WIP 42nd Highland Infantry Regiment "Black Watch" at the Battle of Quatre Bras, June 1815

[NigelR]

That looks much better IMO. One thing I would try is moving the standing guy to the left of the piper more round the front so he is facing outward to the left of the senior officer. He is a bit hidden at the back and if he is facing forward you will create more of an impression of multiple bayonets facing outwards against cavalry. Try twisting him through 90 degrees or so to the right and moving him forward a bit and see what you think. But it's looking really good

 

[Nap]

Hi Ski

Does look much better , lot tighter , good idea from Nigel ref standing guy

Look forward to seeing the groundwork come together and the final pics after you've played " hunt the thumb "

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[Andrew Belsey]

Much better for the tighter spacing Steve. This is turning out beautifully! I’m really enjoying this thread.
Andy

 

[1969]

Been waiting to see all these figures placed together, looking very good Ski.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve Ski]

Thanks, for the encouraging comments, Guys! I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the base work is a lot fun.

Nigel, I’ll have a look see and check if I can work it, but you are correct again, I agree. The pins are placed, anchored, and the airclay is hard, but nothing is too far along to hinder a change.

Hey, just don’t send me a consultation bill, alright? HA!


Thanks again, Gents!

 

[Mike - The Kiwi]

Thanks, for the encouraging comments, Guys! I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the base work is a lot fun.

Nigel, I’ll have a look see and check if I can work it, but you are correct again, I agree. The pins are placed, anchored, and the airclay is hard, but nothing is too far along to hinder a change.

Hey, just don’t send me a consultation bill, alright? HA!


Thanks again, Gents!

What a phenomenal project Steve with your ducking, diving, checking & adjusting with the PlanetFigure team here seeming to play a part of you bringing this to a conclusion. Including Nigel’s latest constructive comments on final arrangement, which I concur with too.

Haven’t been able to keep pace with all the coming & goings of the thread but have enjoyed catching up on latest episode of “Ski Goes Highlandering”.
You got this mate!
Now Bring it Home
MikeTheKiwi

 

[Steve Ski]

Roger that, Mike, thanks.

I have made the appropriate adjustments for the rifleman, Nigel will be pleased, lol.

Been working the base a bit today, working those tones for a prior day’s rainfall, but not muddy. I’ll be invoking artist license with some of the ground work, unconventional by most respects according to records historically, but pleasing to the eyes, regardless. It will fit the narrative quite well and rap this up for a good finish, IMHO.

This really is the most fun, but most challenging part of this build, the base, lol. Who’d a thunk it? You jack this up, it’s all for not. Bring it home I will, as best I can.


As for those of us who fly: Final Approach, Gear down, Flaps down, Clear to land!

P.S. Oh ya, I still have to finish the Frenchmen, HA!

 

[Nap]

Hi Ski

Looking forward to the Frenchman and seeing you land this ...

Look forward to seeing what you do with the groundwork .....but no snow !

Have fun

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[fogie]

With complex vignettes - especially when they're sort of
bordering on dioramas - context and narrative is everything.
Some figures are designed to interact with each other while
others merely augment the narrative. The hard bit is deciding
who's who in the story we're trying to tell..... and we all think
we know best. Do your own thing, Steve, you're the man at the
wheel here.
Mike

 

[Steve Ski]

Look forward to seeing what you do with the groundwork .....but no snow !Nap

Kevin, do you have a problem with snow, mate? Say it ain't so, please. Snow fly up here means many months of "sniffin paint"! Just messin with ya Kev, lol. Thanks, Buddy!

With complex vignettes - especially when they're sort of
bordering on dioramas - context and narrative is everything.
Some figures are designed to interact with each other while
others merely augment the narrative. The hard bit is deciding
who's who in the story we're trying to tell..... and we all think
we know best. Do your own thing, Steve, you're the man at the
wheel here.
Mike

Taken under serious advisement, Fogie! I plan to run this ball to the Tri! Who'd a thunk a toughdown meant anything, btw, HA! Thank you, Sir.

The base has been assembled as you said, my thing, artistic license, but tempered, I hope.

Ruck On, Bby!

 

[fogie]

As you're well on the way to a game winning touch-down
this might provide a bit of extra inspiration......

The main action at Quatre Bras took place in a network
of rye fields - a particularly tall crop around five feet high.
It's been suggested that this prevented the 42nd from
noticing the approach of a strong force of French lancers.
The fact is that the 42nd failed to form square in time and the
Grenadier and Light companies were caught in the open.
The centre companies were ordered to close up into a
depleted square but were unable to complete this unorthodox
manouvre before a few enemy cavalry rushed in and cut down
Colonel Macara and some staff officers. Volodya's figures
represent centre company soldiers (the clue's in the 'tufty'
epaulettes) so perhaps the narrative for this vignette lies
somewhere in all the confusion surrounding the desperate
attempt to close the square.

Mike

 

[Steve Ski]

Volodya's figures
represent centre company soldiers (the clue's in the 'tufty'
epaulettes) so perhaps the narrative for this vignette lies
somewhere in all the confusion surrounding the desperate
attempt to close the square.Mike

IHowdy, Mike.

I'll take your word for it. I did not read about the battle in depth, something I should have done. I was not a Napoleonic era buff nor figure painter until this set. I appreciate you and several other’s whom have presented detailed intel on this battle specifically, hence the name change from Waterloo to Quarte Bras.

There won’t be any tall rye standing in this vignette, but a little artistic license when applying the ground cover, etc. I really like how Vladimir has originally presented this set in such a dynamic fashion, as shown in the set photo, so I will do my best to emulate that, but in color.

I have received tentative approval from my wife, my best critic, on the ground work. She likes the way the base presents the figures without too much distraction coming from the ground cover.

Thanks again for the intel, Mike, greatly appreciated. Cheers, Ski.

 

[fogie]

In my younger days (when dinosaurs ruled the earth) I once asked a BMSS
competition judge why he marked down a particular figure, and he said that it
was because the mud on his boots was the wrong colour for Mont St Jean. So
good for you, Ski. When it comes to history or art then art should win every time.
Your rendition of this set is immaculate - probably the best I've seen - whatever
you do with the groundwork will be the right choice.............salaams

Mike

 

[Steve Ski]

Thanks, Mike. Working the Frenchmen right now, won't be long.

 

[Steve Ski]

Base Work Continued

While working the last two figures I neglected the “base in progress” photos posting, so here they are. Sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves, lol. I also included a pic of the intentional layout soon to be. All the base work is standard practice, nothing new to see here.

Close up of the intended Royal Regiment in action. Note, the Rifleman has had his intended orientation altered to a more correct interpretation of action since this photo was taken. I think I’m revealing too much at this stage, but I’m pretty stoked at how this is playing out so far.

Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.

 

[Nap]

Hi Ski

You are a tease ...lol

You have every right to "feel pretty stoked" ...it's just great

Looking forward to the big reveal

Have fun

Happy benchtime

Nap

 

[NigelR]

Looking really good now the figures are a bit closer together. Looking forward to the final result.....

 

[1969]

Looking much better with the tighter formation of the figures Ski, I am not surprised that you are stoked with this one, looking great so far.
Cheers
Steve

 

[Waterlooman]

Looking Superb.

W.

 

[Steve Ski]

Hi Ski, You are a tease ...lol You have every right to "feel pretty stoked" ...it's just great Looking forward to the big reveal
Have fun, Happy benchtime. Nap

Thanks, Kevin, updates coming real soon.

Looking really good now the figures are a bit closer together. Looking forward to the final result.....

Thank you, Nigel, you're a great support.

Looking much better with the tighter formation of the figures Ski, I am not surprised that you are stoked with this one, looking great so far.
Cheers, Steve

Ya, Brother, it feels much better working this base, much better. Thanks!

Looking Superb.W.

Thanks, Amigo!