BOOM! ROMANIAN ARTILLERY RUSSO TURKISH WAR

Outpost Wargame Service Russo Turkish Russian Artillerists Painted as Romanians

Greetings fellow shut-ins!  In this post, I report the completion of the penultimate step in my pandemic project: the Artillery of my Russo-Turkish War era Romanian contingent. These follow from the Cavalry, the Dorobanti Infantry, the Chassuers, and the Line Infantry.  I am now starting in on the last bit, the command, but that is for another post, dear readers.  This post is about the artillery. Once again, I stuck with the Outpost Wargame service Russo Turkish War figures.  Although they have a line of Romanians they do not include specialized artillery figures.  Instead, they suggest that you use their Russians, whose ordnance and uniforms were virtually the same aside from color (Russians being in their characteristic green). Good enough for me! Here is my study of how I did these figs (as usual, you may clix pix for BIG PIX):

At first I was skeptical of the poses, of how the fellow pulling the lanyard in particular would come across, but once you put them all together the effect is very dynamic. 

 The gunners, sans-ordnance for easier inspection. 

 To get the red-0n-blue piping on the kepi to stand out, I underpainted it in white (a tip for anyone out there who shares my mania and who doesn't mind doing something twice).

 Outpost gun model (right) next to a Foundry Franco-Prussian War 9cm Krupp. The gun model is one order of magnitude larger than others in this scale, a not infrequent thing with gun models. Nevertheless, I found that these larger models look correctly sized in relation to the Outpost gunners.  

The Romanian Artillery Park at Firing Practice.

Excelsior!

ROMANIAN INFANTRY: RUSSO TURKISH WAR ERA

Outpost Romanian Infantry

Greetings, fellow shut-ins.  In this post, we follow up from our last work in progress post on the Romanian line infantry.  Like many, the lock-down has provided the context for me to put a dent in our big hobby "to do" lists.  In this regard, the major of my "shut in" goals has been to complete my Romanian Russo Turkish War contingent (by May 4).  Having done the cavalry some time ago, this meant working through the following: the Dorobanti Infantry, the Chassuers, the Line Infantry, the Artillery, and the Command. Of these, the line infantry was the largest challenge--by far...

...at 51 figures, this project represents the biggest number of figures that I have ever done in a single lot.  This part of the overall project loomed like the mountain stage of the Tour de France in comparison to the others.  Having completed it, I am now back on level ground and cruising as I move into the two remaining on the list, the artillery and the command. 

The French-inspired Romanian infantry uniform (left), and the significant Romanian Order of Battle in 1877 (right). The OOB is from the indispensible War in the East: A Military History of the Russo Turkish War 1877-78 by Quintin Barry, Helion and Company, 2012.  As usual, you may clix pix for BIG PIX in this post (which should make the OOB readable).

I won't reprise too much of what I've already related about the Romanian Army of the Russo Turkish War other than to say that it was substantial and to recommend visiting the Balkan Military History blog for more information: beefy and still concise.  Having a significant contingent of Romanians in any Russo Turkish War collection not only is historically appropriate, but also provides a colorful addition that is right up the alley of any fancier of post-Napoleonic, pre-khaki military fashion. 

A close up study of the figures: like the Chasseurs, these figures are heavily burdened with equipment.  Moving beyond that to more positive thoughts, an observer with no knowledge of the Romanians and a general interest in 19th century continental armies could easily mistake these for French Foreign Legion or troops of one of the German minor states (tip of the hat to Aly for pointing out the latter).

The majority of my units are in this advancing pose. I figured it was general purpose and looked the part.  It is not far off from how the mid-century Prussians are shown carrying their rifles when they are advancing...

...I included two units in this slope arms pose for variety. After the fact, I found that I liked this pose better than I thought I would. Now I think that either would have suited well for the majority. 

Having been freed from their painting sticks, the Romanian Infantry deploys for action. 

 Excelsior!

ROMANIAN INFANTRY RTW: WORK IN PROGRESS

For starters: white primed and then paint bases, faces, hair, boots, and trousers.

Greetings, fellow shut-ins.  In this post, we continue on our Balkan pathways, returning to the Romanians of the Russo-Turkish War.  Taking advantage (if you can call it that) of the long term continuation of social isolation and working from home, I have embarked on the largest painting project I have ever attempted: Forty-five infantry figures and eleven specialty figures (!).  I have been on this project for the last two weeks, but am on track (fingers crossed) to have them done by this weekend.  Although daunting (for me), I figured this was a unique opportunity to tackle this part of the Romanian pile en-masse. I also figured that doing them together would be needed to render a consistent look. As usual, you may clix pix for BIG PIX in this post.  Doing a large project like this deepens my admiration for fellow bloggists like Mark N and Stokes, who do such wonderful paint jobs on large figure count projects like this routinely: I doff my brush in respect.

 French-inspired Romanian Line Infantry Uniform.  At a glance, fairly simple, but closer inspection shows that it is more involved, particularly the piping and number of details on the headgear.  Figures are from Outpost Wargame Service (acquired through Badger Games in the US).

Next Step: paint coats, highlight coats, highlight trousers, and then do trouser stripes.

Musicians and leaders done: on large projects, I finish the specialty figures ahead of the rest. This interim milestone gives me a boost and also gets me familiar with the figures and the color palette, which helps when next shifting to the assembly-line work of the other figures.

Some of the piping detail work (repeat x45). 

Equipment, done: working my way up to the headgear. Not yet cleaned up, but getting there...

 ...the entire batch, marching towards completion.

Excelsior!