Hauverstover - 2nd Infantry - Flags

The Old Glory 10mm Marlburian range has cast flags as part of their sculpts. Working in larger scales, I have always used paper flags. This allowed either a purchase of a ready made flag or producing my own using a vector graphics program. When creating a vector based image, I can draw as large as I like, and then shrink the image down to the final size without loss of clarity. Hand painting these little 10mm flags has been a challenge. I have enjoyed it and the learning process as well.

In a previous post, I showed the flags for the Hauverstover 1st Infantry unit. This post is about the 2nd Infantry unit. Their flag is more complex. I think the flag came out pretty good, so it deserved a posting. This is what I was trying to represent in a flag that is less than a centimeter square.

The best I could do was to break the flag down into basic shapes. Then it was time to determine the level of detail to be added. At this scale the flag becomes impressionistic. The following image shows the basic striped flag and then the addition of the moon. The figs sat for a week or so at this point. Trepidation kicked in big time.

Next came the basic shape of the owl in flight. I just tried to get the head, ears, wings and tail onto the flag in the appropriate positions. It was really rough at this point.

Next were the lighter brown shapes for the face, wings and tail feathers. I began to realize that the ears were too big. I would have to trim them down later.

The final steps were adding a little lighter color to indicate the legs and eyes. Then three small black dots for the eyes and beak.

The figures still need to be finished, but I am pretty happy with the flags. A fun project all in all. Happy gaming!

Current projects

Summer vacations have come and gone. It is now time to load up the project table. This has not changed a great deal, however, with the enthusiasm that Longstreet has generated, priorities have been rearranged. Like most gamers, I have to reorganize all my stuff periodically. My ancient Greek project has been pulled and the figures are in storage boxes. I am actually thinking about doing that in 6MM. There is a better arrangement for lighting now, so hopefully that will help when I am painting.

Here is the overall table, ACW up front, My Maurice infantry behind that and off in the distance, some 28 MM French infantry. These last are for Lead Addict, I may eventually get these done.

I was really surprised to find that my 15 mm ACW project was almost complete. There are just a few fill-in pieces that I need to complete both sides of my collection. I did not have any Union Artillery however, that was addressed. Here are the boys ready for the basing process. I use a coarse gray pumice in an acrylic medium as the base material. It has been applied. Next steps are dry-brushing the colors and then adding a little static grass and shrubbery.

While digging through my collection, I found these dismounted Cavalry boys that were on old cardboard bases. They weren't even flocked. I am changing these over to Litko one-inch square bases. That is my current project, hopefully I will get the Arty and dismounted Cavalry finished by Thursday. Once that is done, I will work on some Confederate dismounted cavalry, then gasp, my collection will be complete!

Finally, here is a picture of yours truly as photo-shopped by Baron Von J. This is for our Longstreet campaign. Colonel Frederick Joseph (Fritz) Wolfe at your service.

Current roster after first campaign battle

ACW - Union Artillery

Tonight the Basement General are going to have another bash at Longstreet. After looking at my 15mm ACW troops, I found that I was short on Union Artillery. It is unknown whether these can be finished before this evenings game, but at least they are in the works.

Six guns, plus six four-man crews. So the question becomes, why am I blogging instead of painting?

The basic colors are blocked in on the crews. The guns are finished. These are not great quality, but will be just fine for the table top. I am taking a quick break to write this and grab some lunch. Back to it shortly.

Face Study - 10 MM Maurice

This is to determine which combination of color and wash produces a good result for a face. For these 10mm soldiers, painting a face is pretty easy. I always prime with black. For the faces a fairly bright flesh color was chosen and it was dry brushed onto the face. Then a flesh wash was applied to set the complexion color. The bright color is subdued, but shines through the transparent wash.

Personally, I believe that these soldiers have been out in the sun and weather and I prefer a more ruddy shade for their faces. That was my intent as I started this. Finally, by recording it here, maybe I can come back and remember what the heck I decided

Here are the colors: White, Fleshtone, Medium Flesh, AC Flesh and Bamboo. White is an experiment, and I was actually surprised that it is almost workable. It is a bit too bright at the end, but not by much.

Here are the figs with the background color dry-brushed in place. White on the left -- Bamboo on the right.

Finally, here are the faces after the have been washed. I use Reikland Fleshshade for the wash. I also have a Sepia but it tends to be a bit too reddish

The AC Flesh / Wash combination is my preference. The color here is just a bit off due to the photography being done under compact florescent lights. I wonder if there is a filter app for my phone camera?