American Skirmishers (1)

This could easily be entitled "Speed Painted Skirmishers". This somewhat eclectic group of militia/skirmisher types were painted over a couple days this week in an effort to clear the painting table. I could of spent more time on the details, but these are only the first group of this type that I'll do and the next batch will be better attended. That being said, I'm continuing to have difficulties with consistent lighting and photography and as a result I'm disappointed with how these figures appear. For being a speed paintjob, they are actually better looking in person and if you've followed my painting at all you know its rare for me to pay my figures/victims many compliments. If I get things figured out I may replace with new photos.

Once again I based them individually with magnetic bottoms so they'll work for my preferred skirmish trifecta; British Grenadier skirmishers, Muskets and Tomahawks, and TFL's Sharpe Practice AWI. One nice thing about basing them individually and magnetic for British Grenadier is that when it comes to mounting them as 2's or 3's I can mix and match to either make them look more militia like or more like seasoned riflemen, etc.

 

 

Perry Mounted British Officer - AWI

This is the figure that accompanied the multi-box deal they had for their plastic British Infantry. I decided to paint him as a General that could slide into any number of roles on the wargaming table. There was an absence of button hole lace and after much trepidation I decided to take the risk and paint some in place. I'm not real happy with the result, but they'll pass on the game table. It had also been a long time since I painted a pure black horse and since I was already going to risk the lace I thought why not risk the black horse. I've got some work to do in the future when it comes to black horses, but this one will likewise pass on the game table.

Horse Color Charts

I'm sure most, if not all, of you have your favorite references for painting different horse colors. I've personally always enjoyed perusing the pages of an old horse encyclopedia for ideas. Today however, I did a search looking for anything new or different when I came across these charts. You may have already come across them yourself, but on the chance somebody is interested I thought I'd post them.
They were authored by this fellow.

Pinkertons

I picked up a couple packages of Artizan's Pinkertons from Brigade Games last month as they looked both fun to paint and they looked ideal for some much needed shading/highlighting practice via their overcoats. They also allowed me some experimentation with colors for said overcoats. Not to mention one of the hats was painted using the Foundry Middle Eastern Flesh triad.

• 1 & 4 - Both of these were painted using the Andrea Color black set. A full 6 shades, happy with the result for the most part, but could have probably cut out a step or two and had similar results...especially when working toward a wargaming standard paintjob.
• 2 - This one was painted using the Andrea Color white set while leaving out the final (whitest) color highlight.
• 3 - This is where things get a little...different. I started with GW Steel Legion Drab and then washed with Devlan Mud. The first highlight was a mix of GW Steel Legion and Tallarn Sand. Another highlight was a mix of GW Tallarn Sand and Vallejo Model Color Khaki. with the final highlights being a very thinned VMC khaki
• 5 - Here I begin with a base of Americana craft paint color "Fawn" and then applied a thinned wash of Army Painter Soft Tone Ink. I painted up the highlights beginning again with Fawn then working with a mix of Fawn and Reaper Stained Ivory, I worked the mixed from 3:1 to 1:1 to 1:3 for the remaining highlights.
• 6 - GW's Baneblade Brown laid the base for this final attempt. I also used a wash of Army Painter Soft Tone Ink on this one. The first highlights where made from mixing GW Baneblade Brown and Foundry Rawhide 11B. The final highlights were of Baneblade and Foundry Rawhide 11B and 11C.

When basing them I didn't want to go the usual dusty Tombstone like setting fitting for anything from the Southern Plains, Southwest or Northern Badlands areas. I wanted to go a more muddy route for all those mountain or Black Hills mining towns. The bases themselves for GF9 magnetic. I'm not sure if I like these as much as Litko as there is a lot of clean up and there is still is a distinctive seam on the side. The figures themselves were very nice to work with and I hope that my attempts didn't make a sow's ear out of a silk purse...

    

Not sure when I will be gaming the old west so I'm not sure if I'll keep these or put them up for sale in hopes of recouping enough to buy a pack of gladiators or maybe ww1 U.S. Marines.