JC Miniatures Gallery

SALUTE ZERO SIX - Saturday 22 April 2006

2006-04-27T14:11:00.000Z

Finally, I have a moment to post the latest photos of my Uhlans. Due to work commitments, I managed to finish only four of the six that I planned to enter for Salute Zero Six at the ExCel Centre in London last Saturday. It was touch and go whether they would make an appearance at all! I had to get up at 6am on the morning of the show to finish the one base that I’d quickly put together at 1.30am the same morning!

Semi-satisfied with the end result and not wishing to disappoint those of you who wanted to see the figures for yourself, I duly packed them away in time to catch the 7.53am train to London, a little jaded.

THE PAINTING COMPETITION - Congratulations Sascha Herms
So how did I fair? Well, I didn’t win, which I expected, especially once I’d seen the other entries in the Category One section – clearly I have some way to go to reach the heady heights of those painters featured in the links on my main site, The Waterloo Campaign in Miniature. Sascha Herm, whom I was very pleased to meet after he had received his first prize, was a deserved winner! Click on my photo of Sacha's winning entry to see photos posted on his web site.

A BIG GRIPE - POOR LIGHTING!
was pleased to see that Salute provide impressive display cases for all the entries this year but I have one big gripe. Why was only the top shelf lit? The figures on display who were lucky enough to be placed on the top shelves of each display case looked absolutely brilliant, whilst the efforts of entrants whose figures were placed on the shelf below or worse still, the shelf below were lost in a dark gloom. Sadly, my black cavalrymen were on the third shelf and as the photo below clearly shows…it WAS very gloomy. Compare my photo of Sacha's beautiful vingette (top shelf) and the photo below (third shelf) and make up your own mind.

So Salute, how about lighting up everyone’s entries giving both the visitor a better and clearer view of our hard won efforts and providing a more level playing field for all the entries? My finger’s are crossed. For those who did go, post a comment and tell me what you think. Anyway, here are my own photos of my Uhlans…as they should have been shown – clear & bright and despite returning home without any plaudits, I still think my horses were better than other – even Dallimore’s!

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (2 days to go)

2006-04-20T00:04:00.000Z

Apologies for the lack of updates, but what with Easter, my darling daughter, work, work et al, I've been somewhat indisposed. But I have managed to fit in some important painting time in my efforts to meet this damn deadline. I can report that my task is looking distinctly tight but there's still time and here are some pix taken on Tuesday of my efforts to date. Enjoy!

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (9 days to go)

2006-04-12T17:59:00.000Z

The clock is ticking...It's Wednesday 12th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint "half " a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd)...I feel some progress is being made but still have a way to go. I've taken a reality check abd realise that half a squadron of Uhlans is a better target so I plan to paint six before moving onto the next batch. Anyway, here are my latest pix!

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (10 days to go)

2006-04-11T18:25:00.000Z

It's Tuesday 11th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd)...I appear to be getting nowhere rather than somewhere. - c'est la vie! In mitigation, I'm not used to working at speed (the excuses are beginning to appear). Anyway, here are my latest pix!

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (11 days to go)

2006-04-10T19:26:00.000Z

It's Monday 10th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd)...here are my latest pix! Enjoy! For those wishing to start from the beginning, view previous posts in my archive or scroll down the page.

P.S. I do realise that you're getting an up-close-and-personal view of the 28mm minis, which makes them appear somewhat unsightly...I promise you that when viewed with the naked eye, they look quite pukka.

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (13 days to go)

2006-04-09T19:01:00.000Z

It's Sunday 9th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd).

Realising I've only completed five out of twelve horses and am yet to properly start on the Uhlans let alone basing the damn things, I do realise that I'm up against it but then a deadline can go someway to concentrating the mind. In mitigation, painting the chesnut has been an experience in itself, as I've never attempted one, nor a black or grey for that matter - & next on the conveyor belt. For all those who have asked, I will write up a tutorial on painting horses after Salute, and whilst on the subject, this is not a project I expect to win (it's not the winning but the taking part that counts - smiling here!) For those readers attending the show, it will allow you the opportunity to see the figures for REAL, which is my main aim as I can guarantee they look far better than the unattrative close-up photos that I've taken to date. If they look anything like my 28mm Foundry Cuirasier trooper then I'll be more than happy! Anyway...here are my latest pix! Enjoy!

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (15 days to go)

2006-04-07T21:17:00.000Z

It's Friday 7th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd)...click on the images to view in full.

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (16 days to go)

2006-04-06T19:46:00.000Z

It's Thursday 6th April and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April (for the painting competition at Salute Zero Six in London on the 22nd), whilst maintaining my output of "Uniform Guides" on my main blog - no rest for the wicked! Today's photos feature horses #1, #2 & #3 (all finished - give or take...well I've the skull & crossbones to paint on the covers) and one nearly finished horse #4 (bay) and a couple of horse Chestnuts (pardon the pun), a Grey (to be dappled) and a black (dark brown basecoat). In fact, I've now finished horse #4, which has taken four days - doesn't bode well and I'm out of the loop this weekend to concentrate on my girlfriend or a divorce is on the cards! Anyway, I'll let my pix tell the story so far... click on the images to view in full.

I've never painted a chesnut before...but am quite pleased with initial results.
Oh yes, and the Uhlans have been prepared with a base coat. I plan to paint a couple of faces tomorrow (Friday 7th April).

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (18 days to go)

2006-04-04T16:11:00.000Z

It's Tuesday and here are the latest photos chronicling my efforts to paint a 28mm Brunswick Uhlan Squadron by 21st April - yes, I'm feeling the pressure! Today's photos feature three more painted horses and one finished horse. I'm using a mix of acrylic paints by Foundry & Citadel and a 0000 paintbrush and will write up a full painting guide after Salute. If you have any questions, please direct them via my Yahoo Quatre-Bras Forum.

Horse 1, with gnashing teeth, crazed eyes, frothing mouth and lathered flanks, is pretty much complete. It's a "Bay" and as I guide I used Sheryl Leisure's brilliantly painted horses from Horse-Power Graphics Inc.

Horse 2 is an Appaloosa. The Spanish introduced this horse to Mexico in the 1500s and despite becoming synonymous with Red Indians, let's just say that my Uhlan acquired the horse from a British cavalryman on his return from fighting in the America's.

Horses 3 & 4 are also Bays but dappled simply as I enjoy doing it...you might have noticed. I aim to have all four finished tonight then it's on to the next four - maybe some blacks & dapple greys. Here are my some more images (click on the image to view full size).

PAINTING FOR SALUTE (19 days to go)

2006-04-03T09:03:00.000Z

After a break of several months, I have finally picked up the ol' paintbrush, in between producing my "uniform guides" (see my main blog - The Waterloo Campaign in Miniature - click on link), which I’ve NOT forgotten about. I’ve decided to enter the Salute Painting Competition and so, bought myself some 28mm Brunswick Uhlans from Perry Miniatures last week; giving myself little under three weeks to paint the darn things - a daunting task - and I plan to post photos, over the next 20 days, charting my progress. For updates and posting any comments join my Yahoo Quatre-Bras Forum.

Yesterday (Sunday 3 April), I began by removing all the flash on each horse (three poses) before painting them with a primary coat of Humbrol "Matt Black" thinned slightly so as not to lose any detail. I allowed them to dry overnight and today, added a second coat of black, this time using acrylic paint so as to remove any trace of sheen from the primary matt black coat. As I've not painted since early January (the 18mm Eureka minis - see gallery), I've painted one horse virtually to finish (see photos) using my cuirasier as a reminder. I've also used the excellent "Painted Horse Gallery" (see my links) as inspiration and a guide, choosing to paint the first light cavalry horse a "Bay", which I'm quite pleased as a first attempt - though I have a few finishing touches still to do.

The photos today show my rather messy workbench conveniently located in my conservatory providing tons of natural light. I'll post further photos over the next 20 days charting my progress.

Photo 1: 28mm Perry Miniatures: Brunswick Uhlan (Click on the image to view)

Photos 2 & 3: My Cuirasier, Upainted Uhlan & Half-painted Horse

Photo 4: Unpainted Uhlan & Light Cavalry Horse

Photo 5: Light Cavalry Horse

Photo 6: All 12 Horses

Photos 7 & 8: My Workbench