The final six infantrymen are finished, well they would be if I hadn’t just realised that I’ve missed the same bit of white lace on each of them but never mind. When I’ve sorted that out, they will all need a second coat of gloss varnish before being based.I hand cut my bases from 1.5mm plasticard which is always a bit fiddly and I noticed recently that the size of the bases has been gradually increasing over the years. This is because I tend to take a base from the last finished unit as a template and as a result they grow slightly, not in width but in depth for some reason. What I should do is not be so lazy and use my ruler instead.
If I was starting this project today, I would be using laser cut 2mm MDF bases and yes, I’d probably be basing the infantry in 6’s like everyone else. However, I’ve gone too far down the road now to think of re-basing.
20 comments:
What a treat - is the left cuff that's short of some lace?
How do ensure a nice vertical cut when cutting plasticard? I tried it but gave up and went back to card.
Those really are stunning. The colors are vibrant and the lines incredibly clean. I was so glad to read that you had forgotten to paint a fiddly bit. After my last post I think I found three fiddly bits that had escaped my attention!
I have thought about ordering some custom cut MDF for bases, but have been dissuaded from doing so by the need for casualty bases. If they were all based in sixes I think I'd say take my money now, but the need for breaking up some into 1,2,or 3 figure bases makes purchasing a bit more problematic. For that reason, just like you,I am still painstakingly cutting, shaping and sanding plastic card for each base.
Based or on bottle caps, they look rather dashing. Nothing quite like a bunch of scarlet clad figures either.
Best Regards,
Stokes
Rob, the lace is on the jacket bottoms and not very visible but sorted out now. I score the plasticard halfway and then snap it - usually it makes a nice clean line!
Thanks David, I'm quite committed to casualty removal which.is why I've stuck with my system!
Thanks Stokes!
Looking very spiffy indeed, Mr Stryker Sir!
It's far more old school to cut your own bases, albeit rather tedious. This is why I started mounting the troops in sixes, with only a few mounted on smaller bases for casualties. I only have to cut out six bases per infantry unit that way. I think I secretly prefer your system though.
Best regards
WM
Fine looking fellows.
Rebasing is a constant dilemma. I would stick with your basing. Your rules, as I understand them, call for units to maintain a 12 figure frontage with loses removed from the rear rank. Therefore your single rank basing works well.
My KGL are progressing. I am now on the white bits on my next batch.
Out of interest what do you plan to paint next ?
Ian, thank you, thank you. May I quote your “too far far down the road” as my defence for not rebasing? With you, too, on casualty removal, even though I seem to do rather a lot of it. These fellows are going to look splendid brigaded with their neighbours from Cambridgeshire.
WM the basing system works with rules as units can maintain their proper frontage when casualties are removed but it is quite a job clearing away after a game although so far I haven't lost any figures!
Mark, looking forward to seeing the KGL soon. I'm still not sure what is next but it may be something Austrian - I need a change from red and blue!
Nigel, yes there's nothing quite like a battle line in red, except perhaps white?
I was thinking of having no single based figures in line units (5x4-bases + 2 x 2-bases) and using caps to mark the odd casualty. I'm sure I've seen somewhere that DK used to actually make caps for this purpose so I assume this is authentically old school? I also have a bunch of plug caps that would serve this purpose quite well.
Beautiful Ian! What a visual treat they are. Looking forward to seeing them all based up.
I often find bits I have missed, you're not alone there. On the subject of bases, I gave up cutting my own for years until I was in Spain and could not obtain MDF bases due to postage costs, so I started cutting the bases for my 40mm's from 5mm ply sheet by knife, an absolute nightmare, but 600 figures on the last thing on Earth I would ever do is to rebase them!
Rob, I think caps or rings are a good idea as they move with the troops and don't get accidentally left behind like dice or other markers might.
Lee, that sounds like quite a task cutting ply with a knife! I struggle with the plasticard and normally write off as much of it as I use each time in the search for perfection. I did once order some laser cut 1.5 mm ply but was disappointed that they cut it a bit too small so gave up and went back to cutting my own.
Lovely soldiers Ian - I'm looking forward to seeing them based. Interested that you missed a painting detail - my painting glitches are usually because I've missed the entire back of someone's jacket, or only put the harness on one side of someone's horse. Big stuff - something I just forgot to do!
Thanks Tony, In this case I was trying to rush the last six figures so fell down on quality checks and probably health & safety too!
These are really nice!
Paul
Thanks Paul, they should be on parade soon!
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