While there has been a mention or two of expanding the current WAS/SYW project to include the Jacobite Rebellion, few actual Scots have worked through the painting queue. Well, the exception was two regiments of Lowland infantry seen recently at Scope Creep?. Using an impressionistic approach to painting the tartan in 15mm was not as horrible as I first imagined. Not that I enjoyed the experience so much, but it was not as bad as anticipated. Given that experience, two more regiments of Highlanders are working through the production line before I have second thoughts. Anyway, out from the painting desk today is a body of 23 Highlanders from Old Glory. Serviceable figures and a step in the right direction to building up a Jacobite Army. With recent games slowing to about one per week means that time at the painting desk has seen a slight pickup in meaningful painting sessions. Finished units are beginning to congregate on top of the photo box from a variety of projects. I have some catching up to do.
For my hosting duties, the next game on the horizon will take a look at the 1800 Battle of Montebello. With an eye toward finally bringing the 1799 Russian Army out for maneuvers, the French and Austrians will get a warm-up at Montebello. It has been a long time since my early Napoleonics have been out onto the table. More details on that game as I work through preparations. With Montebello only four days before Marengo, perhaps, Marengo will see a refight afterwards?
Excellent looking unit Jonathan 👌
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michal!
DeleteThey look great Jonathan, and the kilts and socks look terrific. Tartan is always built up to be the bete noir and I always approach it with trepidation but, exactly as you say, while it isn't easy it is never quite as bad as I was expecting.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Lawrence! You are so right about painting tartans. After this one, two more Highlands units are undergoing the brush before I change my mind.
DeleteWoo-hoo two Italy games in a row? That is as nice as your painting.
ReplyDeletePossibly two Italy games coming up. Glad you approve of the paintjob.
DeleteReally liking these and that minimised tartan works extremely well considering they are only 15mm.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your take on Culloden!
Thanks, Dai! Culloden is still a way off.
DeleteExcellent work on these Jon. The Tartan looks fantastic, and the unit base is very striking.
ReplyDeleteAlso looking forward to the early Austrians being rolled out soon
Thank you, Darren! I look forward to fighting some early Napoleonic battles as well.
DeleteSplendid, they look suitably wiry and hairy looking, well done on the tartan too!
ReplyDeleteSuitably unkempt, I think. Thank you, so much!
DeleteExcellent looking unit Jonathan. They will look suitably scary charging down a hill.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ben! Hopefully only scary when I am in command!
DeleteThe tartan looks good to me too Jon, so you can say you have a testimonial from a genuine kilt wearing (very occasionally nowadays!) Scot!
ReplyDeleteHappy to have your endorsement!
DeleteYour tartan approach has worked out really well. How many Highland units do you plan to paint?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter! How many Highland units? Probably more than I want to paint. I have three planned with the figures at hand but six total would be a good number to shoot for.
DeleteLovely looking unit. Great to see you expanding into the Jacobite Wars.Underrated , neglected and ignored by many wargamers of the eighteenth century they are full of incident, colour and tactical/strategic interest. I look forward to seeing more…
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Thanks, Alan! Well, having painted French and Hanoverians, adding the Scots seemed a reasonable path to take.
DeleteThey look great Jon, with the Hodden grey working well against the hinted at tartan, the latter which does look very good. Not something I want to try in 10mm, that's for sure, but according to the Osprey book on the Jacobites, there wasn't that much tartan about then, with much of it apparently being a Victorian 'invention', but I stand to be corrected!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve! Whether they wore tartans or not, historically, most of these fellas are wearing a "hint" of tartan.
DeleteApparently the idea of clan tartans were invented in Gdansk/Danzig in the early 17th century , there was a big expat Scottish prescence there, well all over the Baltic at that time and after the English banned tartans, when it was legalised again the Polish book/reference was used by Edinburgh merchants to make lots of money!
DeleteBest Iain
Interesting tidbit, Iain!
DeleteTo misquote sergeant Hakeswell, "They'd look better in spanking red tunics and proper tricornes."
ReplyDeleteJust kidding, a useful expansion of options. Like others I look forward to Italy.
Stephen
You are right, Stephen! They would look more "uniform" in uniform!
DeleteThey look very good indeed, and blue bonnets make them look like a unit.. As another comment noted, very bright tartan are more of a modern thing. My Jacobites are in various earthy tones of red, brown, blue and green, but are rather smaller than yours:)
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Martin! Some common article of clothing is a useful tool in tying a unit together.
DeleteTartan is much easier to paint than people think. Easier in 15 & 20mm than 28mm.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assessment. Last time I painted tartan in 28mm was more than 20 years ago.
DeleteSplendidly done, Jonathan. Looking forward to Montebello.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Richard! I am still working on piecing together a scenario.
DeleteAnother great looking unit to add to the collection, Jon. I look forward to battling out Culloden one day!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Culloden is still a long way off. One day, though, for sure.
DeleteWell done on the highlanders, I avoid anything wearing tartan like the plague. Just can’t make a decent fist of painting it whatever technique I try.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Well, this is my main direction toward an impressionist style. In remote games, no one can see them anyway!
DeleteThey look great, especially the tartan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil!
DeleteLooming good, Jon. Having painted a LOT of tartan with my ECW Sots army, and just now two AWI Highland units, I can definitely say that impressionistic is the way to go. Any realistic depiction would just fuse into a single muted hue.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter! You have certainly painted a lot of tartan and in 28mm vs 15mm. With a wash, the results are even more muted and blended.
DeleteLovely work Jonathan. It been a number of years since I did any tartans and still remember the decisions about how deep to take the detail!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mark!
DeleteLove.y unit Jon, I think you can get away with tartan in 15mm 👍
ReplyDeleteWith my eyes and the playing distance to game table, tartans are almost indistinguishable. I can get away with it.
DeleteGreat looking highlanders, the tartan looks splendid, it is whats putting me off the Montrose army I have had in a box for over a decade now! Looking forward to your early Napoleonic games!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! I bet you would make a job of painting Highlanders.
DeleteThey look good Jon; I have no idea how I'd approach painting Tartans. So to me, your results look fine!
ReplyDeleteThank you, David!
DeleteThese chaps look the business Jon…
ReplyDeleteThe colours work really well.
All the best. Aly
Thank you, Aly! Good to see you back!
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