The Army of Frederick the Great (1 Viewer)

[theBaron]

Thanks, Jeff, Bill! I'm glad you're enjoying them, and glad for the opportunity to share them with the forum!

 

[PolarBear]

Brad

This is a stunning collection and worthy of public display in a museum. I honestly think you should see if a historical museum or society in your area would display it. This is a subject that very few of us ever get to see. Art museums often will also display toy soldiers.

Randy

 

[aujj65]

There are certainly some different makers in that lot!
Brad, you have a very interesting collection of figures and thanks for taking the time to explain a bit about them.

Jeff

 

[1879fanatic]

Brad,
I may have said this already, but thanks for the wealth and diversity of information that you have bestowed on me. The history...the castings...your painting and posing...All just a wonderful addition to this site.

When did you start concentrating on this period? Was it when you were jumping from hostel to hostel in the 80's?
Fantastic on all counts!
Mike

 

[theBaron]

Brad,
I may have said this already, but thanks for the wealth and diversity of information that you have bestowed on me. The history...the castings...your painting and posing...All just a wonderful addition to this site.

When did you start concentrating on this period? Was it when you were jumping from hostel to hostel in the 80's?
Fantastic on all counts!
Mike

You must have been there! One of my favorites was in Amsterdam, Bob's Youth Hostel, hand to God, I'm not making that up, Bob's Youth Hostel! We used to trek up to Amsterdam from Munich, whenever someone had a birthday, and take the Heineken brewery tour. If it was your birthday, you got a Delft pottery Heineken mug. And on one of the trips, we stayed at Bob's.

Seriously, I've always been interested in 18th century warfare, ever since my 2nd grade girlfriend's dad, who was a re-enactor, came to our class in full gear and gave a talk on the Continental Army. And there's something about Frederick's Prussia, the underdog taking on the three biggest powers in Europe, plus their hangers-on, and something compelling about the king himself. He was a reluctant soldier, who would rather have been a poet, but took to soldiering like a fish to water. A fascinating character, in a lively period of history.

Thank you all very much, Mike, Jeff, Randy, everyone else, for your kind comments and your interest in this thread!

Prost!
Brad

 

[thebritfarmer]

I have said it before and I don't mind saying it again. GREAT stuff, you certainly do know your stuff Brad and thanks for not only showing us your figures, painting technique but also adding the additional information, which adds depth and character to your wonderful figures.

 

[1879fanatic]

You must have been there! One of my favorites was in Amsterdam, Bob's Youth Hostel, hand to God, I'm not making that up, Bob's Youth Hostel! We used to trek up to Amsterdam from Munich, whenever someone had a birthday, and take the Heineken brewery tour. If it was your birthday, you got a Delft pottery Heineken mug. And on one of the trips, we stayed at Bob's.

Seriously, I've always been interested in 18th century warfare, ever since my 2nd grade girlfriend's dad, who was a re-enactor, came to our class in full gear and gave a talk on the Continental Army. And there's something about Frederick's Prussia, the underdog taking on the three biggest powers in Europe, plus their hangers-on, and something compelling about the king himself. He was a reluctant soldier, who would rather have been a poet, but took to soldiering like a fish to water. A fascinating character, in a lively period of history.

Thank you all very much, Mike, Jeff, Randy, everyone else, for your kind comments and your interest in this thread!

Prost!
Brad

Brad,
Sorry to disappoint. I did the French-speaking tour instead. Nice-Brussels and everywhere the train took us in-between. Avignon was to die for. Did get to see Simple Minds before their Breakfast Club debut though!
Mike

 

[kogu]

Hi Brad,
hope you don't mind that I am using your thread here to show a figure that sure belongs to Frederick the Great's Army.
It is a Tradition Casting of the Prussian General von Seydlitz from their Model Soldier Series (Prussian Army in the 18th Century) and got beautifully painted by our fellow forum member "Beating Reatreat".
Here are some photos of this fine miniature and a few closeups will follow.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

Here are some closer shots to show the fine detailed work that John is able to.

 

[maddadicus]

Wonderful paint job....Michael

 

[theBaron]

Hello, Konrad, no, I don't mind at all, his pieces are wonderful. His style almost looks like the glazes used on a piece of ceramic, really fantastic! And it helps us illustrate to the rest of the forum, just what you can do with kit figures, and especially Tradition's castings. I recommend them to everyone, very highly.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

Hi, all! Here is a recent addition to the collection, another dragoon:

Not sure who made the casting, I think it's British, from the 60's or so, some sculptor, his name escapes me....

I've painted this Stadden casting as a dragoon of the 1st Regiment, the Zastrow Dragoons at the time of the Seven Years War. We see him returning home, having "requisitioned" his dinner (or "organized", as the Germans say).

From another angle:

What makes this figure different is the goose. It represents my first completed sculpting effort. I got this figure off eBay, and the pose suggested to me a hunter returning with his catch. So I decided that this would be a good place to start working with proper sculpting techniques.

It was a toss-up between flesh or fowl for his catch. I thought of a rabbit or a brace of rabbits, or an Auerhahn, a ground fowl similar to a grouse. In the end, I settled on a goose.

A view from the rear:

Till the next time, I hope you enjoy the pics!

Prosit!
Brad

 

[thebritfarmer]

Excellet Brad the addition of the goose was a great idea. I think inkeeping with the period too.

 

[aujj65]

Hi Brad,

Good to see you back on the painting forum. That is another nice addition to your SYW collection especially since your first effort at sculpting is so good - you have captured the fowl just right, just hanging there.

Very good indeed.

Jeff

 

[theBaron]

Thanks, guys! It was fun to do.

I've added a thread in the Sculpting forum, too, with the progress pics that I took, for anyone who'd like to see. It's here:

http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?p=272595#post272595

Prost!
Brad

 

[Obee]

Brad,

great to see some more Stadden 54mm figure in the Forum.

I'm trying to source some more of the Napoleonic ones, so when I can confirm that I'll pass on the info.

In the mean time, here are my Austrian Dragoons, Zweibrucken Regt. Dragoon on the left, with a Hessen-Darmstadt Regt. Horse Grenadier on the right. Both were obtained from Tradition of London in 2008 when I visited there.

well done,

John

 

[theBaron]

'Afternoon, everybody!

Here is the latest result of efforts to finish some of the things sitting on my bench, a pair of Franklin Mint pewter figures, a Totenkopf-Husar, left, and a dragoon of the Bayreuth regiment, right:

These figures are part of a set issued in 1985; they had a lightly antiqued finish to them. I decided to paint them, as another foray into using matte colors. Here is another shot:

I didn't get too serious about shading, just used a little washing and highlighting in some places, but it's hardly noticeable. It's fun for a change, but I'm not giving up my preferred gloss toy soldier style just yet.

Thanks for looking, prost!
Brad

 

[PolarBear]

Brad

Your matte work is coming along very nicely indeed!

 

[lancer]

Just found this thread, Brad. What a great collection. The gloss is a very charming finish for these figures. The subject matter is not often seen and is very interesting, colorful, and varied. Look forward to more. Thanks for the pictures. -- Al

 

[aujj65]

Brad,

Very nice finish, glad to see more of your 18th Century collection.

Jeff