Seven Years War SYW French

[nikharwood]

First pics of a SYW French army for Maurice for a commission - consisting of:

CO + 3 notables
3 x Line Infantry
2 x Grenadiers
1 x Heavy Cavalry
1 x Hussars
1 x Dragoons
(These are all 4 bases to a unit)
6 x 3pdr cannon
2 x 6 pdr cannon with limbers

Assembled:




Bases textured:




Undercoated:






Bases: Cayman Green




Bases: highlighted with Camouflage Green:




Overbrushing: Commands / Cavalry / Artillery: Beasty Brown; Infantry: Cold Grey:






Horses painted: Black, Cold Grey, Earth, Dark Fleshtone - all highlighted with mixed-in Bone White; manes & tails: Black, highlighted Cold Grey; Blazes etc: Skull White:










Infantry next...

[Shecky]

Can't wait to see the finished project.

It does bring up a question about your technique...

Do you strive to paint the hard to reach areas on the multi-figure base? My normal method is to glue figures on craft sticks, paint them and then put them on bases. However, for my WWII figures I do base them prior to painting but I only have two or three figures on a base. For multi rank bases it would seem the back of the front rank and the front of the back rank would be difficult to reach.  But I have wondered why I fret about painting the scabbard or haversack and the like on figures when it won't be seen depending on what rank they end up in.

Tom

[Steve J]

I can't speak for Nik, but I don't worry about parts I can't reach and therefore probably won't be seen on the table. But then I paint to a good gaming standard and no more. Life is too short and I want to get the figures on the table to a standard that I'm happy with.

[Techno]

 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

WOW! 
What you doing after lunch then Nik?

[Hertsblue]

I can't speak for Nik, but I don't worry about parts I can't reach and therefore probably won't be seen on the table. But then I paint to a good gaming standard and no more. Life is too short and I want to get the figures on the table to a standard that I'm happy with.

Problem is, "can't reach to paint" and "not visible on the table" are often two very different things, Steve. 

I'm running out of superlatives, Nik. 

[nikharwood]

This question comes up quite a bit [funnily enough, it arose the last time I did some SYW  ]

Essentially I do paint pretty-much everything; I can get brushes to where I want - have a look at this thread:

http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,709.0.html

And this issue - with some illustrative pics - is mentioned on later pages here:

http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,709.45.html

http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,709.60.html

Hope that helps  

[Hertsblue]

I've come to the conclusion that, for my purposes anyway, I shall do all open order figures (WW2 etc) "on the base", and all close-order stuff (Marlburian etc) on battens. Chacun a son gôut, as they say. 

[FierceKitty]

Your title to this post has puzzled me from day 1, Nik.

[Rothgar68]

Very nice!

I'm very interested to see how this project progresses.

[nikharwood]

Your title to this post has puzzled me from day 1, Nik.

Just trying to help by including both terms for the benefit of the forum Search function

[Rothgar68]

I'm surprised they aren't done yet.. 

[madbeardman]

I'm surprised they aren't done yet.. 

I don't want Nik to rush these, they are after all for me...

So far Nik, very nice, take your time I'm no hurry the builders are adding more dust per day here.

Cheers
Colin

[nikharwood]

  Thanks Colin - and welcome to the forum 

Real life is interfering during the week at bit at the moment - but the weekend looms large (they've progressed a touch from those last pics as well) and I'm hoping to get the bulk of the infantry done 

Glad the builders are carrying on too 

[nikharwood]

Pics here of basecoat uniform colours for infantry & artillerymen - this is the phase when they look really messy - but don't panic, they'll look better soon...

Infantry: Skull White
Grenadiers: Skull White [one unit]; Regal Blue + Skull White 60:40 [jackets]; Skull White [breeches / gaiters]
Artillerymen: Regal Blue [jackets]; Skull White [breeches / gaiters]

[madbeardman]

Hi Nik,

Thanks for the update.

Yep they do look messy, no worse than the Vikings that have just made their way to my painting desk.

I have faith though that these will look much more impressive very soon!

Cheers
Colin

[FierceKitty]

I have sad memories of my 15mm Vikings. They looked so good, but I found them terribly limiting to play. A bit like various other heavily specialised armies (Greeks, Scythians, Hussites, Sioux come to mind).
Mmm, and I've just finished my Zulus. Uh oh....

[fred.]

Are you going for blue artillery carriages? I thought the french red/brown wood with black metal on their artillery? I'm far from an expert in this period though.

[nikharwood]

Are you going for blue artillery carriages? I thought the french red/brown wood with black metal on their artillery? I'm far from an expert in this period though.

"Artillery Carriages

At the beginning of the XVIIIth century, French artillery carriages were probably red as were the gun carriages of the French Marine Royale. However, by the time of the Seven Years' War, gun carriages of the French army were blue to distinguish them from the equipment of the supply train (caissons and carts), painted brick red. Furthermore, canvas used with artillery equipment were usually decorated with a device consisting of two crossed cannon (in saltire) with a crowned "A" or "AA". The change to blue occurred very soon after the Vallière reform of 1732, even though the precise date is unknown. More details are available in the aforementioned article."

From here: http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=French_Artillery_Equipment

[fred.]

Blue would be a good choice then 

I knew for WSS red was right, but hadn't realised they had changed by SYW