Johan, thanks for the kind words! Yes, I'm using the Osprey and other illustrations, as reference. The one thing I'm concerned with is the color of his uniform. Is it a VERY dark blue or is it black? According to the Osprey book it's black...I don't trust that. The paintings I've seen depicts a dark blue uniform with dark grey great-coat. Does anyone have an opinion on this? What color should his uniform be? I feel I've exhausted my research on this subject. Any help will be most appreciated.

.... Wow. Tough question, I know something about French uniforms, but Prussian uniforms still are very much unexplored territory for me...

Anyway, what I'm sure of is that many if not all FRENCH officers, generals etc. , did wear tunics or coats that were supposed to be dark blue acc. to regulations, but were in reality black or blue-black - seems that they had some liberty in choosing the cloth for their uniforms, and black was fashion in Paris ? .... perhaps a Vallejo mix of black + violet would come close to reality there.
One over the top example of fashionable 2nd Empire French uniform, supposed to be dark blue, but black in reality, was the Imperial Guard Horse Artillery officers all black hussar style uniform, very much appreciated by the ladies of the City of Lights.
In De Neuville's paintings you can clearly see that French Chasseur a Pied had a very dark blue-black uniform, near black, but still with a reflection of blue. The new 1868 cavalry tunic as worn by some line dragoons, lancers and cuirassiers was probably of the same shade - a very dark near black blue, clearly much darker than fe. a Prussian Uhlans tunic. Note: the line infantry greatcoat was not dark blue, but "Gris de Fer Bleute" - Blueish Iron Grey, in reality a dark blue wool with about 10% white woven in.
Of course this is just how I see it personally and I stand to be corrected.
But as for the Prussians, my friend ... I leave that question to the experts here... I am interested myself what answer they will provide. Anyway, the painting by De Neuville "Le Bourget" shows Elite's Prussian Guards Hauptmann in a blue uniform. My guess is that Prussian uniforms were more on the blue side than French.

Best regards,

Johan

Wow! Thanks for the fast reply! I may go with a clean blue-black tunic and trousers with dark prussian blue (vallejo) highlights. Blue is such a tough and unforgiving color!

HO !!! Wait a sec ! The Osprey text says that Prussian generals - of which King Wilhelm was one - wore a BLACK GREY frock coat on campaign if they belonged to the Infantry Arm (should be same colour as fe. Uhlan's trousers, infantry greatcoats, etc.)

... Was King Wilhelm of the Infantry ? Then his frock coat was BLACK-GREY.

Yeah, I don't know if I buy that though. I need to do some more digging :angry:

Here's a pic of the King on the field of Koniggratz. The artist name escapes me.
As you can see he's wearing a blue frock and trousers w/ a dark grey great-coat. Knotel's illustration depicts this as well.

Thanks for the pic, Manfred!

Here's more progress pix. The great-coat is made of rolled out Magic sculp. I worked one half at a time- working the creases and letting it cure draped over the horse. When both halves were cured I sculpted the back and blended the edges using hand lotion with a flat brush. Thanks for looking.

Wow Jason, this is going to be a wonderful piece when you're finished, excellent drapery!

Truly AMAZING you are a very talent sculptor.......

Jason,my friend,I agree with everybody else, it's coming along beautifully.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers

Roc.

WOW...................WOW

Awesome Jason................truley your best.

Thanks Leigh, Ernest, Roc and Guy! Appreciate the kind words.

Well, I've been busy :lol: Here's the final composition. I opted for a figure facing the King than the one looking away.

I sculpted the King's hand to the standing figure. Not being a very good figure engineer, I felt this was the easiest way to connect the two once joined. So, the arm of the King is in the "air" and all pieces-king and horse-will be glued together once painted.

Jason,

This looks absolutely fantastic already !!
I like the wounded soldier - he's looking up in perfectly the right pose!

Keep it up, can't wait to see the next stages

-Alex

Jason, This is really coming together. The interaction between the figures is well done. Great job buddy.~Gary

Wow - well I can only echo the others .... this is great! Good composition, excellent sculpting, excellent painting .... If only old Bismarck could see this!

I looked further into the matter of the king's frock-coat; so far I can only find indications that it was black-grey (see the pic. I sent you by e-mail), and I know of a bust of the king of Prussia, which a German modeller (Michael Volquarts) did, that also had a uniform that was more like black in colour ....
Perhaps the German Pf members can tell ?

Jason, this is looking great. The interaction between the king and the men on the ground is just right.

Jason
This is absolutely GREAT!!
Best regards
jaume

Super job, Jason. I love it so far.

Fan-freakin-tastic!

Lovely composition and the poses are great.

We're not worthy!!!

Cheers
Andy

That is simply beautiful stuff Jason.Thanks for sharing

Stephen Mallia