Tinker Bill

For the last few weeks I've been colouring in a battalion of 20mm Lamming French line infantry. I actually started these over two years ago, so I thought it might be a good idea to finally finish them.

It's been a fairly slow process so far because I've been trying to block out the entire battalion in their basic uniform colours before getting into the details. In theory this will make painting them a bit more efficient, but whether or not this really turns out to be the case remains to be seen.

Completed this evening were the two elite companies.

The voltigeurs were the trickiest, but the wonderful wee trumpeter I found for them was just too delicious to resist, so he kept me motivated.

The grenadiers were a lot simpler, but while painting them I discovered there were actually four slightly different variations, as I hope the next two pictures will illustrate. The first three have a rather Hinchliffey type quality, which makes me wonder a bit. Bill Lamming certainly seems to have tinkered about with the range quite a bit.

Next up should be the fusiliers, although I also have several personality figures in production, so we'll see how we go.

The luscious wooden surface they're all standing on is my new painting desk, which is a gorgeous old fold-up writing bureau which I've squeezed into a corner of the living room. It's a lot warmer in there and I can play my music on a proper sound system while I paint. I'm hoping this will do wonders for my productivity.

Stay safe my friends,

WM

Russian WIP

Not much to report this week, except to say that we're five days into our second national lockdown, which looks all set to continue for a while yet. It's not all been working from home and doom scrolling, however: I've also been working on my Russians.

Progress to date is illustrated below. All the white bits are on at last, and although there's a lot of tidying up to do, I think I'm definitely on the home stretch with these now.

I'm very hopeful that they'll all be done by next weekend.

Yours,

WM

Even Heavier Going

I've been very busy with other things again this week, but a bit of progress was made on the cuirassiers.

They don't look like much yet, but I'm pleased to say that most of the particularly tricky bits have been done. It's really only the metallic parts, plus a few other odds and ends, that need to be completed now. To keep my spirits up I'm also trying not to remember that there's another whole squadron to go when these are finished.

My friend Rob G, who challenged me to a horserace, notwithstanding my massive head start, is already way ahead of me. Pictured below are his wonderful takes on General Nansouty and the Brunswick Hussars.

Nansouty Reports for Duty

The Pride of Brunswick, with added Ponsonby

I think they're absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see what the second squadron is going to look like, which will be light dragoons by all accounts.

Have a good one,

WM

Heavy Going

Yes folks, it's an actual post, although not a very good one.

My failure to paint anything over the last few months has been one of a variety of set backs and frustrations, but I'm pleased to announce that I'm finally back in the groove. This is now urgent, as the collection has continued to grow in leaps and bounds, despite my slightly desperate attempts to offload some of it. There are, as a result, all sorts of wondrous and spectacular things waiting in the painting queue, so there was nothing for it but to knuckle down and crack on with the cuirassiers.

Below is a shot of the progress to date. As you can see, the horses are basically all done, and a decent start has been made on the troopers.

I've promised myself to post something every week until these accursed cavalry are complete. This may make for some rather uninteresting posts, but I'm at my wit's end and it's the only motivational device I can come up with at the moment.

What do you reckon - should I aim for a completed Nansouty or the trumpter for next weekend's installment?

Wish me luck, whichever it is.

WM

Doing things by halves

I've been hard at it on the 5th Westphalians this weekend and have finished the first half of the battalion. I suppose this makes them the 2.5th Westphalians.

I've been painting my infantry in half battalions like this since I started this project nigh on five years ago, but I still haven't found the secret of making the second half nearly as enjoyable as doing the first half. There is a rather interesting late substitute for my officer and my converted drummer to do in this case, however, so I'm hoping this will keep me keen.

Yours, shining on

WM

Gott Mit Uns

We all have our crosses to bear, and Prussian Landwehr in particular. I was hoping to get the first half-battalion of the 5th Westphalians finished today, but all my time was used up painting their fiddly little hats!

Never mind, I've done the hard yards with this lot and they stand a very good chance of being finished by the end of next weekend.

Cheers

WM