12mm WW1 Austro-Hungarian Infantry

Ausro-Hungarian infantry charge into action - what could go wrong? 12mm metal figures from Kallistra.

Continuing along with my slow-moving (but still moving!) early WW1 eastern front efforts, we have a collection of 12mm Austro-Hungarian infantry. These are figures from Kallistra's delightfully complete early WW1 collection. 

An officer can be seen among this group. The collar tabs had different colours, depending on the regiment, and I tried to pick them out, just to add a splash of anachronistic color.

I enjoy painting Austrians in SO many other historical periods, so why not WW1? It also just adds to my general fascination with the setting - beyond the general awareness that the Austro-Hungarian army did not perform very well, I didn't really know any details as to why...so as I start to dig into this setting, I'm also enjoying the readying and learning that come along with it. 

View showing some of the kit on the rear of the figures.

Now, one thing that Dallas does really well on his blog posts, and that I need to follow more of, is using the post to share (and therefore have a record!) of paints used to come up with particular colours. That way, when you take a break from a project, you can return to it again and maintain some consistency in the look of the figures. The Austro-Hungarian infantry uniforms will be the first to get this treatment!

Another view of the advancing infantry...

When it comes to the uniforms worm at the opening of hostilities in 1914 by the Austro-Hungarian infantry, I was a little stumped. I mean, they are plain looking enough - the color flourishes involved for the individual regiments are pretty small, and not easily marked out on 12mm figures. They are clad in grey. Is grey hard? Sometimes, yes! At least for me. I found the grey to actually be kinda tricky.  The uniforms are described as "Pike Grey" in different sources. It is grey for sure...but also kinda blue?

Another photo of the kit on the troops.

To try and achieve this grey-that-looks-blue-but-also-blue-that-looks-grey outcome on the figures, I experimented a fair bit, before I landed on the following approach: using GW paints, I went with the following sequence - started with "Dark Reaper" as the base coat, then "Thunderhawk Blue", with final highlights of "Russ Grey". This was followed by a coat of "Gryph Charger Grey" from GW's "Contrast" paint range.

MG crew...I didn't quite line up the belt on the gun here...these fellows will have a tough time getting this into action! Seems right for the Austro-Hungarians, based on their reputation...

Because the figures are smaller, I try to over-punch the final highlight, so there is rather more "Russ Grey" involved on these smaller figures than you might try on a larger one. If there are larger ones? I believe Peter Pig has these fellows in 15mm, but I don't know if there are any 28mm Austro Hungarians out there?? 

Another view of the MG crew...were these guns yellow during the early WW1 period? I have seen some references indicating yes...but I don't have confidence in that conclusion, and have to confess that I am just going by the seat of my pants here...

As with my other 12mm WW1 figures, these are based for use with the "1914" rules from Great Escape Games. The collection of four bases would be sufficient to represent a battalion of infantry, with each base representing a company of infantry. 

We have Schwarlose (sp?) MG crews ready to support the infantry. I have seen some references to these MGs (and the Austro-Hungarian artillery, for that matter) painted in yellow...as a Hapsburg throwback? I don't actually know what colour the weapons were painted...but I went with the yellow for now. 

It's great to have some Austro-Hungarian infantry out the door. And while these troops did not have much in the way of archaic flair, the cavalry of the Empire in 1914 did not disappoint...watch this space for more on that soon!

That's all for now - thanks for reading, and stay tuned for further development on this project through the fall and into the winter!