Saka Light Cavalry

Saka Light Cavalry

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Quick Adler French Battalions

More of the figures I picked up painted at Blog Con, this time though they are French. In the case of these though I did have to paint up the Voltigeurs as the battalions had no skirmish figures painted. Fortunately the bag full of unpainted Adler castings I also picked up had some of these guys.

Both the painted and unpainted figures are really old castings and as such were almost flash free. I will need to pick up some more skirmishers for the unpainted and the rest of the painted bases  so I will find out how well they have stood up to time or even possibly replaced with new moulds. If the Prussians are anything to go by I will have some clean up work to do.

I managed to make up four Battalions with the command already painted but I will need to add command to the other four Battalions I can make up though I have already painted up the skirmishers for these. Keen eyes will notice these are only three wide. I just did not fancy cutting a fourth off other bases to try and get them up to the four wide I normally do columns.

I used the now tried and tested style of basing which is now quick and slick allowing me to base up a few or a lot in a short sitting though I have started to run low on the pale flesh paint I use for final highlight so next trip to town will see me sneaking into the local art shop.

The nice Baccus flags fly proudly on all four Battalions though the Eagle is lost to sight as the flag staffs are just too short to allow the flag to be attached unless you want to risk losing the lot by cutting the staff away from the Shako. It's wobbly enough in truth so I am happy to hide the Eagle, well I need quite a few without Eagles anyway if I want to make some effort to conform for the battles (lets ignore the fact I don't have 1815 flags or coats for my French

Adler do make excellent figures though and as these were crisp and clean was a total joy to paint. Loads of detail and a real sense of the men and period. It's a real shame that they can be prone to damage and take a lot of effort to clean up, though they do reward you if your prepared to take the time painting them and then look after them on the field.

I inked my figures as usual but left the figures already painted without as I was worried the gloss varnish would have played havoc with the inks flow. Well close up you can really tell the difference though the usual table top test shows no difference that is worth mentioning.

I have enough painted figures to provide myself with another four battalions which I will try and get done in the next few weeks if I can make space on the table but I also have another four Prussian Battalions ready to rebase with new standard bearers and lots of Prussian Hussars as well as the pressing need to finish off the five Hussar Regiments I started painting over a month ago.

More or less this is me telling you that over the next week to ten days you will be getting quite a few 6mm posts, you have been warned, but after that you will be treated to a right old mix.

12 comments:

  1. You can never have enough of your 6mm posts; bring them on Sir.

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  2. Looking great Ian . Nice to see them building toward something rather just sitting in a draw. The early Adler castings certainly make a difference, we used to get stuff as it was released hence the stash..now the early cavalry is even better. I loved the guard cavalry. Have you done a post on your basing? It certainly looks good.

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  3. Very nice, I like the look en masse of these miniatures.

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  4. Nice looking battalions Ian. Given that the Challenge starts on the 15th, I'd suggest working on stuff that's already painted before then, then hit us up with the stuff that is currently unpainted.

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  5. It's one thing to paint at this scale, but can you imagine how good you have to be to sculpt these with that kind of detail. These guys must be as steady as diamond cutter.

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  6. Excellent stuff...6mm really is the way to go!

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  7. Inspirational stuff as always Ian!

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  8. @ Michael, well I broke my word on day one LOL, honest I have a bunch of 6mm to post ;-)

    @ Dave, I have so many units painted awaiting their first use but their time will come, as for the Naps we plan a lot of games as we build the force up.

    I did do a post on the basing system (Lee's way that he showed me), I think I will re-post it soon as I have a larger audience now.

    @ Andrew, I really do like the scale but am looking forward to the challenge where I will get to do a lot of different scales and subjects.

    @ WNT, the mass effect is what makes 6mm work, you wait till we get the next play test of Quatre Bras that will be great with the boards being close to finished

    @ Tamsin, I have 189 part painted 6mm figures that need finishing before the 15th not to mention the painted figures just needing basing so I really want to get these all done before we start trading leaden punches ;-)

    @ Anne, I know what you mean. I saw Dr Dave sculpting at a wargames show, his skill was fantastic and it was amazing to watch the figure slowly take shape as he sat there. Inspirational for sure, he is the 6mm master.

    @ Lee, says the man who has just finished those excellent 28's

    @ Peter, thanks, I do like my 6mm fun though the Zulu's are doing my head in at the moment LOL

    Ian

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  9. Great work Ian, you've got a lot of detail on them for 6mm, love the basing too!

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    1. When Adler are new and crisp they really shine and these were brand new as the moulds came into play so could not be better

      Ian

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  10. Great painted and based minis Ian! And I know one thing now. How smaller the figures, how harder to paint!

    Greetings
    Peter

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    1. Thanks Peter, though once you get your eye in for them the easier it gets. I don't think it's a case of difficulty so much as method and style

      Ian

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