Collect and Paint your Napoleonics like Kevin

On one of my blog postings from a couple of years ago, when Kevin East was busy building up his superb 28mm Waterloo collection for our 1:3 scale Waterloo refights, a reader (Suzzette in Texas) has recently asked
<<I am looking for a beginner set. What would you recommend?>>

Kevin has given a very full reply and I thought it worth giving it a wider airing by a dedicated blog posting.
So here is what he said and below it a few photos as a reminder of Kevin's skill and artistic flair.

Are you looking for a starter set of figures or paints?

If its paints I would recommend the foundry paint system (which is what I mostly use) They are useful as each colour comes with three shades for the dark, mid and light tones of any particular colour you want. The Napoleonic paint starter set is ideal for British and French units. It is what I started on. Please see the link: http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/paints/foundry-painting-system/napoleonic-paint-set/

Paint brushes are always the bone of contention as getting good ones at reasonable prices are difficult. Foundry do some good ones but are not the best. They are good to start with though:http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/paints/foundry-brush-sets

I have found Rosemary and Co - Kolinsky sable Series 22 - just the best! Perhaps for future projects though? Please see here: 
http://www.rosemaryandco.com/oil-brushes/pure-kolinsky-sable-oils/pure-kolinsky-designer

For figures, I prefer, Perry Miniatures metal although I do and have painted some of their plastic ranges as they are cheaper especially when you require a lot of figures. Beware as they are fiddly to construct as they are like putting together an Airfix kit for some of the figures. They do French, British, Prussian and Austrian plastic brigade deals. The cheapest being £78. Please see :
https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?cPath=66_68&products_id=2537&osCsid=u89o0vjabhgqapekma4b6lndg0

Also Warlord games do a nice if not better starter combination set where you get Allied/British and French protagonists. Some plastic, some metal in the pack as well as the bonus of some cavalry to paint. Please see: https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/black-powder-starter-sets/products/waterloo-black-powder-starter-set

Oh and just for good measure if you want to see the uniform colours of units at Waterloo I suggest this as your first stop: http://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com

Good luck with that long list. If you need any further info please leave another message.
Happy painting and I hope you get to into the hobby as it does become very engrossing! ENJOY!

All the best and kind regards.

Kevin 

And here is a link to just one of the many of my blog postings featuring Kevin's figures