Pour It On Boys!

I have made progress with the 28mm Union forces with these two 6 figure skirmisher units. I have doubled the size of the Union army in a week . I should have finished a gun and crew as well today but the weather is so warm the paint was literally drying on the brush before I could get it on the figures!

Figures are Perry plastics plus one metal NCO.

 I also found 15 more Jacklex Union troops. I had tried to see if it was possible to paint when I had sight in one eye only and promptly discovered the answer was "No". Well they are finished and based up. I will be cracking on with the 20mm stuff after I have finished adding to the 28mm collection. I have just under two months left before the inaugural game.

Next up is the army commander and his unit, which will be made up of one of the Union's more famous regiments. Assuming of course it cools down enough for me to actually get the paint on the figures.

Down Mexico Way

At last I have been able to finish some of the new Jacklex French in Mexico figures. I do hope the photographs do them justice.

Here are the first French bases, I have a number of other figures started but not finished as painting time has been hard to come by at the moment. I had intended these figure to be "shiny toy style" but as the paint went on  the detail really came out and I felt they deserved my best shading efforts. 

 

I am very impressed by the figures; the detail and proportions make for convincing little miniature men. I am looking forward to completing more (and this collection may well take precedence over the Classic 20mm ACW painting). The figures have also open up a number of conversion possibilities but more on that later.

For the moment my self enforced deadline for the 28mm ACW collection is already running into trouble - one month in to the three months planned and I only have 12 figures to show for it. Therefore I will pull my finger out and get serious.

P.S. This post is a day early as there is a small matter of a football match I will be watching tomorrow night. If we win we can bleat on about it for a few more decades. And if we lose we can do the same. 

A Small Addition To The Union

This week has been rather busy so I have only been able to produce this six base Union unit; this time using the Jacklex "Confederate Infantry Advancing in Kepi"  simply painted Union blue with blackened gum blankets.

This is the last of the Jacklex Union infantry I currently have - so a small dent in the lead pile has been achieved. I have plenty of Confederates to paint so I will complete them before I put in another order (honest!). 

The idea is to complete both Civil War projects this year, but as I have a tight deadline on the 28mm collection that will take precedence. However, not before I post some of the new Jacklex French in Mexico figures next Sunday.

The Union Has Arrived!

At last the first Union force has stepped off the painting table and is now advancing to the field of battle. These are Perry plastics based for Rebels & Patriots.  This is a standard 12 figure infantry unit, however despite the flags this is not going to be the main commander's unit - I have plans for an extra special regiment for that role, which will probably be the next 28mm unit I paint.

I have given myself the challenge of creating a force large enough for games night in three months time. Bearing in mind the rebels took me over a year to complete that is no mean feat. Hopefully my seven day weekend lifestyle will help!

I even managed to paint up some battlefield "clutter"

I have a couple of Jacklex units primed and ready so if I can get them both finished you'll see them in all their glory next Sunday.

Eeeeeyes Right!

 So, after eight months, three surgical procedures and countless pokes and drops into my eyes sight was restored to my left eye a few weeks ago. I have to say the whole thing has been highly unpleasant. I had no depth perception so I could not paint or judge distances with any certainty. My right eye could only really focus on things about ten inches or so away and preferably backlight so my Kindle, tablet etc have been life-savers.

So I was jolly glad to start painting again about three weeks ago. It took some time to get back in the swing (my eyesight is about 80-90% of what it was before) but as you can see I have added quite a few figures to the Classic 20mm project. Figures are all Jacklex.

Sir taking the salute - I need to add a few more bases I think.

I have added another seven base unit in my favourite advancing pose and have one more such unit left to paint before I need to put in another order.

I have even had time to add to the rebel ranks.

Butternut - this season's must-have.

During my enforced absence I have obviously had a lot of time to make plans, especially now as I took the decision to take early retirement in February.  The plan is to post every Sunday as a motivator. I will be concentrating to begin with on the 20 and 28mm ACW collections plus the French in Mexico using the excellent new Jacklex range which frustratingly was launched a few weeks after I lost my eyesight.

There is no guarantee that my eyesight may not go again but for the moment I am enjoying life once more, especially as the day before my last surgery I picked up my new best friend, Lottie.

Lottie is a 6 month old Labrador cross who did not have the best start in life. Her three previous owners were all working families who probably didn't realise how much work is required with a very intelligent and energetic puppy. 

In true "One Dog and Her Man" style it seems want she needed was a pensioner to train. She's got him walking her at least twice a day, throwing a ball and even convinced him to get her a paddling pool for fun in the garden. Clever girl!