First of the new project

But first: sales news
Following my previous post about figures for sale, the 40mm collection (Prinz August homecasts) have gone west, across the pond, and I hope they are enjoying a new lease of life in "the new world".
Thanks to all who got in touch and asked for details... some sold, some are under consideration.
I have added some "For Sale" pages for you to click on and have a browse through what's available in the other periods, including unit listings. See navigation bar above.

Project news:
thanks also to all who emailed and commented with good wishes for the new project.
The term "magnum opus" may be a little far-fetched, and certainly is not devised to claim any greatness, but standing at the foot of this particular mountain and looking upwards, it does seem a big project!

In short, it's big battalion (infantry in 54 figure battalions, cavalry in 18-36s), French v Germanic allies (mainly Prussian). It will primarily be my own range of figures, which are currently being created.The setting is "Pils Holstein", maintaining that fictional element (I like devising maps, characters, and a few fictitious units to boot).

Once in full swing, I may set up a separate blog to chart progress, but it's a long term affair, and there will not be much to show for a while.

However, we are making progress: I met with the talented figure designer for lunch a couple of weeks ago, laid out my ideas and some sketches, since when scans of uniform details have been passing between us.
The pose for the standard march-attack infantry figures is key, and that's what's being worked on now.

In the meantime, I've been dabbling with some command figures, many of which will come from the Suren stable, converted where necessary. Here's a taster:
Maurice de Saxe:

The flag is hand-painted on linen (a style I have decided to keep for this new project). Flag design is conjectural (although the arms of Saxony would seem appropriate given the fellow's lineage).
Figures are Suren, with a John Ray head added to the pennant bearer. I have been so fortunate that over the past few years, John has provided me with a number of his superb figures and a few units in the new collection will be from John's masterpieces.

I've also been experimenting with horse painting techniques (the horses in the new collection will be from commercially available ranges).

Finally:
To all readers of the blog, and especially to all those who subscribed to "The Classic Wargamer's Journal" earlier in the year, a belated Merry Christmas; and here's to a prosperous 2012.