It was my birthday this weekend, so I celebrated by finally putting the varnish on to my new French line artillery gunners.
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The figures are sufficient for two batteries. They are vintage Hinton Hunt French Artillery of the Line 1807-12, being:
FN 30: Officer, pointing, x1FN 31: Gunner firing the gun, x2
FN 32: Gunner holding cannonball,x2
FN 33: Gunner ramming home, x2
FN 35: Gunner, ammunition carrier, running, x1
It's taken me a full ten years to get round to actually painting any of these. I think the officer is my new favourite figure.
There's the guns to finish and all the basing up to do, but a line up of the all the Phase 1 and 2 French artillery (6 batteries, no less) shouldn't be too far off now.
I hope you all had a good one too,
WM
These are nice, but then I do like less flashy uniforms as they are more elegant. Also, my eyes don’t take in detail so well these days.
ReplyDeleteI’m guessing these are genuine HH? Their faces are so much better than most of what I’ve been working with lately.
Now, don’t keep us waiting for the artillery parade and perhaps an OHW AAR of the Grand Battery in action?
They are indeed, Rob, and as you say, the detail on their faces is exceptional.
ReplyDeleteI think the French line artillery uniform is easily one of the most attractive. I'm thinking very seriously about painting a battalion of 1813 Marine Artillery just so that I can have masses of them!
I dread to think what the effect would be if all 6 batteries went into action all at once.
Very nice work with these Matthew I can’t believe you haven’t painted any before! A six gun battery would good although if Nigel was around he would probably ride over them with Austrian Cuirassiers…
ReplyDelete*Laughter*. I have a bit of an excuse as it took quite a long time to get my hands on any of them.
DeleteAhhh. . . Another vintage fix. These bring to mind early Gilder Napoleonics at their best. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Stokes
Thank you Stokes! This is high praise indeed.
DeleteLovely as always, but for some strange reason I now have a hankering for a classic PB&J. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteThe facial and shako detail on these really is extraordinary. and of course your normal lovely shading just really sets off the blue of the uniforms. Even if it was our birthday, I can't give full credit till I see the gun and limber though. :)
*Laughter*. I've just noticed peanut butter jar. I've been keeping my brushes in it for years.
ReplyDeleteYour quite correct to withhold final judgement: they're still very much a work in progress.
Marvellous stuff Matthew…
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of my favourite uniforms…
I’m looking forward to seeing them with their guns…
All the best. Aly
Thank you Aly. The very first toy soldiers I ever saw were from the Airifix French Napoleonic artillery set, when I was about 5. I was enraptured by the box art and have been obsessed with this uniform ever since!
DeleteWonderful painting to your usual excellent standard Matt.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thank you James. These chaps are hung about like Christmas trees, which made painting the strap work interesting. I'm very pleased there were only eight of them.
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