Chat GPT Uniforms and More ECW Figures

I've watched a number of fellow bloggers talk about the benefits and the pitfalls of using AI in the hobby. After my most recent course, where AI was a popular topic, I decided to give it a go, with creating some uniforms for my Duchy of Arancia Not-Italian Napoleonic Imagi-Nation project. 

I asked for a half a dozen infantry regiments to be created and for uniforms and colours for those regiments in the French model, but not in French colours. I already have two regiments made up for this project, so it's really not something I was really taking too seriously. But I do have more figures awaiting their paint jobs. 

This is what the AI generated for me:

A rather fetching set of uniforms, really. Plus it added a few details about the regiments to give me a little back story for each unit. I'm looking to do the same for some cavalry units and the usual "artillery, engineers, and train" elements as well. 

In addition to virtual painting, I've managed to finish another regiment of foot for my ECW project. 

I like the way this project is progressing. I'm waiting for a few more pikemen to come in, in order to finish three more regiments. Even with the pikemen enroute, I still have a number of units queued up to be finished. 

Hopefully this weekend will see a few more figures added to the finished part of the collection. 

Weekend Update

I don't know where I acquired a couple of plastic shoeboxes worth of English Civil War, mostly a variety of cavalry. I had some Old Glory infantry figures, both pike and shot, but no cavalry or artillery, which is probably why I bought this lot. Later on, I sold of a large batch of figures, so the odds and sods are what's left. And an ugly lot they are indeed. 

But a drive to clean the Game Room, coupled with some fellow bloggers' projects, and my pursuit of actually playing games, not just painting figures, led me to supercharge the ECW project. 

Generic units, 10 foot on a base, 4 horse, and three foot with one mounted for a dragoon unit. 

I suppose I need to get a couple of guns, at some point. 

Well, so far, this is what I've managed to finish. These fellas are all ready to slap on a 4" by 3" base. 

These aren't going to win any awards. Block painted with craft paints and some Vallejo colours. Washed with Army Painter Soft Tone. Sealed with brush on matte finish. 

But they are done. And that's the point. 

My project is looking like it will have something along the lines of 6-8 units of horse, 4-6 units of dragoons, and 8 units of foot. I would like to maybe extend it to 12 units of foot, no more. 

A couple of guns for each side, maybe a few single mounted officers with a couple of senior commanders for each side. And a couple of wagons for each side to raid. 

I also have a number of sheep for this project. Because. But the sheep are multi-functional. They play as sheep for my 1798 Irish Rebellion, my Project 1745, and my Irish Civil War project, both as obstacles and as Victory Conditions. After all, Victory starts with ewe... 

But I digress...

Weekend Update

The fair weather continues here in the Duchy. Most unusual for October, but I am not going to complain. Although the lack of rain is not so good. 

This past weekend saw me head up to Hazleton to participate in a WW2 tactical event. This event is held twice a year. I was unable to make the Spring event, but very happy to be able to come up for this one. 

We had 11 of us in the British/Canadian Paras, with three Jeeps. There were also Americans and Russians with a variety of trucks, jeeps, and one anti-tank gun. 

There were a metric tonne of Germans...who brought four half-tracks, two tanks, and a STUG... We may as well have brought the proverbial knife to a gunfight... but it was a lot of fun anyway. 

Our side of the Allied camp. My new tent (game changer!!!) is the second from the left

Justin and I in his jeep

Jeeps Away! It is a bit like playing Rat Patrol, honestly, but it's buckets of fun

The Germans brought this STUG. It broke down immediately and spent the weekend in this very spot. Thankfully for us...

Our perennial nemesis...these guys and their Sid Kafizz. Good bunch of guys, but they are a pain to fight and the MG42 makes them dangerous. 

Overall, it was a great series of small skirmishes. I managed some of the cooking duties, but found a kindred cook in Andy from the British Paras. We swopped contact info so we'll be better able to coordinate food prep. I picked up my new (old) tent from Shannon and now I've got something I can stand up in, instead of crawling in and out of my two-man tent. With a nice cot and sleeping bag, it was a great shanty, even if it was cold and damp at night. 

I'm tired, various body parts ache, and it's time to get back to schoolwork and get ready for the work week ahead. 

More anon.