Suizos

[Iceman1964]

The battle of Bailen (South of Spain) in July 1808 was the first significant defeat of the imperial Napoleon army (even if he wasn’t present), where about 20 thousand French surrender to the Spanish army after a “18th century style” battle.

Swiss regiments (“Suizos” in Spanish ) were present at the battle, and the 3rd Suizos of colonel Reding received the surrender of other swiss regiments fighting for the French, so they were “Suizos vs. Suisse”…. something like the renaissance battles in Italy where swiss were on both sides one against the others .
This diorama will show the Suizos of the Spanish 3rd Reding regiment in action in the hot summer of Andalusia.
The figures are from Massimo Costa, you can see here their usual top level.







Here is the selected cork base with first ideas of diorama design



And here the first paints, marching suizos.









Stay tuned
Enrico

[Michael Robert]

Really nice painting, Enrico, and the Massimo Costa figures are alos very elegant and stylish.
The uniforms of the Suissos are so close to French ones (but not the Suisse), rather amazing how they could distinguish sides.
Greetings
Michael

[Peter]

Wonderful project and those figures are well painted! Can't wait to see the next steps!

[MABO]

I do not know much about the Campaign in Spain. So thanks for the background. The figures looks pretty good, when painted by you.

[Santi Pérez]

The beginning of your new project looks promising, Enrico. I really like the historical introduction of the diorama and the choice of figures. The result will undoubtedly be excellent.

By the way, I admire your tireless work capacity. You have just shown us the diorama of the Romans against the Celts and you are already well advanced with this one.

I will certainly follow it with great interest, like all your projects.

Go on with it, my friend.

Santi.

[Rich W]

Very nice Enrico. I look forward to more updates!

[C M Dodson]

These look fabulous and your painting is the reason why.

You have managed to get the eyes right, a task beyond most of us mortals as attempts usually result in a cartoon character face.

Brilliant work .

Best wishes ,

Chris

[T. Dürrschmidt]

I totally agree with Chris. Your painting of the faces give the figs lots of character and they look very realistic!

[Iceman1964]

Thanks all for your kind feedback

Just a mini-tutorial on how I make the eyes:
First base for the face in burnt umbra or leather brown (I use Vallejo colors)



Then large spot of Ivory white (larger than final eyes, no problem)



Then black pupil, here it’s the major effort because I find really hard not to make cross-eyed figures (I need at least two-three attempts before reaching reasonable results)



then I reduce the shape to the final one by using around it again burnt umbra or leather brown



Finally the skin (first medium flesh-tone, then dark flesh)



And this is the final result (honestly I’m not fully satisfied of the right hand eye as on zoomed photo, but it’s acceptable when looking it at real dimensions !)





Here is an officer





Merry Christmas to all of you !!!!

[Iceman1964]

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU !!!!

Here is Colonel Theodor Reding, commander of the regiment







and some other Suizos

[Santi Pérez]

Beautiful new figures, Enrico. I love your painting style, eyes included.

Santi.

[MABO]

The officer is really dashing!

[Peter]

Wonderful painted figures!

[CliosPaintingBench]

Oh my, another project after the Celts! Costa's sculpts are fantastic and your painting is your usual stellar level!

[Iceman1964]

thanks all you guys, happy to see you like the show .
Here are the last painted figures (what a loooong time uploading them on the site).
Now it's time to work on the diorama base, the completion is quite near !

[Peter]

Wonderful!

And there are some very nice poses amongst them!