'With a Tow Row Row Row Row for the Scheither's Grenadiers!'*

*To the tune of  'The British Grenadiers' . Well after the Christmas break and problems with the Internet I have finally got these photos of the last component of Scheither's Frei Korps posted.

 

Scheither's Frei Korp was peculiar in that it had a grenadier company as well as jaegers.

 

 

I decided to use a grenade throwing figure - not the most practical but very attractive, different and a charm to cast up . I had to file down the details on the front of the mitre to look like fur and add a bag to the back from 'green stuff'. The Sergeant is a head swop with a halbard weilding figure.

 

 

Here they are seen practising building clearence , with these done it means that I can move on to casting up more cavalry and building up my line infantry units as 'A' has promised me a delivery of old unwanted figures from his lead collection.

 

 

Planning For Next Year.

Its this time of year when I sit down (with a cup of tea and biscuits - of course) and think out what I want to achieve in my wargaming next year. I will continue to build up my 40mm SYW  armies casting up figures and painting them as metal supplies allow, I'm finding this very satisfying and one of the most inspiring thing I've done in my 40+ years of gaming . My 54mm 'Funny Little Wars' has taken a back seat over the last 6 months or so and I need to get back into it and cast up more figures , I also need to make up some suitable terrain for this scale and then I will get to play more games inside on the wargaming table as gaming outside this year has been a total washout due to the weather.To be covered on my other blog http://thesteadfasttinsldier.blogspot.co.uk/ I am starting to do a Old School Franco-Prussian War project using Spencer Smith 30mm figures and Donald Featherstones Horse and Musket rules. I must also get back into playing with my 40mm Imagination (Balkans War) figures - no more to paint in this area although I am tempted by the new 40mm 'Britains' type figures by Spencer Smith - British Expeditionary force ?. Another project I must get up and running is my Napoleonic collection - struggling here with a lack of rules that I really like , but one or two rule sets to try out .Well that's enough to be going on with , will be interesting to see how much I achieve and how many unforeseen ranges of figures and rules intrude ! . Just like to wish everybody out there in 'Blogger land' a Happy Christmas and prosperes New Year .

The Next French Regiment.

 

Been putting a lot of thought as to which French infantry unit to do next . I was loath to do another white coated one and thought maybe one of the numerous 'Foriegn' regiments . Finally decided on the Swiss regiment 'De Castellas' .

 

 

I then had to decide which figure I would be using for the rank and file. Several months ago I purchased a lot of ready cast up figures off Ebay , these were rather rough and my first thought was to melt them down for the metal as the mold I think is one of the older Holger Erickson ones and rather plain , also they have a high lead content and have not held much surface details when cast. But there was the fact that I had about 40 + ready cast up figures on hand and so I decided to paint up a few to see how they looked , I'm glad I did because they seem to have a charm all of their own - so here is the first company of the Swiss Regt. 'De Castellas'.

 

 

 

An Indulgence.

 

One of the things about home-casting is that you are free to indulge in the little quirky things that you would not be bothered with if you were purchasing the figures. I like having dismounted versions of my Generals or personalities, this allows for horses being shot from under them, or leading glorious charges on foot . So when Prince August had a sale on molds I bought a couple of ones that I might not have done otherwise - a standing officer and a trumpeter.

 

 

Col. Scheither commander of the Frei Korp , I used a Prussian officer mold that looks suitably dashing ! ( although Scheithers performance on the table top of late has been anything but ! )

 

 

The Allied commander Brig. General H. Von Karlsberg. ( using one of my new molds for the dismounted version )

 

 

The French commander Le Comte De Fru Fru .

 

 

The other mold I bought was a total indulgence, I have been annoyed by the fact that my two Lt Infantry units have had to have drummers as musicians - this did not seem right so I got the above mold and replaced the drummers with more appropriate trumpeters . On the left  the trumpeter of the Chasseurs De Sombreuil and the right Scheither's Jaeger Company.

 

 

 

 

The Foundry.

 

I thought I would show people were I cast up my figures . I use a camping gas stove and gas bottle to melt the metal , (my wife ominously said "I do hope you will be able to clean it up for when we go camping in the Spring !" Oh dear !). I use elastic bands to hold the molds together and then clamp them with two pieces of MDF . I put the mold in a old saucepan which has some sands in the bottom to catch any spillages .

 

 

The workbench with my collection of molds in boxes , in the bottom right hand corner some old figures for melting down . Our outhouse is unheated and has a concrete floor so is a bit chilly in the present weather so multi layers of clothing are needed .

 

 

A figure is removed from the mold , I try to have 3 or 4 molds in use at a time as this allows them to cool down . It is surprising how long the metal remains hot and no casting session passes without a minor burn and bad language - I believe this placates the Goddess of Home Casting .

 

 

The finished product , these will be a Saxon Guard unit when I get around to painting them .

 

 

 

Attack on the Mule Train (Parte the Seconde)

 

The Scheither Carbineers suffer heavy casualties and are easily driven off by the French rearguard.

 

 

The Allied attack on the centre also is roughly handled !

 

 

The Grenadiers take hits from the French line infantry and the Chasseurs and with the Hussars forming up to their rear they decide discretion is the better part of valour and retire !.

 

 

Colonel Scheither rallying his Jaegers decides to call off the attack as casualties are mounting and the French are almost untouched by his attacks .

 

 

Voltaire is triumphant !. The Allies put up a rather poor show overall , their attacks were poorly coordinated and the French drove each one off easily . In fairness to Col. Scheither I diced randomly for the position of the attacking units and these probably lead to the trap being sprung to early and the French being easly able to cope with them . Scheither retires to lick his wounds and plot his revenge !.

 

 

 

 

Attack on the Mule Train (Parte the First)

 

As mentioned in a prior entry the French are trying to transport their pay chests on mule back to the garrison , their plans are thwarted by the Allies who spring a ambush !.

 

 

The French Hussars and Light infantry deploy to counter the attack , Voltaire follows excitedly !

 

 

The French cavalry engage the Allied Jaegers in melee as the Prussian 'Black' hussars move forward they come under fire from the French light infantry on the hill .

 

 

Col. Scheither sends his Carbineers to attack the rear of the French column.

 

 

He then joins his gallant Jaegers who are losing the melee with the Hussars .

 

 

The 'Black' Hussars suffer heavy casualties from the serried ranks of French infantry.

 

 

The Allied Carbineers move around the hill to threaten the French rear !. Too be continued.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Artillery Limber And Team

 

Having cast up and painted a limber and team for the French several weeks ago I thought it was time the Allies got one as well.

 

 

This gun is manned by Scheither's Frei Korps and there seems to be no information on the gun and limber carriage colour - so I decided to paint them a dark red.

 

 

To get the wheels to cast right I have had to do extensive work on the mold, drilling air holes were the spokes are as these frequently miscast.

 

 

An Award !

 

I have been kindly nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Ross of

http://gameofmonth.blogspot.ca/2012/11/may-i-have-envelope-please.html  I now have to list 5 blogs that inspire me and that I visit often , as I have about 60 + blogs that I visit regularly this will not be easy .
1. http://tidders-kingdomofwittenberg.blogspot.co.uk/ The Kingdom of Wittenberg - this blog probably inspired me to start my blog .
2. http://tradgardland.blogspot.co.uk/ Always makes me smile , a wonderful mixture of articles.
3. http://steamsteelandtorpedoes.blogspot.co.uk/ Shiny Toy Soldiers !
4. http://ww2tanksalot.blogspot.co.uk/ Old School ww2 !
5. http://scheckssyw.blogspot.co.uk/ This blog inspired me to start casting my 40mm SYW  There are a lot more I could mention ! and it has been rather hard choosing my 5

Normal Service Is Resumed - Or Back To O.S. SYW.

 

After my deviation into killing Zombies (damned hard as well it was, played 6 games and did not win one !) I am returning to a 40mm SYW  game , the French column is moving a mule train carrying the pay chest for the local garrison . It is protected by 3 Companies of the Regiment Du Roi , a Company of the Chasseurs De Sombreuil and the Hussars Bercheny. They have to reach the village in the top left hand corner of the above photo . The Allies have dispatched a raiding force of cavalry and light infantry to capture the mule train.

 

 

The precious bullion on mule back carefully guarded .

 

 

 Voltaire and his faithful manservant 'Wee Jocky' are accompanying the column . Here he is lecturing his servant on the correct method of moving through enemy country.

 

 

However the Prussian 'Black' Hussars have other ideas !. Too be continued ......

 

 

 

A Trip To The Dark Side !

 

Went to the Warfare show in Reading this last weekend , unfortunately on the Saturday I left my camera back at the hotel and on the Sunday I found the battery was flat ! - so no photos of show I'm afraid . My major purchase was a boxed game ZOMBICIDE  ! ( after all my OS  posts of late this feels like coming out of the Wargaming closet !). This is a early Christmas present to myself . I had read great reviews about this game , so it was a must buy when I saw it.

 

 

It comes with 71 plastic figures , 9 double sided Game tiles and lots of Equipment and Zombie cards.

 

 

A game in progress . A very clever and simple rule system makes the game very playable and challenging ! , best of all it can be played solo as the zombies are pre programed . There are 10 scenarios which are not simply a question of slaughtering zombies. It's VERY addictive !

 

 

Survivor Ned is confronted by 3 zombies attracted by the 'noise' counter he created - Oh Dear !

 

 

 

Test Run For OS Table .

 

Having got the table painted up I thought I would try it out with a 40mm SYW 'Charge' game.

 

 

The French Regiment Du Roi advances encouraged by its Major.

 

 

The French gun deploys to support the Light infantry fight off the Allied Jaegers.

 

 

The French cavalry reform to counter the Allied cavalry's flank attack.

 

 

The British 20th Regiment of Foote march for the exposed French flank covered by the hills . The figure bases don't quite match the table but are close enough for now. Just for the record I counted up how many figures I have cast up so far ( I know this is a bit sad !) and came up with a total of 132 foot and 54 mounted plus 2 guns and limbers.

 

 

 

 

French SYW Heavy Cavalry.

Decided it was time to tackle some more cavalry for the French.

 

The vast majority of French cavalry wore grey coats so I decided on something different, the regiment Nassau-Sarrebruck a German unit in French service.

 

 

This is the first of two Squadrons that I will be casting up.

 

 

They are rushing to join battle with their varnish still a bit tacky !

 

 

 

 

The Print Above My Table

 

In the comments of my last post Ross Mac enquired about the print that hangs on the wall above my wargaming table .

 

 

Not very good photos I'm afraid , its a old print I bought about 30 odd years ago from a local 'junk' shop .

 

 

It is I think by Caton Woodville (?) and I think came from a magazine as it has staple marks in the centre - it was not framed when I bought it . The title is about the defeat of the Prussian Guards at Ypres in 1914 . Must admit it's one of my favorite pictures on my wargaming rooms walls.