French have arrived!

Here they are. French line are a bit weird (I'll show you why in the review) but generally look good and Napoleon is great!

Hussar Update

This is the first finished hussar. I'm just adding finishing touches to the riders and then I'll paint the horses.

Uniform of the Week

It may surprise that I have interests in periods other than the 18th and 19th centuries and this weeks uniform reflects that. Ever since the original Rome Total War game I have loved Parthian and Armenian Cataphracts, with their lamelar, scaled and plate armour not only were they the best mounted unit in the game but they captured my very young imagination and still do. The mounts look monstrous in their barding and the riders look exotic and fierce, almost alien.

Another Reference Website

From what I have seen so far this website is German uniforms from the mid to late 1700s. It's a very good resource for an enthusiast such as me and you should really check it out.
http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/sturm/sturm126.html

More Hussars!

A rather lovely friend of mine bought me some more British hussars as a Birthday present. Despite my negativity in my review they are a joy to paint so I can't wait to make them. I am thinking they will be Hanoverians for Waterloo.

Uniform of the Week

This weeks goes to the largely unknown Electress Dorothea of Brandenburg regiment who fought for the then Electorate of Brandenburg. The regiment was formed in the year 1676 and wore red instead of the traditional Prussian blue. The regiment was named for  Sophia Dorothea of Schleswig-Glucksburg, wife of Elector Frederick William. I love the flamboyance of the uniforms and the scene depicted in this image, the interaction between the two soldiers is funny.

Last Week's Uniform of the Week

Surely among the best known of the world's military police are the Italian Caribinieri. This wonderful photograph comes from 1875 and the poser bears a medal that shows that he fought in the Italian Independence Conflict. As well as the fantastic moustache the mix between simplistic elegance and flamboyant decoration is quite interesting.

The Caribinieri still exist and they still maintain the great elegance of old...

Vive L'empereur

I decide my hussars and line need a great adversary and though he wasn't much in the peninsula, it's Napoleon!

Napoleon would never have won his victories without his troops however so I also ordered these. Can't wait for my purchases to arrive!

Make your own night watch

I got this rather fun birthday present from my parents. It's a set of 3D cartoonish paper models which make up into Rembrandt's The Night Watch. So far I've only made the lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch as the models are surprisingly intricate.