Look at me! Eye Candy, November 2022

I haven't posted any painting shots for a while. Been working on one or two other things, but this is the last couple of month's output.

Actually, I'll start with a bit of serendipity. As previously mentioned I bought a pair of wi-fi mesh nodes. The packing for these looked like mud bricks, and when I turned it upside down it looked like a two-tower Sumerian temple or something. So I stuck it on a base:

I was going to paint it, but then realised the only brown paint I have for something this size is better suited to painting the base so I left it as is. Then a bit of black in some indentations for doors and windows to give a bit of depth.

I think that will do for something to stand in the corner of the table.

Next up I have been working on my WSS Austrians. I mentioned in this post link that I was looking at Eugene's Eastern and Italian campaigns, so I need some Austrians for sure, to go with my German Elector States 

Strelets are yet to release their Austrian infantry - they have an "on the march" box in preparation - so these are a mixture of French early war fusiliers and  musketeers on the march. There are slight differences in the uniform cut and positioning of the cartridge box, but the rule of hats applies, so they'll do nicely.

 

These are painted as a regiment from Lorraine. They are recorded as wearing green uniforms, which made for some variety. Alas they were probably in the "pearl grey" by the 171x Ottoman campaigns, but I like the variety.

The "pearl grey" exercised me a little. The illustrations that are closer to the time show it as being a very light grey, if not an off white. As the Dutch and French use a lot of grey for their infantry, I went for a whiter shade of grey. A much whiter shade. Oh well, they're for my amusement only if anyone objects.

The flags were a bit of a challenge as the evidence is fragmentary. The colonel's colour is usually a white background with an eagle and a coloured triangular border. There's no clear pattern to identify what the border colours should be, so I made some decisions based on guess work. 

The background houses are Christmas decorations I've had for a while, bought cheap in a January sale a few years back. I'd like to add some more variety to the collection, but I haven't seen them reduced anywhere.

The Austrians need some artillery crew, who won't be an issue as I have a load of spares lying around. I am also giving thought to how I do Regimental/Battalion guns, or even if I am. If I do I will possibly need to source some cheap 3pdrs. I wonder if I can get them 3d printed? My other idea is just to add an artillery man on an individual base to the battalion.

My big problem is Austrian Cavalry. I have some unpainted figures, but they will only really do for French or British. The Austrians used a lot of cuirassiers, some in 30 Years War style kit, and some in tricorns, but with no jacket over the breast plate. Strelets have them in the pipeline, but who knows when they'll appear. Admittedly I have the Ottomans to paint first, so I can wait for a while, and it's not like people in Kyiv haven't got other things to deal with for now.