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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: 6mmfan on July 07, 2019, 07:06:07 AM

Title: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 5/3 Austrian light cavalry
Post by: 6mmfan on July 07, 2019, 07:06:07 AM
Hi all

A while ago I stumbled across some pictures of Horse and musket (https://forwardmarchstudios.com/photo-gallery) games in 2mm and I was very impressed. Whilst I'm a big 6mm fan I really like the idea of being able to fight big battles on a reasonable sized area, and have a realistic chance of finishing the project! The 2mm setup and photos appealed and the the sweeping shots look like real battles, so I was hooked.

EDIT here's what I'm talking about in regards to what I want to achieve.

(https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/2f094cec-4543-4a2f-9d24-d7db2fe872c6/a8572762-8054-4974-a9d8-f8ccf2f83e11.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:400,h:500,cg:true,m/cr=w:800,h:500,a:cc)


My plan is to print and paint forces for all the major Napoleonic battles (excluding The Peninsular and Egypt), and use Grand Armee for the rules. The figures are on 40mm wide bases which is almost half the standard GA scale of 75mm sized  bases. So I cramp as many figures as I can onto the bases.

I also own a 3d printer and the cost of printing 2mm figures is extremely cheap, so I splashed out the $15US for the 3D files of Infantry, Cavalry, General, Artillery and buildings.  I tried a few different settings and had some stringing  issues (not unusual for 3D printers) and here are the first prints. Forward March Studio have a few different styles so I went with the "2 to1" Infantry and also the Epic Infantry.

(https://i.imgur.com/dPqTS2x.jpg)

And I painted a couple of bases to see how they would look. I'm very happy with the results, as the initial prints don't have a lot of details, as you would expect, but its a change in mindset from 28mm figures! Each base took about 10 minutes to paint so it is very fast. I spent bit of time painting all the different pom-poms for each company but I won't in the future.

(https://i.imgur.com/NevgYIR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ftzY4ks.jpg)

More soon as I started this project a while ago so I have made some progress.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: robh on July 07, 2019, 06:37:42 PM
They look great, the FMS figure strips are great fun to play around with.
Are you going for a "Board Game" look like Zach uses or more traditional?
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 08, 2019, 08:41:36 AM
I'm going for a more traditional wargame.

After a few prints I decided that I prefer the "Epic" style of figures which are about 2.5mm. They are individual figures rather than a solid strip so it is easier to see the different figures. Also the printers lines "add" detail to the model sometimes.  :)

(https://i.imgur.com/OVRKHQt.jpg)

Here's a picture of a finished base (40mm square) modified slightly with a flag added. The skirmishers are based on the Epic infantry which i modified in Tinkercad. Each base will have 2 strips plus some Skirmishers or Generals or Wagons etc.

(https://i.imgur.com/dkYnz5F.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/QNXHX7J.jpg)

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 10, 2019, 07:12:17 AM
Now its time to start this project off properly. As I mentioned the plan is to build forces refight all the major European Napoleonic battles using Sam Mustafa's "Grand Armee" rules.

I managed to find some storage boxes at the local "Made in Japan" shop so I picked up 2 colour co-ordinated boxes for each army - Yellow - Austrian, Blue - French , Red - British, and I have some clear boxes for other nations.

(https://i.imgur.com/Uag6ddb.jpg)

Also I chopped up about 120 40x40mm bases for the Infantry and Cavalry units and 40 20x40mm bases for the artillery. I don't think it will be enough but it will keep me going.

(https://i.imgur.com/R6IFz0d.jpg)

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 15, 2019, 07:33:00 AM
I've also been modifying some for Forward March Studios designs to create different troop types. I imported some of the Epic infantry into Tinkercad and remove some of the figures and created different shaped bases of skirmishers. You can see some of the skirmishers earlier in this thread painted as Legere.

(https://i.imgur.com/cwivWNL.jpg)

Thanks
KIeran
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on July 16, 2019, 03:44:23 AM
Those are very effective.  I think I've mentioned this, but they seem to be spread out just right.  The Epic figures definitely lend themselves to a lot more detailed painting. I found out today that at least a few people were talking about FMS at Historicon, even though I wasn't there, unfortunately.  I'm hoping to make it to Fall-In, however.  We'll see how it goes though. I have some old friends I need to catch up with.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 17, 2019, 08:09:39 AM
Yeah thanks. I like how the epic figures paint up and maybe its because I'm used to painting bigger scales.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 18, 2019, 07:21:24 AM
The next files I tweaked from FMS was their infantry. I got some of the Epic infantry, chopped off their heads and added something resembling an Austrian helmet. This will work for Bavarians as well at this scale

(https://i.imgur.com/P6b4Q32.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5yqXzzH.jpg)

And I printed some out (although its very hard to see the details, they are there!)

(https://i.imgur.com/OVRKHQt.jpg)


Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 24, 2019, 07:33:46 AM
Here's some photographs of the first completed Austrian bases. The white was hard to get right but it works from a distance and the are recognisable. Although its hard to tell, the skirmishers are a mix of line Infantry and Jaegers. I'm not happy about the white between the ranks but that will be a nightmare to try and fix I think!

Also I'm still working on the back of the bases. I made something as a dice holder but I'm not sure about how to do the labels. Originally I planned to just glue them on but looking at some OOBs there is a lot different in Corps between battles so that will not work. I might have to go down the magnetised label path.

(https://i.imgur.com/Gnjekvv.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SRLDmU7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OhTwk8J.jpg)

Thanks
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Digits on July 24, 2019, 10:20:58 AM
Really pretty cool project.  I can see the appeal of not having to paint all those 28mm figures!

I like that you are modifying the files yourself, good idea.

Looking forward to seeing the cavalry though.....
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on July 26, 2019, 12:09:17 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again... these are painted way better than my own 2mm figures.  I can't wait to see a game with the troops you're putting together.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: gibby64 on July 26, 2019, 01:37:12 PM
this should look "epic"!... what size playing area do you expect to game on?
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Cubs on July 26, 2019, 01:58:43 PM
Something I found useful when doing 10mm was instead of using grass flock, I had sand textured bases and just painted those in patches of green and brown. Would that work between your ranks?
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Sangennaru on July 26, 2019, 02:44:23 PM
Looking great! That small scale does have its charme!
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 26, 2019, 10:36:09 PM
this should look "epic"!... what size playing area do you expect to game on?

I'm using "Grand Armee" rules by Sam Mustafa with the ground scale halved,  so a 8x6 will be 4x3. I did think about full scale but that would be a lot of painting and I want to be able to refight all the big Napoleonic battles like Lepzig, Borodino and Waterloo.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 26, 2019, 10:37:23 PM
Something I found useful when doing 10mm was instead of using grass flock, I had sand textured bases and just painted those in patches of green and brown. Would that work between your ranks?

Good idea I didn't think of that. I also have very fine foam flock which I might use instead of static grass.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 30, 2019, 07:08:39 AM
Finally getting back into this, although the 3d printer has been going flat out. I'm printed 100 bases (200 strips) of infantry and 40 of artillery including limbers!

My 5mm dice arrived from China and I also printed a few test dice holder pieces for the bases. Looking at the OOBs most of the units need 2 dice instead of 1, so I will mostly print those. The Grand Armee rules uses unit strengths and the easiest method is to have dice on the base to show the strength.

(https://i.imgur.com/GxAp9Ki.jpg)

Generally I will use them in the following way
Green = Russian
Yellow = Austrian
Orange (meant to be Red!) = British
Blue = French
White = mixed nations
Black = Prussians

Also here's a photo showing the base with my plastic strip design. I will stick some magnetic strips down at the back so I can have removable unit labels for different battles. Obviously I'll paint and flock up to the plastic strip.

(https://i.imgur.com/oKbd9BG.jpg)

Thanks
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Sangennaru on July 30, 2019, 01:36:21 PM
It's looking great! I agree with the others regarding removing the static grass in favour of some fine turf, but for the rest it is top notch!

BTW, being 2mm, would you be interested in some of these? http://thelazyforger.com/sculpts/naval-scale-town-houses/

(http://thelazyforger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/nefcity-1.jpg)

(http://thelazyforger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/nefcity-5.jpg)

Cheers
jack
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on July 30, 2019, 07:31:59 PM

BTW, being 2mm, would you be interested in some of these? http://thelazyforger.com/sculpts/naval-scale-town-houses/


Thanks, no I hadn't and they are very nice. Forward march Studios (who makes the figures) also has buildings in their pack and I have been printing those out along with some other buildings I found on thingverse.

Here's one of my first test prints (before I got the settings tuned in to reduce the lines and terrible edges!

(https://i.imgur.com/ipTWXjH.jpg)

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on August 24, 2019, 07:58:51 AM
Its been a while but I have managed to finish 4 base of Napoleonic French Guard - 2 Old and 2 Middle Guard.

The can also be used as Consular Guard in earlier periods, even though the flags are wrong. The figures are the FMS "2 to 1" figures which I printed a few of as samples, but wasn't keen on the style, and they are a bit taller, so perfect as Old Guard. I sanded the top of the head slightly as they were cone shaped. I'll also use some of the other samples as Austrian grenadiers as they had tall pointy hats.

I have switched to a fine foam flock instead of static grass and it looks better, but I just want to adjust the shade of green slightly.


The last photos shows my dice holders and for Grand Armee. Stronger units usually have a 10-11 Strength points, so I need 2 dice to represent that.

Middle Guard
(https://i.imgur.com/UEWiDgP.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/YJOy3KQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ODwYn8X.jpg)

Old Guard
(https://i.imgur.com/TDonowu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lkA0CdI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iCI1cJk.jpg)


Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on September 04, 2019, 11:39:51 AM
I've finished my first couple bases of French Foot artillery. I used a mix of limbers but will settle on the "Epic" series for the remaining bases (except what is on the painting block). I'm not super happy with these but the close ups are not very flattering!

(https://i.imgur.com/18X8Ec0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cU6Iqlk.jpg)

Cheers
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: robh on September 04, 2019, 11:49:34 AM
The collection is looking really good, basing is fine now.

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on September 05, 2019, 06:21:09 AM
Thanks I will start churning them out a bit faster now.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on September 23, 2019, 11:41:23 AM
Well its been a while but I have finished some buildings.

The Church I found on Thingverse and the Cloister was from a 1/1200th colonial buildings set also on Thingverse.

To paint them I used a white undercoat and tried out the new GW contrast paint "Skeleton Horde" on them. The colour and shading was very nice but it didnt work very well on the smooth surfaces and tended to bring out the poor parts of the print. But it was very quick - two coats followed by some touch ups and then highlighting.

Overall I'm very happy with the colour and the finished buildings especially when the 2ft rule is applied!

Church

(https://i.imgur.com/j9ekP7Z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UgrmFFf.jpg)

Cloister

(https://i.imgur.com/rOhBO5x.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/os9oOxg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JxWHAAy.jpg)

.

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on September 27, 2019, 10:57:08 PM
A while back I was off work for 8 weeks so I was printing 2mm infantry and artillery 24/7. I printed an additional 200 individual infantry bases and  80 limbers and 80 guns and lots of cavalry, which was on top of what I already had. Each infantry base take about 1 1/2 hours to print as I used very fine nozzle 0.2mm and settings (saves a lot of cleanup later on!) You can print fast and spend a lot of time of cleanup, or print slower and have less cleanup to do.

(https://i.imgur.com/SKZdYuZ.jpg)

Unfortunately I haven't made much of an impact in these as I have been trying to finish off other wargames projects.

(https://i.imgur.com/FvmUnHZ.jpg)

Also some of the flags didn't print out very well or are too weak, so I got out the green stuff to add flags, as having flags really helps id'ing 2mm figures from a distance.


Cheers
Kieran
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Sangennaru on September 28, 2019, 08:49:11 AM
That's looking impressive anyways!

For the flags, i'd suggest something less chunky though. Have you considered using this materials (in a much simplified shape) ?
http://thelazyforger.com/tutorials/sashimono-and-banners/
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on September 29, 2019, 02:48:40 AM
I know you modified the files a bit.  Did you modify the flags at all?  I made them chunky specifically to keep them from falling off.  I personally use paper flags that I print out and glue on.  I do that because I'm bad at painting flags; if you use a typical white glue, pager flags should stay in place even with rough handling.  The figures weigh so little that they generally can't knock flags off each other when they're moved around and stored together.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on October 25, 2019, 10:28:09 PM
I know you modified the files a bit.  Did you modify the flags at all?  I made them chunky specifically to keep them from falling off. 

Yes I did but hey are not solid enough so they need to be thicker. I think I made the 0.8mm thick.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on October 25, 2019, 10:28:45 PM
I'm a bit slow with the updates at the moment. Hopefully I can get some photos this weekend as I have finished a number of bases.


I did lay out all my cavalry that I have printed to see how much I have, and I have a lot of heavy cavalry although they are pretty interchangeable. The orange command bases are made from slicing up Epic cavalry bases in Tinkercad. I didn't bother with flags and I may not for any of the cavalry.


Left, Heavy cavalry, right Light cavalry, at the back is Lancers. A number are warped so they will be made into smaller regiments

(https://i.imgur.com/4GOxxCG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6uhsmjV.jpg)
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on October 26, 2019, 12:12:42 AM
That is a LOT of 1:1 figure ratio cavalry!  How many regiments is that?  The cavalry units are my personal favorite.  You almost never get to see cavalry units deployed in anything like a correct formation on the table top, and when you do you really get an idea of how intimidating a charge by them would have been.  If you square up an infantry battalion, you can see how the men in it would not have been able to see anything but horses moving around them during a very large cavalry action. 
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on October 26, 2019, 02:31:15 AM
Yes I know!

I'm planning 2 bases per base along with a command base as each base represents a brigade. I might cut some in half so I can represent some of the smaller units.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on October 28, 2019, 06:49:31 AM
I've finished 2 French brigades and these are slightly different from my previous French as I have command bases in front, instead of Skirmishers.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ju8nva0.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/a5zC3n0.jpg)

I also painted all the pom-poms pink except for the Light and Grenadier companies.

I don't think the French would have had 2 flags like this but the effect is good.

And here's some spare command stands I modified and printed. I took the Epic infantry base and added a flag and then removed figures, using Tinkercad. The bases have been flocked as it is easier when they are not mounted, but edges will get finished once they are mounted on a proper base (like above).

(https://i.imgur.com/S8Go181.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/uRk4y7O.jpg)

For the rest of the bases I'll use use these on stands where the main battalions don't have a flag.

Cheers



Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on November 02, 2019, 02:37:24 AM
The next set of bases I've finished is 4 bases of Austrian Napoleonic Grenadiers. The figures are the FMS “2 to 1” figures which with the taller pointy hats, suit the Austrian bearskin hats better. They look a little plain from the front with flags or skirmishers but i used a number of different colours on their bearskin hats, to represent the different parent regiments. Also I painted some with blue pants to show the Hungarian regiments.

(https://i.imgur.com/HpadcSu.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/3MHB7Rp.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/3v7RUss.jpg)


Thanks for looking
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on November 05, 2019, 08:27:18 AM
And another 2 bases of French Line infantry with Skirmishers. Hopefully soon I will switch to Cavalry and commanders as I almost have enough foot bases for a small game.

I still have a bit of mental block  on the cavalry though  :(

(https://i.imgur.com/ouHMttc.jpg)

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project
Post by: 6mmfan on November 29, 2019, 09:54:20 PM
The next batch of figures are complete - about 650 of them including white crossbelts!

Looking at French OOBs for Wagram and Aspern it seems that there was often a light brigade per corp (well at least for the Grande Armee rules).

(https://i.imgur.com/t9QzkM5.jpg)

So I painted 5 bases worth of Light infantry brigades.

The figures were given a medium blue watered down coat over a white undercoat. Next I painted the backpacks and then blacked out the heads. the next strep was to paint the face, gold shako plate and a green pom-pom, followed by touchups. However the figures looked very plain at this point, so I came up with the crazy idea to paint the white belts on the figures. I used a very fine brush and painted "X"s on the front of the figures in the front rank. This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and the figures looked much better.

(https://i.imgur.com/stdg3NA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kOxssd0.jpg)

Not the greatest photos but I hope you like them
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 30/11
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on November 29, 2019, 10:34:10 PM
These look awesome, as usual.

I created that same OOB from the Grande Armee scenario using little painted blocks for infantry and some of my earliest 3D printed models for everything else.  The scenario looks really impressive when it's completely set up.  The French are a single, huge blue wall.  The Austrians are spread out, but with a potential death blow hanging over the French left.   Very dramatic, even as a game.

I'm working my way through the Wagram OOB at the battalion level now - but I'm using my micro-scale figures, so it is a bit less work that it might sound like.  Doing these really detailed OOBs gives you a lot of knowledge about the armies before the game even begins.  Did you try any cavalry yet?
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 30/11
Post by: 6mmfan on November 29, 2019, 10:52:41 PM
I'm halfway through some Advanced Guard brigades for the Austrians. They will have a mix of Cavalry, Jaegers, Grenzers, and Line, so kind of yes.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 30/11
Post by: 6mmfan on January 07, 2020, 11:12:12 AM
Its been a while as its summer here and I was away on a long camping trip.

I've finally cracked my first batch of cavalry - 12 strips of French Dragoons (but only 5 in the photo)

Very happy with them and I even managed to paint the white crossbelts on the backs. Its hard to tell as I realised that the figures are shiny and haven't been given a matt varnish yet.

I found the best way when painting to avoid going over parts again, is to start by painting the horses and then the legs and body before moving onto the face and headgear.

(https://i.imgur.com/egWsvQg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/M7pkIRG.jpg)

The backs

(https://i.imgur.com/yRgRcUR.jpg)

Also I remembered to use my light box so the lighting is much more intense!

Next up some more heavys in the form of French Curassiers and Carabiners, and some buildings.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 09/1
Post by: 6mmfan on January 08, 2020, 10:33:05 AM
Next up is a sample batch of 2mm buildings from the Forward March range. I found these hard to paint and the windows gave me a lot of grief, but they were early prints, so the quality was not so good.

(https://i.imgur.com/ySgFuU6.jpg)

Also I have to figure out how to model towns and cities and Zachs pictures of his cities are very inspiring.  I want to make them reasonable flexible but still have some of the smaller details like walls and hedges. I have lots 1.9mm plywood for bases I my initial thoughts are a mix of different shaped bases (that can interlock) with some features such as castle walls, bridges, rivers with lots of space to add buildings.

How do others model 2mm towns and cities?
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: 6mmfan on January 14, 2020, 08:08:25 AM
I've printed out some of Forward March's Castle walls, towers and an entrance which I plan to use for towns and cities. These are great designs which will look amazing painted up.

(https://i.imgur.com/FqHiBaN.jpg)


I haven't figured how I want to base them with my current thoughts being to create semi modular city sections with walls that line up.

(https://i.imgur.com/hupmM3O.jpg)



Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: Vonkluge on January 15, 2020, 07:53:36 PM
Sort a cool! While 6mm is not my "cup o tea" since I like to paint the bigger figs I can see this as being great for lots of reasons, folks who are on a budget, people who have little storage space, or say the ability to do those "big battles" and have a much better visual/figure count on the field. Years and years ago I remember reading in on of the popular wargaming mags an article where a gentleman was describing doing almost the same concept with cut up ladies hair rollers! the type with all the little points or "nubs" sticking out, cutting them lengthways, then "just a few dabs of paint in the national color" and you have a cheap, fast, army! lol
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on January 16, 2020, 09:26:08 AM
His name is 6mmfan, but the figures are actually 2mm:  www.forwardmarchstudios.com (http://www.forwardmarchstudios.com)
I'm looking forward to seeing his terrain bases.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: Vonkluge on January 20, 2020, 07:39:46 AM
His name is 6mmfan, but the figures are actually 2mm:  www.forwardmarchstudios.com (http://www.forwardmarchstudios.com)
I'm looking forward to seeing his terrain bases.

Well that makes sense and I guess I should have known that but I guess the name fooled me! The "hair curler" armys were in fact 2mm as well!
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: Baconfat on January 22, 2020, 01:08:11 AM
I hate when it's obvious the painter didn't even attempt to paint the eyes!
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 08/1 with cavalry
Post by: 6mmfan on February 02, 2020, 09:41:14 AM
Yes they are 2mm although I like 6mm!

No eyes or moustaches i'm afraid

Back onto some buildings. This is my first batch of random FMS buildings and a few other ones I found on thingverse and resized. Every batch will have 1-2 colours to save time, and I went with light grey and yellow. The extreme closeups are not very flattering but from 2ft, they look great.

(https://i.imgur.com/eGwxk6a.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TJMUX6x.jpg)
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 02/02 with buildings
Post by: 6mmfan on February 04, 2020, 07:18:24 AM
Austrian Jaegers
These will end up on some Infantry brigade bases as well as Mixed Brigades Mixed brigades in Grand Armee are a mix of Infantry, cavalry and light infantry. I'm still painting the infantry and cavalry but soon I will have 5 bases of mixed completed.

Tricky to paint and some came out with part of their heads missing, so I had to add some blobs of PVA Glue to increase the height!

(https://i.imgur.com/SMilzUh.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gb7akpk.jpg)
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 02/02 with buildings
Post by: 6mmfan on April 30, 2020, 07:19:33 AM
Hi everyone


Its been a while but I have plans to get this project finished and the move onto an ACW project. I printed out some castle walls earlier and I finally finished painting them.


I'm really happy with the results and my only regret is that I glued the tower to the walls afterwards, so there is a bit of a gap, but only in these closeups.


I used a mix of drybrushing and daubing the walls with paint on a sponge, to create a dappled effect.




(https://i.imgur.com/cJyXe1y.jpg)





(https://i.imgur.com/H8LeGgI.jpg)




(https://i.imgur.com/EkLL06z.jpg)




(https://i.imgur.com/tqO2NPY.jpg)




Thanks for looking
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 30/04
Post by: 6mmfan on May 05, 2020, 11:55:31 AM
I've been pretty slack with this project over the last 6 months but I am keen to get to a point where I can put figures on the table and have a game.

I reviewed what I had printed and a lot of the 3D prints from last year had bad warping and probably 1/3 got binned. I think the plastic was too old or I just didn't have the settings right. Also there was a lot of stringing especially between the heads on the figures and a lot of heads came off during cleanup, and trying to glue back on 2mm heads isn't fun! So in the end it was easier to just print as the new bases and the new ones have virtually no stringing, so I didn't spend hours on that, instead of painting the little f*%kers.

So I have started a big push and have prepared
21 French Infantry bases
16 Austrian bases of infantry (grey base coat)
10 bases of heavy cavalry (6 French and 4 Austrian)
24 bases of Austrian Artillery (no limbers yet)

(https://i.imgur.com/b2lV4Zb.jpg)

French reinforcements (with flags made from green stuff)

(https://i.imgur.com/ryL9sVY.jpg)

Austrians

(https://i.imgur.com/rAEw9Yt.jpg)

Austrian Artillery

(https://i.imgur.com/BbYZRtX.jpg)

Cheers

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 05/05
Post by: Forwardmarchstudio on May 05, 2020, 04:10:29 PM
Those did print up really clean - looking good!
I especially like those column-bases; those are going are going to look awesome, especially with the officers and NCOs running around.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 05/05
Post by: 6mmfan on May 06, 2020, 11:25:49 AM
I'll try and post a picture of a printed base to show the print quality. Another improvement is the heads are not misshapen blobs, but round cylinders now.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 05/05
Post by: julesav on May 07, 2020, 10:46:50 AM
Fantastic project! Lovely to see some non 28mm stuff on here for a change! Bravo Sir!
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 05/05
Post by: 6mmfan on June 24, 2020, 08:03:16 AM
Hi everyone

I was hoping to update this thread sooner but its been a crazy time with the virus thing, and then my work got extremely busy for the last 3 weeks. But I did manage to finish off the Austrian infantry from my last post. This is a large chunk of my army and I am a lot closer to being able to a play a game.


All 16 bases were painted at once (around 2000 figures) and I used a fine tip black and red pen on the flags which I am especially pleased with.


One of the better flags
(https://i.imgur.com/yiWSXt1.jpg)



All of them
(https://i.imgur.com/63pvtiy.jpg)



Squares (with a splodge of green paint to touch up)
(https://i.imgur.com/z28DvXN.jpg)


Austrian Masse bases
(https://i.imgur.com/S16Qw9M.jpg)


Another closeup
(https://i.imgur.com/EZhG3IY.jpg)


Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 24/06
Post by: Digits on June 24, 2020, 12:07:17 PM
The thought of painting 2000 minis in one sitting.......mind blowing! Lol

They look excellent..especially from the helicopter view, very impressive.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 24/06
Post by: 6mmfan on June 25, 2020, 09:17:35 AM
Thanks. It wasn't much fun painting them all in one go but it was a big chunk of the army finished off.
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 24/06
Post by: 6mmfan on August 20, 2020, 06:46:35 AM
Hi all

Sadly another long gap between updates. There always seems to be an endless amount of half finished projects on my workbench.

I’m knocked out another batch of buildings in different colours to the last batch, so I can start to plan how to lay them out on some bases. I probably enjoy making terrain more than painting figures and finishing these buildings gets me closer to starting on some farms, villages and larger towns along with other terrain.

The buildings are a mix of Forward March Studios along with a handful from Thingverse (including the La Belle Alliance in the front).

The painting is a little rough but I just want to get them on the table!

(https://i.imgur.com/yPIgSE7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NMpiRtM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7gRtbcK.jpg)
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 22/08
Post by: 6mmfan on August 21, 2020, 09:22:37 PM
And some rural buildings. A mix of FMS and stuff from Thingverse including a La Haye Sainte. I'll probably texture the base on the farm a bit more to hide the print lines.

(https://i.imgur.com/AtYBFfA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/L70ghKe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/O44imhv.jpg)
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 22/08
Post by: 6mmfan on September 27, 2020, 03:56:50 AM
Here's another update with some more buildings and Austrian Artillery

24 bases worth of Austrian Artillery guns. These are just the guns and I still need to paint the limbers and so they don't look that good right now. I will eventually base 1 strip of guns (2 + crew) and 2 limber/cassions on a base, to represent a battery.

(https://i.imgur.com/IqLrKjH.jpg)

And some more buildings. These are mostly models I got off Thingverse with a few FMS buildings.

(https://i.imgur.com/GIU7KGx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G3d9sLU.jpg)

Cheers
Kieran
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 27/09
Post by: 6mmfan on October 26, 2020, 06:55:38 AM
I've completed more Austrians with quite a few more in the pipeline. I really want to finish the Austrians and French this year, and even get some terrain  completed so I can start on some games.

Kurassiers which were easy to paint with the simple colour scheme, and I went with black horses to distinguish them from the Dragoons and Cheveauxlegers. There is enough for 4 Brigades (units) worth which will cover the big battles like Aspern-Essling and Wagram.

(https://i.imgur.com/LAc120Z.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/OPZzBv6.jpg)

And Dragoons on Chocolate brown horses - enough for 4 units worth, although most will end up in mixed cavalry brigades.

(https://i.imgur.com/Z0Es3n6.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QsaP8sz.jpg)

These will look nicer once I finish the basing.



Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 26/10
Post by: 6mmfan on October 29, 2020, 05:55:26 AM
So I was figuring out how many Lancers I needed for the French and Austrians, and I looked at the stuff I printed previously and they were terrible prints. Lots of warping and the lances came out so bad I expect 3/4 will break during cleanup.

I printed a few more using some fresh PLA and a slightly better settings and the difference was massive. Virtually no stringing which I am very pleased with as I have a Bowden setup and stringing is quite common on prints.

So I trashed all the old ones as its not worth the cleanup effort. At the time I printed these I was off work with an injury and on lots of painkillers, so it clearly effected my quality control! I biffed quite a few other figures that I printed during my time off as there was some badly warped figures that are too much work to cleanup.

New figures in grey, vs old in white, buff and orange

(https://i.imgur.com/RHUu9Gi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jdaq0Dc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/a7QDzKa.jpg)






Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 26/10
Post by: 6mmfan on November 25, 2020, 06:42:45 AM
After a lot of procrastinating I've start on some 2mm scenery. I'm making a river and a smaller stream as well as some larger pieces to represent the Danube river for some 1809 games. I'm sure the water is not that blue but it looks good!

I brought some thin clear plastic A3 sleeves (also called L-shaped pockets) from a stationery shop. I give then a light sand so the paint will grip better, then I mix up some craft paint and caulk and brush it on. I paint a few different shades of blue with some green, grey and black mixed in. The caulk helps give it some texture and it is a more forgiving than just paint if the plastic flexes.

(https://i.imgur.com/lmbA8jt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jV1hRAI.jpg)

Once that was dry I painted the banks and sprinkled flock on while the paint was still wet. I'll cut the river shapes out and add bushes and trees next.

(https://i.imgur.com/EXOO4SQ.jpg)

Thanks




Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 26/10
Post by: tomrommel1 on November 25, 2020, 07:16:54 AM
What a great project
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 25/11 with rivers
Post by: 6mmfan on December 01, 2020, 07:23:34 AM

The rivers and streams are complete now.

(https://i.imgur.com/OVscIvW.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/L8YLjtj.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5XERxg4.jpg)

I finished off the flocking and then glued patch clumps of Woodland scenics foliage on the banks, as well as a few 2mm houses to give it a sense of scale. I thought about adding more types of flock but I didn't want it to to look too busy.


(https://i.imgur.com/2JdvE3P.jpg)


Also I started on some roads. This is just coloured caulk smeared onto the same plastic sheet and then lightly textured with a brush. I watered down the caulk slightly to make it smooth out better. These are all going to be straight roads and I plan to cut them up and give each strip a dry brush.











Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 25/11 with rivers
Post by: 6mmfan on January 06, 2021, 07:51:37 AM
After a 10 day road trip I've been cracking into these with the goal of playing a game in 2021. I can't believe its taken me so long to get this project done! :(

I'm working on all the required Austrian and French cavalry, and I should have some more completed soon.

The first batch is some nice simple French Chasseurs - 3 1/2 bases worth (as some will be brigaded with Hussars)

(https://i.imgur.com/yfcGdUg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jRrYKiE.jpg)

Curassiers next!
Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 5/1
Post by: 6mmfan on January 25, 2021, 08:42:51 AM
The next units I have finished is 6 bases of French Cuirassiers. I painted all the horses black as my plan is to paint darker colours for heavy cavalry and lighter colours for the light cavalry. They dont look very exciting but its another 6 bases finished!

(https://i.imgur.com/CN4rDbc.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FA61Jz8.jpg)





Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 25/1 Heavy cavalry added
Post by: 6mmfan on January 27, 2021, 06:16:28 AM
I've been painting some more French infantry. The base is 40mm square to give you an idea how big the square is.

(https://i.imgur.com/My8Fv5s.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZUSMbWE.jpg)




Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 1/2 French Infantry added
Post by: 6mmfan on February 01, 2021, 02:14:16 AM
My next completed units are 3 French Line infantry. This is in column based on the FMS strips which I changed in Tinkercad. The flags are Greenstuff putty.

(https://i.imgur.com/AUskXFz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/A04Md5E.jpg)

Thanks

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 25/1 Heavy cavalry added
Post by: 6mmfan on February 08, 2021, 05:01:07 AM
I've moved onto the Austrian light cavalry now.

First is a unit of Insurrection Hussars (usually lower fighting strength so the base marker can take only 1 dice)

(https://i.imgur.com/5Hkb27h.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ezolvWF.jpg)


And my first brigade of Chevaulegers. The rest will be in mixed briagdes with Hussars. I went for green coats although some had white coats, I thought it would be easier to distinguish on the tabletop. But you can hardly see the colours so it was a mute point!

(https://i.imgur.com/bgsjbzq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PpY6LcI.jpg)

Title: Re: Big little Napoleonics project - updated 25/1 Heavy cavalry added
Post by: 6mmfan on March 06, 2021, 08:39:49 AM
I've been meaning to post these for a while.

I've finished 6 bases on Austrian Hussars (with a few cheuvalegers) which will give me enough options for the light cavalry units for Wagram and Aspern-Essling.

Its pretty hard to see but I managed to capture the different jacket, trouser and shako colours for the different regiments.

(https://i.imgur.com/JdnoUUY.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/cwqyVNm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PVA6Zw1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gSzEGrV.jpg)