Musketeers WIP

[steve_pickstock]

Now, that is a very good question, and one I will look into.

[steve_pickstock]

Good afternoon all! Hope today finds you all well.

The last couple of weeks have been frustrating. Having cleared space in the attic to work undisturbed, for various reasons I have found that it was not possible due to some issues with my house which have entailed a fair bit of physcal effort to sort them out, because of my back problems that has left me exhausted most days. Today, however, with the threat of bad weather keeping me inside, and She Who Must Be Obeyed doing other things I crept up to the attic and did a few things and took photos of the stuff I have been doing.

So first up Musketeers.
Having already spent a bit of time on these when I have been able to, I suddenly realised I only had two of them! Arrgh! So two more were hastily chosen, primed and aded to the queue.

Obviously they're at different stages. These first two are almost done. At the point where these photos were taken I had already spent some time on the tabards.






The problem was that I wasn't happy with said tabards, I just thought I could do better, so when I added the second pair I started them by painting the tabards and at the same time re-did the original pair.

This first figure is a bit dark but is actually this one from the Cardinal's Guard set but as he has the cross embossed on his tabard, he'll do.






And the original pair with the repainted tabards





Much happier with these, and there will be more on these when they're done.

Thinking about using these in a game will mean having scenery to fit. For rural games there are a couple of options - Italeri's Country Houses, and of course Airfix's La Haye Sainte. But for games on the streets of Paris I am considering using another idea.

So while I have been waiting for things to dry or for friends to join Zoom calls, I have been tinkering with scatter terrain.

Some barrels - a delivery outside an inn or something in a market.


These were off an Italeri field accessory sprue.

A cart. This one is from the Airfix Waterloo playset.



For the urban games I will use 'flats' - as in stage scenery - low relief frontages to define the streets, obviously there will be no fighting inside buildings, all of it will be out in the street.
I began this idea with an auberge.





Built in foamcore, with the wooden beams and mouldings made from coffee stirrers and cocktail sticks. I then worked filler (mixed with PVA) across the surface to give it a rough render, this was then painted in a white/ochre mix that was dabbed on with a brush and sponge. When it has dried thoroughly, I will dry brush it in white.

Lastly I made steps up to the front door and posed it with with some figures. The white square is a table based on an extant painting, white plasticard on top of one of the Italeri barrels

[Peter]

You're doing a fine job Steve! Wonderfull project, and I love it all, figures, scenery and the building!

[Minuteman]

All looking very good and interesting. I am impressed by the 'stage scenery' and will look forward to seeing this complete as the setting for some intricate and expert sword-play!

I have a set of these figures and they are indeed excellent. Mine however will probably end up - with slight modifications - as TYW Imperialists (officers and reformadoes) rather than French Musketeers of the King.

[bothree69]

hello Steve....
beautiful, I can't wait to see them finished, too bad for the swords, where I always notice problems with the color and cracks ....
pass them a bit with sandpaper ??? and then color them?

[steve_pickstock]

hello Steve....
beautiful, I can't wait to see them finished, too bad for the swords, where I always notice problems with the color and cracks ....
pass them a bit with sandpaper ??? and then color them?

Thank you.

I do the swords last to avoid cracking, so apart from the de Bergerac figure none have had them painted yet. I may try the sandpaper trick.

[Londoncopper]

Great work so far, l am looking forward to seeing more of these.

[M.P.]

Awesome project , I'm doing something similar but set in Prague .

[steve_pickstock]

Awesome project , I'm doing something similar but set in Prague .

You will need working windows then?

I would love to see pictures.

[M.P.]

Here're minis for that project (
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17941&start=60), I'm still working on the facades of the buildings (luckily Roelandt Savery left sketches of Prague streets ca. 1606-12). As for the windows, I haven't thought about that .

[steve_pickstock]

I have been admiring these miniatures for a while now. So much character. You must be really pleased with them. I especially like the chap in 3/4 siege armour with carbine and pistol. The term 'loaded for bear' comes to mind.

As for the windows, I haven't thought about that .

How is there going to be a defenestration of Prague if the windows don't work?

[M.P.]

I am aiming at a slightly earlier period - the Prague Uprising of 1611

[steve_pickstock]

Ah! Ok. Personally, I would still keep it as an option.

[Minuteman]

Ah! Ok. Personally, I would still keep it as an option.

And these figures might come in useful for the 'opening windows' scenario?? (with all due acknowledgements to the manufacturers of these fine sculpts)

[M.P.]

So I will need to sculpt dung pile to make it historically accurate .

[steve_pickstock]

That's the spirit!

[MABO]

I have painted Lady de Winter in combat and I think it might be nice to add it to this Musketeers topic. Pics are quick and dirty. Was fun to paint her.

[Kekso]

Pics are quick and dirty.

Her cleavage is decent, no need for nudity warning. That means pics aren't that dirty

[MABO]

Her cleavage is decent, no need for nudity warning. That means pics aren't that dirty

[MABO]

The next woman is going to be painted soon!