I was painting some English Civil War figures a week or so ago. They had lain unpainted in my box for some years. I can remember when I bought them being really impressed with them. "Look at the detail on these" I enthused, " Look, Wow! this ones got a cheese sandwich in his pocket!"
I must confess to being less impressed when I came to paint them, and in fact they have gone back in the box half finished. I had done the clothing, equipment boots weapons and still had masses left to do. Frankly enthusiasm just ran out.
I contrast I was reading 'Flashman at the Charge' again last week when I suddenly felt the need for a fictitious 19C German unit. I had some old plastic ACW cavalry to hand and in a spirit of nostalgia got a scalpel and started carving at the hats. Two evenings later I had a unit of eight cavalry and I had really enjoyed myself in the process. To be honest I am not sure what the moral of this story is, I leave you to draw any conclusions you may wish.
5 comments:
John,
I long ago realized that I prefer simpler castings. For example, while I drool over the grace and detail of the Minden Miniatures, I have chosen not to buy them (well, I do have a few . . . just to look at) because I know that I'd HATE having to paint all of that delicious detail.
I salute all of those who do enjoy painting detailed figures, but I don't enjoy painting enough to do so myself . . . and figures with such detail make it difficult to not paint all of the detail.
No, I prefer the simpler castings that I can "block paint" and which look fine on the table top (but which are rather plain when examined up close).
-- Jeff
I can't wait to see how the Spencer Smith Lancers look once painted, John...!
It feels like your creating the figure when you paint one with little detail on and its sombody elses creation with a modern one . Just been painting 400 + Spencer Smith figures and loved every minute of it ! , but oh dear ! just been painting one or two Perry 28mm ( beautiful figures ) and would not relish the prospect of painting lots of them ! . Would take I think about twice as long .
Oh John,
You're reading my mind! Don't know if I'll ever get to it, but I'd love to do a mid-19th fictitious "Germanic" project using primarily Spencer Smith figures from the ACW and other ranges, set in, say the 1840s. Some small dynastic quibble or other before breech loading artillery and rifles made fancy uniforms and flying standards problematic. But I MUST stay focused!!!
Best Regards,
Stokes
I've always had a soft spot for Spencer Smith/HE castings - in metal or plastic - as the simplicity of the sculpting brings to mind the golden-age of Britains hollow cast, but in a size and scale I can afford to collect!
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