Quick Up-Date

Hello Everyone -

I'm posting a quick up-date just so you all know I'm still alive and kicking.

I have spoken to some of you off line and part of that discussion was me being able to devote a lot of time to painting the past few days. Well, let's just say that didn't happen.

If you are interested in the whole torturous reasons go to my house blog and you will understand.

I did manage to do one painting related thing on Friday though. I had to go into the big city to pick-up SWMBO from a business trip. I went a little earlier so I could go by the comic book store that sells miniature paints such as Vallejo and Citadel. It isn't often that I get to do this and I was going to be less than 2 miles from the place.

The main reason I wanted to stop by there was to see if they had a set of the Citadel Washes. A new cyber/gaming friend of mine, Iannick (from Canada), highly recommended the set, as well as a few others.

The set contains the following wash colors:

Badab Black
Gryphonne Sepia
Ogryn Flesh
Devlan Mud
Baal Red
Leviathan Purple
Asurmen Blue
Thraka Green

When I went up to the register to buy the set I noticed what looked like coffee had been spilled on the box. It was under the clear plastic covering so I figured one of the bottles leaked. The guy who worked there let me open up the box to have a look. Sure enough, one of them had leaked - the Gryphonne Sepia one.

The guy offered me the set at a discount so I took it. Once I got home and got a much better look (the dried wash had glued the bottle to the package tray). Turns out that MAYBE 1/4 of the wash leaked out.

I have seen a few sites that offer some in site to these washes, but one of the best is here. Out of everything I've read about these washes no one has had much of anything negative to say about them.

Anyway, I am determined to get some painting done tonight...really, I am...honestly.

I'll keep you posted.

Till next time...

Cheers!
Larry

My 'Core' Russian Army

I have finally organized the core of my Russian army.

This should give me a good table top army and one that is easily added to.

Following the organization chart is a break down of the figures.


4 Musketier Regiments (32 figures each = 128 figures)
2 Jäger Regiments (32 figures each = 64 figures)
1 Pavlovsk Grenadiers (32 figures)
1 Cossack Regiment (20 figures)
1 Hussar Regiment (32 figures)
1 Dragoon Regiment (32 figures)
1 Cuirassier Regiment (32 figures)
1 Foot Battery (3 Guns & 12 figures)*
1 Horse Battery (3 Guns & 12 figures)*

NOTE* The artillery batteries will eventually double per the ITGM rules.

This comes to a total of 365 miniatures + 6 artillery pieces; and does not count a General or other personalities.

I do plan to add additional miniatures such as limbers w/crew; caissons w/crew and other assorted baggage wagons and such.

Geeze - I guess I better get painting!!!!

Till next time...

Cheers!
Larry

New Toys

Hello Everyone!

This past week has been a major pain. Not only have I been fighting with the wood stain in our kitchen but I've also caught the 'crud' that's going around. SWMBO has been keeping me doped up for the past few days.

With the exception of a few hours Saturday afternoon I've been in bed for the most part. Towards miniatures I've been doing research and playing with some organization stuff on the PC. I decided not to do any painting. Not to be gross, but painting with a runny nose would not be good.

Anywho...Saturday we had promised to take SWMBO's father to the train show in the big city. I also needed to pick-up a few items for the house as well.

While I really like model trains and such, my father-n-law is the big train enthusiast. I like to go and see the scenery and the items that can be used for modeling.

This year did not disappoint - even if I was doped up. The problem is is that there are more items for the 15mm gamer than the 25mm gamer. However, I managed to come away with three items.

From the top there is a 'Wonder Cutter' (gotten dirt cheap); some Faller HO fencing (excellent for 25mm trellises); and a section of stone wall in plaster.

I have wanted one of these styro cutters for quite awhile and couldn't believe my luck in finding a new one in a junk box!

Now I can build some items out of foam without the mess now. I have read that these things eat through batteries so eventually an electrical one will end up in the tool box.

Here is a closer look at the stone wall.

I am thinking about making a mold of this thing so more can be made. I have a few projects in mind that will require stone walls and making a mold is not hard.

Hopefully I will get some painting in tomorrow. I wanted to some tonight, but my arms are sore from all the sanding and my nose is running again. At this rate I'll be lucky to get a Russian army finished in the next 10 years!

Well, till next time...

Cheers!
Larry

New Standard Bearer

Just a quick post.

The new standard bearer has been brought up to speed with the rest.

Introducing Принц Алексеи Павел Вазилевич.















Also known as Prince Aleksei Pavel Vasilevich, Leksei to his friends.















Just barely old enough, the young Prince is eager to distinguish himself on the field of battle for his father, his Czar, Holy Mother Russia and most of all his God.











Hopefully, by this time tomorrow more color will have been added to the Prince and the rest of the men of the Simbirsk Musketeer Regiment.

До следующего раза...

За Ваше здоровье!
Larry

Faces - I hate painting faces!!

Здравствуйте!!

I think the title says it all.

I hate painting faces, actually ANY skin. I can never get it right.

My all time favorite paint to use as a skin base tone is Ral Partha's # 77-911 Warrior Flesh. I have not been able to find it for many, many years and have not found a good substitute either.

So, I'm playing around with a few colors trying to work something out. I had found a real good combo when I was working on my OG F&IW British foot but have lost my notes. I still have the sample card I made but for some reason I didn't write down the paints on it.

So far I've tested Vallejo Game Color 72004 'Elf Skintone' and Citadel's Foundation 'Tallarn Flesh'. The first one was too pink and the other looked good wet, but strange when dried. I have also played with a few combinations as well.

The combo that I've settled on is Vallejo Model Color 860 'Medium Fleshtone', Vallejo Game Color 72041 'Dwarf Flesh and DecoArt Americana 'Cashmere Beige'. I used equal parts of each and it's 'Okay', but still a bit pale. I've talked to a few friends about what they use and am going to try some of what they've suggested.

This is an example of the combo paint being used as a base.

You might note that my picture taking is getting a little better as well. This time the green shows up better!

This next photo is of a couple of test figures. While blocking in the uniforms I noticed what looked like hoodies on some of the heads, under the chinstraps. I didn't like it so I replaced them and am using the figures as test subjects.

What you are seeing are two of the minis with the combo skin tone and a flesh wash.

The flesh wash is Games Workshop Citadel Colour 61-76 'Flesh Wash'. I used it straight out of the bottle and undiluted.

These are the same figures.

Next time I'll use a wash formula given to me by a friend of the net. Here is the formula he uses for a basic black wash.

"...basic Black Wash I'll use about 1 part in 6-8 Floor Polish, the balance being water and acrylic paint or oil (typically 3 or 4 parts Tamiya Smoke and/or Black with 2-3 parts Water and 1 Floor Polish) – this is designed to give best of both worlds, break the tension and help provide a bit of a hard coat on the pain job."

What I'll try is one part floor polish to 3 or 4 parts Flesh Wash and 2 or 3 parts water.

I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Before I go, let me tell you about another figure that disappointed me.

While painting the flesh tone on my Russians I noticed that one of the standard bearers had that same hoodie type thing on it's head as well. The only thing I can figure is that it's a head wrap to keep the ears and neck warm. I still don't like it so he had to go as well. The poor chap has been sent to the Gulag in Siberia as a test subject.

Here's the new recruit who replaced him.

I think I'm getting the hang of using the pin drill. This time I was able to get a perfect hole drilled right through the center of the hand/pole section. All that had to be done was the removal of the tiny sliver of pole left on the outside of the fist.

This guy will get his primer coat and then will be brought up to speed, paint wise, with the others. After this I'll get to work on the flesh.

Perhaps tonight additional pictures will get posted. I have some work to do on the woodwork in our kitchen first. We've had a bit of an indecent at the house that has turned into an nightmare. If your interested you can check that story out here.

Till next time...

До свидания!!
Larry