French Napoleonic Horse Artillery (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

My latest painting project has involved a rather nice kit from Alexanders Toy Soldiers (ATS) - a British manufacturer/supplier of kits - marvelously sculpted, as usual, by Alan Caton. My version differs a little from the original kit, inasmuch as it has an extra pair of horses added to the usual four supplied with this kit. I have read that when conditions got a bit difficult - they would frequently attach more horses to increase the pulling power - so that's just what I did.

I asked for - and obtained - an extra pair of horses from ATS - for me to make up a team of six, instead of the more usual four. An example of a British supplier being flexible enough to change the specification of a kit - and do just what the customer wants. Admirable - thanks Nik.

You may notice that my project is not quite complete - as I have not yet attached my horses to the gun and limber. This is because I am having a base made up for my piece by a local carpenter - and I want to have that first before I cut and fit the chains which connect the team to each other/ draw pole/ limber. This is just the final outcome of the "painting" part of the project. As usual - please excuse my photography - I'll try and do a better job when the lighting conditions are a bit better than those at my work-bench. Regard this as a "first pass", to show you what I'm currently up to.

I have painted up my three drivers to look as the Drivers to the Imperial Guard Horse Artillery - though I think that on campaign, they would probably have worn overalls and removed plumes and other finery from their shakos and worn a waterproof cover. However, the kit came with the additions to make up their dress uniform - and they look too good to mess about with. I just couldn't resist................jb

Here'a a few pics to go on with............so far.

 

[thebritfarmer]

Looks amazing JB, another fine job !!

 

[Napoleon1er]

One of your best paint jobs yet!
-Sandor

 

[Obee]

JB,

well done, and one of my favourite subjects NAPOLEONIC ARTILLERY.

I have 2 similar sets,

a HISTOREX that I made in the 1970's and has survived (and on a base like you will do)

and the ITALERI Plastic.

My next project in this theme will be the HINCHLIFFE set, which also includes a trumpeter and walking soldier, so I'll be sure to post that one on this forum.

Also I can thoroughly recommend Alexanders Toy Soldiers as a great source of figures for this era. Nik is most obliging in providing what you want from his vast range, and I will be using him again this year to assemble a couple of NAP Mortar crews.

Keep up the great work,

John

 

[farmertony]

What a beautiful and magnificently painted painted set!I didn't know ATS did kits.It's good to see a display that doesn't involve tanks(just my opinion).Thanks to OBEE for your contribution also~I have long been an admirer of your work.Regards,Tony.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi all - glad you like them (so far). I had a good look around - and especially at the sets on Obee's web-site - before starting - both for inspiration and info on colours etc. I have mentioned before - that his work and web-site were in no small way instrumental in me getting back into painting TS - some 16 years or so ago.

I also used some illustrations by both Historex - and the box art from Italeri as partial painting guides for mine - which are in my favourite Glossy medium, of course.

I agree with John, that ATS are one of the more accommodating TS companies out there - as far as buying unpainted castings go. Yes, FarmerTony - the ATS on-line catalogue shows finished Gloss figures - but ATS will also provide the same figures in Matte finish, if you so wish - OR - as mine - unpainted castings for you to either paint yourself - or find someone to paint them for you. Incidentally - as a rough guide to price - divide the catalogue price by two - to show the approximate price of an unpainted version - as the prices given there are for a painted version. So........unpainted versions come at Half-Price! - how good is that. Then........it's hours of fun painting them up. Even better!

I'm especially pleased with the ATS horses for this set - which can be made up to look just that little bit differently from each other ( as they would be in real life. They are all standing - but hope you can see that each horse has a slightly different head and tail - which can be modified slightly in place - to make each an individual. Masterful work by the sculptor - Alan Caton again - and most enjoyable to do at the modelling stage. Paint is all Humbrol, once again - and sealed in with varnish.

Thanks again for the positive comments. Glad you like 'em. Once the base is made up - I'll finish them off - and show some more pics (hopefully when the light is better). jb

 

[Buster]

Crackin' good job jb, nice to see you've put your swim trunks back up in the attic put your painting smock back on and splashing about the Humbrol tins again.^&grin Well done!

B.

 

[nmrocks]

Beautifully done JB, love the gloss finish really makes the set POP! you are talented in so many ways, it's great the way you indulge various forms of the art.
Ray

 

[johnnybach]

Beautifully done JB, love the gloss finish really makes the set POP! you are talented in so many ways, it's great the way you indulge various forms of the art.
Ray

Hey Ray! Good to see you venturing out of some of the Flatter parts of the forum!!!{sm4}

Glad you like some of these more fully rounded offerings too. I'm a Glossy man through and through - so they will always be my first love - and the shinier - the better! These had been waiting around my bench for their turn for far too long. In fact I started painting the cannon and limber about a year ago - then got diverted again!!

So much to do - wish I'd got started much earlier.................Cheers, jb

 

[fishead19690]

Nice job! Great painting and nice looking set. I,m more of a matte finish guy myself so it is great to know that these sets are available as castings.
I wouldn,t mind picking up a few of there sets in casting form and trying my hand at painting up some of these ATS nap sets.
Its tough getting these sets from England over here in the states, Between the postage and the pound to dollar exchange I,m not sure how hard a hit these kits would be with postage??? But they have some great looking sets!^&cool

 

[johnnybach]

Nice job! Great painting and nice looking set. I,m more of a matte finish guy myself so it is great to know that these sets are available as castings.
I wouldn,t mind picking up a few of there sets in casting form and trying my hand at painting up some of these ATS nap sets.
Its tough getting these sets from England over here in the states, Between the postage and the pound to dollar exchange I,m not sure how hard a hit these kits would be with postage??? But they have some great looking sets!^&cool

Cheers Tim.:smile2: I'm sure they would look just as good your way. Check out the web-site for details of PAINTED price - then divide by two. This gives the true casting price - which is half the painted version. Then it's up to you and Nik at ATS to work out the shipping!^&confuse

It's the same for me - the other way around. I've just ordered some figures from Ken at ATKM - so I'm waiting for these now to come with customs duty and postal "Handling Charge" added too. Got them at a good price - so will have to see how it all adds up at the end!
All the best - and Good luck - if it works out for you.^&grinjb

 

[Jack]

Just excellent!