Shout Out to Old Guard Painters

About 6 months ago, I placed an order with Old Guard Painting Service in the Ukraine. Time to start expanding my Hundred Days force for the planned Waterloo scenario book for Général d'Armée. I have always wanted to game Quatre-Bras and for this I needed some Dutch-Belgians and of course Brunswickers.

The Spanish painter I was using seems to be planning to retire as he only paints the occasional 28mm figure now and the painter I was using in Thailand was just too fussy, driving me crazy with non-sensical questions!

I saw an advert on the TMP marketplace that had some 15mm Nassau for sale for a good price but when I checked they were not AB but Old Glory. The owner Vladimir, though did offer a pretty good price to paint what I wanted. I already had decided that I wanted Perponcher's 2nd Division in the Allied Order of Battle, First Corps. This gave me a nice mix of Belgian, Dutch and Nassau. I also added the 3rd light cavalry brigade under Merlen from the Netherlands Cavalry Division. And of course I wanted the full Brunswick Corp under the Black Duke.

I decided to order half of the 2 divisions to test the waters. I believe the order approached around 300 figures. I was asked to pick out what figures I wanted from the AB catalogue, and directed Vladimir to use the centjours website to use as an uniform reference. And that was it. I recieved the figures a couple of days ago and I have to say I was enormously pleased. First up are some photos.

Impressively packed with every unit identified as well as a packing list...

....identified down to the figure.

Overview, I did not want the skirmishers, artillery or command figures based, just the formed infantry and cavalry.

Brunswickers

Belgian Light Dragoons

Silly Billy, who I may let command Perponcher's Division.

Dutch Hussars

Belgian Line and Dutch Militia

Brunswick Hussars

The Black Duke

Well I have to base up the artillery, command figures as well as the skirmishers. But most, importantly I have to attach those Flagdude standards that I have most patiently kept on hand for the last 3 years!

Once this is done I will post up some more detailed photos of the units recieved. But maybe I should say a bit more about the service.

Old Guard Painters Review

Price 10/10

Ease of Ordering 10/10

Ease of Contact 10/10 all emails responded to within 24 hours if not sooner

Accuracy of Painting 10/10

Quality of Packing 10/10

Speed of Painting 9/10 Vladimir was a bit optimistic here quoting 3 months it was 5 (additional month for shipping)!

So I can recommend this painting service without reservation and I have already almost got together my next order.

Overall 10/10

Army in a Box from Fernando

On February 21st, this year I emailed Fernando Painting Services in Sri Lanka to tell them that I was interested in getting some Blue Moon ACW miniatures painted. By February 24th, I had a quote not only for the painting but for the painting service to directly purchase the figures in the US and have them sent to Sri Lanka. The company actually paid for the figures themselves and then billed me. We ran into some problems as neither of the two credit card companies (one associated with a local bank and one associated a national bank) would approve any payments to Sr Lanka. I had to send a cheque by registered mail. Not withstanding this when the figures arrived in Sri Lanka on March 10, they started the paint job even though they had yet to receive the cheque for the figures (I had not even sent the cheque for the painting). On March 17th they received the first cheque, and by then the painting was well underway and I was receiving photographed samples. The only modification I had to make was to get the figures with havelars painted correctly (they were painted blue rather then white). On April 24th, I got notice that all my figures were done and fortunately the cheque for the painting arrived soon the next day. Once the figures were weighed for shipping, I still owed $30, but by then I realised that I could use a Canadian credit card to finish the purchase without difficulty (after living now in the US for 15 years, I have come to the conclusion that they have the worst and most antiquated banking system in the western world). Today, May 2, the figures arrived.

Absolutely amazing service, 402 figures done in 2 months on spec! So how was the job done, very well indeed. The box arrived well packaged which each group of figures in their own packaging, not one figure was damaged. I had planned to apply washes, as I had ordered the lowest standard at 70 cents each, I believe. They do not need washes. Well this is what they look like.

The package groups from Blue Moon was preserved so there would be no confusion. Everything was carefully labeled.

Standard Infantry firing.

Iron Brigade

Infantry with havelars

Cavalry with carbines and well as some dismounted cavalry

Artillerists and more dismounted cavalry

The sergeant even has his stripes!

Zoauve command, this was the only screw up and my fault, half should be red and blue , but the other half should be light blue (146th NY), but only 5 figures to re-paint.

5th New York

146th New York

More cavalry

402 figures

Just to show that I can paint 18 mm figures, here are some of Berden's Sharpshooters and Heros as well as some limbers for Longstreet. I also have a dozen cannons ready to paint.

Well I have to give this company 10/10, just terrific job and terrific service. Highly recommended. Oh by the way, here is the OB of my ACW Union force.