Amiens

If you get the chance the WW1 museum at Amiens is well worth a visit. On the Somme river its a little bit away from the main battlefields (although presumably the French might have a view on that) but its only a short hop.

Based in the old fortress it's not big but light and well laid out. The exhibits are arranged in an uncluttered and innovative manner and whilst the style might not suit traditionalists it does allow a better view. Dont ask me why but it works.

House

If you haven't already seen it go and take a look at this blog site and see what jaw dropping terrain really is:

http://captainrichardsminiaturecivilwar.blogspot.co.uk/

It is simply stunning and like all good models built from corrugated cardboard. How it is all stored and looked after I'll never know.

But there's always a but. If your terrain is this good, how good must the figures be to go with it? Can you imagine a column of Airfix troops stumbling up and down those cobbled paths? It simply would not be allowed. Unless you have a collection of Perry figures painted by Messrs Dallimore and Dean then nothing else does the tabletop justice and I'm afraid the village must remain uninhabited. Sorry, but that's the law of unintended consequences.

Sapeur

I'm painting some of the new Gringo40's French Napoleonic sappers at the moment. Here is number one.

There's still a way to go with basing and varnish but you get the idea. These are big figures and the helmet would ensure that the lucky wearer developed strong neck muscles. I cannot decide wheher it's in proportion to the rest of the figure but the overall effect works. These are more compatible with Elite figures sizewise than the more slender Perries in my opinion.

Grenade

A week on the Somme and walking up the track from Bazentin to High Wood we came across this grenade at the side of the path. The lever and pin were still present and somehow it seemed more sinister than all the other shells left lying around.

I took the route from Serre across Redan Ridge to the Sunken lane where Malins took his famous shots of the Lancashire Fusiliers waiting on the start line. Its by far the most atmospheric spot on the battlefields I know. Seeing the fields of fire that the Germans would have had certainly lets you know why the Battalion did not get far. I'm a great believer in the revisionist school of WW1 but the Generals sometimes make it very hard for you. Whoever ordered that particular event really must have been a lunatic if they anticipated success with even a single Maxim remaining. The theory of the beaten zone was not new in 1916 so why it should have been so overlooked or ignored in the tactical planning is a mystery. The whole front line is made up of a myriad of short range engagements which succeeded for the British where common sense was applied.

Samples

I was rather interested to see a discussion on TMP regarding samples. Essentially it was around whether manufacturers still gave out free samples of their figures to prospective clients - some said yes, some said no but most seemed to agree that, despite the risk, it was a good idea. In the grand scheme of thngs it doesn't cost much and was an effective loss leader.

But it made me think about how to approach this subject when I get requests for commissions. After all, an unpainted casting is one thing, a fully painted figure is quite another. I should stress that I am not in the high end £20 plus category but I think that what I do is pretty good and so to turn out a sample is quite a commitment in terms of time. Nevertheless if I was buying painted figures I would certainly want to see the work in the flesh.

I well recall the pre-internet days when painting services hawked their wares in the back pages of Wargames Illustrated and offered samples at £2 a go (or thereabouts). I once wrote to a certain service asking for a sample whilst offering a substantial (and genuine) order and was somewhat peeved to receive a reply stating that I hadn't included a token sum of money. Fair enough but it seemed somewhat short sighted. I know, I was the one who had not followed instructions and how was the guy to know. But still.....

These days the internet allows one's work to be sumptuously displayed at next to no cost. Should one therefore expect potential buyers to take this as evidence enough? Personally I dont think so. Models are one thing, skill with cameras and photoshop are quite another. If I can, I'll send out a sample at my own risk - I suppose I have the luxury of not being inundated with requests but it seems like the enterprising thing to do.

But if I do it would be nice to receive feedback. The worst thing is the resounding silence once a sample has been dispatched. If I'm going to take the time to do it it does not seem unreasonable to expect a response saying 'I've decided I'm not going to use you because....' But that's part of the game I suppose. Surprisingly I've offered samples and not been taken up on them but that's another story.

I should mention that apart from a couple of eBay stingings I have never been ripped off by someone over commission work. Envelopes have been pushed but there is no problem with that. C'est la vie.

Grenzers

Some SYW Austrian Grenzers from Eureka that I have just done as a commission. Possibly the toughest figures I have ever painted. Well, that's not entirely true - the hussars I moved onto take that title but its a close run thing.

Eureka demand that you do a light priming coat followed by a highlighting wash. If you dont then you wont see the bits of detail that catch you out. They just keep on coming. As 18mm figures they keep demanding more input when you know its not going to work. The trick is striking a balance between what to leave in and leave out. Lace, for example. Its bad enough doing it on a 28mm fiure but in 18mm you have to hint at whats there rather than replicate it in its full authentic style. Hungarian knots anyone?

Some super detailing doesnt work. Hands for instance. Occasionally there is a little blob on the end of the arm which can only be a hand but you're lucky if you can get two fingers on.

All in all great figures but tough going.

Artizan

Great figures. The chunky style is a world away from more slender offerings and these Germans really look as if they mean business.