28mm North Star Military Figures - Silver Bayonet - Austrians

My first faction is done for Silver Bayonet - yes I know, I'm quite late. These are the two Austrian sets. I figure everyone will get French so this guarantees a competitor.

The first Austrian Unit, - (L-R) Dhamphir, Officer, Grenadier, Veteran Hunter, Occultist, Supernatural Investigator, Infantryman, and Artilleryman.

 

Second Austrian Unit (L-R) Coachman, Tactician, Woodsman, Heavy Cavalryman, Highwayman, Highwayman, Light Cavalryman, and Irregular. I'm not sure how any of these will fare, seems some have limited use. The cavalry I will not build mounted versions for, the Artilleryman can man guns in some scenarios so maybe he'll get some use.

 

As so frequently occurs, I start with the intention of doing slap-chop only to apply speed paints which turns out wretched. Demoralized, I keep what works, do a crappy hybrid job, layering over the worst of it. I just tend to pick models where slap-chop is simply inappropriate. For this set I primed in gray, then washed with Nuln Oil? Strong Tone? ProAcyrl Black Wash? I can't recall. It didn't seem to matter much.

This unit was black primed then dry-brushed in gray, then white.

Let's not dwell on the many mishaps that occurred along the way and instead enjoy the final results. I'm glad to have them off my table. For Silver Bayonet, initially, I envision  a scenario where my team is much more integrated into army life and historical campaigns. It is here, during combat operations, when the machinations of the Harvestmen begin to manifest. So here they are all the Austrians I own - the single box of Vixtrix Austrians.

The Grenadier and the Dhamphir along with some from No. 59 Jordis regiment.

An officer of No. 50 Stain arrives with a pair of grenadiers, a tactician, two cavalrymen and a doctor. The supernatural investigator marches along with the rest of the regiment (right - background)

The artilleryman rushes ahead to find his unit, while the coachman and the highwayman discuss the absence of both a coach as well as any lupines.

Dhamphir and a grenadier

The tactician demonstrating the proper tactical use of a pistol.

The doctor finds himself on the front lines.

The unhorsed cavalry move to pass through the fence while a Colonel looks on. The woodsman takes a shot at some French or revenants?

A veteran hunter and the occultist (Beethoven) out for a stroll with the supernatural investigator

 For thematic continuity, all Austrians were based with one, out-of-the-bag application of Geek Gaming Scenics' Taigi Hillside. I like this stuff. The blend of materials are weighted so the dark heavy sandy stuff goes to the bottom, the white stony material sits atop that, while the static grass, foam and cork rise to the top. Love it - I have another variant from them I'll use on the Prussians who are next for Silver Bayonet. 

But first, I've collected a mess o' Napoleonic era civilians from Perry, Wargames Atlantic and yes, Battle Honors. Maybe I'll do dwarves or more buildings and terrain bits, maybe another witch. Even I don't know!

As always, thanks for looking - questions, comments and followers are welcome and encouraged! I'm doing more and more on Facebook so follow my page there too! https://www.facebook.com/One-of-My-Men-Became-Restless-100659928063858

28mm Perry Miniatures - Oathmark - Human Linebreakers (WotR - Foot Knights 1450-1500)

I had no intention of fielding Humans for Oathmark - preferring Undead, Dwarves, and Greenskins. BUT, I needed Living Suits of Armor for Silver Bayonet, leaving me with 30 extra knights. Rather than store them I thought I'd paint them up quick and have two 15 man units of Linebreakers OR one huge unit of 30.

One unit of blades, the other of pole arms

If you know my painting history, I don't do anything "quick" in any real sense. But, I reasoned, I'll just base coat them in Citadel Leadbelcher out of a rattle can and it'll take me a pair of sessions to whip out some heavy armor. This, of course, didn't happen. For the Living Suits of Armor I thought I would use my more customary methods (black primed and seen in rear below).

 

Several layers of dry brushing with lighter and lighter white metals and silvers worked well for a few but then I noticed there was so many fiddle bits of straps, boots, belts, buckles and bits of pommels, scabbards, etc etc that needed to be picked out. I definitely rushed these little bits. I did pre-paint the visible faces and flesh with Gray Seer and then used a Contrast flesh for the faces.

I'll probably never see them again (nor will you), but every model has cloth leggings - I pre-painted those too with Gray Seer and used a number of different Contrast paints to vary up the colors. These were mostly divided by a strap which I also dutifully painted.

The idea for the motif was inspired by one of my daughter's scheme she innovated at a Historicon paint and take on an elf archer she brought home.Starting with the shade colors, I applied them right over the silver. The double coat left some uneven textures behind and these figs, even at the end, don't survive close scrutiny.

A few layers of highlights later...

A flag pole! Yes tons of great banners in the box, but I deliberately disqualified these from being used in a historical setting. To the best of my knowledge this particular pattern never existed.

My solution for the flag was to print it up using MS Excel - worked fine in a pinch and I simply don't have the skills to build something decent with the handful of art programs I have at hand.

Weeks later, with all the details done, I got to the bases - just Americana Burnt Umber

This was followed by Geek Gaming Scenics' Taiga Hillside. I've found, as seen in my Austrian Napoleonic example, there is too much cork "rocks" in the blend so I filtered most of it out and threw some back in sparingly. Now they should be done right?

Nah - the face on the leader could use some work. Here's the "before"

Here's the "after" where I fixed up the hair too.

The colors still seemed to flat for me - especially the burgandy that needed a little more pep. Again, above is the "before"

and here is the "after"

THIN your paints bro!! no time for perfection here; I was done with these and wanted to move on. Where are my Three Foot Rule people?? (Though these still look better with the pop of Screamer Pink to highlight.)

On to the finished portraits!

The command elements - what should I name the king and "the prince"? Put your ideas in the comments below.

Name the king in the comments below

Your pants are showing

Yes, I did not highlight the flag.

Next up are some favorite poses - I love the versatility of these models - no two identical figures anywhere. I loved assembling these guys!

More pants

Racing stripes on the shoulders - surely it was never done this way.

The champion

I took too many shortcuts on these guys and they are not among my favorites - true tabletop quality - but it does shrink the to-be-painted pile!

As always, thanks for looking - questions, comments and followers are welcome and encouraged! I'm doing more and more on Facebook so follow my page there too! https://www.facebook.com/One-of-My-Men-Became-Restless-100659928063858