We're back...A New Year Beckons!

It's been awhile, longer than I expected but Der Resin Kavalier has finally returned. As most of you who have followed this occasional blog, I am retired and with all the time on my hands, I continually find new things to do and interests to pursue. In the last eight months or so, I've painted numerous figures, mostly 28mm World War 2 ranging from US Marines and their Japanese opponents, to North Africa with the 8th Army, Afrika Korps, and Italian troops. I made enough jungle terrain to covers most of a 4' x 6' table, built a model railroad, and of course played numerous rounds of golf. Having an wonderfully tolerant and understanding spouse has certainly helped Indeed, after nearly fifty years of marriage, I still can't believe how incredibly lucky I have been in that regard. But enough of the 2021, a new year is upon us. So back to Spain it is! But first, let me talk about something I've been meaning to do and that is discussing how conversions and paint jobs can create multiple units and nations, and with a minimum of work. So to change about the familiar Latin phrase E pluribus unum or, "out of many, one", I will change it to Ex unum figura, multae, or "out of one figure, many". In some of my earlier post, I showed you some pictures of some Bourbon Spanish troops that I converted from "A Call to Arms" (ACTA) French infantry. This involved, other than painting, a couple of steps:replacing the head, adding a plume, and finally painting it up. The photo below shows the process:

Another easy conversion involves the ACTA Waterloo Dutch Infantry. In looking to find some light infantry for my Spanish Army, I came across a listing both the names and uniforms of a number of these light infantry (www.littlewars.se/spanish/lightinf) One unit that caught my fancy was the Battalion de Voluntarios de Málaga. The dark green uniforms, purple facings,and buff belts/straps were calling out to be painted. The Dutch needed a bit of modification. They a cast with what appears to be the perfect shako, except that it is double-billed (Austrian surplus?). A bit of trimming, and we are good to paint, as shown below:

I'll finish up today by showing just what I meant by "out of one figure, many". The series below shows you the basic starting figures, Armies in Plastic set #5455, the French Second Foreign Regiment(who, I might add, contributed to the inventory of Spanish plumes for their bicorns).

Starting at the top we have Swiss, Nassau, Irish Legion, French Lights, and the original castings! Until next time...