Periodically, you and other MWANers will pass along info on professional painters and painting services that you've utilized. I always find this sort of reference and feedback really helpful, so I thought I'd add my two cents. Being blessed with too little time and a spectacularly unsteady hand, I've been a pretty regular customer of a number of painting services over the past 10-12 years as I've built up a respectable 15-mm Napoleonic collection. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of the folks listed below STEPHEN LAWRENCE, 919 Milne Drive, Lockport, Illinois 60441 (815) 838- 5419 Stephen painted a number of Prussian and Spanish figures for me several years ago. I requested the "collector's standard" and was extremely pleased with the results. A regiment of East Prussian National Cavalry and a regiment of Prussian Reserve Infantry (in Portuguese-style uniforms) were both well executed, with great colors, shading, and highlights. And the two battalions of Spanish Grenadiers Stephen painted were real works of art, as good as anything I've seen in this scale. Highly recommended!! TERRY SIRK, 9770 Church Hill Road, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania 17236 Terry has painted a number of figures for both my brother and me. He's tackled French foot and horse artillery, chevauleger lancers, dragoons, and Young Guard infantry to name just a few His colors are great and his attention to detail outstanding. He is also very dependable as far as turn-around time on orders. Also highly recommended! OUTLAND OF OHIO (Chris von Fahnestock), PO Box 457, Phillipsburg, Ohio 45354 (937) 276-2336 Outland@erinet.com I picked up a number of units from Outland at East Coast Conventions, I also placed an order for a number of Prussian and Brunswick figures a year or two ago. The figures were all well done. I was especially pleased with a regiment of Prussian Reserve Infantry that Chris painted, each battalion was done in a slightly different (but historically accurate) color scheme. The overall look was outstanding! GAJO (George Johnson), 930 Mellish Drive, Lapeer, Michigan 48446 (810) 664-5655 Mr GAJO provides two options for figure-hungry hobbyists, His newly painted units are well done and kept in sufficient stock to ensure prompt delivery, I've ordered some Russian foot, horse, and artillery from George and have been pleased with the painting quality and timely delivery. George also maintains an extensive inventory of "previously owned" armies and units that he catalogues and rates as to painting quality, basing, etc. Ordering a "used" army from George is a can't-lose proposition. He'll promptly mail out any unit he has in stock for your inspection. After "reviewing the troops", you either send George a check or, if the figures aren't to your liking for whatever reason, you simply return them with your only cost being the return shipping. I've gotten some great figures from Mr. GAJO over the years. The one or two times I've returned figures, it was no big deal. George not only provides a great service-- he's a heckuva nice guy! HEXAGON INTERNATIONAL (Mark D'Ulisse), PO Box 1932, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034 (609) 427-6935 hexagonnj@aol.com I've picked up a number of units from Mark at HMGS East Conventions. I also ordered a number of Russian figures from Hexagon, painted as the Russo-German Legion. The figures were all well done. The mounted officers accompanying the rank-and-file were especially fine. At the Cold Wars 2000 convention, Mark had an Anglo-Allied Army on display that was awesome! After mulling it over awhile, I decided that my better half really wouldn't support us taking out a second mortgage for "toy soldiers", but the temptation was there ..... MR. MINIATURE (Bill Goranson), 4096 Pavia Lane, Spring Hill, Florida 34606 (352)6839995 wgoran@innet.com Over the years, I've picked up a number of units from Mr. Miniature at various conventions (British Line, Prussian Landwehr, etc.). Nice color work, good detail, and great prices And Bill is another one of those really nice guys that makes it a pleasure to visit his table whether you're just browsing or making a buy. (He's also really patient with 8-year-old boys that want to check out every figure on the table before settling on the figures that the family Quartermaster - - Dad - - will actually purchase for him.) COTTON JIM'S FLAGS (Jim Russell), 21 L3 Walpole Street, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456 (757) 427-5725 cottonjim@aol.com Cotton Jim also does painted figures. At a recent convention, I picked up some Saxon light infantry and some Ottoman Turks from Jim. I didn't really need any Turks, but these figures were too nice to pass up. You know how it goes.. .. Back to MWAN #106 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com