Anglo-Zulu War 1879

[despertaferro]

Hi there...

As a side effect of this coronavirus crisis, had all my jobs on hold until new order.
But I think I'm going to catch up my paintings...

These are British Mounted Infantry, made by Hat. Some figures from Natal Native Mounted and Frontier Cavalry sets used as a scouts on the command base.
Not the best figures ever made, I must say...

Hope you all are well

Warm regards!

Joan

[Bill Slavin]

Maybe not the best figures but you still have done an amazing job. I love the subtlety of your toning!

[despertaferro]

Frontier Light Horse

Hi...

Long-time not posting anything here. Too much work lately.

Not much time for painting and not only my outcome as dropped; rushed painting is not the best for quality, so I feel a bit ashamed to post this here but is everything I got so far.

I have a little bit of free time now so maybe I can catch up my rhythm a bit…

I hope you are all doing well…!

Joan

[C M Dodson]

Superb stuff as always.

There is a real presence with these guys.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Bill Slavin]

The day you are too ashamed to post, Joan, is the day we can all put away our brushes in shame. Beautiful work as always, and glad you decided to share!

[Wolfgang Meyer]

I like your painting style very much and I like your figures very much.

[Peter]

Nice addition to your forces!

[CliosPaintingBench]

Love the brown tone of the figures, makes them look weathered and part of the landscape.

[despertaferro]

Hi…

Some reinforcements for my Anglo Zulu war, British side.

Quite heterogenic stuff this time… A couple of Gatling guns, one manned by artillerymen and the other by sailors. A Naval Brigade base of infantry (I am planning to make some more Naval Brigade bases; I like very much how these sailors come out…) plus a Scouts base. I like the heliograph figure very much and I was not sure about how to make the best use of it. The other option was to include it in a Commander base.

Figures mostly Hat with a couple of old Esci. Not my favourite brand (Hat…) but they released quite a few sets covering the period, so I am going to make use of all of them.

All the best!

Joan

[Chariobaude]

I'm really amazed by your skills : getting this beautifull result with those (really) bad moulded figs is art !

[Peter]

Great looking units Joan! Nice mix of figures BTW!

It has been 8 years ago I've painted those marines with the gardner gun (BLOG)

[Rich W]

More great work. You blend different makes/ranges together so well.

[sansovino]

... very enjoyable armies. I like your style of painting.

[despertaferro]

Natal Native Horse...

I dislike very much this Hat's soft plastic...

I know there is no problem using acrylics on it, but my washing system relies totally on the solvent effect over enamel painting. And enamels only work with this plastic if heavily multi-coated and, even doing it, sometimes, when washing, I peel all the layers until the raw plastic... Which is annoying because meant to re-paint the damaged area again...

Anyhow, here they are...

Many thanks for your time.

Joan

[sberry]

I don't have those painting difficulties, since I use acrylics only. But in addition to your problems with washing, there is also the problem that this rubbery stuff is very bad at reproducing fine details in the cast.

And still, despite all these obstacles, you latest figures look great as always!

[Mr. Andrea]

marvellous!

[PaulRPetri]

Joan you are a painting machine! I have no idea how you produce so many wonderfully painted figures! It is unbelievable. I stand in awe!!

Thank you!

[Peter]

You painted them fantastic Joan!

[C M Dodson]

Beautifully done as always.

The HAT soft plastic problem was explained in a post some time ago as a reactive process with the enamel paint.

This was revelatory as I had asked HAT about what was causing their troops to a/ take ages to dry and B/ why were they disintegrating after a short while.

They asked me to send samples and that was the last thing I heard until the Bennoes explanatory post.

This might have been due to the owners health problems at the time.

Nevertheless, you might be better using acrylics in future in order to avoid the potential self destruction of your excellent work.

Best wishes,

Chris

[despertaferro]

Many thanks for your nice comments...

Chris...
I do not know if the painting sistem could speed up or slow down Hat's soft plastic disintegrating process, but I do know that my first Hat's sets (Punic wars series) are falling apart while my old Airfix or Esci still flexible after 30 years. And not only painted figures, the same happens to the one's remaining unpainted...
And the first Hat's sets plastic was'nt the rubberish stuff they had been using latelly.

I hope you're all doing well...

Joan