bit.
DeleteI cheated a bit on the crosses by drawing onto a paper template placed on the metal, which produced indentations just deep enough to serve as painting guides. The central roundels, however, were created with my usual wibbly-wobbly freehand.
These look very nice Matthew although after 30 years shouldn't there be a few holes in them? Don't worry if you have to make the transition to acrylics it's not so bad really!
ReplyDeleteWoe is me, Ian. I tried some acrylics a few years ago but didn't like them. Just too watery!
DeleteIt's curious how the Leib Grenadiers held on to this pattern for so long. They were supposed to get an extremely fancy new design when they joined the guard in 1813, but it didn't happen apparently.
In any case, and I certainly understand your Humbrol annoyance, the double-headed eagles are impressively rendered. Overall, the flags look really good.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Cheers Stokes. I fear Humbrol may have been captured by venture capitalists or something, intent on running them into the ground. Quality assurance seems to have collapsed.
DeleteGood brush skills as ever.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain - I too am getting fed up with Humbrol colours changing - but having tried a acrylics a few times I know my painting style will have to ditched and a new one learnt as it really doesn't work with them.
This is my fear exactly Rob!
DeleteWhat about Revell enamels?
ReplyDeleteHi Shaun.
DeleteRevell's are certainly an option, but I'd have to get them by mail order as I can't seem to find an NZ stockist anywhere! I've used them a couple of times before and they're really nice paints, although I note that they don't have quite the colour range of the old Humbrols. I'm really only looking for decent metallics and blues at the moment, so I may have a go at what Revell has to offer. I'm still really annoyed by the Humbrol mid blue collapse though. I have a whole battalion of Bavarians painted in this colour and had planned several more!
Colours aside, these are really impressively done. The roundels in the middle are particularly spectacular. Personally I don't see how you paint onto a pre-folded flag in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI remember making the transition to acrylics. After enamels, I tried oils for a while and really liked the look, but I found the painting style did not really suit my skill level. Acrylics were a big adjustment, but so easy after you get the knack of them. Of course they have a different look than you are able to achieve with the enamels. I mix colors all the time to get what I am looking for, can you not do the same with enamels or are they more challenging in that regard?
I only fold them a little a bit, David, and only then if I've managed to score the basic design onto them first. British flags are the worst!
DeleteI'm not ready to give up on Humbrols completely - most of the colours are still just about usable. The Humbrol blues were never all that flash, truth be told, being rather dull in tone, but I was getting really good results with the mid blue until now. Enamels seem to mix fine, by the way. I make my own pink and 'aurora' by mixing Humbrols.
Matt blue was always in Humbrol - have you tried the blue gloss options - some of them being brighter would probably also mix better.
ReplyDeleteI haven't, but I will certainly give it a go, although I'd have to change my technique a bit as dry brushing highlights wouldn't work all that well I suspect.
DeleteWell, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you, well, possibly twice....I don’t like acrylics either. In my case it’s because I don’t have the knowledge to use them properly. In your case, the fellow who is the standard bearer for superb freehand painting should have the best available. You know what you have to do.....That was fun. Your painting on these Colours is the best. It’s just the colours.
ReplyDeleteI may try the French Blue with dash of white in it to see what happens. I can see where this is heading....and not for the first time. Quite a few of my flags have been junked and then restarted along the way.
DeleteNot sure what you mean by French Blue - but best to lighten it with a lighter blue: either 25 to lighten 104 or 89 to lighten 25.
DeleteI have a vague memory that H25 Matt Blue used to be called 'French Blue', but I'm not sure that this is actually true. It's lodged in my head though for some reason.
DeleteI hadn't thought of mixing the blues, but it's worth a try - there's the extremely pale H44 Pastel Blue which might do the trick. The main problem with my H89 tin, however, is insufficient blue pigment, I reckon, so I'll need to start with a different base.
Lovely looking standards Matthew... as always.
ReplyDeleteI understand your frustration/worry over the change of colour recipes...
This is probably one of the reasons I tend to hoard paints...
You probably shouldn’t fear acrylics... the quality has definitely increased over the years.
I use a mixture of Wargames Foundry, Citadel and some Vallejo and Coat d’Arms...
and of course a good coat of gloss varnish...
All the best. Aly
My main fear about them is that they're so expensive. I must admit, however, that you've shown that an old-school glossy enameled effect is perfectly possible with them.
DeleteGreat looking flags WM. You mention 'watery acrylics'? I must say that Vallejo's are pigment heavy and some colours are actually quite paste like with excellent coverage including some of the blues :) Any advice I'm your man for Vallejo's.
DeleteI can get those, 'Lee, so I'll look into it!
DeleteThese look great Matt. I have enjoyed/am enjoying painting Russian flags despite mot making half as good a job of them as you do!
ReplyDeleteHave you considered mixing paints to get the tone that you are after?
Regards, James
Cheers James!
DeleteIt would be a sound plan to give that a go, I think, as I'm heavily invested in Humbrols and the vast majority of the colours still seem to be OK.