It's done! In a post I sometimes never thought I'd type, here it is: I have completed my Seven Years' War armies! First conceived in 2008, and now - roughly one and two-thirds of a year later, they are now completely painted and based. I had thoroughly sickened myself of painting after an earlier burst that broke the back of them, and allowed me to play games with a few left over - I just couldn't face mopping up the remainder. Little bits were done here and there, slowly nibbling away at the pile, but that was all.
Then, yesterday morning, I suddenly had the impulse out of nowhere to just get my head down and finish it off. One lazy Sunday transformed into a frenzied paint-a-thon later, and it is over. The final Aschenbach units are complete, painted and based!
Doubtless when they make the film of this deranged painting project (it's all in my mind's eye, so why not?) I'll be on-screen looking all windswept and conflicted, trying to decide whether to go back for one last mission(painting session) before final retirement. I'll be living in some log cabin in the mountains, where I've no doubt sought refuge from the horrors of the war(gaming.) I'll tell my boss(conscience) that I'm through with it - I'm out, and have no more interest in coming back. He'll tell me that if I don't do it, nobody else will - and, just before he walks off to leave in his jet-powered helicopter (yes, he has one of those) he tosses a single, battered figure at my feet. I look down, and pick it up: a Prussian Musketeer, Advancing (Catalogue Number SYWP1 , Essex Miniatures.) Slowly clenching it in my fist, perhaps delivering a skyward shout to the uncaring gods, I know that once more I'm back in the game, damn them. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in... They pull me back in...
In retrospect, I probably need to go have a bit of a lie down! Ponder all the games to come, and all that! :-) Here's some eye-candy of the second army.
Cavalry above - Cuirassiers & Dragoons
Generals & Grenadiers
Fine regiments of Infantry, Grenadier mitre-caps shining in the foreground
Infantry in foreground, plus Fusiliers and Hussars behind
The Artillery
Meet Otto - the flag-bearer in IR7 (Von Dunckel) who enters my personal painting valhalla, as the very final figure based out of the approximately 719 painted and based to complete this project.
(Also, Thanks to all who ever read the blog or posted on it over the long struggles with kind words of encouragement - it made a big difference!)
8 comments:
Congratulations! They look quite impressive, sir.
Now, to put the angst of painting behind thee, I suggest a significant period of playing games with your fully painted armies.
I look forward to photos of the above games.
-- Jeff
Few things are more pleasing that a miltary review of a finished army...
A milestone to be celebrated indeed! Cry Havoc and enjoy the games.
But I have to ask is an army ever really "finished"? Engineers, Pontoon Trains, Frei-Korps, Supply Troops, Militia, Staff, etc. Sure, you can resist their siren call now...but soon, soon the brushes and paints will lure you back.
and vivandieres...
A really impressive achievement - congratulations!
And now... battle!
Well done sir! Well done indeed! There's nothing like the feeling one gets on finishing that final figure. Thanks also for sharing the adventures of Aschenbach over the last two years. Here's to many more!
Well done indeed!
The painting may be done (for now). Let the games begin! Hoping to see reports of these fine troops in action...
Quite a force ...
now to roll the dice ...
to set up tables ...
to catch the cat ...
:)
A
Well done! Now, I've just gotta do mine... It's been soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long...
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