Waterloo in 20mm

[thomaspicton]

Finally, after only two years I have at last been shown by my teenage son how to post on the forum. Here are some photographs from my blog, I hope you like them.

They are all types of 20mm figures, plastic and metal, modern and vintage.

First of all some British Squares:


Belgian Carabiniers:


Old Guard:


Reality of War:


Cavalry charge:


Horse artillery of the Imperial Guard:


Cuirassiers:


Napoleon's carriage:


Camp life:


Chasseurs:


Red Lancers:


Horse Grenadiers:


Line Artillery:


Engineers:


Carabiniers:


Empresses Dragoons:


Mamelukes:


Polish Lancers:


Gendarmerie D'Elite:


Foot Artillery of the Guard:


These are all on my blog "Waterloo in 20mm". I'm a terrible photographer, average painter, and hopelessly late for the 200th anniversary, but otherwise it's been a lot of fun!

[zulu`s 1000`s of em]

Well, stunning,superb,fantastic, what a great labour of love, 10/10.

[Zed1]

"These are all on my blog "Waterloo in 20mm". I'm a terrible photographer, average painter, and hopelessly late for the 200th anniversary, but otherwise it's been a lot of fun!"

No need for excuses. If there's one thing I've learned then this: if you want to paint huge masses, you can only do that in average quality (except when you're Paul). If you paint great artful figures, your output is not large enough to provice huge masses. So whatever - masses look great just because of the mass effect.

How long did it take you to paint all these figures?

[thomaspicton]

About 30 years - so not long really!

[Kekso]

Impressive collection and excellent first entry. Welcome to the forum.
What brand are Belgian Carabiniers?

[thomaspicton]

Thank you! They are a mixture of some metal Hagen, the resin Waterloo 1815 set, some converted resin figures by Surfeur and (off camera) quite a few Strelets converted Saxon Garde du Corps on Cuirassiers horses - about 80 all up. I am doing the Dutch regiments with Italieri dragoon bodies and cocked hats.

[Marvin]

A staggering and wonderful sight. I attempted painting a number of the cavalry regiments last year, but not in, err... so many quantities! Another 29 years and I reckon I could catch up a bit.

It's great to see such quantities of figures arrayed together. And I'd like to add I particularly like the British squares.

Bravo, sir!

[DerkleinePUC]

Hello,
respect to that fine work. I am interested in the conversions of the engeneers. I saw some Zvezda french guard figures, but which helmets were used? Italeri carabiniers?
KInd regards

Patrick

[Paul]

I'm a terrible photographer, average painter,

Not at all. The Overall effect is VERY impressive and my respect to your dedication Not only that, your conversions are clever
http://generalpicton.blogspot.de/2016/0 ... f-war.html

but otherwise it's been a lot of fun!

and that is the main Thing

PS...The pics on your blog are well worth looking at
http://generalpicton.blogspot.de/

[thomaspicton]

Thank you - that's right they are the Italieri Carabinier heads. I got "old John" Cunningham to make me moulds of those heads and many others, about a kilo of metal in all - several thousand heads!

[thomaspicton]

Thanks Paul , glad you like them!

[C M Dodson]

Welcome to the forum.

I have been following your blog for some time and your output is prodigious.

Lots of lovely conversions and ideas a plenty.

Personally, I feel that the glossy look is a shame, but a magnificent spectacle nonetheless.

Best wishes,

Chris

[thomaspicton]

Dear Chris,

I have been a great admirer of your work for sometime - your skill as a composer and photographer are fantastic.

Perhaps I should explain about my plan. My aim is to construct as large a diorama of Waterloo as is possible and have been collecting since about 1975.

The reason why my figures are varnished is simply to protect them from dust and I have plans to apply a matt finish in due course - I have experimented and it is relatively easily done. But I do agree that the gloss finish gives an unrealistic look.

In the 90s, I did construct a diorama, but because my job required me to move, it proved cumbersome and was damaging to the figures - so I took it apart and resolved to avoid making the scenery until the last possible moment.

But I am now approaching a more stable period in my life; this, combined with the numbers of figures now painted (about 35,000), means I am in a position to begin bringing the diorama together.

My system is to create units using a detachable base on to which goes a layer of aluminium foil of x3 thickness - so that when it is detached from the base the foil is malleable and can be placed on the diorama, fitting the contours of the battlefield.

I have researched the battle meticulously and have the plan worked out which shrink the area by half to avoid the diorama being too big.

Location remains a big question: I had serious talks with the Green Jackets museum in Winchester at the time of the restoration of their model, but the room was of fixed dimensions and their plan was simply to clean the existing model rather than rebuild it. The two could not therefore be combined. I am also interested in the refurbished National Army Museum in Chelsea and would ideally like to put mine along side the Siborne model, from which I draw much of my inspiration. That said, I think the second Siborne model in the Royal Armouries in Leeds is a more interesting comparison than the full model in Chelsea, the figures of which are so tiny as to be hard to see in poor light.

I therefore plan to bide my time. While doing so, it would be great to compare notes with talented model makers such as yourself.

[C M Dodson]

Hello, and thank you for your kind comments.

I knew that your project was slightly bonkers in scale and vision but it is lovely that you plan to exhibit your hard work where it can be enjoyed by others.

I too have studied this campaign at length and would be pleased to compare notes if that would be of assistance.

I the meantime may I respectfully suggest that you visit the works of Wolfgang Meyer and Thomas Mischak amongst others as I am sure that they will inspire you as they do me.

Wolfgang's Croeburn diorama put me back to square one many years ago. Thomas has been building/rebuilding his enormous Waterloo diorama for some twenty years plus and it is magnificent.

Happy modelling.

Chris

[thomaspicton]

Thanks Chris, - yes both are amazing, I agree! I study new pictures of both whenever I see them, and would go to Germany if time permitted.

[daikaigan]

Hi thomaspicton. I'm very happy to see my Ney staff in front your immense cavalry Group
Greetings
Massimo

[thomaspicton]

Hi Massimo, thank you - I have built lots of your figures into my collection - keep on producing!

[renikart]

What a sight! I could probably spent hours sitting and watching this spectacle. I take my hat off. The red lancers and carabiniers are looking very impressive! I agree with Chris about the gloss finish, but as you said this is easily covered with a matt one (give it a good stir, otherwise it looks a bit satin). If you leave the gloss on the shiny stuff it gives a fantastic result. But then again, covering 35000 men over with a matt finish might take a while so who am I saying this. I've seen the diorama of Piet Prinsen in the hermitage museum in the Netherlands, which counted about 10k miniatures ( which is already mind blowing) but the amount you have done is unimaginable! Would love to see some pictures in the near future of the finished diorama.

[Beano Boy]

Congratulations thomaspicton!
i like the British Squares as indeed would Old Nosey himself,for Wellington had such a bright head for such glorious things,and liked his troops to shine as if they had not a care in his world.

Likewise i admire the shine because it has that toy soldier appeal to me like when i would view such wonders through the toy shop window as a tiny lad that could ill afford them,then.
All in all ,Splendid Painting_________________and Bright Presentation.

Your Blog,very colourful too. Nice One

There are those who paint one,or a few figures,and after move onto other things.
Many are brilliant painters and true artists,and so win my steadfast admiration for the wonderful gift they have and the work they produce.
However there are other guys who paint in methodical uniform style , because in their minds eye they see the things that they wish to create,and as far as Napoleonics is concerned,well there is no end in sight for them. One can never have enough Infantry,Cavalry or Guns._______________It`s painstaking ,especially slow and careful and a most deliberate way of painting.
There is no such averageness about defining a Methidical Style!
This i know personably myself, as does my friend blucher1815red!

Welcome to Benno`s Figure Forum,
and Greetings from the Leafy Green of Fiddlewood Norwich UK

[thomaspicton]

Thanks everyone, I wouldn't expect this to be finished anytime soon - after all, I think I have a few more decades of life and if I finished too soon, what would I do then?! Presently working on 1/71st Highland Light Infantry - should be ready in a fortnight. I have lots more that are ready which I could show, but the very act of getting them out of their boxes takes ages.