WIP Critique Red Lancer 1815- A start

[ChaosCossack]

Hello All

This is about 10 hours into Pegaso's 75mm 2nd Regiment of Lancers (Dutch) of the Imperial Guard circa 1815, also known as the "Red Lancers". This is my first 75mm mounted figure and though the horse is quite intimidating, I'm looking forward to getting stuck in.
So far, the head, minus some furnishings on the chapska, is done, as are the main uniform colours on the rider. I will have to revisit the shading after final assembly of accessories like sword/scabbard and the cartrige box etc. As always, there are a few minor touch ups on some details but I'll wait until everything's done as I'm sure there'll be more!
I figure another five or six hours and the rider should be ready to go. Then on to the mount, I think a dark bay will satisfy regimental requirements. Apparently, this regiment favoured dark bay and chestnut mounts, I think the bay will offset the red uniform nicely.

Any and all critique and comments are most welcome. If anything needs attention before I continue, please let me know... a fresh eye is always helpful.

For your consideration

Colin

 

[gordy]

Lovely reds What are your red mixes ?

 

[ChaosCossack]

Lovely reds What are your red mixes ?

Thanx Gordy

Paints are Vallejo acrylics
Red:
Base- 908Carmine + 984Matt Brown
HL- Base + 953Matt Yellow + 845Sunny Skin Tone
Shade- Base + 926Red

I just kinda eyeball the ratio until I get it where I want it. On a figure this big or when the same colour is used on different elements of the figure (like uniform, headgear, portmanteaux and saddlecloth) I batch mix the base colour and store it in 1 oz jars with a lid. Helps maintain some consistency throughout and then I'm just mixing accents.

Glad to be of service

Colin

 

[Alex M.]

Those faces are really coming along! This one is starting to pop more than the last few!! The metallics have a nice finish - citadel?

 

[ChaosCossack]

Thanx Alex
Practice, practice!! All paints are Vallejo, I'm getting used to their metallics now. I find they are easier to mix and fool with than Citadels.

Colin

 

[tiberius57]

Wow, Colin! Excellent red. Made notes on the "recipe", if you don't mind. Work on metallics looks great. Looking forward to see the horse.

 

[ChaosCossack]

Wow, Colin! Excellent red. Made notes on the "recipe", if you don't mind. Work on metallics looks great. Looking forward to see the horse.

Zeno
Thanx very much for the compliments.
Of course I don't mind, We're all here to help each other, right? I think I had mentioned to you before, I document any mixes that seem to work, whether I got them from a book, a fellow Planeteer or stumbled across them myself. I be more than happy to pass along any info I have (just gimme a colour)... just know I"ll be coming after you for your armour technique when the time comes.

Thanx again

Colin

 

[tiberius57]

Sure Colin. No problem.
BTW. I'm working now a Roman Auxiliary in 54mm (Pegaso) and decided to go away from my standard technique on helmet and try Vallejo metallic (steel for the helmet itself & bronze for helmet ornaments). Because your Vallejo metallic are looking amazing, are you so kind to share some tips on how are you dealing with them. Never tried them.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[ChaosCossack]

Zeno
The metallics are pretty straight forward... the polished steel on the cap started with a base of 'natural steel' highlighted with 'silver' and then washed with very thin black. The brass sunburst around the steel and the crown and cipher in the centre started with a base of 'brass' highlighted with a mix of 'brass' and 'silver' (about 60/40 mix) and washed with very thin 'burnt umber'. If you have Citadel Washes, you could use Black and Sepia instead.

Don't try to thin them with water because I found that the metal in the paint will separate and run into the depressions. Just give your brush a wipe first and apply a couple of thin coats.

Let me know how you find them... and send more tunes

Colin

 

[Mariner]

Hey Colin
This is really coming along, huge advances in your work. I have a set of Stuart Hale's printer's inks, they are awesome and I wonder if some of the colours, (brass, bronze, gold, silver, old gold, old silver etc) would work with Napoleonics? I can see where they might really help these wonderful figures 'pop', especially on gold braid...
Mary

 

[tiberius57]

Thanks Colin!
Check your e-mail. New stuff in a batch of 2.
Hi Mary. I never tried them but I think it will work. Need to order the inks. You made me curious.
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[Mariner]

Hi Zeno
Stuart Hale of Stormtroopers... he has a website and here's his email
[email protected]

 

[tiberius57]

Thanks Mary. I just sent him an e-mail. The web site is not listing the inks, but hope Mr. Stuart Hale can help.

 

[MarquisMini]

Colin,what a great subject to paint.
Face,i think some more shading or maybe a cavalry brown "wash wil do the effect,it may be the camera but it look a little pale to me.
the red,looks great!,i like more contrast and that is my personal preference,so if you agree on that,you may want to add flat brown to the base for final shading ,as for the lights,i will probably add deep orange Vallejo 851 for final lights.
Again,that is my personal taste and baso on what i see on the picture,you doing a great job as usual.

 

[Redcap]

Really great start and the reds as others have commented upon look just right.
Gary

 

[ChaosCossack]

Mary, Gary and Daniel
Thanks so much for the compliments and imput... once everything is done and assembled, I'm gonna make another pass at the shading in all colours to give everything some more depth as you have noted. It will also make better sense when everything is together and the shadows are in the right places. As of right now the lancer is 90% complete... now on to the horse and horse furnishings.

Thanks again all

Colin

 

[megroot]

VEry nice work.
And Mary: The printers inkt from Stuart is fantastique on Napoleontic's.
I know many people paint it as not metals, but it looks very good.

marc

 

[MarquisMini]

Mary, Gary and Daniel
Thanks so much for the compliments and imput... once everything is done and assembled, I'm gonna make another pass at the shading in all colours to give everything some more depth as you have noted. It will also make better sense when everything is together and the shadows are in the right places. As of right now the lancer is 90% complete... now on to the horse and horse furnishings.

Thanks again all

Colin

colin,keep us updated!
Can't wait to see the next pics
cheers my friend

 

[YellowBear]

looking forward to see it in next step.