"Black Hussar Saxon Garde du Corps" Topic

Could not resist posting some early pictures of my second attempt at Saxon Garde du Corps in 28mm. Still need basing and then I will show the whole unit. These are from Black Hussar and my earlier dozen were from Eureka Miniatures. A couple of horses from Front Rank, to add variety, and I thought they worked really well with these riders. Paul Hicks sculptures obviously and simply superb quality. Hand painting the royal monogram four times on each figure was no joke and I did take a few liberties with the complex lace. The only conversion was to slightly lengthen the trumpet (thanks von W for pointing that out)

Stunning, absolutely beautiful.

Amazing! If they don't ride right over the opposition, you deserve a full refund.

wow – impressive painting, let's see how I meet the challenge of doing Prussian Cuirassiers of the 7YW by BH.

That is amazing work and I have to say your hand-painting the Royal Monogram takes them over the top

The mongram is indeed lovely work Liam.

Now, as I know you like a bit of conversion. Have you considered replacing swords with beaten brass wire ever? I ask as I have had some success with this, and it gives a sword that is far more "in scale" profile wise than is achievable in white metal. Just a though, and not a criticism of your paint work here.

Actually, whilst I'm here. Have you discovered the silver pens yet? They come with fine tips, and produce a really shiny metallic silver finish – I often use for swords, as I find it brighter and sharper than paint. They are a very fine pigment in a spirit base, and so flow really well, and cover very thinly.

All the best

Marc

I genuinely want criticism and especially pointing out any errors I might have made. The lace is slightly simplified, especially on the holster covers. It should be blue/red/yellow/red/blue for each stripe….and then doubled!

The officer's fur turban. Alas, he has his chinstrap up and when I tried to do the brass ornaments it just looked a mess. I agonised over taches or clean shaven. Much evidence for both!

Photos are terribly unforgiving. I see a silver splodge on the standard bearer's blue cross belt. Surely not. I have checked and checked every figure, but now I see it!

Beaten brass wire sounds a great idea! I have masses left over from carriage building. Next project (Louis XVIII's Black Musketeers). Silver pens…I am sure I have both silver and gold but never ever used them yet!

Excellent work Liam!
Yes, I have found the same with photos, they reveal my errors, glaringly.
Small red dot on the sword of the trooper to the left of your standard bearer.
Also I would vary the horses sock/stocking length. Just for variation.
I find if I paint slashes of dolphin grey then white over the top they look better. Or a wash of Payne's Grey from the knee down to make a brown horse leg look darker.
JMHO

The red spot…yes. Now I go back, there it is indeed. Well "spotted". Must have come from painting the collar lace.

The socks idea is a good one indeed. I used to emphasise them far more (I will soon show my much earlier S du C troopers. Recent discussion has suggested that elite cavalry try to choose mounts with minimal markings on face and legs, indeed may even mask them! On balance though, your way does look better. Thanks again

Wow indeed, the saddle cloths are magnificent, and the whole unit very impressive.
If I had to make a criticism – and it is only because you say you genuinely want criticism, and hardly worth mentioning – it is the lack of eyes. It isn't noticeable in the first two photos but becomes obvious in the close up, although you have gone to the trouble of painting teeth.

Let me say first that folk are afraid to offer constructive criticism, because the response can vary from "get a life", to "rivet counter" or "who cares?"

Well I do and the worst thing is for your posting to be ignored.

That comment about the eyes is a very controversial point and really well made. Well worth mentioning. In 28mm figures the snag is that eyes can look like homicidal lunatic stares. My Cossack Guards to the Tsar showed just a tiny black dot…but looked like they had sat on something very unpleasant.

I have seen folk get it right, even at this magnification. The art is that the pupil is not actually a circle, unless very upset. I honestly have never yet mastered eyes and rely on more distant views generally.

It is that human thing that we are programmed to see faces in clouds, the fire. the Moon or mountains on Mars.

Great response. Yes, thanks. I know von W leaves eyes undone, but some do manage it. I do eyebrows…but not eyes…

But never on horses. Never………not unless right onto the bayonets of a square. I always gloss over black, but no iris or even more, no white

Superb stuff Mr D as always.

You are right about the camera being unforgiving with the errors our eyes automatically correct.

A question. Your background is excellent. Is a picture or something else?

Best wishes,

Chris

Great job!

Thanks folks. Yes it is just a 10x8 photoprint of a German town strasse. The challenge is the reflection from the spotlights I use!

The camera never lies indeed. However carefully I had checked them, I found two more in the rear rank with bright red paint on the swords once I was alerted.

Thank you Mr D. As suspected.

You are always enquiring about photography and this wonderful link might be of use.

It has been invaluable to me and I hope to yourself.

link

Best wishes,

Chris

That is brilliant. I immediately saw the problem that I had with the other posting, just showing the entire unit without a background. White balance could not compensate for the mixture of daylight, fluorescent and tungsten bulbs that I used. So everything to the left, the shadows are true colour, everything lit by the spotlight from the right has a green cast to it.

This is a great site. Saved to my PC for further study!