Baccus ACW Union Infantry

It would be a fair assumption that I have not been up to much given the output over the last few months but whilst the usual suspects have slowed me down such as work and the kids being on holiday I have been working away on something a little bit big.

I bought two infantry boosters and skirmishes, enough for 20 units of 28 figures, yes that's 560 figures in total! These as the title states from Baccus and I originally bought them to paint up and throw on e-bay but Lee had already started to buy figures for this period and wanted first dibs. I unwisely decided to paint up the whole lot in one big batch. This had the effect of slowing down my production and somewhere in the middle of the project started to tire of it and slowed down.

I fortunately have learnt to not fight such feeling s when possible and put them away for a few weeks, painted up a few other things and came back to them. They remained a bit of a drag until I was getting to the end and then the taste of a finished project spurred me on. Lee will be basing and flagging them so you don't get a fully finished photo of them. Lee gave me a base to follow for how he wanted them finishing so I just used that as a guide and they ended up fairly close to his unit so should meld in well with the rest.

He did mention he also wanted Confederates doing as well, I just swore at him. The difference between and the units I am painting at the moment? Well I have lets just say 57 Macedonian cavalry paint up a hell of a lot faster than these bad boys. My only quandary is what to do next as the Companions should be finished by Wednesday.

Building of the Week Timber Shack and Block House

Yes a double header this week. These are two of the new buildings that Leven Miniatures are previewing on their Website. Both are also part of a fairly large expansion of the ACW range which should be very welcome news to some of my followers.

Lets start with the Timber Shack (ACW07) this has a covered area leaving the entrance in shadow (it was REALLY raining so took the shots on my painting desk). It's an all wood affair and a reasonable length running at 48mm and has lots of angles.

I don't see many uses for this building outside of America so have no plans for buying any of these for myself (these are being painted up for Mikes own use). However it's a nice building to work on.

As you can see it's full of interesting angles and also a new feature, that of a plastic (?) chimney that allows it to be a nice thin round piece that will not break off as would a resin piece would of the same thickness.

So another good looking building for Leven to add to the range and one that I suspect will see a lot of sales. Indeed Leven have been very busy this last few months and I have a lot os their farm buildings and outbuildings to buy during this year.

The roof shot gives you an idea of the different aspects this building has. I would love to see a farmhouse in stone with the same format, especially one clearly showing different stone work so it would look to have been extended. 

The Blockhouse (ACW06) by comparison is by definition a rather square, there is not a lot you can do with a square block like structure but still Mike manages to inject the required feel he has in all his buildings and again whilst it's not a building I will be adding to my collection it's still a good looking piece, just the wrong wars for me.

The other two sides are a repeat of the none door side to the point they have the windows all in the same positions but the timber work is not identical. Sure a small detail but it makes such a difference.

Here we have both buildings for scale. I can't be sure when Mike will release the buildings but I am thinking it could be as early as February. I have four more buildings from this range at various stages of painting and hope to have them all finished and on the blog over the next two weeks. I then have the other buildings that Leven will be releasing to do and will try and get all of the on the blog over the next six or so weeks which has got me thinking. Well we all like a challenge so I am considering trying to get 100 buildings all painted in 2014, what do you think, can I? Should I? As always at the start, it seems a good idea to me.

Confederate Infantry Going on E-bay?

Close up Time

After five days of giveaway posts I thought I should do a post with some figures in it. This lot was supposed to be a quick set of points in the challenge but ended up taking as long as any of the Napoleonic figures I have recently done. Seems if you want a quick dash best stick to the Union.

Formation 1

These are four units of 24 figures each, I have mixed them up a little with pale blue trousers for most with the odd brown or grey pair thrown in.

Formation 2

The flags and figures are Baccus and were for the most part really crisp, I can fully recommend them as the vast majority need next to no prep work.

Formation 3.

These are destined for e-bay either on Saturday or Sunday unless someone here want's them. I was given the figures by Matt for painting up some of his figures and figured I could do a reasonable job on them and turn a few coins. 

Formation 4.

All are based on 30x60mm bases (Warbases to be exact), and based to the new system which all new armies will have from this point on. 

Formation 5.

I will be putting them on e-bay for £20 a formation for 1-3 and £5 each for the skirmish screens plus actual cost of postage. Typically £18 is the going rate but that tends to be a worse job with the painting OK and basing a little below this standard but the flags tend to be just stuck on like starched undies. It takes a little more effort to get the wind swept look but I think it makes all the difference. I think I beat the £10 guys in all categories so hope to get £20 at least. However anyone here want any of them, I will offer them up for £18 for 1-3 and 4-5 at £4 per formation. All plus postage at cost. 

If you want any just leave a comment to that effect stating which you would like. First come first serve. I will either post them on E-bay sometime tomorrow or Sunday depending on how much time I have to spare.

16 Regiments of Those Boys In Blue

Before posting out the eight regiments I sold on -bay I was able to finish up the other eight for a group shot. I think the second lot in fact are better that the first lot and my confidence with the flags has grown to a point I was really comfortable and dare I say it enjoyed the process.

That's 384 figures painted in two long painting sessions plus basing time that is done over a couple of days. All in all a rather fast output. Napoleonic's take a fair bit longer as they are more involved put then again I like the result more so it's worth the extra time. At least now I know I could paint up a ACW force if required to do so.

 



Well that's the lot till next year. The proceeds from the two e-bay sales are being put to the kids Christmas presents so I got a bit extra buzz from painting them up. The last two brigades are on e-bay as I type and I expect them to go again as both have a fair few watchers.

 

 

Here is the third group of four units again showing the front and back of the uniforms. These are easy to do as I only had the one strap to paint and that was the water canteen.

 

Number four all with colours flying. I hope these get some play from who ever buys them, I wonder if they will keep them bases as I have done them or change to their own style?

 

Here is a close up of one of the fourth divisions units. Shame the sun bleaches the figures a bit but you get the idea. Again this is the system that Dr Mike uses with more detail added which adds more time to the whole process but is well worth it in my mind.

6mm Baccus ACW and on E-Bay too.

I painted up eight bases of Baccus Union infantry with the aim of putting them on e-bay. I am not a fan of ACW but really liked the way I was taught to paint them back at the Baccus games day. I have added a few stages into the process to make them a better finished model and though it adds to the painting time is well worth the extra effort.

I never had any intention of holding onto them and put them on E-bay last Friday but fumbled the location and instead of putting under table Top I placed them in Toy Soldiers so have edited the listing. I am selling them as 4 base's of 24 so have two auctions on the go. The link to one of them is here.

 

This is the first brigade, I had fun working on the flags to give the look of wind blowing them and each stand has a different look to make it more pleasant on the eye.

 

Both brigades are basically the same but with a little bit of mixing the colours of the felt hats you do get slight differences not that I think you notice unless pointed out.

 

 



 

I used Baccus flags as I usually do and sorting out 16 flags all at the same time improved my skill in this which should be noticeable in the next lot I will be flagging tomorrow. That's right I have painted up another 8 units so just a shade under 400 figures for a period I do not tend to play. It was fun to do though. I really like the nut brown ink method of washing the figures as a final pre basing stage.

 

I know I said I would have something other than 6mm to show but I am afraid the next couple of posts will still be 6mm but I am working on THAT pike block which I hope to get finished before the end of next week.