Sunday 8 September 2013

Commitment: Flagging Already

Don't worry. It's not what you think.
Let me explain the deliberately ambiguous post title (I know, I'm a tease aren't I?!)

For this new 18th century project, before painting the figures (in fact before having even got the master figures finished) I decided to invest in all the infantry flags.

Now, this might sound mad, but...
...it was for 2 reasons:

1. to make me commit fully to the project. I was committed anyway, but there's nothing like commissioning Mark Allen to paint all the flags, and investing that cash up front, to prove the commitment.


2. to commit to the specific orbat. Many projects suffer from the "ooh, must have that unit" syndrome, which leads to diversions and distractions. It's no good starting a project only to drift off into just having the exotic units. How many times do we see Napoleonic collections where the wargamer has got only two or three line battalions, but a plethora of highlanders, 95th riles, and so on, facing the French Imperial Guard.
I know, I've done that sort of thing too, but this time I was determined to create a balanced order of battle, and stick to it. So having the flags done in advance was a "stake in the ground" on that score.


Having all the flags done up front was also a big psychological boost. At a time when there's the danger that a project may just be a pipedream, with all that planning that I had done, to actually cross the commitment threshold like this was important.

So, with all the infantry flags done...
(Apart from the Pils Holstein infantry battalions - which I'm working on at the moment)... I have simply stuck them into handy blocks of polystyrene (in fact, upturned chunks of TSS tile), and placed them into a box so they can be added to the figures when required.

Anyway, here they are, all ready to simply have figures placed under them!!


Above: all the French infantry flags.
Below: all the Prussian infantry flags.



All these were hand-painted by Mark Allen on metal foil. They are stunning, and way better than my photography can show. Mark's sheer artistic flare really comes through on these, with wonderful detailing and highlighting and the very believable folds and flowing of the flags.

So, all you 18th century "buffs and experts". Here's a little challenge for you: See which units you can spot just from the flags shown...
Is your favourite unit in there?
 

11 comments:

  1. I don't think it's such a daft idea; I do it all the time. It adds to the commitment and gives me the incentive to move on. Anyway, there's nothing I find more frustrating than having a unit hanging round for its colours.

    Doesn't make me paint any faster though . . . .

    :O(

    ReplyDelete
  2. You realise Phil, I have just started a Stadden Napoleonics collection with the Emperor Napoleon I and the First Regiment of the Foot Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard.

    Greg

    ReplyDelete
  3. They are indeed breathtaking.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful flags and a good idea to reign in the project.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, you are a tease, Phil, certainly had me fooled! They are indeed very fine, I especially like the Prussian collection.
    Keep up the momentum, let's have some regiments now!
    Cheers
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent flags, there is a method to your madness.

    cheers

    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  7. Commitment!

    Definitely a passion for painting to do that on foil!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for all the comments. Much appreciated. Mark's flags are a real joy to behold. Infantry figures will be a few weeks off yet. I get the castings in about a week, but then I have to paint them, so...
    In the meantime, there will be more stuff for discussion, I can promise.
    Cheers
    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, those flags are amazing!

    Peter

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those flags are simply stunning!
    Looking forward to seeing the units fitted with them.

    ReplyDelete