Johnny Reb & Billy Yank, an American Civil War Plog

[emperorpenguin]

Taking inspiration from the number of excellent project logs I've seen recently (especially the Napoleonic threads), I've decided to start my own in order to motivate myself to complete my American Civil War armies.
The Perry's are releasing plastic 28mm Zouaves in February and I hope to get most of my force painted by March

Please note that while I've been inspired by Bayard and KingoftheSquats, don't get your hopes up that my level of painting will be the same!

First up what I have painted so far





One battery of Rebel artillery and a regiment (18 figures) of Wheat's Tigers, Louisiana Zouaves.

[emperorpenguin]

I have also been experimenting with the gray-scaling technique and I think I like it! Unfortunately all my ACW and WW2 figures are already undercoated but I made a pig's ear out of my attempt to darken my Berdan's Sharpshooters so I may retry on them.

So my practice grayscale models





And the obligatory pet photo

[kingofthesquats]

Which washes did you do the second greyscale model?it's come out really well!

I really like you're ACW stuff, I can't see any real difference in quality between these models and my Napoleonics, I think you've done a great job! The cannon is very cool, I can't wait until I eventually get some artillery!

Keep it up!

[emperorpenguin]

Thanks for the compliment Kingofthesquats!

The Old Guard Grenadier was done with 2 or 3 washes of Asurmen Blue, Baal Red on the epaulettes, Devlan Mud on the musket and Ogryn Flesh on the skin.
One wash of Devlan Mud then over the white parts and the brass plate. I used Chaos Black rather than Badab Black on the bearskin.

The Rat Bagpiper has only had one coat applied so far but I'm really liking him.

[bayard-88]

Very nice! I have to start using washes, becouse the result is really good. Confederates looks great- ACW is my third (after napoleonic and medieval) favourite historical period and maybe one day I'll make some C.S. regiments (Louisiana Tigers! )

[big p from gmg]

Give 'em hell boys!




Like the Old Guard too...

[DarthSte]

Love the Zouaves!

[emperorpenguin]

Thanks guys for the compliments!

Bayard: I look forward to seeing your guys, the Louisiana Tigers are such a great unit. I ordered straw hats for mine but they never arrived, so I'll have to order them again. I plan on getting a few guys in shirts (bright red) to add variety to my Tigers. I ordered a mix of firing and charging poses which look stupid so I'm going to focus on a firing line. Must remember to plan how they will look ranked up next time!

Big P your Rebs look great! Texans too if I'm not mistaken?

Thanks Darth Ste, I will be doing Duryea's zouaves for the north too when the Perry plastics are released a month from now. My dilemma is that with 42 in a box that is far more than I'll need. I was tempted to redo the Tigers in plastic but they look wrong with baggy breeches

[big p from gmg]

Yup... Done Texans and Virginians. Just finishing the last 12 figures out of 330 28mm... Then I get to do the fancy units like Zoauves!

[emperorpenguin]

Not really happy with how my Berdan's Sharpshooters have turned out, may need to strip these guys and restart

[kingofthesquats]

How did you paint the sharpshooters EP?

[emperorpenguin]

In short: Lazily and badly!

I used Greenskin primer hoping to wash it darker with thraka Green, it didn't work.

[kingofthesquats]

Don't be so hard on yourself!

What is greenskins primer? It sounds like you've got the right idea, maybe you just need to wash over a lighter colour.

Keep em coming!

[emperorpenguin]

Greenskin primer is an Army Painter spray colour, similar to snot green.

Nearly finished a union artillery piece and crew, hoping to have an update with them and some Black Hat/iron brigade models by the weekend

[tezdal]

As a Texan living in Virginia, I absolutely love your Confederates paint jobs..Curious, what rules do you run 28mm ACW with?

[emperorpenguin]

Not sure if you mean me or Big P's Texans! But thanks if you mean me!

I've been using Black Powder primarily. I also use Legends of the Old West but less often.

[colhodg]

your painting looks damn good to me - lovely shot of the massed troops. Have to say i think a white background might help with the photo's as it reflects natural light onto the figures better, also setting camera to timer so no wobble, crisper photo on zoom especially.

on the sharpshooter - looks fine as a base and wash - you could try mixing a little yellow/sandy colour into the green for a block highlight then a little more for final highlight. not that i want to meddle with your colour scheme - impressive work so far

[kingofthesquats]

Hear hear! (Here here!?)

Your painting does look damn good! I'm looking forward to your next update. I know next to nothing about the ACW, your blog is sparking my interest though!

[DarthSte]

I know next to nothing about the ACW, your blog is sparking my interest though!

I've just read Bernard Cornwell's Starbuck chronicles. They're quite an easy way for a Brit to understand a bit about what went on. Sadly they only go as far as about the halfway point of the war. I think he went back to writing Sharpe instead.

[bayard-88]

Hear hear! (Here here!?)

Your painting does look damn good! I'm looking forward to your next update. I know next to nothing about the ACW, your blog is sparking my interest though!

There are two great movies about ACW- Gettysburg by Ronald F. Maxwell, based on the novel The Killer Angels and Gods and Generals, by the same director. I saw the first one when I was eight and since then it's one of my favourite movies, and Gettysburg- one of my favourite battles, despite the Confederate defeat.