While going through my SYW Austrians to update them, I looked over to the next shelf at my Palatinate and Bavarian armies for the period. This got me thinking that it would not take too much to add more units to create a Reichs Armee force. I had a couple battalions of SYW Prussian test paints I did a long time ago. I never decided what to do with them, as I went in a different style with my actual Prussian Army (thank Fernando!). Looking at the figures, I decided it was time to do some work to build a force for the Reichs Armee.
I do not have many non artillerymen figures that ar unpainted for the period and did not really want to start from lead. So, I went to the Dojo site and ordered a number of Austrian units that I thought would work for Mainz and Wurzburg infantry regiments. I decided the Prussians would work for two units of Franconia. I also got two regiments of cavalry that matched the army, with a few tweaks.
The models came in the mail in the usual timely manner. I organized all the figures into units and started painting. For Mainz, I painted the vests green and pants buff. For Wurzburg, I painted the turn backs to match the cuffs in red and blue (two regiments). I updated the saddlecloths on the cavalry. I then changed some vests and pom pom poms on the Prussians. I did a few grenadiers for the infantry. I updated the drums on all and the flagpoles.
Once everything was painted, I made some paper flags from images on Kronosraf and war flag.com. I attached these with white glue and water and let them dry (I ensured they were dry before spraying them). I then added them to the white metal bases and flocked them with paint and flocking. Finally, I sprayed them all with Testors Dull Coat and done.
With a couple of Bavarians and Wurttemburgers, I have the beginning of the army. I need to add two more cav regiments and eight infantry battalions at some point, but I have at least gotten things started!
- Manteuffel