Battle for Quebec: French 2nd Battalion regiment Bearn

This is my second battalion for Montcalm's French forces for the battle of Quebec on the Plains of Abraham - my regiment Bearn in the 1758 continental uniform issue.

All figures are Crusader Miniatures 28mm sculpts and likely the last I will use for this army as their range is limited and I want more than just standing or marching poses across the range of battalions which took the field. They really are superb figures and frankly a joy to paint.

The eyes are slightly on the narrow size if you are into painting eyes like I am - testing my eyes and magnifiers to their limit. I have given a few of them a slightly unshaven look; generally limiting them to black or dark haired soldiers. I've been doing this for years but this time I think I've got the technique to where I have been aiming for. It's a thin dark grey wash which I gently stippled onto the faces and built it up just a little.

I made my own steel wire flag poles and of course my own flags. Pretty sure the fanions, ribbons and cravats are Front Rank. The Crusader Miniature ensigns come with a unique and rather odd looking hand arrangement. I had intended to sculpt better hands around the poles once fixed but then completely forgot until I was too far down the painting road.

The only variation to the figures this time was twisting one of the officer's arms. As usual, I applied my metals after the mat coat spray varnish (Micador Picture Varnish) and only ran silver along the bayonet edges.

The previous French line battalion (also Crusader Miniatures - la Guyenne) was painted using a grey base layering approach for the white coats. This time I opted for a brown/ochre base which I think is softer and I prefer it. I'm not sure if the end result demonstrates much of a difference. I didn't muddy or dirty these troops up but will do so next time I think.

I've already prepped the next battalion for undercoating - some Black Hussar fusiliers so I find myself on a bit of an FIW role toward year's end.