Another day, another basing project! Next on the list was the Bavarian Army for 1866 and 1870. All the foot troops in the army are Old Glory 15s, with all the mounted being Rank and File miniatures to fill in the gaps. The troops were painted by Fernando in Sri Lanka, to my instructions. They are using a base black with main colors painted on top with the black left as shading. I had to fill in a few missing models. I still need to paint the correct artillery carriages, but ran out of guns and am waiting for more to arrive, so just using some Prussian guns in the meantime.
I received the figures, straitened out the weapons and mounted them on bases. For this period, I use pre-cut plastic magnetized bases from Shogun Miniatures. The bases are 1-1/4″ wide by the appropriate depth. This is an in between size, to allow us to play different rules (normally Bloody Big Battles or Rank and File). I spray these dark brown and glue the figures on using white blue.
For my basing, I put four infantry and three cavalry on a base. For skirmish infantry I mount three figures. The reason for the four figures is to give more of a mass look when playing the units. The three based light troops is to make it obvious to see the skirmish stands when playing BBB.
The next step was to add flags. In this case, I went to Warflag and printed out what I needed to scale. I dip them in water and then put on white glue. I then fold them over the flag staff and form them with my hands. After they sit for a while and start to stiffen, I shape them some more.
Once the glue had dried, I went back with green paint (Howard Hughes Geo Hex Green) and painted the base tops (leaving the side boarders brown) and flocked them with Woodland Scenics blended turf.
The last step is to dull coat the figures with Testors Dull Coat. This puts a final seal on the figures, hardens the flags that much more and better seals the flock. I will sometimes go back and gloss coat the bayonets, but it did not seem necessary in this case. Everything dried and my troops are ready for the table!
- Manteuffel