I had planned on stopping my pre-painting preparation with the Natal Native contingent I posted on yesterday.

I had enough figures for two more British regular contingents of “Strelets” Highlanders so with all of the bases, glue, cutters, pin drills, and rattle cans already laid on the preparation table it made sense to finish these with everything ready to go.

I have to hand it to Strelets; they really outdid themselves this time, proving that chunky and naive sculpting is a true art form – if you consider abstract interpretation of reality to be art! These figures are so “below average” that I half-expect them to drop out of school. The style is chunkier than a pregnant wombat, with features that are more elusive than a cat on a hot tin roof, and some details that seem to have taken a trip to the fun-house mirror. As for the faces? Let’s just say they’re less “masterpiece” and more “guru piece,” and those crowded areas, like the chest, are so cluttered with oversized details that it looks like a garage sale on steroids!

Nevertheless I have them so they are getting used! I am not stubborn, just loudly determined!

The Strelets Highlanders (1)

The Strelets Highlanders (2)

The Officer cobbled together from HaT colonial bits and pieces.

Gardiner Gun

Assorted HaT cavalry bits and pieces put together to create a dragoon unit.

The Strelets Highlanders (3)

The Strelets Highlanders (4)

Another of these tomorrow, although some Colonial Indian units may be finished to provide a brief interlude.