Category: wargaming

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Scenery wargaming

Italian interlude as well!

Corrugated cardboard was the trigger material for my solution

Just like John at just add varnish I have joined the season of scenery community challenge and started with an Italian theme.

This piece is still unfinished but has made it from idea to concept in only about five years – so that’s about four and half years procrastination plus various false starts in materials and a bit of design. And finally some tv viewing and Dave Stone’s scenery season challenge.

Eventually the material choice helped drive the form

Grid gaming by Mike Smith is a great rule set and early on in my Italian independence wars project I thought a couple of hilltop towns would be ideal for the grid.

Then the procrastination started – which materials and what style?

I use a 50mm grid with 40mm based units all square.
The toy soldier abstract had resulted in these block buildings a couple of years ago.

Initially I was absolutely into the idea of wood and it would be modular and come apart. Then when I started to think about details wood felt wrong. The framing of the town was to be the city walls and slim, this was leading to fret saw country and simplicity of the idea was waning.

A long delay ensued.

Style wise I was looking for the abstract and Joe morschauser scenery pictures – more grid games – drew me towards something that could still accommodate units as a garrison.

I came up with the cruciform of two bisecting streets with four quarters to the town – in Mike smiths grid game the towns are 3×3 grids

In the end watching the giro this year suddenly prompted a “just do it moment” and as it happened cardboard kept coming into my head as a possible material and multiple postal deliveries reminded me of this free material.

But it needed to have some structure. What to do?

Then I remembered the flat scenery that are found in paper boys armies booklets. These have interconnecting cutouts that give strength to the arrangement.

These interconnecting card pieces now became walls and the corrugations gave me another idea.

Plus other things on this long journey fell into place.

The whole idea of abstracted block buildings came in part from kids toys like this one – just add imagination….
In another direction this flat pack helped the idea that 3d solids is not the only way to create a 3d effect.

Maybe I could use these simple cut outs approach?

I did and I quickly developed some solutions to get the elevations I wanted to see.

The buildings had been done a few years ago during the wood era.

I added the church in card with a removable front. The tower is a work in progress.
The corrugations prompted cypress trees again in corrugated cardboard and cocktail sticks
In the end even the wall overlaps suggest buttressing

Well that’s it and it remains a work in progress but I think I have found my modular abstract Italian hill town.

Categories
wargaming

Beware Greeks bearing gifts

Screenshot

My recent painting blast over winter had dried up with the end of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge XIV. It broke my preoccupation with the mid 19th century.

The Danes and Germans are sat there in the various painting queues but making no progress.

Green-shoots anywhere?

something different maybe?

yes!

It is a case of returning to an old favorite. Ancients.

In fact two threads emerged from the languid waters I found my wargaming boat resting in. One followed the other.

The first, which I will cover in another post was partly prompted by Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy recent magazine running a Bronze Age theme: I have lots of Bronze Age figures for a long abandoned project.

But the impulse here was mainly due to Curt’s Trojan horse entry for the analogue hobbies painting challenge 14.

http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/03/from-curt-last-post-of-challenge-xiv.html?m=1

Curts fantastic Trojan horse entry for AHPC14
These chaps have dwelt long in the deep halls of the plastic mountain- just maybe they will get some paint – finally – who knows?

The second concerns DBA. DBA got me back into the hobby after an almost 20 year break. It also propelled me into 15mm scale at the time – the late 1990’s. Those armies had since lain unused for years as 1/72 and 25/28mm tempted me back to bigger figures.

I dug them out – quite a mixed bag – could I run a campaign using the 1st or 2nd Editions 6 nation offering. I mulled this over before the figures went back into a slightly more accessible store and the unpainted ones joined the paint queue jostling with mid 19th century Danes and Germans.

And then I went to York one weekend for the annual open studios tour. Somehow somewhere I came away with the urge to craft. Note – not paint.

The next minute I was cutting card and with drawing pens to hand inking DBA bases. I had picked a campaign and lacking the right figures thought I would simply play empty bases. I have done this many a time and its a very enjoyable digression. And then I remembered all these 2mm armies currently in vogue plus that crafting itch had not been sated fully. And so out came some discarded HEAT board gaming counter sheets! minus the useful counters. Maybe I could use these “blocks” to suggest groups of soldiers?

A bit of crafting is invariably satisfying activity
I grabbed some thin card and used the DBA 15mm base width of 40mm then just played around with the game counter offcuts to get the look I wanted.
I went for a standard DBA campaign list which gave me six armies and I added in a Thracian army because I like them!
The magnificent seven! A day later glue dried, a take away container holds 7 dba armies

And there we have it instant 2mm armies for a 6 nation DBA Bronze Age campaign: The Thracian’s might make a guest appearance!

Categories
Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

1st Schleswig Holstein War – Royal Danish Army uniforms 1848

The Royal Danish Army of 1848 was characteristically mid 19th century in dress. It still had a napoleonic uniform as such, yet things like the peaked cap and Hungarian kepi had begun to change the look. Pantaloons were noticeably full length and trouser like.

1848 line infantry in bell shakoes

At the start of the war infantry uniforms were red tunics and bright blue trousers. Uniform regulations for 1848 planned a change to essentially all dark blue clothing complete with a bright blue kepi.

1849 line infantry in Hungarian kepi’s, new tunic but old knapsacks

The regulations crept in although the kepi was so popular – soldiers often threw away their bell shaped shakoes in the field.

Light infantry in the flat cap

Other elements of the army – Artillery and Engineers kept the older kit for longer.

Danish field artillery in 1848 uniform

The Cavalry had largely reduced to the Dragoon in combless metal crested helmet (a fashionable trend) while the Hussars wore a small tapered shako. Dragoons wore red tunics and bright blue trousers, the Hussars wore all pale blue.

Jutland volunteer cavalry
Categories
wargaming

Mountain Climbing or White Water Rafting? The Wargamers journey.

Never one to resist a metaphor or comparison my recent encounter with project hesitation prompted me to look for a parallel. For some reason my usual mountain climbing examples in my head sat a bit oddly. Oh yes I think many of us wargamers probably try and climb many Munros* at the same time. And fail to reach any summits – unless its those super wargamers with unlimited talent, production skills to match and boundless energy.

*munros are Scottish mountains in excess of thousand feet in height.

Then it came to me going downhill might be a better metaphor than ascending when it comes to the wargamers hobby.

So where have I been and where am I now?

In recent times (i.e. since Covid struck) – back in 2019 I was quite taken with Normans in the North and South. It remains a work in progress so you could say a meandering river then and an oxbow lake now is the order of the day.

And then I discovered the mid 19th century and a fair torrent of water cascaded down the wargamers hillside.

There have been the odd side flows such as my nearly mechanised 20th century warfare explorations – now also several oxbow lakes or should it simply be a mountain col?

And what of my recent diversions during Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge? I certainly think that was several small torrents which then ended in a hanging valley leading to a small lake with no apparent exit.

And right now where am I – well it feels like the wargaming is still in flow but very much winding through some extensive marshlands – languid.

Descriptions of water seem far more apt for my wargaming than my previous mountain climbing parallels.

The question is where will those languid waters lead me to next?

Categories
Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

1st Schleswig Holstein – the Rebels uniforms 1848

The Rebel forces in the Schlieswig Holstein War comprised local pro german forces including those who had served in the Royal Danish Army. To these were added many volunteers alongside their numerous allies.

Saxon allies to the rebellion

The rebel cause had wide spread support from states within greater germany at this time “the Confederation – in its post Napoleonic form”. Notable were Prussia but also Saxony and Hanover. Austria was a significant objector and refused to become involved. Although they did apparently send rocket troop batteries.

Initially Rebel uniforms were a mix of Danish, improvised and various state uniforms. Later the Schleswig Holstein regular Rebel forces obtained a more distinct uniform for themselves.

Prussia was a stout ally to the rebels initially before signing the first peace treaty, the federation itself refused to sign it – you get fascinating politics during this war

This makes the war fascinating in terms of uniform, lots of german states still preserved a distinct character in their uniforms while fashions were still a mix of the Napoleonic coupled with more recent french led fashions such as the kepi. The Pickelhaube (invented in Russia and made a success by Prussia) and the Frockcoat (from the dresscoat of Napoleonic times) were now noticeably popular in german states. The classic mid to late century Prussian uniform dates from the 1840’s.

Another Prussian line battalion

The smaller flat top tapered shako was in wide use long before it identified again with this time British Crimean troops or indeed the Rifleman of Prussia who kept it till world war one.

Oldenburg line infantry sent by the federation

Therefore Armies comprised troops still wearing napoleonic uniform alongside others who would not look out of place in the American Civil War 13 years later and even subsequent conflicts.

Lippe line battalion
Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

A tale of two painting events

Winter 2023/2024 proved to be quite productive painting wise. I don’t keep stats on numbers painted although I do record my painting colours and techniques in case I wish to replicate a figure/unit.

“Paint What You Got” by Dave Stone and “Analogue Hobbies Painting Competition” (AHPC) by Curtis Campbell and Co. both provided a big push to my painting in a very positive way.

In both cases I had planned a limited involvment to secure yet more mid 19th century completed units for my Danish and Germanic forces of the 1st Schleswig Holstein War.

Initially all went well and the fruits of my work can be seen on the AHPC14 site and in previous posts on this blog.

Paint What You Got

Paint What You Got II – better late than never

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2023/24

Then I fully succumbed to the “Library Challenge” on offer with the AHPC event.

So out went the 19th century and in came whatever thematic library section I found myself in next.

The result?

  • One 1/72 Reconnaisance Spitfire – now gifted to a lover of all things aerial.
  • One 28mm Noggin the Nog super hero from the 1960’s childrens black and white TV. Bought from the Little Toy Soldier online shop.
  • One 28mm General Siskorski hero of the free Polish during World War 2: A Partizan Newark freebie.
  • One 25mm veteran (1980’s) games workshop fantasy Cyclops: found at Doncaster Toy Fair.
  • One 28mm Empress Matilda (12th century): A Partizan Newark freebie
  • One home built “button monster” (DeathZap Pastor created these inspiring SciFi/Fantasy creatures)
  • One home built “Nissen Hut” left behind in some village in the East of England after world war 2 “upcycled” – before the term was invented – to a village library.

Quite a haul and it was a very satisfying period of painting and making. The AHPC served up some great contact with the other painters as well.

After what was in effect for me a serious 12 week painting/creating blast – I literally hung up my paint brushes. March has rapidly become April and I have been drifting: I cannot blame outdoor activities like gardening as spring has been one soggy wet mess and still is.

So much for getting on with the 1st Schleswig Holstein War forces. That project has been a case of two or three steps forward yet now stopped.

Maybe that stop was coming anyway. My Wargame projects have that way of shuddering to a halt for no good reason.

1940 France – mk1 spitfire in camomint camouflage
1980’s games workshop fantasy cyclops rescued from Doncaster toy fair!
12th century Empress Matilda – a freebie from Newark partizan show
Just squeezing onto the painting pedestal is a scratch built ww2 Nissen hut library from the post war
Polish General Siskorski again a Newark Partizan freebie and the link is double in that Newark was home to polish air squadrons during ww2 and after General Siskorski and his family died in an unexpected plane crash over Gibraltar in 1943 the general was buried in Newark until repatriated in the 1990’s
Noggin the nog
A German ww2 magazine freebie with mods to make a sci fi character of sorts
A button monster made from a 54mm ww2 soldier.
AHPC 14 proved to be very productive!
Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Blog Influences 4 Pauls Bods

Pauls Bods is a blog that celebrates 1/72 plastic wargames figures. Yet it is so much more because Paul as an ace modeller who can turn even unpromising sculpts into fantastic pieces of the wargamers art.

His head, body and everything else swops are inspiring.

He also has a great sense of humour which appears often in his creations.

The headline image is of my own work prompted by Paul’s bods. Taking a leaf from his book I painted some mini art medieval cavalry that were given a searingly negative plastic soldier review.

Here are some posts highlighting the range of his work.

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/10/run-rabbit-run.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/10/houstonbeepwe-have-problembeep.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/12/airfix-acw-infantry.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2010/12/world-war-ii-deserters.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/03/dalek-command-post.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/01/after-sandstorm.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-set-from-e-bay.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/bear-fight.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/04/airfix-guards-band.html

http://paulsbods.blogspot.com/2011/08/fantasy-island.html

Sadly I think his work is disappearing as some of it was in paid storage products that no longer operate.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24d The Cavalry

From the 1970’s era I have had three cavalry types – Cuirassiers, Hussars and Lancers in my collection.

They are all minifig.

The Lancers and Hussars have done sterling service especially in more recent times appearing as mid 19th century units for my Italian Wars of Independence forces and their Fauxterre equivalents.

These French lancers have served many a country both real and imaginary across the nineteenth century
These French hussars have also become generic as well – often appearing as Austrians
These minifigs cuirassiers don’t get out much as the battles in the mid nineteenth century were the twilight era for cavalry

In addition I have some Warrior Miniatures French dragoons. The first batch were in green and were sold years ago. Then I got inspired by a funcken image of French napoleonic dragoons in red……

These warrior metal french dragoons have been a more recent addition long after they were bought!

https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2021/10/12/the-late-running-1800-from-oxted-to-victoria-has-just-arrived-on-platform-1-45-years-late/

Categories
wargames blog wargaming

Blog Influences 3

Ancients were my primary interest at the time I encountered blogging and began to follow various sites.

So a couple more blogs that caught my eye and propelled my interests in 20-25mm or 1/72.

First up is Philotep whose 1/72 minis kingdom showed what potential there was in these minis when well painted. Very inspiring.

Second is Parade Ground Again 1/72 going on 20mm this blog also introduced me to Newline figures which I had seen at a few shows in bare metal but never registered until I saw the painted product online.

Ironically blog interest itself resulted in my interests in wargaming changing. My Ancient armies remain largely a work in progress.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24c More French Line

I guess these might be Hinton Hunt but I think they are early Minifigs before they ate all the pies!!!! – I simply can’t remember.

Any how they have a certain simplicity in design that I find very enjoyable.

No colours or musicians but there are a few officers present. I really ought to backfill….