Some updates and a Pubdate

Finally we have a PUBDATE!  January 2013 is when it goes on-sale, shipping in December 2012.  The irony here is if the Mayan Prophecies comes true you may never see it.  It's always something.

The artist's notes are done.  I expect I may see some changes to the text, but I feel like a good part of the process is done.

There are some more articles up on the Warlord website - mostly Russian Napoleonic uniforms.  I am also working on some ancient history for the Persians and Assyrians just to show I'm not a one-trick pony :).

I have been busy with a bunch of non-history stuff at the moment, but hopefully more updates soon as we get closer to the print date. I'm not sure how long Osprey prints ahead of release, but this means it could mean it has to be edited, laid out and illustrated to go to print in July or August - not that long in print terms.

In any case this is a whoo-hoo moment.

Hurry Up and Wait

Well, the book has been sent to the publisher and I wait for comments and corrections.  Not to be idle, I've started a couple of projects for life after the publish.  First, starting to gather research on phase 2, The Polish Legion 1796 - 1808.  There is alot of information, the question is can i find enough illustration to complement the book.  I think so, but I'm still gathering info.

Next, I was able to get a copy of the Polish Infantry Drill Manual from 1790, that I used in my book on the Polish army.   I'm copying it over correcting to a more readable modern Polish (think where the original was like ye olde English) and then translate into English to be posted as a pdf.

I also found some great Front Rank miniatures to add to my Confederation of the Bar era army project.  The esteem able Dave Taylor has provided me an article on photographing miniatures that I will try to use to show you progress.

Best till later

It never ends

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and the New Year - I did.

The manuscript and illustrations have gone off to the publisher, now I am just waiting for changes, admonishments and suggestions.  That said, I'm still eliciting input and double checking facts.  Up to the time it is laid out all is fair game.  I'm still working on some of the water color drawings for future use - as I finish them I will attempt to put some up on the site.

In conjunction with this book, I am working on some miniatures to tie into this period.  Currently, I'm painting up soldier of the Bar Confederation.  Eureka Miniatures has a Saxon range for the 1760's that works well for some Polish soldiers of the years 1763 - 1772.  They also have some lancers that work with the minimum conversion.

At the same time, Trent Miniatures has a range of figures for the Revolutionary wars in Italy which include the Polish Legions. I did a quick uniform guide for them, but I'm hoping to expand this into my second book - we'll see how that works.  I will probably update this to include some info on flags in the near future.

Totally unrelated, my good friends at Warlord Games have a new line of Russian troops from the Napoleonic Wars, so I am working on a quick uniform painting guide.  More info on that when it is finished and if they use it.

Our story so far...

Geez, I feel like one of those bloggers - "I know it has been a long time, blah, blah blah." and I realise I am one of those bloggers.  This reminds me of one time when I was a lad and my roommate had a bit too much one night.  He grabbed a roll of toilet paper on the way to the bathroom and dropped it, but held on to the end of the roll.  For some reason he thought pulling on the end would make the roll come to him - it just kept moving away. That is like where my time has gone of late, but I have been busy.

So, the manuscript is 98% done, the black and white illustrations are ready and finished writing the text to accompany the color illustrations. I am now starting to work on the artist notes so you will all have excellent pictures that Osprey books are known for.  There is a limit to the amount of original art these books can contain so we all have to just deal with it.  That said, I am going for a broad spectrum of normal (lancers and infantry), different (Bar Confederates) and exotic (Janissaries).  I'm sure I will go back to add more information post-publication, but that is a project for another day.  My initial plan is to create additional info as a pdf to download.

On a different note I have done some quick uniform guides for Warlord Games dealing with Polish World War II and Prussian Landwehr (not related, but both of interest to me).  Check out their website, all sorts of goodies and great miniatures. If I can only convince them or the Perry's to do miniatures on this period my work will be done - for now.

I have procured some great material of late.  Gembarzewski's 2 volume work Wojsko Polskie 1807 - 1830 as well a Morawski's illustrated book on the Legions - always planning ahead.

Passing the Bar

Here is the last of the Bar Confederation Cavalry sketches.  Only 2 will make it into the current book.  If anyone has preferences let me know.  Next up will be probably be some infantry from the Barist period - both Government and Confederate.

More Cavalry

Did some more sketches of Bar Cavalrymen for your review.  Not all of these will make it in this book, but we need choices. I have a couple more I will be adding shortly.  I am sending the text for feedback at the moment.

Don't be too judgemental

I started working on the artists notes, so really trained artists can do the center colour plates.  In order to do this I started some watercolor sketches of potential units.  I will be putting up pictures indescriminantly, give me feedback if there are units you want to see more of.  Today I am focusing on the Confederation of the Bar cavalry.  I'm trying to get a good cross section that will give you the feel for the period.  More to come over the next few days. Please let me know what you think.