Pages

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Austrian 23rd Archduke Ferdinand Regiment

Here then are the Austrians I promised you in my last post. This unit will represent the 23rd Archduke Ferdinand Regiment because they have rather nice poppy red facings.

So how have I managed to knock out another unit so fast I hear you ask? Well, the answer is that I haven't actually done very much myself to contribute to their mustering-in. The original paintwork is by US gamer Don W and they have been spruced up by none other than Goya who added the black lining to match them to my own style. All I did was add in the command figures, base them, and give the whole lot three coats of gloss varnish.

Don's original brushwork gave them grey lined straps and Goya very kindly changed them to black to fit in with my other troops. The headgear is all Don's work.

The rank and file figures are all vintage castings that Don bought direct from Hinton Hunt in the early 80s. They are:

21 x AN/4 Musketeer, charging
1 x AN/1 Officer, charging
1 x DK Grenadier drummer (with head swap conversion)
1 x AN/9 Standard bearer (David Clayton)

Here you can see how neatly they fit in with the 26th Schroeder Regiment I completed last year.

Don has very kindly sent me quite a few castings so there will be more Austrians to come.


20 comments:

  1. They're beautiful and yes, that poppy red really pops alright. As for the final line up, I think that this demonstrates that Austrians always look their best when parading in front of palaces.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks WM and you’re right, a palace does add a certain something to a Habsburg!

      Delete
  2. A very nice bit of collective cooperation…
    They look so shiny and clean… I bet the laundry costs were enormous.

    All the best. Aly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Aly. Good point about the laundry I will have to have a laundry wagon to the logistics tail.

      Delete
  3. You struck gold with this addition! They fit perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Matt, there's more gold in them tha' hills...

      Delete
  4. You're right they're an excellent match in terms of style, if you hadn't said different I would've believed they were more of yours.
    Perhaps a Hungarian regiment next? Those blue pantaloons are rather sporty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike - just started on some Hungarian grenadiers!

      Delete
  5. You can never have too many Austrians. But you’ve chickened out of the coloured flagstaffs…😆

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, actually I did paint the flag and command figures myself - that's seven of those flags I've done now!

      Delete
  6. No fair cheating! I would never do something as shameful as spruce up another painters work. :) I do love the bright whites and the poppy red really does the trick nicely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm, not sure that's exactly true is it David!

      Delete
  7. Lovely addition to your collection, the poppy red really does add to this regiment.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This has got me thinking. The Zach Regiment whose colours I claim to have waved at Aspern, also had poppy red facings....as for palaces, I'm just working on some farm buildings. Will they do? That Goya is a national treasure and no mistake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Farms are ok but probably best for militia to hold as you wouldn’t want farmyard muck on the lovely white uniforms of the line regiments!

      Delete
  9. These guys are splendid - a great addition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tony, hopefully you'll see them in action in the Hut later this year!

      Delete