I have been having one of those weeks when I just feel like I am making no progress in my goal of updating the Tennant Collection of Hinton Hunt miniatures. Richard Tennant painted 2800 of these tiny fellows and I have updated perhaps a third, but that still leaves a lot to go. Every time I start another project it just pushes the completion of the collection's refresh back even further. That being said, the additions I have made add a nice variety to the collection which I hope will be a coherent whole in a few years. In any event, below are some of my current distractions:
 |
| Eventually I'd like this cabinet to be full of beautifully refreshed miniatures, all consistently painted and based - there's a long way to go! Note my guard dog protecting the collection... |
 |
| One of two shelves that are essentially completed, representing one British and one French Division. |
Among the current distractions is a scenic backdrop. I got it in my mind that it would be fun to recreate a picture from the Airfix guide to Napoleonic Wargaming that featured these miniatures. Dick Tennant and Don Featherstone worked to photograph them and provided the shots to Bruce Quarrie for publication. No pressure there to do it right!
 |
| The first step was to enlist the services of a friend with a woodworking shop to create the 1.5'x6' wooden frame, on which I stretched some muslin (from another good friend who works in a fabric shop). |
 |
| The backdrop is secured to the table with metal L brackets and a clamp so that it is mobile. |
 |
| Primed with lots of leftover spray paints that I was never going to use. |
 |
| At six feet long it should provide ample coverage for panoramic shots of the battlefield. |
 |
| Hopefully I can turn cheap craft paints into some that resembles a landscape in Portugal or Spain. |
Yet another distraction is this Airfix kit of LaHaye Sainte
 |
| Assembled and with a few farm animals begging to be painted. |
 |
| One of my woodworking friends had this lovely piece of 1/8" ply with a mahogany veneer as scrap, which I will use as the base. |
Chief among the distractions is the regiment of the Polish Lancers of the French Imperial Guard!
 |
| They are coming along, but there is so much detail to paint on these handsome lads and their horses. |
And yet another ongoing effort, I wanted to get some nice plinths for some larger scale miniatures that friends across the pond and locally have painted.
 |
| I found these maple blocks from an online craft wood distributor that were dirt cheap. My buddy with the woodworking shop helped bevel the base piece, which I then glued to the pedestal and secured with a countersunk screw. |
 |
| Not bad for about a buck a piece if even that much. |
 |
| Rob's rendition of Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers now nicely elevated on a stained plinth. I was terrified drilling into the base and legs to insert some pins that help secure the piece to the plinth, but all turned out well. |
 |
| This view just cracks me up! |
 |
| Here is my own poor attempt at painting a larger scale figure. While not bad, it is a far cry from the tour de force of Rob's work, though it must be said, the Stadden figures are far superior to the Hinton Hunt sculpts. |
 |
| This one came as part of the Tennant collection and needs little repair, but will make a nice addition. It is a Stadden sculpt I believe. |
 |
| My understanding is that this is a Dick Higgs sculpt that was never put into production. His compadres are featured on the cover of Don Featherstone's "Military Modelling". |
The final distraction was a lovely trip to see our son in California, and just get away for a bit!
 |
| Point Reyes National Seashore |
 |
| Cypress lined Avenue |
 |
| The trail out to the westernmost point in California - no whales this time though. |
 |
| Cindy tests out the hammock at our B&B. |
 |
| Muir Woods |
 |
| Hike out to the coast at Point Reyes |
 |
| More Redwoods at Muir Woods |
 |
| Cindy and Carter being swallowed by the "trail" out to the coast. |
Thanks for following my journey. I'll post again as each of these projects near completion.
Wishing you joy and the peace of mind to recognize it.
