AB French in Greatcoats

 

This is my first try at a Napoleonic regiment and I thought I would start with the renowned AB miniatures in 18mm. I'm not sure if it's a project yet as I mostly did this so I would have a something to add when a friend that I have comes over with his Nap collection. It may become a project, but too early to say.

I've always had a strange relationship with figures smaller than 28mm in that I like how they present an army feel to them, but find them sort of a chore to paint as I feel somewhat constrained with all the small brush strokes. I'm quite happy with how they look and really like the solid compactness they present. I would really like to add more regiments to my collection, but the process of getting there dampens the enthusiasm some as they are quite time consuming.

I'm hoping to add more 15/18mm armies to my collections as I do really like the army feel they present and maybe doing more of them will become more comfortable in time, but 28mm will stay king as I really do like painting the scale and the dynamism in posing it offers. 

The figures are amazing and full of detail that would put some 28mm to shame, but I wonder do you really need so much detail in 18mm? After all nobody will see it unless they pick it up for inspection. I'm on the fence about it because for pictures with close ups and those that like to have close inspections of miniatures it's great, but if it's just for army building then maybe not as much. I would say before I paint the unit I wish there was less, but after I'm done I'm glad their was more...... so perhaps I'm not the best to ask because I can't give straight answer other then a muddled "depends".

I'm a novice in uniforms and organizations in the Napoleonic wars so mistakes may of been made that might make some Grognards gasp, but truth be told if I liked something that wasn't correct I'd still keep it as I take liberties to give impressions that I want, because for me that's the most important thing of any project or figure I paint.

 

I have some more French that are about half way or so finished in between other things I'm doing, but this time without greatcoats. I thought I would start with greatcoats first as they are easier to paint then uniforms when getting my feet wet for the first time.

Thanks for viewing!

Miniature Company- Eureka/AB miniatures