Now for something completely different...

...er, not really it's actually more Austrians! This is another unit expertly restored for me by Goya from the collection of Don W. They are painted to represent Hungarian IR 32 Esterhazy although the charging figures are AN/4 Austrian Musketeer rather than Hungarian ones.

The original brushwork on these figures (including the nifty lace work) is all Don's to which Goya has added the black lining to the straps and the yellow stripes to the trousers together with a bit of general tarting up. Zoom in and take time to admire that amazing flag painted by Don some 40+ years ago, I am in awe.

Prussian Landwehr Lancers

I've finished the Landwehr Lancers and made the required changes to the original six figures so the whole lot now represent a Kumark Regiment. I'm very pleased with the way these have turned out as I think my painting (front row) has blended well with Matthew's (rear row).

The figures are:

6 x PN.39 Landwehr Lancer Trooper (mounted) charging

6 x 139/1 Der Kreigspieler Landwehr Lancer

I had to carry out a fair bit of restoration work on the Hinton Hunt castings fitting a few new lances but I quite enjoy the challenge that presents.

I didn't have any of these figures in my 1970s Prussian army so it has been nice to include them now. I like the idea of having some 'C' grade cavalry but if they're anything like as effective as their friends in the infantry the French Guard cavalry will be very afraid.

Tirailleur, Grenadier of the Guard

I didn't have time to properly introduce these gentlemen to you before they were tumbled headlong into the battle of Dresden. They are Tirailleur Grenadiers of the (Young) Guard painted as per the Hinton Hunt painting instruction sheet.

This is possibly the fastest I have ever painted a unit of Hinton Hunt figures as I did the whole lot in one batch - not sure if I'll use that technique again as I find it midly stressful.

The figures I used were:

22 x FN/71 Tirailleur Guard (charging) - one converted to drummer

1 x FN/70 Young Guard Officer (charging) - converted to standard bearer

1 x FN/74 Young Guard Officer (marching)

The flag is another of my hand-painted Pepsi-Max can ones. I'm not very happy with it particularly when it's stood next to the fantastic flag WM painted for the Voltigeurs.

I thought the flag would be relatively easy but it just wasn't!

On the subject of superb painting by WM I'm currently in the process of upgrading the Prussian Brandenburg Uhlans he painted for me 10 years ago. If you remember the unit is comprised of 6 x Uhlans and 6 x Landwehr Lancers as they were the only figures I had at the time. The recent influx of Prussian Uhlan castings means I can expand them to a full unit.

To do this I'm having to attempt the impossible and try to match WM's style. Difficult not just because he is an exceptionally talented painter but also because he uses enamel paints whilst I use Acrylics.

PN.39 Landwehr Lancer Trooper (mounted) charging - the one on the left is mine and the one on the right is WM's.

Stage one has been to increase the Landwehr Lancers by 6 using some castings generously donated by Goya and Nigel. I will have to make a few small changes to the original figures (lance colour and shoulder tabs) to transform the whole lot into a Kumark Regiment but I think they will work well together.