I don't know why most of my posts start with the words "I've finally" but they do and so does this one. I've finally finished a unit of Yankee dismounted cavalry, ready to do battle and buy time for the infantry to come up. The figures are 28mm Foundry - I'm a big fan of Foundry's ACW range, and I don't mind paying the big bucks for these figures on occasion. I would happily pay smaller bucks if someone made dismounted cavalry in plastic, and maybe the Perry Bros will follow up their ACW mounted cavalry with a dismount box. That would be awesome.
Flag is by GMB (Grahame Black). I am a fan of GMB and use his flags for all my ACW figures.
I would describe the painting job on these guys as being Good to "Meh". I used a black undercoat, a practice I am slowly getting away from. I tried to some blending with the faces that I don't think was helped by the dark undercoat. I also did a very rush job on these at first, as I was trying to achieve one of those miniature forum build deadlines that I totally missed, lost heart, and ended up putting these fellows on the back burner. I have since sworn off miniature forum build projects and competitions.
However,in 2012 I have finished both a CS mounted and dismounted cavalry unit, and one mounted and dismounted for the US, so that's a good result. I think I'll give horses a rest for a bit.
I love manufacturers who include a good solid flagbpole in their castings. It was a little short for the GMB flag, but it was much better than faffing about with superglue trying to get the copper wire to stay on. I have a bag of copper spears from North Star, and they make nice flag poles, but I am forever regluing them onto stands.
That little twig doesn't look like much cover, does it? I'm not terribly happy
with the faces on this group, as I've mentoned already, but here I think the bright sun washes out some of the details. The kneeling chap looks better in real life. I like the arrangement of poses here, this is perhaps my favourite stand.
Here's another base I really like. The eyes on the kneeling figure ended up suggesting that he is looking over his shoulder, perhaps at the soldier coming up behind him. It's as if the kneeling fellow doesn't like what he's hearing: "Not falling back? Whaddya mean the boss says we ain't falling back?"
Cheers, and thanks for looking. Hope to show you these fellows on the gaming table soon. Mike
Nice work MP. I do love the Foundry miniatures and you have worked a treat here.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Helen
Thanks Helen. There were a few years where it looked like this range had been discontinued by Foundry, so it's good to see these figures back again. I've never seen a bad ACW sculpt. They are less chunky than Redoubt (I also like their figures a lot) and less exaggerated than Dixon, and more substantial than Sash and Sabre. Nice figures all around.
DeleteNice work Padre, I think they look really good. A big part of that is the bases; realistic ones like that help to tie batch-painted models together nicely. So you're moving over to white undercoats then? Oh, and with that twig, I'm sure that chap will be grateful for it once the Minié balls start flying!
ReplyDeleteHey Col. Thanks much. I am glad you liike the bases. I overdid it with the wood putty I used for texture, so the figures look like they are standing in ankle deep mud and it obscured all the spurs I carefully painted. :). Yes, I am moving to a white undercoat and am liking the results. I have some figures to post here shortly that I think look better.
DeletePhew! You have been busy Mike, nice work all around with lovely looking stands.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Thanks, Paul. You are one of my models for industriousness!
DeleteVery good work all over. I'm a very sloooooow painter myself so I understand your frequent use of the expression 'finaly'
ReplyDeleteThanks Benito. You have an excuse to be slow, you live in Madrid, one of the world's greatest cities, with all manner of distractions. I'd paint even fewer figures if I lived there. :)
DeleteGreat work Padre - some lovely, dynamic units there. Your output, BTW, is F1 compared to mine...ho hum... ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks mate. Hey, I meant to tell you, your blog put me on to the Walking Dead game, which currently is on my PS3. That was a great find, thanks for sharing.
DeleteLovely stuff Padre! The basing looks really good.
ReplyDeleteThank you TMsin! Time spent on basing covers up a multitude of painting sins, I find. :)
DeleteWonderful Mike. Very nice looking stands.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rodger! I see your Great War project is cooking along nicely.
DeleteVery nice! All ready to start the ball at Gettysburg! "Fall back to the Lutheran Seminary! We'll hold 'em there!"
ReplyDeleteThanks John. It's hard to do US cavalry and not think of Buford at Gettysburg, day 1, isn't it? In my experience, Lutheran seminaries are always good places to hole up. :)
DeleteRemember... the beer and pretzels are always to the left.
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