"A Cruel Misfortune" Part 3

I'm almost finished with the horse, I still need to add fringe to the saddle holsters.

"A Cruel Misfortune" Part 2

I've now fleshed out the figures and layed out the groundwork. I spirnkled the ground with model dirt/stone and textured it with a rough stone.

"A Cruel Misfortune" Part 1

Here's my winter project. It depicts a final moment at the Battle of Blenheim, 12 August 1704, where French Marshal Tallard and remnants of his army, is swept to the River Danube and is forced to surrender. Sources say that up to 30,000 soldiers drowned in the river trying to make an escape. Though that number sounds a bit exaggerated, it does say something about the desperation that was felt in the retreat. The fields and villages around Blenheim where left to the Duke of Marlborough and his allies. Upon receiving the marshal as a prisoner the Duke remarked "I am sorry that such a cruel misfortune should have fallen upon a soldier for whom I have the highest regards".

The base was custom made by Ken Thomas. It's made of burl but has a large void on one side. This will be the backside of the vignette and will be filled in with putty. I planned on four figures and two horses but there was too much open space in the middle so I added a casualty to help tie in the scene. I gave the groundwork a slight elevation so this will give the composition a stage and help not conceal any figure.

I've begun work on the horse. I wanted the head of Tallard's horse sightly turned so I cut a sliver off one edge and filled the void with putty.

Thanks for following and stay tuned.

Berdan Sharpshooter, 1863

Here's the finished Berdan Sharpshooter. I depicted him as he may have appeared during the Gettysburg Campaign. His worn out green frock coat has been replaced with an issue sack coat. He still retains his green trousers but are showing sings of wear. His green forage cap is worn and faded as well and sports a red diamond of the 1st Division, 3rd Corps. If it not were for the Sharpe's rifle, an occasional green frock coat or forage cap and the distinctive Prussian style hide knapsack, these troops during this campaign probably would have differed little from the average Union infantryman.

Last batch of Chi-Town '09

Here's some final pics from the Chicago '09 Show. I wanted to add more but some photos were just too washed out. I did manage to get some shots of "Shep-N-Wolf". Not a bad jam. It was some pretty cool entertainment before the awards ceremony.

6th Hussar, 1814

Here's the finished Metal Models Hussar. I did some experimenting with ebroidery floss for the fur trim. Not sure how convincing it is but like alot of this hobby it's done by trial and error. Still, it was fun to paint and I may try this technique again sometime.

Even more Chi-Town pic's

More Chi-Town pic's '09

Chicago '09 pics

Here's some pieces that got my attention that weekend.