Before getting into particulars of this update, I found some interesting stats about Austria-Hungary. Something like 90 percent of all those who went into combat for the Habsburg empire were killed, wounded, captured, or went missing:
1,200,000 killed or missing
2,200,000 prisoners
3,620,000 wounded
7,020,000 total casualties
7,800,000 total mobilised
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To the model...
At the outbreak of war, the uniform was of a 1908 pattern and it's colour was called hectgrau - "pike-grey". The shade is described as a light blue-grey. Searching through my collection of paints azure blue seemed like a close match, or at least a good starting point. A few drops of red was added as well as grey and finally some cobalt blue. This would be the base coat. After this some white was added and sprayed from atop the figure down to about a 45 degree angle to simulate a light source. A third and final coat, with even more white, was sprayed lightly from directly on top.
Next are the highlights and shadows. I prefer using a dark pinwash on details, and not using a solid wash on the whole figure as this darkens the base colour and the paint doesn't collect in the folds correctly. The underside of the folds are picked out individualy with a small brush. Then with a lighter shade of the base colour the highlights are picked out with a detail brush, again very minimal dry brushing as this too does not correctly bring out the folds.
A start on equipment details, the boots are finished while the holster is treated with a very light-handed dry brush.
Using a paint program, here is the name plate designed for the figure's base. The word k.u.k. is derived from kaiserliches und konigliches gemeinsames Heer (Imperial and Royal Common Army). The 17th regiment had it's composition made from about 86% Slovenians, the recruitment center being Laibach - present day Ljubljana, Slovenia.
regards,
Jack