Golden Hind, Textured Like Sun

 

I finished this Zvezda model recently, although it sat in my cupboard for a while. It usually takes more time to finish one of these 1/350 scale models, because each step in the build requires a different kind of focus.

Second Hand Swedes

As you may or may not know, I have a 1/72 scale WSS/GNW project running, with actually quite good progress, only I hadn't properly photographed everything. The figures are safely packed away for now in a 8l plastic box.

I got the 'From Narva to Poltava' big box made by Strelets for last Christmas (among other things), and this includes twelve Swedish pikemen and the same amount of musketeers. For obvious reasons, this is not the best distribution, chief among them the fact that my sixteen-figure units contain one central element of four figures and two 'wings' of six figures. 

(Of course it means different base sizes within a unit, but my OCD wouldn't let me get away with the command element not being perfectly in the middle.)

As I completely ran out of Swedish musketeers (that is because I traded my GNW collection for some Perry HYW figures IIRC before our previous move), I had to find more. Zvezda, being a Russian company, does not really import anymore to the EU and they only re-released their stuff once some time ago, so resources are scant.

As mentioned on the 'Carp to Gold' build log, my significant other convinced me to register on the second hand marketplace app Vinted, and just by searching for Zvezda, I hit the jackpot: not one, but two sellers offering used GNW Swedish figures.

I bought both and they were with me in a little while, about sixty figures in total (plus a complete unused box of Swedish artillery, and thirty-odd Streltsi, all for good use). I washed them, removing some of the old paint, and using the remaining unpainted Strelets pikemen, organized them to battalions, trying to maintain similar poses throughout. I made the above reference picture before stowing them away, but fortunately I could find a box with internal compartments, so I probably won't mix them up.

The wonders of the internet I guess! Now, on to painting them (after a unit of Russian foot, test pieces for my AK Mint Green colour, and two more Saxon infantry are completed, among other things)...

The 'Black Ship'

Recently I completed the Zvezda 1/350 scale version of the Spanish Armada flagship San Martín. I used scratchbuilt masts, sails and flags instead of the ones in the kit, and painted the hull using arcylics and an oil wash. The tones are deliberately muted to have that 'long service' look.

I'm not sure I'll ever play any games involving the actual first Spanish Armada, but this vessel would come in handy in other theaters, as she's big enough to represent any of the late 16th - early 17th century treasure fleet ships.

Used to Love Her, But Now I Have to Rig Her

I'm on a roller lately with pop culture references in my titles, for which I apologise.

Anyway, my labours on the Zvezda 1/350 Revenge model slowly come to fruition. I put this project off and on for a while now, but seeing the finish line is always satisfying. This is a snap-fit kit originally with plastic masts, sails and shrouds. But of course I had to do it the complicated way.

Flossian Union Foot Battalions

The lesson of this post is that the most important thing about painting miniatures is not to stress oneself out over the matter. It is a leisure activity after all, and the great majority of us don't paint for a living. 

I found out that I still had more than five hundred(!) 1/72 eighteenth century figures from various produce, and since I sort of hit a painter's block with my TYW/ECW collection, these came in handy for a change. Some were painted and needed touching up only, some were primed and some just bare plastic. 

I did not really have a plan for them, until I made the mental connection with my Schultze-Böhnstadt Imagi-Nations setting, so here they are, three dozen figures in three battalions of the Flossian Union: a regular fusilier, a mercenary Glambrian and a local militia unit.

TYW Stuff

I've finished a few figures for the Thirty Years War, here they are in good order. First, some Zvezda and ACtA infantrymen, in groups of twelve for skirmish games like The Pikeman's Lament.

Next up Revell and Waterloo1815 cavalrymen. The Revell fig has only been washed and highlighted and is from a previous batch.

Some more Zvezda pieces, here you can see conversion work with the arms and bodies a bit more. It's entirely viable to give matchlocks to armored pikeman bodies and pikes to the musketeers, the rest is done with a bit of filler.

SYW/GNW figs

Here's a makeshift post with a makeshift photographing setup, four units of various 18th century bits, Revell and Zvezda figures. These were done a few months back but I was lazy to make a post about them.
I'm really glad Zvezda re-issued their GNW boxes, it looks like there is a demand for these and I may just pick up a few next month.
Same thing with the Revell re-issuing their old SYW figures, very useful and cost effective, if not the prettiest sets.

Jagdpanther

I haven't had some of Zvezda's fresher 1/100 models, including their tank destroyers. I've felt a bit down with my painting and sought for something simple to do, so I bought a bunch of them now, including this Jagdpanther. 

I went with a dunkelgelb basecoat, reddish brown and dark green stripes, then a layer of highlights, a brown wash and a buff drybrush. The camo net is made of an old curtain, green tea and moss. The muzzle brake also broke off and has been replaced by a bit of dowel and green stuff.

Rheinbund Reinforcements

Here's another few Napoleonic bits, mostly HäT figures from the larger participants in the Confederation, and then some Zvezda French skilfully converted. 

Left: Württemberg light cavalry and Berg Lancers

Middle: Bavarian light infantry, Saxon Leibgarde and Württemberg artillery

Right: Saxon cuirassiers and Württemberg (/Bavarian?) chevauxlegers.

Ottomen on the Horizon

(For the less linguistically inclined, Ottomen is the plural of Ottoman.)

I have not been as idle in recent times as the lack of updates suggests. I suspect mainly the fact that the camera is still broken deters me from taking loads of pictures. Anyway, the Napoleonic Ottoman army is almost complete (which army ever is?), so I thought I'd take them out to the sun and show them to the world.

GNW Russian (?) artillery

This is a mixed lot of Zvezda and Strelets gun crews, originally Swedes, but as they have the long cuffs, they pass as Russians as well. I know the Russian gunners had a red vest, but I like this color combination better.

Pirate Party

Finally, they are here. A band of seven nasty pirates (one for each sea I guess). I have also made stats for them in Flashing Steel.

Six figures are from the Zvezda GNW Swedish artillery box, and one is from their Russian counterparts I found lying around. They were given various weapons and I modified a few poses as well - separate arms are useful for this kind of work.

GNW Swedish artillery

I ordered this Zvezda set from an Italian ebay store. It has lots of horses, guns and crew, and plenty of options for conversion.

French cavalry WIP

Just a pair of shots, showing some more Frenchies on horseback, to complement the ranks for the Secret Project... soon all will be revealed.

Allied High Command for the Secret Project

This is a big ol' batch of creative conversions, mostly Russian and a few Austrian command figures.

Zvezda Foot Soldiers

Here's the next batch, seventeen or so foot figures from various boxes. They include three handgunner conversions on the left. I'm experimenting with conversions a lot - these are very versatile products, with separate arms and weapons.

Zvezda Knights

Excuse me for the weird background, this cloth does not behave the same way with sunlight as with camera flash.  Anyway, here's nine riders from the Zvezda HYW French set, very nice bods and I tried to make each of them stand out as an individual. 

Russian Guardsmen and Herdsmen.

It is rather rare that I post something from four different manufacturers, but this is the case right now. In enlarging my Napoleonic Russian army, I have completed the following units, from left to right:

• 2x12 Jäger, Italeri and Zvezda figures, plus a single HäT figure in the rear rank.
• 6 Guard Lancers, of Esci make, on Italeri hussar horses.
• A 16-figure unit of Pavlov Grenadiers by Italeri.
• 2x16 Opolchenie by HäT, plus a single Pioneer base/marker.

Light cavalry

As soon as I could gather enough painted figures for two or three posts, all the rechargeable batteries in the household ran out. I could snap six photos of these, and after ditching half of them, I came up with this post here.

You can see a unit of Spanish hussars (Zvezda Prussians) on the director's left, and Hungarian Insurrectio (Italeri French hussars on Esci horses) on the right.

General Ktoplowski's Polish Brigade

A rather tasteful array of Polish arms: a dozen Uhlans and two groups of infantry. The title of course refers to Polish players proudly declaring "KTO PL" in every online multiplayer game.

The muster contains the following:

• six Zvezda Polish Guard Lancers
• six Vistula Legion horse
• A 16-figure unit of GD of Warsaw infantry
• A unit of Vistula Legion foot