Sorry for the late reply and lack of progress of the project, I've been on vacation. I have on the other hand been able to finish the book Fraustadt 1706, which is a fantastic read and a recommend for anyone proficient in any scandinavian language.

QuoteThe main thing is what works for you

Hopefully my observations have been constructive help as you asked for when starting this thread

They are much appreciated, it's exactly what I wanted when I started this thread, please keep 'em coming! May I ask about your basing process btw, what flock/sand/glue etc are you using? Is there for a better way of smoothing out the edges of the figure base than wood glue in several layers?

As I written previosuly, my goal is to find an efficient basing process that can be finished in as few steps as possible, while still look decent of course. I got it pretty basic atm, maybe even too basic, but it is on the other hand very quick.

QuoteThose are really nice. I really like how you have obviously done your research on the unit's history 

Basing is a reasonably personal choice, so as others have said do it however suits you.
 

Thank you! I am fortunate to to own some excellent reference material which makes it all easier, and since I'm a researcher by trade, a big part of the fun in this project for me is the research and getting into the nitty gritty details.

I hope you enjoyed your vacation, no need to apologise for the delayed reply

Glad to know my observations are helpful, I'm enjoying seeing the high quality you are producing

My basing is a little more involved but works for me:

• mix filler, PVA and green paint to a fairly thick consistency
• coat the tops of the figure bases of the figures for this base with PVA
• spread the filler mixture on the base, avoiding label
• press figures into mixture
• smooth mixture against/onto figure bases with a toothpick
• sprinkle random light patches of brown flock
• cover with green flock
• once fully dry shake/brush off excess flock
• add any foliage etc
• paint base edges green

For these ECW Parliamentary rabble I just used PVA and flock for the sabots edges but the above basing for the inserts


The HYW Free Company Knights got the above basing

Quote from: collegialhoagie on 27 May 2022, 08:40:03 AMThank you! I am fortunate to to own some excellent reference material which makes it all easier, and since I'm a researcher by trade, a big part of the fun in this project for me is the research and getting into the nitty gritty details.

including Hoglund's various GNW books published by Acedia Press? Got them somewhere on my shelves, they are really good references.

Quote from: paulr on 27 May 2022, 09:15:45 AMI hope you enjoyed your vacation, no need to apologise for the delayed reply

Glad to know my observations are helpful, I'm enjoying seeing the high quality you are producing

My basing is a little more involved but works for me:

• mix filler, PVA and green paint to a fairly thick consistency
• coat the tops of the figure bases of the figures for this base with PVA
• spread the filler mixture on the base, avoiding label
• press figures into mixture
• smooth mixture against/onto figure bases with a toothpick
• sprinkle random light patches of brown flock
• cover with green flock
• once fully dry shake/brush off excess flock
• add any foliage etc
• paint base edges green

For these ECW Parliamentary rabble I just used PVA and flock for the sabots edges but the above basing for the inserts


The HYW Free Company Knights got the above basing

Thanks a lot for the write-up, I really like the look of that base! I'll consider making that kind of glue/filler paste then 

Quote from: pierre the shy on 27 May 2022, 10:24:01 AMincluding Hoglund's various GNW books published by Acedia Press? Got them somewhere on my shelves, they are really good references.

That is indeed the case, I was very happy to snatch the swedish three-volume edition for cheap. I also have a dog-eared exemplar of Alf Åberg's classic "Karoliner" from 1976 that I got when I was a wee lad, that book is most likely the primary reason I got interested in history. Fantastic colour illustrations of all the "indelta" regiments uniforms, with their late 17th century "pre-carolean" uniform and the later GNW uniform. Not as detailed as Höglund though, but much easier to get a hold of if one wants to search for it.

The mixture is mainly filler with enough paint to colour it and some PVA to thicken it up

I've added the following section to my blogpost about the Östgöta cavalry regiment, as I went a litte bit down the rabbit hole after stumbling over the background of the officer leading the regiment during the battle of Helsingborg. An interesting example of the (initially) non-noble military families that were created from field promotions in the numerous wars of the Swedish empire, filling the ranks that the established nobility wouldn't or couldn't fill.


It was led in the battle by the acting regimental colonel Bertil Roxendorff (1657-1711), 53 year old at the time and formally retired from a life of military service in the regiment. His father Jonas Månsson was a non-noble leutenant in the Östgöta cavalry regiment when Bertil was born in 1657. When he turned 17 he took service as a simple cavalryman in the same regiment in 1674, and fought with merit in the scanian war. He was made quartermaster in 1677, and promoted to Rittmeister at the start of the Great Northern War.

Served for 35 years in the regiment until his formal discharge in 1706, when he also was ennobled, taking the name of Roxendorff. It was initially his brother Johan who earned a noble title from a long career in the military, but when Johan died in 1702 during the polish campaign, Bertil recieved his brother noble title and coat of arms. The battle of Helsingborg was his last service, as he passed away in 1711.

Roxendorff fathered 15 children(plus 3 dead in childbirth), and was deeply integrated to the Östgötra cavalry regiment and the military. Six out of his seven sons took service in the Östgöta cavalry regiment, and six out of his eight daughters married officers within the regiment.
Three of his sons served under him, one shot dead during the battle of Warsaw 1705.

Lots of fascinating rabbit holes out there, thanks for sharing this one

I wonder what the one son who didn't serve in the regiment did, must have been an interesting conversation with his Dad

Quote from: paulr on 30 May 2022, 08:28:38 AMLots of fascinating rabbit holes out there, thanks for sharing this one

I wonder what the one son who didn't serve in the regiment did, must have been an interesting conversation with his Dad

"Dad, I want to be a coal miner!"
"Get out! Never darken our doors again!"

QuoteLots of fascinating rabbit holes out there, thanks for sharing this one

I wonder what the one son who didn't serve in the regiment did, must have been an interesting conversation with his Dad

Quote"Dad, I want to be a coal miner!"
"Get out! Never darken our doors again!"

Haha, I realise I wrote it to be a bit unclear, six of his sons took service in the Östgöta regiment, his oldest son was apparently also in the military, but the only note I have of him is his name and that he became an "Adjutant", i.e Aide-de-camp. No birth or death dates, no idea what military unit, and no children. I have to presume he died young.

Thanks, what you wrote was clear and intriguing

Here's my first finished danish unit. It is supposed to be an army commander stand, and for the battle of Helsingborg it will be representing the Danish army commander Jørgen Rantzau with his staff.

Jørgen Ranztau (ca 1652–1713)
The Danish invasion of Skåne 1709-1710 was originally led by Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1671-1738), a distinguished general with experience from the Spanish war of succession, who fell seriously ill on the 27th of march. Command was then given to the Lieutenant general Jørgen Ranztau merely 14 days before the battle which would prove to be decisive for the entire danish invasion effort.

Rantzau himself was a experienced army officer to say the least, who began his military service before Reventlow was even born, serving abroad as well as in the Scanian wars. After Denmark's disastrous entry and swift exit from the great northern war (March 20th - August 8th 1700), he served in the war of spanish succession, most famously leading the allied cavalry vanguard in the Battle of Oudenarde.

The outcome of the battle of Helsingborg was a disaster for Denmark and spelled the end of invasion and any realistic dreams of reuniting Scania with the rest of Denmark. The army lost roughly one third of its men as dead or captured, and a further 3500 wounded. It also lost all its field artillery, and when evacuating the army out of Helsingborg, had to kill off around 6000 horses because they couldn't be transported out fast enough.

Several historians agree that Rantzau made two crucial mistakes while in command. Firstly, the lack of communication to the different sections of the army that he was ordering the right flank to advance resulted in the whole army advancing and partial re-aligning in front of the approaching Swedes, and the fact that he decided to take personal command over the right flank made him lose the overall picture of the unfolding battle, and compounding his earlier mistake.

Very nice command stand and the bit of history that goes with it fascinating too .

Great stand.

    

QuoteVery nice command stand and the bit of history that goes with it fascinating too .

+1 to that!