Hi all,
I picked up a copy of R2E earlier this summer (brilliant stuff by the way) and I've been lurking around this site for a few weeks now getting information, inspiration and tips on the rules which has been very helpful.
Anyway, I thought I'd 'kick in' and submit a few pics of the stuff I've been working on lately. Its a French battalion from the Victrix 1804-07 boxed set. I already have a decent sized collection of Foundry models but I recently picked up a schwack of the Victrix plastics as they offer the early French in their bicornes, thigh-high gaiters and long coat-tails which I quite like the look of. I was completely gobsmacked when I opened the first box and discovered that there are around a zillion separate pieces to these guys! Each figure is composed of around 6+ separate parts, with options galore - its completely mental. Anyway, I girded my loins, got out my sprue clippers, sniffed some plastic cement and started in. I persevered and I must say that I do like the ability to build unique units without too much hassle. Here are a few 'raw' unpainted figures which have been arranged for an early command stand concept (note the officer with the now ubiquitously fashionable greatcoat-over-the-shoulder pose. Actually, he kinda reminds me of Lord Flashheart: 'Austrians? Over there? Well, let's Doooo-IT! WOOF-WOOF!').
The cool thing about the multi-pose plastics is that you can build a unit incrementally allowing you to flesh-out an idea for an overall theme. The box came with a couple mods for guys raising their hats and I thought I'd do a whole battalion that is in the midst of a impromptu salute. I envisioned a scene where the colonel is passing along the praise of the brigadier to the battalion for covering itself in glory in the past engagement. The men are loving it, with lots of back-slapping, musket-waving and shouting out of "Vive l' Starbucks", or something.
I have a hard time getting used to how light these guys are. It kinda freaks me out as I'm used to a certain heft with a unit of this size. In retrospect I'm happy I went with mounting them on metal bases as I think they'd otherwise blow away with a good sneeze. I also prefer the lower profile to the bases - the figures seem more part of the playing surface.
The other thing I wanted to try with this unit was to place extra figures and groundwork into the 'dead space' at the front of each base. I reason that this way when the battalion is placed into column formation there is more of a visual connection between the ranks of bases. Technically this unit would be rated as a 32-figure battalion in R2E but it has a few more models in it as I prefer a more packed-in look. There are a few light conversions in there with guys holding their bicornes, bearskins and shakos. There is also the obligatory bald guy to commemorate my own follicle-challenged status.
I wasn't really sure on the autumnal groundwork colours but I think I'm warming to it now. It seems to give more variability to the overall palette instead of just seeing a mass of blue and white. I've got a bunch more models pretty much ready to go but I'm waiting for some more 'filler' NCO/junior officer castings from the Perry's, Foundry and Sash and Saber to act as file closers. Perhaps I'll post another update once I have a brigade's worth based and their groundwork completed.
Next on the workbench: Perry French Dragoons!