1st battalion, 8th infantry regiment, Duchy of Warsaw

We go back to Napoleonics today, it had been a while. 

As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm working on a Polish force based on the battle of Raszyn using Murawski Miniatures. In hindsight, and if Roger had manufactured his Poles earlier, I think I would have started my Napoleonic collection based on this battle. You got the Poles and the Saxons on one side, both of which I really like, and of course my favourite Austrians on the other. The forces on both sides are very manageable to build, and it takes place in 1809. Everything I like, really! Damn hindsight... I do have a master plan for this project, and hopefully I'll talk more about it in a future post.

But I'm currently working on a Canaanite army, a Oldhammer army and a French Indian war project, and with my recent health problems, I decided I needed help. So I contacted my good friend and Polish enthusiast Roger Murrow, of Murawski Miniatures, to help me build my Polish force. I recently received the first two battalions I commissioned, so I've spent last week basing them. Here is the first unit I finished basing, the 1st battalion of the 8th regiment. The 8th Regiment was part of the 3rd Division, and as such had crimson facings and lapels, giving them a very smart look.

The drummers were painted with white coat based on an illustration of the battle of Raszyn 

As usual I think Roger did a splendid job on these, and as soon as I get back to work I intend to commission a few more battalions. 

This unit is made-up of the recently released Duchy of Warsaw infantry in firing line poses, and with a few injury figures sprinkled here and there it makes for a lively unit.
 
I'll post pics of the 2nd battalion in a week or two. Also on my workbench is a unit of Oldhammer Beastmen and a Chaos Spawn. And I should have pics of some new Murawski Miniatures this week (its a surprise).

Go Habs go!

For the Hockey fans, here is the incredible Montreal Canadiens pre-game intro for the 2014 playoffs.

Definitely one of the best I've ever seen. Your move, rest of the sports world.

and the (as usual) awesome pre-game montage by the CBC.

Playoff Hockey man. Its amazing.

I'm not dead...just incapacitated at the moment

The astute and loyal readers among you might have noticed the absence of posts recently, as well as my disappearance from the Analogue challenge.

I've had to undergo knee surgery about a month ago, and due to some complications (long story) 2 more knee surgeries have been necessary! So yes, that's 3 surgeries on the same knee in the last month! It has not been easy. Consequently I've spent most of the last month either in an hospital or high on meds at home. Needless to say painting little men has not been on my priority list, to say the least!




Now hopefully the worst is behind me as I start intensive physiotherapy. I cannot put any weight on my leg for at least a month, and then have to relearn how to walk.

I actually completed 2 more units before surgery but now cant take pics with all thats been going on. The upstair room where I take picture and paint might as well be on the moon (walking stairs is not an option at the moment!) Not to mention its not easy painting with one leg in horizontal position at all time!

Anyways, I have no idea when I'll be able to paint again. I miss it, but my health is where my energy needs to go right now.

Unfortunately I cannot use the computer (upstairs) and I do not own a laptop, only a tablet, so posting is not that easy and is time consuming!

I might try to post other things than painted miniatures in the coming weeks, to fend off the boredom that is currently my life (as incredible as that might seem, afternoon TV is really boring. Yes, I am as shocked as you probably are!).

Anyways, just a post to let everyone know what is up!

Cheers!

Sir Kermit de la Grenouille (Bonus round entry)

Last week-end was the latest Fortnight Thematic Bonus Round, this time the theme being Hero, As with the vilain, I had a lot of fun with it.

Hero. When I saw the word I immediately thought of heroes from fantasy worlds, and especially the fantasy of my youth, the Disneys and such. I just wanted to do something really different from what I usually do, something bright and shiny...and good.

  
Dark Sword Miniatures were just the right place for that (btw I highly recommend them, great figures and amazing service). When I saw the figure, a Frog Champion in shining armour, I knew I had found just the perfect piece. It was heroic enough without being too "goody two shoes". Standing tall at 37mm, this figure is clearly on the "heroic scale" side of the "28mm" world. It is a really cool and awesome sculpt and it was immensely fun to paint. I call him "Sir Kermit de la Grenouille". I could just see him in a Pixar movie! 

Obviously being meant as a display piece only I gave him a big 40mm round base and had fun putting a big mushroom on it, which I think works well with the figure and gives him a sense of scale. The mushroom was done with milliput, with some wire covered miliput for the stem.

I must say I haven't painted a figure for display only in ages, and its not a figure I would've painted otherwise, so I have to thank the challenge for that, which is pretty cool. 

If you like him, please take a few minutes to vote for him over at Analogue Hobbies. And if you don't like him, you can still vote for other awesome entries!