Kickstarting a project

There is no better way to delve into a new period than painting 170-odd figures in one go. This is what I did with the promised Hungarian War of Independence project, for which the 6mm MDF range by Commission Figurines seemed a reasonable choice.

The fruits of my labour are the following: three units of Hussars, two dragoons, one cuirassiers; a Hungarian, a German and a Honvéd unit of foot.

As it is a very local conflict and therefore not widely known, I'm going to share interesting trivia as things progress. 

Paddle steamer "Mészáros"

After the Spring Revolution of 1848, an independent Hungarian national assembly was elected, based on an equal and expanded (although far from universal) right to vote, and a new government, responsible to this parliament, was appointed.
The Serbian and Croatian leaders, in pursuit of their own national(ist) interests, remained loyal to Vienna. Open hostilities soon broke out, and the infant government had to prevent Serbian and Croatian raids up on the Danube. Stationary batteries along the banks seemed insufficient, so the decision was made to purchase multiple ships and convert them to military purposes. They turned to the DDSG company, which had available shipyards near Budapest. The deal was struck incredibly fast, and the first (and, as it turned out, only) ship, previously a transport steamer under the name Franz I, was sold on June 7 1848, and her refit began on June 13 in DDSG's Óbuda yard. She was re-christened Mészáros (after the current Minister of War). After arming her and filling her stores, the maiden voyage took place on June 30.