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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"Russia Is Impelled Onward By Fatality."


"Her destiny is about to be accomplished."

This trio of 28mm scale metal models are sold by “Wargames Foundry", and can be purchased as part of their FN101 - Fusiliers In Greatcoat Marching set. The figures are three of eight identical Napoleonic French soldiers sculpted by Michael and Alan Perry, and have been painted to suggest the line infantrymen are returning back to their homeland during the Retreat from Moscow - albeit I'll be using grass flock for all my basing for this project.


As I decided to predominantly pigment the miniatures using the 'official' palette shown on the Nottingham-based company's website, I undercoated the Fusiliers with a mixture of "Vallejo" Surface Primer Black and "Citadel " Abaddon Black. I then applied either some "Two Thin Coats" White Star or "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to the Frenchmen's trousers, and (more) "Two Thin Coats" White Star to their numerous leather straps. All these areas were later sploshed with "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade.

"The Horus Heresy occurred over ten thousand Terran years ago, a nearly unimaginable span of time."

With arguably the most daunting aspect of the soldiers completed, I applied the odd dab of "Vallejo" Heavy Brown to each model's water bottle and chest strap, before layering their firearms with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna. These details were shaded using "Citadel" Agrax Earthshade. The miniatures' heavy greatcoats were treated to some "Vallejo" Sombre Grey, washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil, and very carefully dry-brushed with (more) "Vallejo" Sombre Grey. Finally, I applied a dollop of "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow to each Fusilier's pom-pom, doused them with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade, and highlighted the ornamental balls with (more) "Two Thin Coats" Skulker Yellow.


Alongside the latest additions to my slow-burning Napoleonic project, I have managed to finished a ninth 28mm plastic Horus Heresy Space Marine wearing MK VI armour. This "Games Workshop" traitor was predominantly painted using "Citadel" Sons Of Horus Green, "Vallejo" Gold, and Gunmetal, as well as lashings of "Citadel" Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade. Its completion means I just have the ten-man unit's Legion Vexilla bearer to go before the squad can take to the battlefields of the Thirty-First Millennium.

"Games Workshop" WIPs - These three Castellans have been primed and base-layered

In addition I have made a start on some of the models I aim to complete as part of the annual Zomtober Challenge - namely a three-figure blister of Castellans of Dol Guldur by "Games Workshop". I actually painted up some of these 28mm metal miniatures earlier this year to represent a contingent of Black Númenóreans for my Barad Dur army, due to the Nottingham-based company no longer manufacturing the specific figures for their Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game.


Frustratingly, some ten months later this is still seemingly the case, so having decided against either paying twenty quid for a single official "Finecast" sculpt on "eBay" or 3D printing some "top quality" proxies, I have slapped some "Citadel" Abaddon Black and a base layer of "Vallejo" Gunmetal onto three more Castellans - with the plan of potentially buying a couple more packets in the near future to bolster up their overall number to twelve and maybe even 'using them in anger' for "Dragon Rampant...

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undercoat2670
Oct 09, 2023

Great work on your 3 French soldiers. I think they look suitably worn and weather beaten to fit in perfectly with your theme. Great stuff.

I love the Sons of Horus colour scheme. That green is awesome!

Giant wait to see your denizens of Dol Guldur turned from shiny to dirty and corrupted.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Oct 09, 2023
Replying to

Cheers Undercoat. I really like the French Fusilier sculpts and may well pick up another blister of them in the future - albeit, the Perry Brothers seem to have produced a few packets of different Frenchmen in greatcoats, so I'm tempted to get one of each to mix up my eventual regiments.


I've got more SoH on the painting table currently, as I transition across to my third tactical squad wearing MK IV Armours. And all three Castellans of Dol Guldur are already finished, so should be posted soon as I move on to the Mouth of Sauron.

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Michał Kucharski
Michał Kucharski
Oct 08, 2023
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Love the Napoleonic, SM and gread to see oldschool Castellans!

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Oct 08, 2023
Replying to

Thanks very much, Michal. More Napoleonics to come, as well as Sons of Horus too. I've already finished two of the Castellans as well, so expect some pics soon.

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Guest
Oct 07, 2023

Great work on your Napoleonics and space marines, found a way to comment but only as a guest!

Best Iain caveadsum1471

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Oct 07, 2023
Replying to

Cheers Iain. I've been enjoying a load of Napoleonic posts over several sites recently, yours included, so have finally taken the five-six year project plunge. LOL.


That's very odd you can't just join the website and comment - I've had a few new members recently too, so some people clearly aren't having a problem. I'll see if I can just invite you. 🤔

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
Oct 06, 2023

Great work on the Russian Simon, you seem to be motoring through the Napoleonic's quickly this time, where before they stalled quite quickly. The son looks great as well, shame that GW seems to be streamlining so many lines like the Marines and some of the LOTR models.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Oct 06, 2023
Replying to

Um... Thanks Dave, but its actually three French Fusiliers. LOL!!! I am though getting them done a lot quicker than my previous attempt and am already halfway to matching the number of Victrix French I painted some twelve years ago. 😄


I had hoped Games Workshop would have rereleased the Black Númenóreans by now as I'd buy at least a handful of those blisters, if not more. Fingers crossed they'll return next year as I'm not a fan of proxying them tbh - but want to stick to official figures for this project as opposed to unofficial 3D prints.

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