The Napoleonic Era is one of my favourites for figure painting. I suppose it is the usual attraction to the bright and colourful uniforms and the romance of the time. My absolute favourite units are the lancers of the Imperial Guard - both the 1st (Polish) and the 2nd (Dutch "Red Lancers"). Whenever I can, I'll pick up figures representing these troops. Such was the case with this fellow.
The bust is well-cast in amber resin without blemishes or air bubbles and comes in four main parts with some pewter accessories. It represents a trooper of the 1st (Polish) Lancers circa 1812 in full dress complete with aguillettes and cords. The resin parts consist of the upper torso/shoulders/head, the czapska, the plume and the pedestal. The czapska is nicely detailed with additional pewter hooks, chinstrap and cords. This allows the chinstrap to be hooked up and droop naturally across the front of the czapska. The separate cords are a nice touch as well because they don't get in the way of painting. The only negative I see is that the pupils of the eyes are dimpled and iris is scribed like a lot of statuary. This is really only a drawback if you wanted to change the direction the eyes are looking. Once painted it is very difficult to notice the indentations. The bust also comes with a nice marble-like pedestal. The proportions are good and the details are very nice with well defined features though the side burns are some what stylized. The face has a lot of character giving the impression of an experienced campaigner. All in all a very nice bust.
On to the painting. I decided to not attach the czapska just yet for ease of painting. I did epoxy the base to the torso, taped it off with painter's tape and primed all the parts with a craft paint primer rattle can. As usual painting is done with Citadel Color acrylics.
The face:
*base = Snakebite Leather
H1,H2 = Snakebite Leather + Elf Flesh
H3 = Elf Flesh
S1,S2 = Snakebite Leather + Terracotta
S3 = Snakebite Leather + Terracotta + Chaos Black
Crimson turnbacks and collar:
base = Mechite Red (Foundation)
H1,H2 = base + Imperial Purple + Blood Red
H3 = Imperial Purple + Blood Red + Skull White
S1,S2, S3 = base + Scab Red + Chaos Black
I struggled with the reds. I must have gone back and forth from highlight to shadow each time thinking it was too much ie - too much highlight - tone it down - too much shadow. In the end though I think it turned out alright.
Tunic:
base = Nightworld Blue
H1,H2 = base + Ultramarines Blue
H3 = base + Ultramarines Blue + Electric Blue
S1,S2, S3 = base + Chaos Black
*base = basecoat
H = highlight
S = shadow
GB
