"The Pokalem Was Introduced In 1812..."

"...And replaced the bonnet de police."

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. The miniatures are crafted by Michael and Alan Perry, with the majority of the sculpts shown wearing a Pokalem forage cap.

The Frenchman was initially undercoated using a mixture of "Citadel" Abaddon Black and Vallejo Surface Primer Black, before his trousers and painfully numerous leather straps were patiently 'picked out' with "Two Thin Coats" White Star. These areas were subsequently shaded with some heavily watered-down "Citadel " Agrax Earthshade.

"Wargames Foundry" WIPs - Four Imperial Guard Dutch Grenadiers In Greatcoat Marching

I then pigmented the soldier's greatcoat with some "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, and water bottle in Heavy Brown and "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The musket's butt and other wooden elements were treated to a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and a dash of "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. Before its metal parts received a line or two of "Vallejo" Gunmetal and plenty of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

In addition, I gave the model's bayonet a quick dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo Gunmetal to help it stand out, and carefully applied a combination of Heavy Blue and "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade to the Fusilier's headwear. Having scoured a few examples of the Pokalem I soon became aware that the hat was ordinarily covered in red braid-work and bore the regimental number or élite company badge. Happily, in my mind at least, none of this intricate detail was actually present on the figure itself - nor any of its comrades-in-arms - so for time and sanity's sake, I simply stuck to the forage cap being blue and finished it off with a dry-brush of (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Blue. Lastly, I doused the man's coat in "Citadel" Nuln Oil and quite meticulously dry-brushed the garment with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey.

"Black Site Studios" WIPS - Three Soviet Cosmonauts

With my latest long-term Napoleonic project combatant completed, I've turned my attention towards pigmenting another tiny unit of French soldiers, this time using a quartet of models plucked from the Nottingham-based manufacturer's FN175 - Imperial Guard Dutch Grenadiers In Greatcoat Marching blister. I still remember plucking these guys off of the rack whilst visiting "Wargames Foundry" this time last year, and smugly believing they'd prove a 'quick win' to paint as they were wearing long coats. You can therefore imagine my dismay to discover that around the back of the sculpts - which I couldn't see at the time - they are still festooned with plenty of straps, as well as the necessary leatherwork to hold their bayonet scabbard and sabre-briquet.

To help soften this blow, and provide me with something significantly simpler to put my brush-tip to, I have also dabbled a bit more with the five Soviet Cosmonauts I own by "Black Site Studios". I've now managed to get the majority of the Russian astronauts' metallics completed, and hope to have those just carrying firearms finished within a short(ish) while...

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

"The Coalition forces of the Napoleonic Wars were composed of Napoleon Bonaparte's enemies."

Ordinarily at this time of year I'd be busily setting aside some undead-themed miniatures for Zomtober. However, with my obsession for Napoleonic wargaming still going strong, I felt it would be more prudent to simply continue focusing upon my collection of 28mm early Nineteenth Century soldiers by "Wargames Foundry". Admittedly, I am finding myself increasingly distracted by some of the other figures I own, such as the "Lunar" range by "Black Site Studios". But my desire to field a significantly-sized game involving both La Grande Armée and some Coalition forces in the semi-near future is still spurring me on.

Furthermore, I am now completely falling under the spell of "The Silver Bayonet" by "Osprey Games", and the rule-set's official line of models produced by "North Star Military Figures". I've already managed to rattle off a couple of these monster hunters from the United States Unit I purchased whilst at "Colours 2024", and fully intend to finish the remaining six members of my team before I attend "Warfare 2024" in November. Indeed, one of my main reasons for travelling to the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in the near future will be to pick up a couple more warbands, and a few of the supernatural creatures they may well encounter on their adventures.

"Napoleon's overwhelming defeat of the Prussians in the battle of Jena was followed by the rapid collapse of the state."

This interest in "Napoleonic Gothic Horror" has also caused me to dust down my "Elegoo" Mars 3 Pro 3D Printer, and spend a few days meticulously adjusting all its settings so that it can once again produce many more successful models than failures. I've rather neglected this 'revolutionary' machine during the past year. So when I was recently asked to print the ('not Silver Bayonet') French Unit by "Koolkiwi Miniatures" for a friend, I thought I'd take the opportunity to additionally load up a fair few STL (Standard Triangle Language) files I fancy for my own tabletop too.

To get the ball properly rolling for this month though I have cracked on and completed a sixth Napoleonic Prussian soldier from the set PN063 Infantry in Peaked Cap Marching by "Wargames Foundry". As with all his identical comrades-in-arms, the figure was predominantly pigmented using "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, Stormy Blue, Heavy Red, Heavy Sienna, Gunmetal and a selection of "Citadel" Shades.

September 2024 - "Wargames Foundry" rises on a wave on Napoleonic wargaming fervour

Rather encouragingly, the past four weeks have been the third most productive period of the year so far, and have definitely helped me edge ever closer to a game of "Black Powder" by "Warlord Games". In addition to simply completing a number of historical figures, I have also managed to get some wandering creatures for Silver Bayonet tabletop ready - in the guise of some Great Big Bellicose Bears, as well as scratched a few minor itches concerning "Planet Of The Apes" and "The Lord Of The Rings".

However, I do feel that things may well change over the coming days. Whilst I'm perfectly content to stick to "North Star Military Figures" and "Wargames Foundry" for my Silver Bayonet fix, rather than look to something like the Napoleonic Dread range of STLs found on My Mini Factory, I have once again started to look at the myriad of digital files I own for my 3D Printer. This could so very easily become a major distraction for me - especially as I'm already dipping my brush-tip into the realm of science fiction, thanks to "Black Site Studios"...