Tuesday, January 9, 2018

So It Begins - 2018!


Well, my holidays are over!  I took two weeks off for the Christmas and new years break.  Last week I took the kids down to Universal Studios in Hollywood.  We did Harry Potter Christmas (ran through this past weekend) which was awesome.  Hogsmead, butterbeer (hot is far superior to cold), rides, shopping at Olivanders and many other stores, and eating at the Three Broomsticks.  It is worth going there just for the Harry Potter part.  Some pictures below of Hogsmead during the day and night.  Almost every shop you can go in.  There are also spots to do "magic" (12 as I recall) if you buy a wand from Olivanders ...










Anyways ... back to wargaming!  I've been making steady progress.  Essentially everything I need is painted at this point and I've gone into basing mode for Waterloo.  I'll be running Waterloo next month at the DundraCon game convention.  Since the Guard Corps had the most gaps I started with it.  WIP and finished pictures below ... forgive the "phone" pictures ... I didn't have time to fancy up the pictures ...

First chunk of troops ... about 1/8th of what I have sitting
on top of the bar right now ...

Limbers for 6pdrs.

I use "Wallboard Joint Compound" (premixed plaster) to texture my bases - which also hides and blends the base from the miniature itself (I hate seeing the outlines of figure bases on bases).  I refer to this stage as gouping.  Next I hit the whole base with GW Rhinox hide.  I then do two drybrushes > one of GW Steel Legion Drab and lastly GW Zandri Dust.  Then I use static grass on the base, paint the edges of the base, and finally add tufts.  For larger bases I'll add rocks and sand after gouping but it isn't worth it for smaller bases as most of it gets covered up in the end.

Grenadier and Chasseur a Pied units (large at 48 models).

Guard cavalry units.

Guard horse artillery battery.

Guard horse artillery battery.

Guard horse artillery battery.

Finished 6pdr limber teams.

All completed limbers teams.

Grenadier a Cheval unit.

Empress Dragoons unit.

Guard Chasseur a Cheval unit.

Guard lancers.

Guard lancers.

Very happy with the results of these units and the guard corps is well underway.  Essentially my objective is to complete basing for one corps a week (there are six corps).  I also have a ton of extras in various stages of completion.  I've got 55 French casualties, and a mix of dead horses and cattle (about 10 models).  I need to complete the destroyed guns still ... always more to do!

As you can see below - which is just one side of the bar - I have lots left to do.


The good news is that the mat for Waterloo is nearing completion by the talented David S.  I'll snap pictures of that as soon as it arrives.

I hope 2018 is off to a great start for you all - I look forward to getting Waterloo completed within the next month and sharing pictures of the completed project.  I'll post more WIP stuff as I get things done so stay tuned!

20 comments:

  1. Brilliant! Love HP :) I'm sure you know about Knight Models Harry Potter game, but do the kids?! lol! It could be the gateway game :)
    Can't wait to follow along this coming year my friend!

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    1. lol ... I recall seeing something about that ... although I wasn't a fan of their super hero games/rules. Might take a look :-) Thanks Ivor! 2018 should be interesting :-)

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  2. Great stuff, they look splendid. I hate doing basing so try to get it out of the way ins small batches as I paint them.

    I do like the idea of painting at a fully stocked bar :)

    I left my French in the UK when I moved to the US as I did not have a matched opponent, they may accompany me back on the next few trips back to the UK as I've now found a local(ish) group that lack 28mm French for their Napoleonic games....

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    1. I procrastinated ... so now I have a crap load to do :-( Oh well ... such is the life of a wargamer! The bar does help ;-) Glad you found a group ... always worried when miniatures need to travel great distances ... damage feels inevitable. Good luck! :-)

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  3. And I thought I once had a ton of 15mm Nappy stuff.... I am shamed in thinking so. That's a lot of stuff. If I only had your steely resolve to finish one project of mine.

    Speaking of Harry Potter, have you ever seen my blog post concerning said subject? Here it is if not...

    https://zhodanisminiatureandboardgaming.blogspot.com/2016/07/reenactor-armed-with-wand.html

    The things we do for our kids, and grand kids... of course I got something out of it too;)

    Cheers
    Kevin

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    1. Just read throught it ... awesome!!! You look the part for sure ... stunt double? Costume looks high quality as well. Love that your grand dsughter didn't recognize you ... lol!!

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  4. That is a boatload of basing to do... a results of even more work painting them. Magnificent!

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    1. Painting isn't all me ... combination of me + commission. I get to do all the basing regardless though ... yay! :-)

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    2. Divide and conquer as they say :-)

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  5. Wow magnificent! Excellent job on all of these :)

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    1. And what manufacturer are the grenadiers and chasseurs of guard, Perry?

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    2. Hey there! Yes, everything pictured is Perry Miniatures :-)

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  6. Looks like a fun holiday.
    The figures look stunning especially the artillery. The cavalry should look great lined up in the British gun sights :)

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    1. Ha ... yes, I imagine the cav will attract many cannon balls ... lol! :-)

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  7. I think you need more troops. Looking a little thin in the ranks if you ask me ;)

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    1. Absolutely ... need more ... always need more!

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