"The French Levée En Masse Method Of Conscription..."

"...Brought around 2,300,000 French men into the Army between the period of 1804 and 1813."

This 28mm scale metal model is sold by “Wargames Foundry", and can be purchased as part of their eight-figure FN137 - Late Fusiliers Or Voltigeurs In Greatcoats And Assorted Headgear Marching blister. I believe I was lucky enough to pick mine up directly from the Newark-based company when I visited their premises in Newark late last year, and have since had my eye on this particular Perry Twin sculpt to use as a Veteran Hunter for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games".

Undercoated using a mixture of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and Vallejo Surface Primer Black, the soldier's trousers, leather straps and head bandage were 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star, and subsequently shaded with some heavily watered-down "Citadel " Agrax Earthshade. I then pigmented the Frenchman's greatcoat with plenty of "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, as well as his flask in Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - These two bears have been primed, layered, shaded and dry-brushed

The butt and wooden elements of the Fusilier's musket were treated to some "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Whilst the metal parts received a lick of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. I also gave the model's bayonet a quick dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo Gunmetal to help it stand out a little bit more. Lastly, I bloodied up the miniature's headwound with a little "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson and Flesh Tearers Red, before dousing the man's coat in Nuln Oil and patiently dry-brushing the garment with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey.

With the latest addition to my Undead-fighting French warband completed, I have turned my attention towards the two remaining figures found inside the Nottinghamshire-based company's GPR019 - Great Big Bellicose Bears set. These furry animals have proved rather therapeutic from all the collars and cuffs I've recently faced whilst painting Napoleonic soldiers, and resultantly are already quite close to being tabletop ready.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Two British Grenadiers, a French Fusilier and a Russian Officer

I haven't totally ignored my ongoing Nineteenth-Century Black Powder push though, and been busy applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Red basecoats to the jackets of some British infantrymen. To be honest these still look a bit mucky to my eyes, due to simply slapping some colours on them to help me decide just how much detail I'm planning to pick out on them. Once I start tidying up their white straps and trousers I actually think the pair might be quite quick to complete - especially as they'll represent the 76th Regiment of Foot, which wore red collars and cuffs.

In addition to my British, I'm also beavering away on a Russian Officer and another French figure taken from FN137 - Late Fusiliers Or Voltigeurs In Greatcoats And Assorted Headgear Marching. The Command model should only need another hobby session before he'll be ready for a lick of matt varnish. Whereas I'm trying something a little different on the Fusilier by painting his greatcoat before his straps - simply so I can see whether its quicker than doing all the white leatherwork first and then carefully applying "Vallejo" Sombre Grey to the coat in a few 'hard-to-reach' areas afterwards...

"In The Wilds Of Siberia..."

"...There are tribes whose bloodlines have been touched by the natural spirits of the bear."

This 28mm scale metal model is sold by “Wargames Foundry", and is one of three hefty-sized specimens of Ursus arctos arctos which can be found inside the Nottinghamshire-based company's GPR019 - Great Big Bellicose Bears blister. Reaching 52mm in height, I've actually been waiting for this miniature to come back into production for quite some time, as I thought it would make a cracking (Russian) Werebear for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games". However, in the end I decided to contact the manufacturer directly, and was delighted to quickly hear back from them that they'd cast some more up.

The shaggy brute was super-glued upon a "Games Workshop" plastic 40mm circular base and undercoated using a combination of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Leather Brown and Heavy Sienna. It was then treated to a couple of layers of (pure) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, before being absolutely drowned in "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Frustratingly, as seems to often happen after applying certain "Games Workshop" Shades, this caused all the paint on the very edges of the sculpt's well-detailed fur to completely dissolve, leaving the figure's bare metal showing once again.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Four Prussian soldiers being 'picked out' factory-fashion

Luckily, a rather brusque dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, followed by a lighter touch of some Heavy Brown, appeared to cover over this truly annoying issue, and I was subsequently able to focus upon the large bear's head and paws. I therefore simply applied some dabs and appropriate lines of "Two Thin Coats" White Star to the monster's teeth and talons, carefully 'picked out' the tongue with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red, and later darkened all these areas down with some "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

With my latest addition to my (predominantly) Russian warband for "The Silver Bayonet" finished, I have since settled back down to my ongoing (and long-term) Napoleonic project. With a mind to field a unit of Prussians for the Coalition, I've recently taken the tentative step to try a little batch-painting with a quartet of models taken from the "Wargames Foundry" packet PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - A French Fusilier, two British Grenadiers, and a Russian Officer

This really is a bit of a slow-time gambit where every hobby session I simply tackle the odd piece of clothing, baggage or strap on Generalfeldmarschall Blücher's fellow countrymen. Encouragingly though, my technique hasn't proved as mind-numbing as I thought it would either, and I have now managed to get all the soldier's hands and muskets completed, alongside their trousers, knapsacks and cartridge boxes.

Likewise I seem to be progressing through some of my other Napoleonic miniatures with similar gusto, and should soon have finished working on a second Frenchman from FN137 - Late Fusiliers Or Voltigeurs In Greatcoats And Assorted Headgear Marching. These marvellous Perry Twin sculpts will give me a second (tiny) company of Bonaparte's finest, or mingle alongside my previously pigmented FN101 - Fusiliers In Greatcoat Marching set to form a sixteen-man strong unit - something which might prove a bit more acceptable to fans of "Black Powder" by "Warlord Games"...

"I'm Ney, Marshal Of France!"

"Are you French? Stand with me!"

This 28mm metal Marshal Ney is a free model which comes with the "A Clash Of Eagles" Black Powder supplement book by "Warlord Games", and was acquired with the much appreciated assistance of rules-guru Roger Gerrish this time last year. I wasn't actually planning on painting the "First Prince de la Moskowa" any time soon, as I'm focusing on just using "Wargames Foundry" figures for my long-term Napoleonic Wars project. However, the sculpt is actually fairly similar in size to the old Perry Twin soldiers I've recently been pigmenting - albeit I did have to super-glue it to a 30mm circular base to properly incorporate its 'Retreat From Moscow' base.

Resultantly, I undercoated the French military commander using a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Warlord Games" Pitch Black, before applying a couple of layers of "Two Thin Coats" White Star to his trousers, Rifle strap, decorative hat brim and ammunition bag's leather strap. All of these areas were later shaded using plenty of watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Four Prussian soldiers being 'picked out' factory-fashion

I next gave Michel Ney's winter coat a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and its fur-lined collar, cuffs and lining a splodge of Heavy Sienna. The jacket was then treated to a zealous amount of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before being dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Brown to hopefully tie the colours all together. I additionally used "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna on the Marshal's firearm, and as a base for all his flamboyant braid. These tiny decorations were subsequently lined with a little "Vallejo" Gold and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

The First Duke of Elchingen's famous red hair (and quite extraordinarily) bushy eyebrows were 'picked out' with a little "Vallejo" Heavy Red and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade". Whilst his boots, fingerless gloves, and hat were tidied up using some "Citadel" Abaddon Black. I did momentarily consider giving "the bravest of the brave" a snow-covered base - as per the "Warlord Games" official paint-job. But this wouldn't really fit in with the rest of my Napoleonic Wars collection, so soon decided to simply plonk him inside a muddy field instead.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Two French Fusiliers and a pair of British Grenadiers

Due to my motivation to paint even more Napoleonic soldiers still being rather high, doubtless due to me currently consuming an almost endless series of Bonaparte-based documentaries, I've quite surprisingly 'hooked out' a quartet of Prussians from the "Wargames Foundry" blister PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching blister and been slowly working on them in a somewhat piecemeal fashion. I'm really keen to get a sizeable (skirmish) force of Generalfeldmarschall Blücher's soldiers ready for the tabletop, so hope this process will see all four of the figures finished before the month is out.

My main drive though has been to work on two Frenchmen from FN137 - Late Fusiliers Or Voltigeurs In Greatcoats And Assorted Headgear Marching, and (finally get started on) a pair of British models from B041 Late Line Infantry Flank Company Shouldered Arms. I plan on simply adding the Fusiliers to my existing French force as a second (tiny) eight-man company. However, if my understanding of Wellington's elite troops is right the Redcoats will be used as Grenadiers for both "Black Powder" and "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games".

"There Are So Many Of Them."

"So many. We'll never get through unseen."

This rather tiny 28mm scale metal model of Frodo Baggins was produced by "Games Workshop", and could be bought as part of the two figure Frodo & Sam In Orc Armour blister from the Nottingham-based company's "The Lord Of The Rings" range. Now OOP (Out Of Production), I actually picked this miniature up from a wargaming show's second-hand stall many years ago, and only very recently found it again in a long-forgotten plastic container.

Despite the gaming piece already having some sort of black undercoat on it, courtesy of its former owner, I decided to dust it down and give it an additional lick of "Citadel" Abaddon Black. The 'Ring-bearer' was then layered with Thrash Metal by "Scale 75", shaded in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and dry-brushed with (more) "Scale 75" Thrash Metal. With the basics done, I next started trying to 'pick out' all the small details visible on Frodo's bizarre-looking armour.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - These two Prussians just have a few more details left to be worked on

This resulted in me using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil for the hobbit's sword scabbard and gloves. Whilst I applied some thin lines of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade along his leather belt. In addition, I gave the brave adventurer's fur leggings a little "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, before going back and lightly catching the edges with a smidgeon more "Vallejo Heavy Brown.

One thing which did confuse me about this model was just what parts were actually metal and which were boiled leather, as despite repeated viewings of various movie stills, action figures, and beautifully-detailed statues, I couldn't properly decide. In the end I therefore chose to simply darken Mister Underhill's beak-like helmet with an extra dash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and 'rust-up' both his plate-mail gown, as well as some long-strips of armour/leather which covered his neck, with a splash of Agrax Earthshade.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Early days yet on this pair of French Fusiliers

Despite this brief trip to J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, I have not been tardy in progressing a few more Napoleonic soldiers by "Wargames Foundry". Due to being rather keen on fielding at least a tiny contingent of Prussians I've been patiently pigmenting all the tiny details on a pair of identical figures from their PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching blister. These sculpts really are rather time-consuming. But once completed will give me a fine-looking quartet of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's fellow countrymen.

As I'm working on both sides of the battleline, I've also got going on a couple of Frenchmen from FN137 - Late Fusiliers Or Voltigeurs In Greatcoats And Assorted Headgear Marching. As with the Prussians, I ultimately intend to get four of these figures tabletop ready before moving on to another element of Bonaparte's Foot, and may well use the one with a bandaged head as a Veteran Hunter for "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games".

"Fetch Your Explosives."

 "We're going to seal the cave."

These three 28mm scale white metal models of some 'savage Simian Minions straight from the lab' are produced by “Crooked Dice Game Design Studio” and can be bought either separately under code SKU: MINI 98 or as part of their Simian Minions four-figure collection SKU: DEAL 39. The miniatures were initially primed with two coats of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, before being enthusiastically dry-brushed in Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal.

Each Ape with Baton was then drenched in "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and had their trousers and sleeves pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Violet and "Citadel" Druchii Violet. The gorillas' faces, ammunition belts, rifles and straps were treated to a layer of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, whilst the soldiers' wooden sticks were painted using some Charred Brown. Finally, all of these areas were later shaded using "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade, and the firearms given a little "Vallejo" Gunmetal and "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

"And you will both stand trial for heresy."

It's probably been a good couple of years since I last tackled any of these particular "7TV" sculpts, so was rather pleased to recently find them partially-painted and gathering dust in my somewhat significantly-sized "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio" collection. The figures were actually finished piecemeal whenever I was waiting for my heavily detailed Napoleonic miniatures to dry, or simply needed a break from all the collars, cuffs and straps of the "Wargames Foundry" models I'm currently somewhat obsessed with.

I know I have plenty more lurking around my hobby room, many of which are armed with rifles as opposed to clubs, so do plan to hunt around for a few more when I can. As with last month's classic "Doctor Who" Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design", I've found them to be an excellent distraction from the much more time-consuming painting projects I'm presently progressing. Furthermore, I do find my hobby mojo to be refreshed every time I complete a model - no matter whether its part of my monthly plan or not.

"Warlord Games" WIPs - The majority of Marshal Ney has now been base-layered 

Alongside these wonderful "Planet Of The Apes" inspired miniatures, I have also managed to make some in-roads on a figure I've had sat in front of me since this time last year. This 28mm metal Marshal Ney is a freebie which comes with the "A Clash Of Eagles" Black Powder supplement book by "Warlord Games", and was acquired with the much appreciated assistance of rules-guru Roger Gerrish.

I wasn't planning on using anything other than "Wargames Foundry" models for my Napoleonic Black Powder battles - and that intention probably still holds true. But the "Bravest of the Brave" is a pretty good match for the Perry Twins' old range, so I thought he might be put to use for some Silver Bayonet shenanigans by "Osprey Games". Quite possibly as delirious French military commander fleeing the Russians, who could then replace the Hobgoblin in the rule-book's opening scenario..? 

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Wargames Foundry" September 2024

"Valeur et Discipline."

As I seem to still be very much enthused by both "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", as well as 28mm Napoleonic wargaming in general, it seemed pretty obvious to me to continue working through my considerable collection of early Nineteenth Century soldiers by "Wargames Foundry" for another month. Indeed, having managed to whittle away a fair few of their figures during August, I've actually found myself rather embarrassingly adding to my backlog by (finally) purchasing a couple of packs of British Redcoats, and even a blister of Great Big Bellicose Bears from their European and Eurasian Animals range.

With my eye also on using four-model units as tiny regiments for "Black Powder" by "Warlord Games", I'm therefore hoping to rattle off a good number of infantrymen from the various nations involved in the European conflict. First up will be a couple more Prussian foot-soldiers in peaked caps to 'fill out' that particular contingent. I've since bought some Prussian Infantry At the Ready to give Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher's forces a boost, so am pretty keen to get a quartet of these miniatures tabletop ready too - especially as I intend to use the Army of the Lower Rhine as something of a 'floater' for both the Coalition and French depending on the scenario being played.

"Chasseurs, or “hunters”, are light infantry who are excellent at skirmishing and ranged attacks."

To get things started on a positive note I've therefore completed a (fourth) 28mm scale metal Chasseur In Campaign Dress Advancing. Nowadays this model can be found in the identical eight-figure FN054 - Light Infantry Chasseurs Advancing blister by “Wargames Foundry", although my Michael and Alan Perry sculpt has actually been gathering dust for over two decades.

As with his comrades-in-arms, the Frenchman was predominantly pigmented using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade. Whilst I tackled the soldier's numerous leather straps using a few of layers of  White Star by "Two Thin Coats" and a touch of watered-down "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. I also applied the odd smidgeon of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and "Citadel" Biel-Tan Green to his epaulettes and sabre-briquet ribbon, as well as "Two Thin Coats" White, Skulker Yellow, and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade to his helmet's plume.

August 2024 - "Wargames Foundry" finally enter the table for my Top Ten Manufacturers

Despite all the time-consuming collars, cuffs and belts of tackled over the past four weeks, I seem to have had my third most productive month of 2024, and definitely appear to have put my early Summer stupor behind me. Admittedly much of this fervour was caused by a long-forgotten horde of partially-painted Sea Devils by "Black Tree Design". But I still had to put a finishing brush-tip to them so as to get them tabletop ready.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this half a dozen more "Doctor "Who" themed miniatures has helped catapult "Black Tree Design" well into the lead as my current favourite manufacturer. However, "Wargames Foundry" have understandably almost made some ground and may well close the gap a tad if my cunning plan for September comes to fruition. Furthermore, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some seldom-seen companies make a brief appearance, as I've dusted down another handful of models taken from one of my long-forgotten and dusty drawers...