While I debuted Austin's first WSS Dutch regiment here, my first French regiment marches out from the painting desk. Yay! A new project is out of the starting blocks and on its way! The first regiment to muster to the French colors is Gardes Francaises. These 17 figures are from Ebor Miniatures with flags from David at Not By Appointment. Nice figures and nice flags!
Like Austin, I sat down and looked through OBs for French candidate divisions to model as a guide. After a quick search, I settled upon d'Artagnan's division at Ramillies. Lots of variety and lots of interesting uniforms with a nice mix of colors. You may think, "but I don't see the Gardes Francaises here!" That's right. I placed my initial order to Ebor before I had decided upon a painting goal. I am sure I can fit these guardsmen in somewhere, sometime.
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d'Artagnan's Division Ramillies
Courtesy Obscure Battles |
In a break from my long tendency of buying into a new project by front-loading most of the purchases, this time, I am trying a more measured approach. That is, I plan to buy figures just in time to painting requirements. In my first order at the end of September, I ordered five foot regiments and a squadron of cavalry. I am pleased to state that those five regiments of foot have all been painted in October. A follow up order for more figures I placed last week. That package arrived this week. With weather turning colder and wetter, time to get these figures primed and ready for the winter painting season.I am off to a good start! Is there anything more fun than starting a new project?
Next time, I examine the sixth and final battle of Salem Church.
An excellent looking unit Jon. I'm pleased to see the brown coated Royal Italian's in your list.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ray! This will be a colorful division, will it not?
DeleteEbor are very nice figures, aren't they Jon?! I nearly succumbed to another 5 for 6 deal of Russian infantry - but as you know, went for an entirely new project in the guise of Revolutionary Wars French!
ReplyDeleteEbor are great figures! Reasonably priced even with nosebleeding shipping and tariff costs. The 544 deal is a deal that I have taken advantage of twice. Orders are processed and shipped lickety-split.
DeleteBeautiful unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michal!
DeleteI can only commend your disciplined approach to buying what you then paint. It's a long time since I did that, mostly due to lack of money.
ReplyDeleteNowadays "shiney" and "buy it now" / "buy it when you see it not when you need it" rule....☺☺
Neil
There is a first time for everything, Neil! Let's see how long I can manage this new approach to figure purchases.
DeleteI warned you it was addictive… Ebor is a great company and make lovely figures.
ReplyDeleteLovely figures, indeed! Name one new period/project that isn't addictive?
DeleteGreat to see you getting into the WSS. For my collection I just painted regiments whose colours I liked on the grounds that I was never going to have the exact regiments for the games I was going to play.
ReplyDeleteI have been pondering this for quite a while. Austin's interest finally tripped the wire. Did not think I would tackle this in 28mm, though. 10mm was my first choice. Now if I only had some rules...
DeleteThere's an incentive for me to get the wretched things finished. Reckon the Ottoman supplement is done now. Just need to do the bibliography and a scenario or two. Then proof read and do some more photos.
DeleteI always appreciate the thought and research you put into a set of rules.
DeleteA very striking unit Jon! And that division will look dramatic. I went down the 15mm route for the WSS otherwise Ebor would have been very hard to resist (and they probably will be for another project).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Farq! Ebor figures are really nice sculpts and very easy to paint. As noted to Graham, above, I figured that I would eventually be doing this project in 10mm. Wrong!
DeleteGreat start to your project. The Garde Francais look superb. D'Artagnan's division is quite formidable, packed with some good quality troops
ReplyDeleteThank you, Neil! Yes, this division caught my eye straightaway.
DeleteGreat start John. And D’Artagnan’s division looks a good choice with that range of coat colours. Not seen brown coats before. I think by the SYW the Royal Italian was standard French white.
ReplyDeleteChris/Nundanket
Thank you, Chris! You are correct on the Royal Italian coat color. Facings changed too!
DeleteAs someone who flits from one project to another I can confirm that there is indeed a thrill to be had in researching and then ordering models for something new. The Frenchies look spiffy by the way - as expected.
ReplyDeleteI knew I would be in good company with my situation! Happy you approve of my Frenchies. Thank you.
DeleteSplendid unit, Jon. :-) And, as always, good to see some of my flags in action too. Thanks for mentioning them and the blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David! Your flags always get credit here.
DeleteThanks, Jon. I appreciate that. :-)
DeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteA great start and a fine unit Jonathan and the flags finish them off nicely. It seems like there is a lot of variety in the division you have chosen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lawrence! There is a lot of variety in this division. Probably one reason d'Artagnan caught my eye.
DeleteThe figurines are very beautiful, and the coloring turned out great too! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alexey!
DeleteWonderful work Jonathan, especially the white on the cuffs and jackets. A great idea to use the actual division for your project as I assume that there would also be information on uniforms, etc.
ReplyDeleteBut once you have finished d'Artagnan's division, what about the other musketeers', Athos, Porthos, and Aramis? 🤔😁
Very handsome unit with a great paint job, Jon. New periods are exciting but also a bit scary, given the time to get to gameable forces. Sounds like you are off to a very solid start with 5 units painted already, though!
ReplyDeleteThe second part to this story is that Jonathan fielding Gardes Francaises "forced" me to counter with two battalions of Gardes te Voet. Once the USPS stops monkeying with my package, I will start painting Dutch Blue Guard!
ReplyDelete