MID WEEK EYE CANDY: BLUCHER (5TH) HUSSARS, CIRCA !860-70

These are from the Foundry 28mm Franco Prussian War line, FP44 and FP45, Prussian Hussar Command and Hussar.   Although the Foundry figures are on the small side compared to other more recent lines, I found that these particular figures painted "big"--meaning that once done, they come across larger than their actual dimensions (if that makes sense).

When painting figures with complex uniforms, I often look for examples on the internet of how others have painted them to inform my approach.  In this case, I found very few examples of these figures.  Thus, I thought I'd offer a study of my own production to add to the collective consciousness.  

Having a Prussian Napoleonic army, I was partial to the idea of doing the Blucher Hussars for the FPW, their namesake providing a nice bridge between the eras.  Another thing that caused me to do this particular unit was that their uniforms weren't just "red" but described as "crab red"--a distinctive color that has been variously represented as bordering on brown.  To get a unique dark red, I used Testor's Model Master British Crimson as a base (yes, I still paint with enamels--Humbrol being a mainstay along with Testor's Model Master line).   

I was also very concerned about getting the lace on the attilas to stand out, a signature look of the post-napoleonic hussar rig. The white lace against the dark red jacket worked well in that regard.  Getting the officer's silver distinctions to stand out was more of a challenge, especially on the silver-red cross belt.  Rather than silver, I used steel for the officer's distinctions (on top of black for the jacket lace and shoulder loops), and then I brushed them over with silver to add shine.  I hope these images are of some use to some other painter.