Varnishing the 9th Bengal Cavalry

I have had a bit of time this week so focused on finishing the Bengal Cavalry.

The horses have had their final coat of matt varnish and the riders have had two coats of gloss; the matt will go on tomorrow. I anticipate the task of adding the pennons to the bamboo lances will be a bit tricky … wait to see.

Gloss and matt … nearly ready for basing.

The Black Watch: the next twelve

The first twelve figures and the detachment’s CO and piper are now glued to bases, ready for scenic enhancement.

The next twelve are ready for varnishing.

Slow going … but somewhat faster than I had anticipated.

The Black Watch: the first twelve

The first twelve figures and the detachment’s CO and piper are almost ready for varnishing.

Just a little retouching and highlighting to do, then three coats of varnish – the last a matt coat.

Not too shabby – definitely beginning to look the part. The mounted officer has a sword armed arm from the plastic British Infantry in Afghanistan and Sudan 1877–85 set.

At last! The Black Watch kilts are finished!

Something of a relief – the Black Watch kilts and socks are now finished, as are their purses (sporrans). I’m now looking forward to the familiar territory of tunics, webbing, helmets and weapons.

I’m rather hoping to make rapid progress with these now, so that I can then crack on with the Bengal Cavalry. I really want to have both units finished before Christmas.

Overall, I am quite pleased with these. (I’ll straighten the bent bayonets before I paint them – just once to avoid stressing the metal too much.)

Slow going … Black Watch tartan

I am working on the Black Watch kilts and socks in batches of 12, and sub-batches of six. My plan is to finish the lower parts of all the miniatures before beginning the tunics etc.

This is a painstaking process … and for all the effort only an approximation of the real thing. From my experience of painting Private Thomas Edwards I know that once shaded the overall effect will be just fine.

Meanwhile, the Bengal Cavalry languish … and I gestate a new project in a new period, of which more soon.

Imperfect, but beginning to look the part.

On the painting desk: 9th Bengal Cavalry horses

This week’s accomplishment has been painting the Bengal Cavalry’s mounts, which are now ready for shading, highlighting, then varnishing.

These sculpts are the same as the 19th Hussars’ mounts, so I think it’s good that there is not a grey amongst them.

I have also made a start on the Black Watch kilts … which I predict will be a very slow process. In fact I am inclined to think that I will have the Bengal Cavalry and the 15th Sikhs finished first … and I haven’t even ordered the Indian infantry yet!

9th Bengal Cavalry beginning to look the part.

19th Hussars: coming along nicely

Although I approached painting the 19th Hussars’ Syrian grey ponies with some doubt, I have rather enjoyed seeing them emerge from the base coat in a fairly convincing way.

My main worry had been how to approach a dappled effect. The mottled finish I have achieved seems to be a more realistic way of simulating the various kinds of coat at this scale.

Now I am looking forward to getting the riders mounted and the whole unit based.

Eight ponies are pretty much finished, with another four needing their tack painting, leaving three to do. The troopers are keen to get mounted, of course.

19th Hussars’ Syrian Greys

I’ve been looking forward to this as much as I’ve been looking forward to the 42nd’s kilts … not so much. Actually, I really enjoy painting horses, but I could see that the various grey coats of the 19th Hussars’ ponies were going to be a challenge.

I looked at a few online tutorials, including videos, showing a number of approaches to the dappled grey, but none seemed really satisfactory to me, especially at this scale. I looked at a lot of photos of grey horses, discovering along the way that the appearance is determined by the age of the animal – some horses which turn out to be greys are even born black. Basically, the younger the animal the less white it will have in its coat, many becoming all white at ten years or older.

I have assumed that the 19th’s mounts would be younger horses, so no pure white mounts, but perhaps diminishing amounts of black and grey. I also considered the level of detail that would resolve at the table top view, where, for figures at this scale, one would be viewing a real scene from some distance. (This decision is evident in my Naval Brigade figures, where multiple white lines on their collars ‘resolve’ into a single line.)

Below are some of the reference images I collected, and my first attempts, which are not too shabby. As you will see, I have adopted a dry-brush technique to achieve the mottled appearance.

The sequence I have adopted is as follows:
– base colour white, off white, or light grey
– apply solid darker grey areas
– dry brush darker grey into base colour
– dry brush base colour into darker greys
– dark and light detail with fine brush if required.

Top to bottom: greys of various ages, and my first five at this scale.

New recruits, progress with painting, and the towed Gatling gun and limber

I’ve managed to get quite a bit done over the last few weeks, and now I hope to maintain the momentum.

My latest Perry Miniatures order arrived, and I wasted no time getting the new Beja into the painting work flow. I wanted some slightly more aggressive swordsmen, and more spirited command figures to acompany the khalifa on a rearing horse.

The bulk of the order comprised Empire figures, including Black Watch, 19th Hussars, 9th Bengal Cavalry, a couple of 7pdr screw guns, various command figures, and, finally, Naval Brigade figures for the towed limber and Gatling gun piece. Easily enough to keep me occupied beyond Christmas.

I also added Brian Robson’s Fuzzy Wuzzy to my references (second hand but in excellent condition), which is dedicated to the campaigns in eastern Sudan.

Top to bottom: Fuzzy Wuzzy is spot-on for my interests; the second Hadendowa rub with some figures ready for varnishing while the new recruits are only just started; an Emprire infantry unit in mêlée, which also received a handful of new recruits; a couple of minor Naval Brigade officer conversions – just enough to make them different to the ones I already have; the main components of the towed limber and Gatling gun.

WiP: painting and a minor conversion

More progress with the next Hadendowa rub and my first British Army infantry company. These are to be joined by new recruits shortly, four figures for the infantry company, a charging command group, six riflemen, and six charging swordsmen for the Mahdists.

These are currently in the Perry Miniatures’ queue that resulted from a surge in orders in the wake of their announcement of price increases. I got a fairly large order in to make the most of the free postage threshold too, including various mounted and foot command figures, Black Watch, Hussars, Bengal Cavalry, a couple of screw guns, and the figures and guns I need to complete the towed Gatling gun limber. All of which which should keep me going for some time.

Hadendowa foot and command figures, British infantry in mêlée, and a pair of ammunition mules. I needed another amir more than I needed a khalifa, and a minor conversion gave a suitable result.

RMLI and Naval Brigade contingents ready for varnishing

This year I have surprised myself with my rate of progress; uncharacteristically, and against a busy month work-wise, two Empire units are ready for varnishing.

These will almost complete the Royal Navy’s contribution to the field force, two Naval Brigade contingents (one each from HMS Carysfort and HMS Hecla) and a RMLI company (from HMS Tyne). At some point I will add the Gatling gun limber and the Blue Jackets hauling it; the limber is assembled, but still lacks wheels.

RMLI company and Naval Brigade landing party ready for varnishing.

Finally … a flat matt finish

I was beginning to despair of ever achieving a flat matt finish ever again. Testors Dullcote is no longer completely flat, and my last attempt with the brush-on variety disolved the acrylic varnish and paint. Winsor and Newton’s Galeria matt acrylic varnish was recommended on the Lead Adventure forum, but I found it resulted in a soft sheen. I tried storing it upside down, sirring endlessly, but nothing improved the finish. All rather frustrating and disappointing.

An internet search surfaced a thread discussing Tamiya’s X-21 Flat Base, and explaining its use. It seemed to suggest an answer, so I went to my local model shop and bought a couple of jars.

I am mixing X-21 Flat Base : Winsor and Newton Galeria matt acrylic varnish 1 : 4 using two syringes to measure the ingredients, one for each. The X-21 is slightly chalky, and one needs to avoid pooling because it will dry slightly cloudy.

But so far – so flat.

The little jar at the front is transformational. Nice one Tamiya!

On the painting desk

I had a bit of time to do some painting, but didn’t feel like doing the final detailing the Naval Brigade figures require.

I had a another two bands of Hadendowa warriors assembled and/or prepared for painting, so I set about the blocking in. I now have more figures ready for detailing than I have ever had … at any time … ever.

Top, left to right: two Hadendowa,  spear and sword armed bands, one camel-mounted band, command group, and one rifle armed band.

Bottom: The first Naval Brigade company is ready for detailing, while the RMLI company is barely started. All figures are Perry Miniatures.

It’s been too hot to paint

My study is south facing, which is lovely most of the time. These past days the temperature has been around 32 degrees – way too hot to paint in comfort. I even moved my paints into the basement, where it’s been seven degrees cooler.

I did get on with a bit of base painting and blocking in of the flesh of the next two bands of Hadendowa warriors. I enjoy the blocking-in stage of painting miniatures the least, but the result always confirms that the figures are well underway.

The next two bands of warriors, with a couple of extra command figures.

Priming and painting

I’ve been using Liquitex acrylic ‘gesso’ to prime metal and plastic minatures for some years now. Gesso has its detractors, but I find it works rather well.

I drybrush it on to avoid air bubbles, which results in a thin and streaky look. Left to dry for a couple of days it’s rock hard; to the detractors I simply suggest they try getting gesso off anything it’s been applied to.

Two Hadendowa spear and sword armed bands, and the first Naval Brigade company starts to really look the part, with detailing and touching up to do before shading and varnishing. All figures are Perry Miniatures.

On the painting desk

Finishing the first two Mahdist units, the Naval Brigade Gatling gun battery, and the Field Hospital, I thought to take stock of the next units due for painting.

The most advanced is the first mounted Mahdist unit, a Hadendowa camel band with some rifle-armed warriors amongst them. One further Hadendowa band of 16 figures is primed, and another assembled and ready for priming. These will complete my first Rub, so I had better organise a command group for them. The first Naval Brigade and Royal Marine Light Infantry companies are primed and painting has begun.

The first Mahdist mounted band, Hadendowa warriors armed with swords, spears, and rifles.

Two more Hadendowa bands, armed with swords, spears, and throwing sticks, all are Perry plastic miniatures.

The first Naval Brigade company.

The Royal Marine Light Infantry company.

The first Rub commmand group.

Painting, basing, and sketching

I’ve had a mixed day today, but it feels like proper progress. I’ll allow the photos to speak for themselves.

The wet palette is just brilliant! Paint from two days ago is still usable, and the Naval Brigade Gatling gun crews are finally ready for shading.

Based figures, goats, and trees with base coat. I reminded myself that it’s much easier if the figure’s bases are painted prior to fixing to the MDF bases. In fact, I think I will paint the figure’s bases first in future.

I made a quick sketch of the strongpoint to get a sense of its size. The observation tower is the tallest part, almost half of the total height. It’s not really a very large piece in terms of its ‘footprint’, just very high. I may consider a lower tower, say half the height shown here. 28mm miniature for scale.

Wet palette

I’ve read quite a bit about wet palettes recently, and the concept seems to offer an answer to a few issues I have had while painting. I am pretty sparing when dispensing paint on to my palette for use, but paint drying out before I have managed to use it all not only seems wasteful but also slows down painting. It’s worse in the summer here as my study is south facing, so ambient temperature can be high.

I also read about making my own wet palette using tupperware, kitchen paper and greaseproof paper, but thought to seek out something where the design and materials had been thought through … I do like a bit of form follows function where design is concerned.

I settled on Green Stuff World’s offering, selecting the smaller of the two they sell, which at 132mm x 182mm is quite large enough.

It’s nicely presented, and looks and feels like a quality product. I’ll be deploying it this weekend …

Green Stuff World’s wet palette, with sponges on the right and specially coated hydro paper on the left.

The unicorn of matt varnish

I don’t have facilities for spraying miniatures – so it’s all brushwork, and I’m down to my last bottle of Testors Dullcote lacquer, and with none available in the UK, I sought an alternative.

Winsor & Newton’s Galeria matt varnish was recommended, but, like all of the matt varnishes I have tried, it turned out to be not quite as matt as required.

There simply isn’t anything to match Testors Dullcote.

However, the resulting soft sheen does seem to work for the Hadendowa warrior’s flesh and hair (which they greased), and also for Prior’s horse’s coat. (I’ll post images when the varnish has dried.)

After some thought I decided to only apply a matt coat to clothing, straps, belts, and so-on.

I am hoping that by the time this bottle is empty it will be available in the UK again.

Magnificent beasts

While I don’t intend to document every small step of progress, this week I have managed to get some day-by-day momentum into the project, so this post is recognition of that.

In addition it’s a long time since I painted camels. The last were for my first century Imperial Roman army [link], Warlord Games’ rendering of EBob’s camels. The Perry Miniatures’ camels are rather more muscular, and I have a sense they will paint up rather well. I also sense I will end up with quite a lot of camels, since both sides deployed them.

I made some progress with the tiny 7pds and their Hadendoa crews too. Base coating seems to be a sensible antidote to a working day which involves very detailed work in the main.

Half the camels and Melton Prior’s horse have been base coated. It’s a long time since I panted camels – summer of 2011 in fact.

More progress with the Mahdist 7pdrs and crews. I plan to finish these and the riflemen at the same time.

Auxilia Dromedarri … I must finish my Romans …