Amongst the post that has just been delivered was a small parcel from Peter Johnstone at Spencer Smith Miniatures ... and I am now the proud owner of my first batch of American Civil War figures.
The figures are exactly as I hoped they would be; in fact they are better! They need a bit of work before I can begin painting them (i.e. they are not flash free and will need a little trimming and filing) but probably not much more than figures from other manufacturers.
The most telling comments in their favour came from my wife. She said that she thought that I should have far less trouble painting them then the other, smaller-scale figures I have painted over the past few years ... and that they did not have big heads like almost all my existing wargames figures!
The figures are exactly as I hoped they would be; in fact they are better! They need a bit of work before I can begin painting them (i.e. they are not flash free and will need a little trimming and filing) but probably not much more than figures from other manufacturers.
The most telling comments in their favour came from my wife. She said that she thought that I should have far less trouble painting them then the other, smaller-scale figures I have painted over the past few years ... and that they did not have big heads like almost all my existing wargames figures!
Sir your wife is a good judge of figures !.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear they've arrived. I look forward to seeing them painted.
ReplyDeleteLuke Hunter
Mosstrooper,
ReplyDeleteI would be a fool to ignore her opinion ... especially as she is actually encouraging me to paint them as well!
All the best,
Bob
Masher88 (Luke),
ReplyDeleteWith a bit of luck I should be able to clean up some of the figures tomorrow, glue them to their metal bases by Saturday, and begin painting them soon afterwards. I hope to get the first dozen done by the middle of next week if I can.
All the best,
Bob
A good opportunity to praise your wife's perceptiveness. I'm looking forward to seeing the first batch painted up.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
ReplyDeleteMy wife thinks that the larger-scale figures look nicer and was very taken with the painted figures I have featured on my blog. She thinks that they are 'proper toy soldiers'!
I hope to begin painting my first batch of SSM figures very soon ... and when I do I will post images of them on my blog.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you can get started.
Make sure you get the necessary filing done correctly. That will make all the difference to the final finish.
I also make sure that the undercoat/basecoat is as good as possible as this will also affect the final quality.
Hope to see you efforts soon!
Jim
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI find that removing the flash from figures is often the most tedious part of the process of painting them ... but that getting it right is an absolute MUST!
I always use a brushed-on undercoat of matt enamel paint. It takes longer to dry than acrylic paint but gives better coverage and provides a good 'key' for the topcoat. It is also harder wearing.
In the past I have used both black and white undercoat, but for this project I am going to use light grey. It does not dull the topcoat as much as black does but neither does it make the colours look over bright as white sometimes can.
I had hoped to start today, but something has cropped up that needs urgent attention so I may have to leave it until tomorrow. I want to get started ... but I don't want to rush things either.
All the best,
Bob
Sorry, about the 'flashing' - randy lot, I'm afraid!
ReplyDeletePeter
General Slim (Peter),
ReplyDeleteI have yet to buy figures that don't have some flash ... and they would not be soldiers if they weren't a bit randy as well!
All the best,
Bob
Enjoy Bob. There is something magical about getting parcels in the post.
ReplyDeleteConrad Kinch,
ReplyDeleteI intend to ... and as soon as possible as well!
All the best,
Bob
... and, did you ever throw some paint at these beauties???
ReplyDeleteJim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough I got them out of their storage box only last week, and I am giving serious thought to painting some of them when my current Waterloo project is complete. I have an idea for a tabletop version of FUNNY LITTLE WARS where I will use tiddlywinks instead of matchstick-firing guns for artillery effect, and these figures would be ideal for it.
All the best,
Bob