writes:2008 saw my venture back into Napoleonics (played Grand Manner in 25mm 15 years ago), and I made a start with the British range from Baccus. Due to health problems and real life, I could not face the French (though I did purchase some in anticipation). An impulse buy just before Christmas of a Baccus starter set via eBay piqued my interest again, and I resolved to get better and start painting again.
The French army of this period is a vast subject to cover. The Guards regiments is a subject in itself. So armed with the basics and a look at the Baccus painting guide, I decided to take the plunge and start my French army.
The figures come in strips of four. I decide to go with the Baccus standard of one command, one elite and four infantry strips per base to make a battalion. I plan on using the Polemos rules from Baccus, so on some bases I add skirmishers (pack NFR3) to represent the skirmish level of the base.
This painting guide is the one I use for the basic line battalions.
Items Needed
Figures to paint
Spray primer
Large lollypop sticks
Vallejo colours
Prussian Blue 965
Light Grey 990
Flat Brown 984
Silver 998
Sky Blue 961
Flesh 916
Brass 802
Green 942
Orange 911
Blue Violet 811
Other paints
Black
White
Earth Brown
Sand
Ink wash (black - 4 parts water to 1 part ink)
Tile grout
Ballast
Flock
PVA glue
Compared to the British figures I had recently painted, I found that some of the French bases had a little bit of flash to remove. The bayonets are a little fragile, and I did lose some straightening them up. (Note the French are to be re-sculpted in the future, so this problem should be resolved.) They are nicely cast with crisp raised detail that takes paint and an ink wash well. OK, enough babbling - on with the tutorial!
Stage 1
Glue the six strips (one command, one elite and four infantry) to a large lollypop stick and spray with primer. (I prefer grey, though it's a personal choice.)
Stage 2
Paint all figures' tunics with Vallejo Prussian Blue.
Stage 3
Paint muskets and hair with Vallejo Flat Brown. (Yes, all of my 6mm armies have brown hair!)
Stage 4
Paint muskets and bayonets with Vallejo Silver.
Stage 5
Paint blanket rolls Light Grey.
