More Crann Tara French work in progress

Couple more "work in progress" pictures. i have taken a slight break from French white uniforms to paint more blue coats.  Here are the first of my Royal Ecossais regiment from Crann Tara miniatures.  I really like the figures. A neat looking regiment;  colorful and fun to paint.

Here is how I paint my figures.  I mount 8 figures on painting stick.  These are paint stirrers I get there from Home Depot.  They  used to be free but now they are charging for them so shame on them!

I prime my figures with  black with gesso;   then when dry I  dry brush the figure white.  This gives me darker colors in the folds  but lighter colors in the raised surface.

Examples of primed figures and painted figures.

More to come soon.  Have finaly gotten the knack of French white uniforms and will be finishing two battalions soon.  And a big shout out of thanks to Aly' s Toy Soldiers blog.  His examples of how to paint white is brilliant and works very well.

Work in progress: French Infantry 1745

  Projects are funny.  Sometimes you start a new project because it's a period you love.  Other times it's a long time you just wanted to do it.  There are lots of reasons why. Some good, some well justified.  A few it's just because.   And so in a moment of not right mindedness i have decided to paint French, and later British for the mid eighteenth century.

A new project you say?  Well, projects (in our wargaming world) are funny things.  At times they blossom into wonderful table top armies.  Other times they sputter out as massive piles of lead.  Some are favorite time periods, or long held desire to just create it.  Too many are flights of fancy that do not last the month and leave unpainted mounds of lead.  My Crimean armies are almost done;  someday I will add Turks but not now.  My War of 1812 has taken up all my time for a year but now I need a break before returning.  My Rev War armies are still growing but again i need a time away from the painting table and something different.

   So here I am looking down the tunnel of a small project.  I have always enjoyed the writing of Charles Grant, both father and son.  Many hours have I spent in their company via their books and articles.  This past vacation a I had a most excellent time reading their imagination campaign series.  The Table top teasers series are always a source of inspiration. And, I would enjoy refighting them on my table.  I could do so with any of my other armies.  But that would not seem right.  Instead I would like to do so in the eighteenth century.  A pair of traditional foes seems right. Nothing against Prussia and Austria but I lean towards the the French And British Armies.   My plan is for a handful of regiments, from the Crann Tara and Minden Miniatures range of figures.  More War of Austrian Succession then seven years war.

  Painting is interesting as having started with French they are so different from what I have been painting that I have to seek advice on how to paint white uniforms. They are a mystery to me.  Fortunately many out there have come to my assistance.  I post a half done picture of my first attempt with the French having used off white grey then highlighted with white.  Still experimenting.  So stay tuned for more.

Savannah 1779

By 1778 the war in the North had turned for the British.  Burgoyne had surrendered which brought the possibility of French intervention.  Following the battle at Monmouth both sides had fallen into a war of posts and skirmishing.  Refugees from the southern colonies recommended moving south where a land of loyalists awaited the British with open arms.

   And so, Sir Henry Clinton decided on a small gamble with limited forces.  Colonel Archibald Campbell was Sent south with a small force of 3,000 men consisting of the 71st Highlanders, four loyalist battalions and two Hessian battalions.  He over ran Georgia and in his words removed one star and one stripe from the new American flag. American reinforcements joined together and a see saw campaign resulted back and forth across the South Carolina Georgia border.    The landing of A French army with naval support push the British into Savannah in a scenario similar to  Yorktown but with different results.   Savannah 1779 details that campaign.

   A often forgotten campaign in the Rev War it is nevertheless a fascinating campaign and perfect for the war game table.  Armies and battles are small and colorful.  There are linked battles which could form a neat campaign.  Uniforms are colorful. Personalities are fascinating.  And you can field a French army which actually fought!  Battles range from full sieges to small skirmishes to battles between.  In addition it is a good read which is in itself a good reason to pick up this book.  Highly recommended!

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK.IX

After watching the Spitfire that landed here at Worcester airport the other day I wanted to learn more about it.  What I found out was truly amazing.

Supermarine Spitfire MK.IX tail number BR601 first flew in June 16, 1942.  It was the sixth conversion from a model M.V into a MK.IX.  During its history it flew 116 combat missions and was piloted by two aces.  These were Australian ace Tony Gaze who had 12.5 victories and also Colin Grey from New Zealand who had 27.5 victories.
So what I saw landing the other day was a true piece of history in front of me.

For more on BR601 and it's long distinguished history please see the Collin's foundation website.  Here is a link with much more details:
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/aircrafts/supermarine-spitfire-mk-ix/

And if you are in the area please come to the Worcester airport on September 22 - 24, 2017 to see many of these restored aircraft fly once again.

Always something interesting at Worcester airport!

At work the other day, while waiting for flight 2020 to land a customer ask what kind of aircraft that was that just landed.  Distracted by printing off the flight dispatch and other items for the arriving flight I mentioned that there are a number of small private planes which use the airfield.  Turning to look out the window I was shocked to see a Spitfire!  It had just landed and was taxiing past us and up to the hanger.

  The  spitfire is owned by the Collins Foundation.  It is part of a fleet of aircraft and other vehicles from WW2.  Turns out they rotated smaller aircraft around the country for air shows. There are a few others coming in soon.  If you are interested there will be a show here at the Worcester Massachusetts airport the weekend of September 22 to 24.  More information to follow.