Off the Workbench - Mike W, 02/01/18

First of all - I hope everyone had a good Xmas and New Year's break!

Somewhat predictably, I didn't have as much time as I expected for any painting and modelling over the festive period, so this week has not seen a lot come OFF THE WORKBENCH... 

Boot Hill Minature's Mariachi Band

Basically I got the wonderful Boot Hill Mariachi Band and Dancing Girl completed, dipped & based and ready for a final Matt varnish spray when the weather improves.

Artizan's 'Heroes of the Alamo' Set

Other success of the week was to finish off the Artizan 'Heroes of the Alamo' trio - Davey Crockett,Col. Travis & Jim Bowie.

Anglo-Dutch waiting standards & basing

The 4 Anglo Dutch figures are painted and dipped but not yet based, this will be done this week - delay was due to two of these figures being standard bearers and the flags still need printing, fixing and completing!

Lone Norman Crossbowman

Bonus of the week was to complete the Norman Crossbowman found at the back of the workbench after being lost there for several months... a simple but effective finish to a figure that has been waiting to join his friends for too long now!



So as of today 2nd January 2018, what's ON MY WORKBENCH...

I opted to continue working on my Texas Revolution collection, so I have started work on a small company of Regular Cavalry, 6 in number (not 8 as I thought previously) and to be represented both mounted and dismounted. At this period the Cavalry operated in a dual role as mounted infantry as well as classic Lancer type cavalry.

Boot Hill Miniature's Dismounted
Regular Mexican Cavalry

Uniforms should be fun - red coats, faced green, grey trousers with red stripe and black helmets trimmed with brass fittings and tri-colour plume. group includes an Officer, Bugler, NCO and 3 x Troopers. I'll likely be adding another three troopers to is company some time in the future.

Interestingly the Active Militia Cavalry wore the same uniforms but with the coat colours reversed - green with red facings - so that will be another unit to add to the collection at some point.

These figures are modeled with the horsehair crest variant of the cavalry helmet, evidence exists that the Mexicans also still used an older helmet version with a Horsehair mane, very similar to (if not the same as) the French Napoleonic Cuirassiers...

Warmaster Empire Halbardiers

Other surprise entries for the week were two 10mm units - one 30 Scots spearmen for a possible Flodden game some years in the future and the other a Warmaster Empire unit of 24 figures who will joint the rest of the 'Stirland' Yellow & Green Fighting Machine! If only I had opponents for them....

Pendraken 10mm Scots Schiltron