10mm A.W.I. Unit Finished.

I've got the 10mm unit finished that I started painting in the previous posting . I was going to try photographing them outside - but as this photo was taken it started to rain !.

So I retreated to the bathroom were I usually photograph things - strange I know- but trial and error has proved that this is the best room for lighting and the least interference by cats and dog . The unit is the 8th Continental Regt. - Enoch Poor's 2nd New Hampshire . There are 40 figures on 5 bases and I have included a American staff officer in the photo.

2 British staff officers . I think I will be using 'Black Powder' for the rule set and a 'standard' unit will be of 4 or 5 bases and small units 3 bases . 

I also got done a unit of Hand's Pennsylvania Rifles . The figures paint up very quickly once you get the hang of it and is making a change from painting 40mm figures.

Painting 10mm Figures.

Last post I put up some 10mm AWI figures I had been painting and Jim Duncan from - http://jim-duncan.blogspot.co.uk/ asked what method I used to paint them . So I have decided to give a brief run through of my method . I spray the figures black and then paint them in batches of 8 figures - which is one base ,  mounted  individually on bottle tops with 'blue tack'. Please try to ignore the VERY mess paint table that appears in the background !.

I paint the musket , hands and face/hair a dark brown . Painting the same pose of figure in each session helps to remember were the paint needs to be applied .

I then pick out the straps and belts in white , on these figures the coat turnbacks and stockings are also white - as well as the hat lace. Click on the photos to enlarge them .

As these figures are going to represent the 2nd New Hampshire ( Enoch Poor's ) Regiment I paint the breeches a buff colour .

The facing colour of this regiment was red so I then pick out the cuffs and lapels . I try to use very bright colours as the black undercoat tends to dull the colours down .

Next I paint the bayonet and barrel of the musket , also the canteen . I then paint the coat blue - it should be a darker blue - but this lighter blue looks better . I think the trick is to leave areas black to represent shading and shadows - note slight gap of black between the stocking and breeches on these figures .

I then add the flesh to the hands and face , I try only to paint the nose and cheek bones and leave a bit of brown showing to define the face. I've only painted the higher areas on the sleeve of the coat and left the black showing in the folds . These figures are not really meant to be viewed this close up .

I put a touch of gold onto the tip off the bayonet scabbard and musket butt - if visible . I then super glue them to their base and CAREFULLY  work 'Basetex' around their feet (the hardest bit of the process I find!) .

When the base is set, I dry-brush it with a very light brown and add a bit of static grass to finish it off . A coat of matt varnish to the figures completes the process . Only another 32 to do to finish off this regiment . I think the trick is leaving enough black undercoat showing to suggest shadows and using lighter/brighter coloured paints on the highlights of the figures . I hope this has helped illustrate how I paint these figures - Kallistra say on their very good website - 'paint the unit not the figure' . 

From One Extreme To The Other.

Think this may be a symptom of my mid-life crisis - 10mm American War of Independence , Hodge the cat looks on in disbelief . They are by Kallistra and very cute ! , I bought a few packets at the Reading show and have been playing around how best to paint them . I finally decided to spray them black and just pick out the colours as highlights and a coat of matt varnish . This will be a loooong term project as I have to be in the right humour to paint them . I am thinking probably Black Powder for the rules - sorry for the rather out of focus photos .

The 18th Regiment Of Foote . (Royal Irish)

Well I've finally got them finished ! - there was a slight hold up due to my gas bottle running out and needing replacing . Sorry for the rather poor lighting in these photos , I had to photograph them on my table during the daytime with the sun streaming through the window - which does strange things to the colours !.

They have 3 companies each of 12 Sentinels , Sergeant, Drummer and Officer and a headquarters of a Lt. Col. , Major and 2 Ensigns . A total of  48 foot figures and 1 mounted .

I decided to use the older flatter Holger Erikson figure for the infantry as I have 3 of these moulds which speeds up casting .

The Drummers should have mitre caps really , but I thought this was a conversion too far !.

I've been using the old one piece casting for the standards , these took several attempts to get right ! (and quite a bit of bad language) . The next thing will be casting up some French infantry to match the figures I was given .

Saint Georges Day !.

Does one wish people a 'Merry Saint Georges Day ? , I always find it a bit annoying that the rest of the U.K. make a bit thing of their saints days and the English quietly forget their own , so a 'Happy Saint Georges Day' to you all !. 

Sunday Morning Varnishing.

I usually try to varnish figures on a Sunday morning whilst there is nobody else about - especially animals ! . I've had several disasters with cat fur attached to figures and the 'incident of the dog and the varnished SYW figures' is best forgotten or 'glossed' over ! . So while my wife took the dog for a walk and the cats were sleeping upstairs I've got the latest batch of 40mm SYWish figures done , these are the final company for the British 18th Foote and there's only the command and standard bearers to do now to complete them. 

Fatter Generals .

There is not that much 40mm SYWish stuff about out there and when I saw Front Rank had done some 40mm generals for their AWI  range I was intrigued enough to purchase a couple . They are rather expensive but very nice , above is one of their Hessian Generals who will represent a rather more rotund General Comte D' Fru-Fru. 

This figure is General Howe and unlike the other figures doesn't come with a selection of alternate heads , he is to portray General Carlsburg of the Allied forces . 

This is all well and good but how do theses VERY chunky figures match up with their slender Prince August brethren ? - not to badly I think, I have not yet based them but when done they will look okay . Strange when I look at the above photo I think for all the accuracy and detail of the Front Rank ones the Prince August have a bit more character !?. 

Wargaming Roots (Part2)

The next shot from the Prussian gun killed the Austrian Hussar's Commander ! , not a good day to be a senior officer in the Austrian army!.

The Austrian CinC spurs forward to assess the situation .

The Austrians draw a 'chance card' and their cavalry have to charge the nearest target - which is the Prussian guns !.

They move forward gallantly enough - but falling under the 'cannister cone' they are halted before they reach their target !.

The Prussians take the opportunity to remove their artillery battery .

The Hungarian Regt. Esterhazy move up through the woods .

With the moves passing rapidly the Prussian guns make off over the bridge.

The Hungarian Regt. Heller advance and open fire on the Prussian lead regiment.

The Prussians take heavy casualties and are forced back .

The Pandours move around the Prussian flank .

But the Prussians have held out for 12 moves as the scenario specified and so win . Think I should have taken into account how slowly troops move under Grant's rules and so made it harder for them by making the game longer or started the Austrians closer and maybe deployed . A fun game though and the rules are simple and  easily remembered , what more could you want !.

Wargaming Roots (Part 1).

Before I started the SYW in 40mm home casts I originally did it first in 30mm using Spencer Smith and Grant's rules from 'The Wargame' . I was sorting some boxes out today and came across them and decided to give the rules a go . The Austrian force under General Karl Gruntze march to capture a bridge held by the Prussians - they have 12 moves to accomplish this. 

The Prussian General Pieter Junge and 'travelling companion' Tootsie .

The Prussian force deployed to defend the bridge.

The Prussian battery supported by a unit of Fuzillers (will count as poor this game).

The Hungarian regiments - Haller and Esterhazy .

The Prussians open fire - the 'Bounce Stick  of Death' is deployed .

And overshoots the Austrian Pandours - the only figure under the 'hit sleeve' is the Hungarian Brigadier ! Oh dear ! .

He is hit and fails his saving throw - dead ! . This was his first battle and he didn't even have a name (all my General and Regimental Officers have names recorded on their bases)  so history does not even recall his demise .  Too be continued ..... 

P.S. I realise that I have not finished off the 40mm  game that I was playing - but I had to take down the battle to set up another when 'S' came around for a game . I will be able to set it up again using the photos I took and restart it . 

New Generals .

I've been aware for a while the lack of suitable General Officers for my light cavalry units , so I decided to cast up a couple of  Hussar figures to remedy this.The problem was that the French Hussars are a bit boring mainly dressed in blue and red , so I thought I'd be a bit different and use a officer from the Swedish Hussars that were allies to the French . The Allied General is a Prussian Hussar . Surfing through the various regiments I came up with the above figures , on the left General Wartenburg and his faithful hound Moritiz from the Hussar Regt. Puttkamer (The White Hussars) and on the right General Baron Georg Gustaf Wrangel of the Gula Hussars (The Yellow Hussars).

I converted the Swedish figure by adding a Busby from 'Green Stuff'. The faithful hound is from a Prince August mould .

I have also re-based some of the figures I was kindly given , they are the first two companies for the French Regiment Orleans , I will be casting up some more to complement them .

In Memoria.

I was contacted by Graham Cummings from the 'A Military Gentleman' Forum asking me if I would like some 40mm Prince August SYW figures that belonged to his friend Lee Maxwell who had sadly died , I was overwhelmed by this kind offer and said that I would be honoured to accept these figures and give them a good home .

They arrived today , the figures are beautifully painted in a 'toy soldier' style . With these figures there are enough unpainted figures to form 2 new regiments to enhance my collection.

I would like to thank Graham and pass on my condolences to Lee Maxwell's family and hope I can do these figures justice in future games . I will be re-basing the figures and painting the rest up in a similar style to match them , the first unit will be the French Regiment Orleans and I will post reports on my progress .

A Surprise Attack (Parte 2)

The French force comes under fire from the Allied gun as they move forward to attack.

The French Chasseurs open a lively fire against the gun crew .

Major Shandy organises the defence .

The 18th open fire on the French Hussars , as the French Chasseurs take cover behind the earthworks .

The French Hussars try to charge but suffer heavy casualties and rout from the melee. (lesson learnt - don't charge formed infantry frontally !)

The Chasseurs drive off the gunners !.

And then move forward to capture the gun !

They capture it ! , but the 18th charge them ! ( colour problems on this photo - due to sunshine streaming through the window !).

The Saxon LiebGrenadierGarde deploy ready to attack in support .

The infantry forces exchange volleys , and the French deployment becomes somewhat jumbled as the cavalry seeks to move around the flank .

The Irish drive off the Chasseurs and recapture the gun !.

Then reinforcements start to arrive ! . Too be continued .....