Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Bring Up the Guns

After pumping out nearly 25 units for the 1859 project in 2019, this project has not seen much activity at the painting desk in 2020.  Besides the four artillery pieces and crew mustering out today, only two battalions of Austrian infantry have emerged from the production line in 2020.  Why the dearth of units for the 1859 project?  Perhaps I have enough combatants to call to arms for the size of game I envision?  Perhaps other projects have bubbled up higher into the painting queue?  Perhaps I simply have lost focus? 
Whatever the real reason for little activity in the 2020, the project sees a small addition with the bringing up of four guns and crew.  Two guns join the French army and two guns move out to join the Sardinian army.  Guns are Freikorps 15s' pieces.  The artillerymen are Lancashire Games.
While two French 36-figure regiments are waiting their turn in the painting queue, many other units will see a slap of paint before the Frenchmen see any work.  The queue is long but the toys are patient.  The painting desk likely will see a return to the 18mm SYW project.  One battalion of Bavarian infantry and two Russian guns are in work and will muster out soon.

After the SYW units take front and center at the photo booth, the first arrivals of a planned Hittite army will emerge from the workbench.  My 2020 goal included beginning a Hittite army and completing a dozen BMUs before year-end.  We will see how I do.  My confidence is high. 

61 comments:

  1. Splendid looking artillery! It's a lovely period and you've got a great finish on them! If anyone can knock out a Hittite army to a high standard it will be you!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you, Iain! The FAW/APW/FPW are short but sweet periods. Once I get enough of the FAW forces completed, I plan to expand to fielding Prussians and allies for the later two conflicts.

      Thanks for your vote of confidence on fielding a Hittite army!

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  2. Stunning and splendid collection of guns and gunners Jonathan, well done!

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  3. Very nice eye-catching artillery units.

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  4. That's a nice artillery unit and the subtle blue is really set off by the red plumes on the hats. Keep up the god work and I just wish my painting was as good and as productive as yours!

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    1. You are very kind, Steve! My motto is "paint a little, often." Although of late, I have been having trouble finding time to get down into the game room for a meaningful painting session.

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  5. Lovely guns Jonathan. I had a blip in my painting but now back on track and more wee sojers on the way.

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    1. Thank you, George! Your blip in painting may have been due to your fast and furious round of games of late. I certainly enjoy seeing your tabletop battles.

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  6. Given the large number of units coming off your painting line, it’s no wonder the 1859 project hasn’t progressed. I love these little fellas. I bet the whole array is a sight to behold.

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    1. Yeah, so many projects, so little time! The armies for the 1859 project are HUGE. At last count, (this morning), there are about 3,000 painted figures in this collection. I will put them out for parade one day although I think if you search the archives, you may find a past parade or two.

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  7. Nice units Jonathan. Will they get a game in the near future?

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    1. Thanks! No plans for a game in the near future. My table is currently occupied with two unplayed battles.

      If you want to see these armies out on maneuvers, search "San Martino" or "Montebello" battle reports.

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  8. Nice work there Johnathan - your 15mm Artillery Crews by Lancashire Games look excellent- Well done. Cheers. KEV.

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    1. Thank you, Kev! The Lancashire 15mm figures are under-rated, I think.

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  9. Very nice gunners, Jonathan. What background do you use for photos? I've been meaning to ask.

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    1. Glad you like the artillerymen, Steve! The background is the stock "grey" sheet that came with the light box. The highlights in the background are caused by the light reflection within the box.

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    2. First class! And remember, if there isn't enough artillery....quit!

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  10. “ The queue is long but the toys are patient.” This made me smile. The guns do help break up the painting of infantry units.

    Nice unit, I think this is the scale that best represents artillery units.

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    1. Glad to see I made you smile, Norm! This is a paraphrase from a 1980s movie.

      Throwing an artillery unit or two into the painting mix is a nice distraction from painting a score of infantry or a dozen cavalry. As Tony notes below, it is the limbers I hate!

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  11. These are lovely - the Lancashire Games figures come up really well, too. I enjoy painting artillery myself, the hardware is fun, the crews are small and the gunners are in varied poses, but the limber teams really do my head in! Limber teams consist almost entirely of straps, it seems to me.

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    1. Tony! Thank you, very much. The Lancashire figures for the mid-19th Century range are really quite excellent. Under-rated and inexpensive too.
      Some I do not like the sculpting as well as others but on balance, the figures are superb.

      As for painting limbers, I am firmly in your camp. I hate painting limbers and teams and they certainly do seem to be all straps and tack. Once finished, though, I am always pleased to have them in the collection.

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  12. Lovely work on these gunners Jonathan. The queue for your attention does sound very long...but it's nice to have such a variety of figures on hand to choose from. Good luck with the Hittite plans...you should manage twelve units easily as long as you do not allow too much distraction to other armies!

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    1. Much appreciated, Keith!

      A dozen Hittite units should be doable by year-end even given my tendency to drift off onto other projects.

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  13. very fine looking guns and crew. I have a moderate amount of Limbers to paint, and despite production on other fronts, none of them are even primed...

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    1. Much appreciated, Peter! Limbers. There are few items for which I drag my feet more slowly to paint. Once I get my mind set to tackle one, it is not too bad. The mental hurdle is almost insurmountable.

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  14. Great work, and the pace seems to be continuing unabated in spite of the enforced slower start to the year. I know what you mean by seemingly insurmountable hurdles, and starting on some items is definitely the hardest part.

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    1. Thanks, Lawrence! Yes, JAN-MAR were slow on the painting front from the broken leg. APR was a very good month at the painting desk. MAY is beginning slowly but hopefully picking up the pace.

      What things to you have a mental block toward painting?

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  15. Looking good Jonathan. Great progress on the painting front too.

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    1. Thanks, Nathan! April turned out to be a productive month on the painting front. I need to squeeze a game in though.

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  16. Great looking artillery Jonathan!

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    1. Thank you, Ray! Are you back in the beer business yet?

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  17. Nice guns indeed.

    You don’t need focus with your productivity. I need focus bc I paint one miniature to 15 (or higher) to yours. All you need to do is keep cranking them out. Especially since I get the idea that you’re adding to already large collections.
    So you’re in a good place. 😀

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    1. Thanks, Stew!

      My collections are large and growing...

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  18. Excellent stuff Jonathan. You will have that Solferino grand battery yet!

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    1. Thank you, Mark! One day, I may have enough French for Solferino.

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  19. Lovely batteries Jonathan! Would like to see them on table sometime. As for limbers and mental hurdles I guess that makes four (or is it more?) of us!

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    1. Thank you, Mike! They will be back onto the table again. Looks like we maybe in good company with a common reluctance to painting limbers!

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  20. Great work and looking forward to seeing the Hittites! Played a few Hittite vs Eqyptian games last year, all victories to Hittites.

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    1. Thanks,Mark! I look forward to fielding a Hittite army. Units will begin trickling out off the workbench soon. All of your games ended in Hittite victories? My Egyptian opponent will not enjoy seeing this!

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  21. Very excited at the prospect of Hittites - high on my "some day" list.

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    1. Same here, Markus! Hittites have moved up to my "some day soon" list.

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  22. Great looking artillery Jonathan and as fast as you produce I'm sure you will have a Hittite army in no time!

    Christopher

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  23. Nice to see and looking forward to seeing those SYW figures take centre stage

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  24. Great looking guns and crews! My favorite eye candy.

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    1. Thank you! They are positioned on the deck of a ship, though...

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  25. Really nice battery. That blue will stand out just fine on the tabletop I think

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  26. Impressive output as always, Jonathan.

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