This is the largest single chunk of the commission: 176 Union infantrymen, and I'm going to tackle them all at once.

Last week I got the figures prepped and primed. This week I've painted the hair, socks, face basecoat, muskets, and other silver bits, such as bayonet frogs, canteen caps, and drinking cups.
At this point, most of the fine detail work is done. I always find these early stages to be the most tedious part of a paint job. The figures don't look like much yet, but the foundation is laid. Tomorrow I'll start painting uniforms, and the little men will start looking more like little men.