1/72 ACW Collection Wash, Paint, Inventory
It turns out the Italeri ACW figures though wonderful sculpts, are significantly larger than the other brands, enough to make them not entirely mixable; they must be kept separate (unless dedicated to being skirmishers maybe.. not sure yet). Therefore I will keep the new boxes until confirmed they can't be used. However, there are some figures which might preclude keeping the boxes.
Lessons Learned and Process
Strelets integrates better with Imex
All the Strelets ACW are frock coats
The Italeri Union was not purchased because the box contains Zouaves so if not doing eastern theatre, zoauves not needed.
Therefore, as with the 15mm, in order to do ACW entirely, four armies are needed: two eastern and two western. Two western is the focus, so that was engaged.
I purchased only three boxes of Italeri Confederates because those figures were going to be used for both North and South western armies. Now, those boxes may be sold or traded for strelets “in attack” boxes. The in attack boxes are excellent sculpts, both over the shoulder and high port arms advancing. Strelets makes SEPARATE firing boxes (very smart)
Also note, some acw metal manf are better with strelets/imex.
Wash and Paint Process
So with the phased approach to painting, doing a little each night to avoid burn out, the following is the operation: (this is the "quick" painting method and results in many figures being done very quickly)
All sprues soaked in hot water with Lysol antibacterial cloth wipe in container: result: release agent from sprue appears to be defeated and acrylic paint took to plastic better than I have seen ever.
Agitate with sprues in container, suds it up, then dump water.
Fill container with hot water agitate and dump water; fix any bent barrels while figs are hot.
Smack dry on towel let dry.
Figures still on sprues, painted (not sprayed) all gray (NOT medium gray).
Then, all figs pants painted. Baby blue.
Then, all figs base painted with green that matches cloth material green.
Then, all figs shoes painted. shiny black (same for barrel and cartridge box) not charcoal gray. Note: black hats when done are all charcoal gray.
All other details left for later; barrel, followed by hands, face, hair, hat, canteen, backpack, blanket.
Then, all figs rifles painted brown (not too dark so that barrel black shows up)
Where figures taken off sprues (for various reasons), hot glue temp to tongue depressor sticks from Michael's craft store.
Once on sticks, those identified as flag holders drilled out and plastic shop broom bristle inserted (genius; works fantastic). Dremel tool essential.
Strelets bonus figures, which are 16th C Russian advancing infantry with halberds, modified to be flag holders (no one will see the difference in the uniform; or swap head might be done; therefore figure not tossed out but utilized).
All figures identified as flag holders were the first to be done and inventoried for how they look. This way, the entire amount of flag holders could be seen and planned for the types of units to be created: advancing with flag forward, high, straight up standing etc.
Back rank of all regiments: mostly advancing if front rank firing. If front rank not firing, back rank and front rank advancing. Avoid putting troops together in a regiment that look too different.
Any figure that looks unusual, e.g. advancing with gun held in one hand for example, these figures break the neat look of the unit. These might be converted to flag holders because once all the back rank figs are planned to look similar, these guys make it look sloppy so wait to use them.
Note also that few figs have backpacks. Therefore, HaT box of Nap infantry was obtained to take backpacks from.
Once all painting done, spray figs with Americana Clear Matte coating; dry overnight essential. Once mounted on clear base, you cannot spray again because the coating turns the clear base WHITE.
Remove figs from sprues/sticks and inventory sculpts to segregate those of the same sculpt to see how many look similar for desired look to regiments (ranks front /back or single rank in the case of Zouaves) appearance.
Using clear base underneath to get the vision, do not glue but arrange to get an idea what unit looks like with flag holder.
Set aside all infantry officer sculpts and use the least good looking ones to glue to units to conserve sculpts; save the best officers sculpts for dismounted commanders e.g. brigadiers usually, because there may not be enough commanders (Strelets Union commander pack was purchased for both Union/Confederate btw). Sometimes dismounted rather than mounted commanders make better vignettes.
Glue to clear base
NOTE: Skirmishers are being mounted to round bases used for WW2 squads.