Saturday 23 November 2013

Keeping the wolf from the door.



I have mixed emotions as I post this, as on the one hand it is lovely to share with you a gift that I have recently completed to commemorate my good friend, the ‘Provost Marshal's’, substantial anniversary* but at the same time I’m somewhat embarrassed as not only is it considerably belated, but this will be the first time that the good chap gets to see it!

*he is now officially old, so this still has a prehistoric connection as we continue, unabated with Dinovember!


That aside given his passion for the Napoleonic era, and more precisely the French forces therein, it seemed like a wonderful opportunity to order up some of the lovely new ‘Perry Miniatures’ retreat from Russia range to compliment my cantieree, an incredibly generous giveaway prize from the wonderful ‘Westfalia Miniatures’.  



Although I hate to admit it they were all great fun to do, probably because all that unnecessary frippery that normally adorns the uniforms of the time is safely covered by the mass of the greatcoats and sheepskin; needless to say there are no immediate plans to, yet again, switch gaming period – regardless as to how hard the ‘Provost Marshal’ tries to persuade me!


So with the final fluttering of fake snow, I am finally able to say, “Happy Birthday old friend”.





88 comments:

  1. Very nice - great to see figures for the retreat at last, Snow is so difficult to replicate well. Great Job Michael.
    Cheers
    Stu

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    1. Thank you Stuart, the snow was Army painter's mixed with PVA, with additional flakes added on.

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  2. I have no word Michael...I love this work...really!
    Thanks,
    Phil.

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  3. Extremely lovely!

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  4. Terrific work! I'm getting cold looking at your great vignette.

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    1. It certainly feels a bit chilly here too, thank you.

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  5. Top show ol' boy! I'm sure the Provost Marshal will be extremely pleased with it!

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    1. Thank you Ray, I do hope he likes it, but the poor chap has had to wait an age for it!

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    2. Ray,

      I am bowled over with it, and can't wait to actually see it in the flesh as it were!

      Pip pip

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  6. Great little vignette, and a great gift. :)

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  7. great vignette, am sure it will be well recieved

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  8. Great painting of these poses. I like the Cantiniere lending a hand.

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    1. Thank you Scott, she is a great miniature, I think sculpted by Paul Hicks.

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  9. Avery nicely planned and executed vignette, Michael. In particular, I would like to point out your masterful placement of the subjects of this scene on the viewing base, in such a manner that from almost any viewing angle the viewer will have one of the participants in this gripping scene looking them straight in the eye.

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    1. Thank you Jay, initially I had hoped to add a charging Cossack, but just ran out of time.

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  10. Excellent! I'm sure the PM will be thrilled. Wonder vignette Sir.

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  11. Lovely vignette, that really captures the feel of the retreat. Impressive work on the snow too!

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    1. Thank you so much, really enjoyed putting it together and could have added a lot more if I had the time.

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  12. That's excellent and I am sure he will not mind having to wait for something so nice

    Ian

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    1. That is very kind of you to say so Ian, thank you.

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  13. Oh top show Michael everything from the posing of the figures to the snow effects is simply top notch!

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    1. That is very kind of you Robert, I loved putting it together too.

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  14. Excellent figures and the vignette is very nice.

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  15. Very nice! I really like your vignettes! I am a fan, I can say!
    Panagiotis

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    1. Thank you, I must confess I really enjoying thinking up ideas for the vignettes and sourcing the miniatures.

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  16. A lovely job... Now you need do some Cossacks to fight them of course...

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    1. Now funnily enough it was supposed to have some Cossacks screaming into this, alas they have been consigned to the far corner of the lead pile!

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  17. Top work there Michael and what a wonderful display that captures the feel of a Russian winter

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  18. Nice paint Job and basing, The Cantiniere is something you don´t see that often.

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    1. Thank you Paul, see certainly is an odd choice for a miniature, but that is what Westfalia seem to specialise in - and good on them too!

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  19. Superb! Such a lovely vignette of the moment when all is lost. Your friend will be quite happy, despite linking his age to dinovember!

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    1. Thank you Monty, I do hope he sees the funny side eh!

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    2. I will only forgive the time-warp sending a carabinier into the prehistoric age if Michael pulls his brushes out and does me a dimetrodon!!!

      Pip pip

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  20. Just fantastic! The scene, the figures, the painting...I love it!

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    1. Bruno, that is so very kind of you to say so, thank you.

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  21. An excellent vignette and very kind gift. The Retreat figures are stunning and you've really some them justice. One day I'll probably pick a few up for a similar dabble!

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    1. Thank you, they certainly caught my eye, the Cossacks are nice too!

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  22. Excellent all round; but I agree with you regarding the Napoleonic uniforms; far too much faffing about with buttons et al.

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    1. It is such a minefield that it has always put me off collecting more and thank you!

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  23. Absolutely stunning work Michael! What an awesome birthday gift!

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  24. Fantastic work Michael - clearly built both with skill and comradeship

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    1. Thank you Paul, he certainly deserves it as the good chap is a constant sauce of encouragement.

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  25. good job!
    little vignette, great emotion!
    bye

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  26. Really wonderful vignette - something that appeals to me a lot - particularly reminiscent of scene from The Duelists. Best, Dean

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    1. Thank you Dean and the Duellists - what a film! I certainly had that in mind when putting it together.

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  27. Thats a fantastic looking Diorama Michael. it looks great my good sir! The Provost will be pleased!

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    1. I do hope Simon, he has had to wait an awfully long time for it!

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  28. Nice vignette and great use of different miniatures for the theme.

    Kind regards

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    1. Thank you, I was desperate to do something with the free gift from Westfalia Miniatures.

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  29. Top drawer! No-one seems to be paying that wolf much mind, suggesting that what's just "off-stage" is an even greater threat.

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    1. Off stage were supposed to be some big scary Cossacks, but sadly they didn't quite make it!

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  30. Very nice vignette ! Perry's figurines are fantastic and your painting job too !

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  31. A great little vignette Michael. Figures, painting and the base are all superb.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

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  32. Michael,

    What can I say? Having just endured 6 1/2 hours travelling back from family duty in the frozen North, I find this. Absolutely superb (I knew the books on the Retreat from Moscow would come in handy). I should hopefully have a few choice lumps of lead with which to celebrate your (slightly less) memorable birthday this week! I also see a Gringo Murat on the horizon at some point (maybe for the painting challenge).

    Many, many thanks Old Bean. I think a few pints of foaming ale will be consumed.

    Pip pip

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    1. I'm absolutely delighted that you approve and look forward to handing it over in person.

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  33. Brilliant job Michael, but careful... Napoleonics can suck you in..., for a painter, all those lovely uniforms are a pleasure! ;-)

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    1. Thank you Scott, but no fear there is still so much fun to be had elsewhere! ;)

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  34. Napoleonics! I knew you had it in you, Sir!

    Another brilliant vignette from you. That Carabinier looks like he has a job as a highwayman set if he can manage to survive the retreat...

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    1. Stand & Deliver! Thank you Sir, perhaps a trip to the Napoleonic era once in a while wouldn't hurt!

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  35. The retreat from Moscow range is indeed hard to resist and your nor helping much! What a lovely little diorama!

    Christopher

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    1. They really are rather splendid, go on, you know you want too!

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  36. Another fantastic gift Michael. Its one of those gifts that will always ignite memories of friends whose hobby we share

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  37. The big question is what are you doing with the other four figures from the set? I'd go for the elite company Chasseur a Cheval in the 17th Regt uniform - I like a bit of sky blue.

    Pip pip

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  38. Can't believe I missed this mate! It's gobsmackingly good and one of my favourite all time subjects as well. How did you do the snow?

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    1. I had bought some Army Painter snow a while back but never really had any success with it as it so powdery, but after a bit of research discovered that if you mix it with PVA to form a paste it gives a much more appearance.

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  39. Fantastic little dio! And the figures are top class painted!

    Greetings
    Peter

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  40. Must ask where did you get the wolf from? Agree with you that Westfalia are an amazing bunch of guys....as you hinted, they do not seem too commercially driven either. I am finding it very hard to pay them for some of the stuff they have sent me! Not often that happens,
    Deadhead AKA Anonymous I think........

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  42. This is stunningly well made and painted.

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