Tag: 1/72 plastics

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Paint What You Got II – better late than never

Unfortunately I bit off my than I could chew entering two painting challenges over Christmas. Dave Stone had kindly let me in to “Paint What You Got” after it started. That would have been fine except I had not bargained for the effect of the library theme at AHPC14.

The upshot is that I have only managed two of my many units on the paint production line before the challenge ended. But I reckon this last unit needs to see the light of day.

The first units completed were the 15th and 7th Prussian Landwehr circa 1848.

And then I did nothing – well I managed to slowly progress one unit and that was my Danish Volunteer Cavalry circa 1848.

These had been started back in January 2023!

They are based on an illustration in Ralph Weavers excellent Partizan Historical Guide on the First Schlieswig Holstein War.

This short war yielded a lot of volunteer units which adds to the variety of uniforms recorded as in being around this time.

The figures are Strelets 1877 Russian Hussars which were the nearest match I could make without modifications – especially as I was looking for raised kepis. Headgear is a bit of an issue in 1/72 plastics. However cut and pin techniques are easily done. Here instead I felt I could ignore the hussar details. further license is the pistols – I reckon the officers have privately got themselves the brand new colts from the USA! Apparently this was quite common in the mid 1900’s. Anyway as a volunteer unit I am assuming the regular quartermaster stores were short for them…..

Increasingly I am using contrast colours in a way I have used washes in the past. As GW citadel seraphim sepia has been very popular I first tried their CC browns. And I have used them here on the horses.

Coat d’Arms horse basic colours were overpainted with Citadel Contrast Gulliman which was a bit of a sudden test on my part. It worked for me although I was already happy with the CD’A colours.

The other use was to cover a very flat and washed out VJ intermediate green with Citadel CC warp lightening green. This darkened and enriched the green uniform more to my liking.

Other than that I just used regular acrylics from Vallejo.

Basing used my standard 3 colour over bird grit tried and tested GW suggestion from many moons ago. And this time I used some tall 12mm gamers grass with a dead wintry/summer look. I have found the gamers grass tufts very effective.

Well that wraps up my Paint What You Got challenge. Better late than never I say. It has been a success because 3 units have moved off the production line – all having started their long journey back in January 2023.

Thanks to Dave Stone for organising and maybe next time I might be a bit more focused.

Where are those pesky Prussians?
Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2023/24

For some reason this year I decided to enter a painting event in the darkest month and promptly joined two, both before Christmas.

Daft I know.

I have already posted about “Paint what you’ve got“.

In this post you can see my first entries into the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 14 or AHPCXIV.

Why enter? good question for me – as these events have not really been my thing in the past. I suppose I entered because some other bloggers I follow do it and it seemed they had fun?

I did tip my toe in the water with Dave Stones one where I completed a tower. That was only back in August last year scenery season challenge

Then again I decided it might help me with my painting plans. Quite simply the answer to that has been proven to be a resounding YES. It definitely focused the mind and I have painted more since entering both events.

However I have also deviated from my plans in an enjoyable way.

In keeping with my purpose to increase painting activity my Danish Forces of 1848 have been first to benefit.

I decided to bring forward units earmarked for the back end of the project. First up I chose to paint some Danish Guards and then some Danish Light Infantry.

In my next few posts I will pick up what AHPCXIV has been landing on the Painting Pedestal.

Categories
wargame shows wargaming

Vapnartak 2024

Well suddenly VAP was here and then gone for another year.

I turned up early and got in quick and did a rapid recce including the bring and buy.

I managed one participation game in the end, collected some preordered figures, bought some stuff I had not planned to, but did want, and chatted quite a bit.

The show seemed as busy as last year but maybe emptied out a bit quicker? These thoughts are subjective as it depends what your doing and when – you don’t notice stuff going on if your immersed in a game or a conversation.

Overall I had a good VAP24 and the queue seemed to move promptly at ten with plenty of attendants present: Last year there was a slow ticket purchase process which delayed entry obviously causing a deal of grief for the punters.

The reenactment vikings entertained the front of the queue – not sure it was appreciated as people often use the queue time to chat. It was a neat idea though.

Onto my purchases

Ubiquitous pendraken bases and some neat spears
I kept meaning to buy some extra road and of the flexible kind – these are from early war miniatures
Plus a curve
At Irregular miniatures I picked up my preorder of two packs of colonial British in bell shakos which will give two battalions each of Danish infantry 1848 and a Tuscan regiment along with some 1848 danish artillery in bell shakos

I participated in the Lance and Longbow Society game – this time it was 1177 and the crusades. Modified Lion Rampant and 1/72 plastics in abundance. It was fun.

Lance and longbow society game – Saladin attempts to halt Baldwin, but it was not his day. Loads of 1/72 plastic miniatures on display and no heavy lifting!

I went with three gamers. We puzzled about whether the show was busy or different compared to other years. It felt like another transitional VAP reflecting hobby developments.

This Venice game shows how scenery quality has really been transformed by the industry offerings in the hands of talented wargamers

2022 felt the benefit of post covid and lockdown ending while 2023 felt that some changes were afoot. In 2023 we said goodbye to the likes of SHQ Miniatures and Magister Militum (in the past MM had been a significant stand at VAP).

Harrogate Wargames’s club offered the battle of ferrybridge – a wars of the roses action in 28mm

It felt though that there were less games this time. The normally crowded ground floor had some big spaces, mainly around the York Club game tables.

Then again it felt like more use had been made of the upper floors to give people more space for circulation. Frankly in previous virtual scrums were a big deterrent in reaching some traders.

Overall this extra room was a really good thing. And accessibility was improved as a result.

1866 kepis in Europe – once again Garibaldi is up against papal forces and losing?

I reckon there were 65 tables all up this year (all types of activity) compared to 57 in 2022 but it seemed many were smaller offerings: For example Helion Books were absent. But their space was used by a smaller vendor.

And the bring and buy seemed to have less turnover – I went at the beginning and some sellers were still there much later on.

Which ever way you cut it VAP is still a great show to meet the hobby, throw dice and make some sound buys.

Roll on VAP2024.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24b the confederacy marches….

So I will kick off the painting pedestal slot in 2024 with some more pickelhaubes.

In this case it is some Oldenburgers. These chaps are again a straightforward repaint of Hat ww1 german infantry. The pickelhaube sculpting works to my advantage having a higher crown. This gives a nod to the the Pickelhaube design prior to 1870.

And 1848 was still a time for Shakoes. Another contribution to the German Confederates is this unit of Saxons. They are SHQ Napoleonic Hanoverian’s. I have not been able to track down a suitable officer/musician/flagbearer set as it appears the SHQ ranges are incomplete.

I really like the facial sculpting on these SHQ metal figures. This is notable because with 1/72 plastics the mould line/flash and sculpting often all come up short at the face.

Of course at 3 feet – my normal viewing – this is all academic.

Categories
miniatures painting wargaming

Paint What You Got

Once again I have belatedly found a painting challenge. This one by Dave Stone started at Christmas and is about getting stuck into your figures backlog – assuming you have one?

This is my first contribution.

15th regiment

These figures were prepped and on painting sticks on the 10th January 2023 according to my painting journal. A year in production is not uncommon in the Erratics world. I had made more progress by November with the main colours done when I stopped all existing production to do some new acquisitions!!!!!

Finally I have finished them complete with gaming bases.

For many years I did not record my painting activity or maybe kept random notes until with lockdown I decided to consolidate my notes and eventually opted for a handwritten journal. It has stood the test of time and has repaid the effort as I have added duplicate figures and simply dug out the recorded paint guide.

These figures are Hat 1/72 World War One German Infantry who have simply been given a paint job. I decided the boot detail was fine at even close distance. This then magically turned them into the 7th and 15th Landwehr Regiments of 1848 who marched into the First Schlieswig Holstein War.

7th regiment

The bases use my standard technique taken from Warhammer Ancient Battles – birdcage grit on PVA followed by Burnt Sienna, an Ochre dry brush and a yellow white highlighter. I then use a Javis mid green turf to finish. Bases are from pendraken.

Cockades were popular

The figures are based on 4 No. 40mm square bases which allow me to use a variety of wargame rules.

In line for a variety of rules

The flag is from Warflag (They are certainly worth a donation or a few) and I have opted for plain flower arranging wire flagpoles with the paper flags glued to recycled covid testing sticks – the hollow sticks fit the wire just right. I am still deciding on how to arrange them – whether to give them caps to set them at the height I want. Right now they just drop onto the figure.

Ok so pistols were only just arriving in 1848 but I like the figure as is…

The only difference between regiments is in the shoulder strap colours. The 7th are yellow while the 15th are light blue.

My reference book is Ralph weavers armies of the first Schleswig Holstein war 1848-1851 published by partizan.

Brilliant guide by Ralph weaver

You can also see a glaring mistake – one base incomplete with only two figures. Quite simply back in 2023 I managed to miscount the figures being put on sticks and never checked again until basing them! This was a puzzle as I used all 48 figures from one box to paint 4No. 12 man units……

Oops one of my men went missing

So that journal will repay itself again as I paint that missing figure – when I find it!

Categories
lance and longbow society wargame shows wargaming

Recon 2023 at Pudsey

I was back at Recon in Pudsey for what is the year end show for me.

First a massive hats off to the Pit Gaming Shop who stepped in after last years event proved to be the last that Wakefield Gamers were able to host. https://thepitgamingshop.co.uk/

I like Recon – it is a good regional show and has that blend of traders, games to see, games to play and a bring and buy. The venue – Pudsey Civic Hall is equipped for such events so you get a nice bar and seating area and plenty of space to circulate.

Wintry but bright and sunny – the civic hall has good lighting unlike Fiasco venue in Leeds

I was late arriving this year and then played a game straight away, then discovered the bring and buy had been huge but also plundered very very quickly.

The Ottoman Turks defend a hill against impetuous Crusaders

I played two games at the Lance and Longbow Society participation table. First up I took the Crusader Centre for a Nicopolis 1396 era encounter. I quickly advanced and was promptly decimated by the defending turks led by Bob.

The crusader centre looked suitably heavy

In the second game I took a flank of the turkish army and got badly beaten up by the crusaders led by Andy.

Second game flank force – mainly bow although they did ok
Second games ends abruptly when the Porte is killed! on first contact! The dreaded dice throw check for leaders in melees…….

Rules were home adapted Lion Rampant and they are fun to play.

Always an enjoyable game with Steve, Bob, Will, Andy and the Wargaming Amateur! https://wargameamateur.blogspot.com/

I did have a good look round the show.

The first floor this year contained the very much enlarged bring and buy plus a HOTT competition.

In the main hall were the traders and games. Pit Gaming were located on the large stage – but I failed to snap their offering!

1941 – Mussolini launches his Greek adventure

Attack on Height 518 from the 1941 Italian invasion of Greece caught my eye. Ironically they were using Rapid Fire Rules which I had recently started to look at – I had got a free copy of the “reloaded” booklet somewhere last year and became interested in the original ruleset. Then I passed up a secondhand copy at battleground https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/7155

Anyway the guy hosting gave me a lot of his time to chat about the game which I appreciated, and is one of the benefits of a demonstration game – although this was actually a game being fought by him and two other gamers. So hats off to him.

tankettes are a feature of early war combat as well as towed artillery/anti tank guns. scale was 1/72.

Hill 518 was a few metres lower after this battle simply because the Italians deluged the location with so much bombardment – neatly illustrated in the game by the shellholes and destroyed trees

Immaculate model aircraft – 1/72 does give you unlimited airpower of course

Blotz is a trader, they had some very interesting buildings on show. I liked their offerings.

Actual Size Miniatures had some interesting boats and just in the distance an impressive range of 28mm mid 19th century guns

This Sci Fi dropship I also liked along with a nicely detailed RPG gaming set up for a control centre building

Another Sci Fi game attracted me. This time the precise and colourful hexes drew you in.

What a pirate also looked engaging.

What a tanker in 15mm? was on offer

In 15mm? again were two Napoleonic games by Central London Wargames Club.

Undaunted – another grid game looked intriguing

Blucher Rules in 6mm was being fought on stage!

Archduke John and eugene peruse their options from the erie ………

All in all I had a very enjoyable day.

Once again thanks to Pit Gaming, I hope Recon is back in 2024.

Categories
Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

Buildings Blast – some C19th figures used

My “Buildings Blast” post about two games I fought after setting up most of my buildings scenery covered a What a Tanker game and then a mid C19th game between Austrians and Piedmontese.

The tanks in use were the usual suspects, however the C19th game included several units which were converted – head swops or using different paint jobs.

Here are some of the units that were in play.

For 1859 Piedmontese I basically used these Hat ACW Infantry Firing, a paint job adaption. Crucially the kepi gradually replaced the tapered stove pipe in Piedmont/Sardinian Armies between 1848 and 1870 so ACW sets are a good source for these forces and require little adaption. And at a squint can cover Danish troops in their German wars 1848-1864, but thats another story.
Hat Napoleonic Russian Militia were simply painted as Milan Civil Guard. A couple of figures had flat hats created to replace their busby like hats. The Flag is a home made effort using artists acrylic pens on dried out glasses cleaner material. Yep some “value” glasses cleaner wipes don’t have a long shelf life – and I have packets of them! However oddly they are a bit like tough crepe paper so of course ended up in the hobby spares box.

…….in the foreground my “topiary hedges are on show“

The biggest conversion on show was my 1849 Piedmontese or Sardinians – rapidly expanded infantry were sent into battle with simple frockcoats and larger red tapered shakoes. (the regulars had double breasted frockcoats and smaller tapered stove pipe hats). I used Hat marching ACW union troops and took the Shakoes and back packs from Hat Dutch Napoleonic Infantry.
These lancers are circa early 1970’s Minifigs – conversion is in my “minds eye” to some Piedmont Lancers who of course did not wear green! or had combs on the helmets, red on their pennants……oh well its amazing what you can forgive.

The cobbled street comes from Coritani (Magnetic Displays Ltd).

These figures are Strelets 1877 Russian Artillery posing as french artillery circa 1850. The “piece” is I think a Zvezda item from their Great Northern Wars range
These trusty Hussars date from the 1970’s and are French Napoleonic. They regularly turn up as Austrian Hussars in my games.
The river is from S&A Scenics and the bridge is a laser wood cut kit from 4ground

4ground and S&A Scenics Links

My last unit on show is the 1860 British Legion – that sailed to Sicily with Garibaldi’s Mediterranean Invasion Army. The figures are Strelets Russian Turkish war of 1877 Russians in summer uniform.

Even in these days of a truly massive games market the more obscure historical events being modelled benefit from some conversion and adaption in order to capture the flavour of uniforms.

Categories
Mid 19th Century Wargaming Vienna Treaty Wars wargame rules wargaming

The Battle of Oeversee 1864

Neil Thomas offered this battle as an example of a small action using his mini battle setting. His rules assumed a 2’x 2′ or 600mm square. So thats board game sized.

His rules say you do not need to rebase. Always a positive these days.

I have a mixture of units – a result of my lock down era painting activity tending to paint what I fancied than worrying about actual armies!

The action is straightforward – the Danes are retreating and use a bottleneck on the key route north towards Jutland. The Danish rearguard are buying time for their main forces to retreat to their last defence line in Schlieswig – the Duppel fortifications.

suggested set up from book – copyright Neil Thomas.

Their opponent was the geographic “Empire” effectively still the Holy Roman Empire but now really the German Confederation post Waterloo with Austrian and Prussian interference/support.

In this case the Austrians were attacking the rearguard.

The Danish Rearguard

  • Infantry Unit A
  • Infantry Unit B
  • Infantry Unit C
  • Infantry Unit D
  • Artillery Battery E

The Artillery was Bronze Rifled while the Infantry were all Levy in loose order armed with rifled muskets.

The Danish troops are all deployed in the bottleneck.

The Austrians Attack starting at the river line comprise

  • 9th Hussars – Average
  • Artillery – 2 batteries both with bronze rifled cannon

Their main forces arrive from move 1 on the main road

  • Jaeger Infantry unit – elite, rifled musket, loose order
  • Skirmishers – elite, rifled musket

On moves 2 & 3 the following units arrive via the same southern road access

  • Infantry Unit 6 – move 2 – average, rifled musket, loose order
  • Infantry Unit 7 – move 3 – average, rifled musket, loose order
  • Infantry Unit 8 – move 3 – average, rifled musket, loose order

Battle Narrative

With the objective to clear all danish forces from the road (at least 12cm from the road) essentially the Austrians simply went through the Front Door.

They had 10 moves to do it in with a win lose outcome and no draw.

Special Rules as suggested by Neil Thomas were used

  • Colonel Muller personal leadership of the Danes means any one unit at the start of any turn can be elite.
  • The Danish Artillery were quite ineffectual so get half the nortmal values in defence and attack
  • The Austrians fresh from rough handling by the French in 1859 adopt bayonet charges in preference to distance firefights. They stay in column the whole game and can charge without restriction (no unit base quantity advantage required)

Some shots of the action

Danish defence face the Austrian advance guard

The stream has no effect on movement except Artillery must use the bridge. The town can be accessed only by Infantry. The lake is impassable to all troops while infantry can move through the wood.

The Austrian battery drops into action as the 9th Hussars begin their fateful attack

The Danish front line are in line and not moving, supported by more mobile Column units behind. If infantry want to move in Neil Thomas’ rules they must be in column.

The 9th Hussars much reduced by musket fire charge home. The Austrian Skirmishers have made little impact but the Artillery have seriously depleted the Danish infantry to their front.
The Danish front line has been blown away by the Austrian Artillery and the Elite Jaeger unit

Note in this game I chose not to field the woeful Danish Artillery ( i.e. I forgot to place them on the board!)

The second line of Danish infantry eventually destroy the Elite Jaeger
But at the cost of another Danish unit when more Austrians charge home
Its the end of move 10 and the final Danish defence was about to be overrun by the Austrians

An Austrian victory seemed to confirm Neil Thomas’ view that history repeats itself with his suggested set up. In his notes he offers several options to up the defence capability of the Danes.

In this case a very narrow Danish Victory suggests a well thought out scenario by Neil Thomas. Generally I have found Neil Thomas scenarios are fun to play because they tend to lead to a lot of action and no quick outcomes. So although asymmetrical in set up they seem to be well balanced games.

Footnote:

The Figures are Irregular Miniatures and Hat for the Danish

In this picture top right clockwise – 1848 Danish Infantry, 1849 Danish Infantry then 1864 Danish and finally some rogue 1860 Piedmontese.
The Austrians are top left clockwise Hat Grenzers – being Skirmishers then Minifigs (1970’s) French Hussars posing as the 9th, Waterloo1815 1859 Austrian Artillery and finally the elite Jaeger are WW1 Belgians painted as Neapolitan 1859 Cracciatori Light Infantry

Elsewhere in the photographs the regular Austrian Infantry on show are Waterloo1815 1859 Austrians in their white coats – in 1864 it was bitter winter weather so soldiers actually fought in their greatcoats.

Neil Thomas offers the mini game as a quick affair and it certainly was. Lots of enjoyment from a two foot square, scenery, dice and some figures.

Categories
miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23d – Composite Cavalry

Ok Cavalry has not been my top list item for mid 19th century forces. They don’t figure much in the record and are derided for ineffective battle action as well as being the scout forces that seemed to be missing in action as armies stumbled into each other.

Having said all that they still had colourful uniforms! At the end is an item about the obvious error…….

These figures date to my try a “few of many” period so no vast regiments but squadrons and patrols.

And of course composite cavalry units did seem the order of the day at times.

In this case I have opposing forces on show as well!

  • Central Italian League 1860 – Cavalry Regiment “Guide”*
  • Piedmont Cavalry 1848 – Genova Cavalleria
  • Austrian Uhlans 1860 – Freiwilligen Uhlaren Regiment
  • Austrian Dragoons 1848 – Baron Boyneburg

*I have previously posted about the Warrior Napoleonic Hussars posing as Guides for the Central Italian League.

  • The Piedmont Cavalry are Waterloo1815 French Line Lancers.
  • The Uhlans are by Lucky Toys
  • The Austrian Dragoons are Hat Austrian Napoleonic Dragoons

I have used a range of grasses here over my standard 3 colour (burnt sienna base + ochre dry brush+ yellow/white highlights) painted budgie grit.

  • The Piedmont Cavalry are flocked with Woodland Scenics fine turf
  • The Austrian Dragoons are flocked with Woodland Scenics fine turf with Gamers Grass Dense Beige 6mm wild tufts
  • The Austrian Uhlans are flocked with Woodland Scenics fine turf with Gamers Grass Beige 2mm tufts
  • The Guides also sport Gamers Grass Dense Beige 6mm wild tufts

Which do you prefer?

A – Hussars in the brushwood?

B – Piedmontese on the thin turf?

C – The Uhlans in the small tufts?

D – The Dragoons in turf and brushwood?

Out of interest the painted base looks right when viewed on the games table but not in close up.

Warrior v Waterloo1815 v LuckyToys v Hat figures compared when painted and based

Flock references above and Grasses below

This ends a small flurry of completions for my mid 19th century armies.

The Error

My Piedmontese Cavalry have a helmet “comb” where there should not be one. “No comb” was the mid century fashion for Dragoons and Cuirassiers. Yet I could not bring myself to cut them off as they make this figure…………………..

Categories
miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 22i 1850 Austrians

These Austrians sporting waffenrock full skirted tunics and tapered stove pipe shakoes are really post 1850 . This time I have two weak units representing Infantry Regiments 40 and 41.

IR40 Baron Koudelka 1834 to 1849 probably means the men with light blue facings are from IR40 Inhaber (Ceremonial Commander in Chief) Baron Rossbach who took over in 1850.

IR41 with sulphur yellow facings, under Baron Sivkovich from 1841 then handed over to Baron Kellner in 1857

These are weak Field of Battle Battalions at only 3 bases. Right now I tend to paint the figures by sprue and “Waterloo 1815 manufactured” Austrians come with 10 figures including a mounted officer. So I get 3 bases of 3 foot figures.

I use the excellent Osprey Men At Arms 323 by Darko Pavlovic as my main reference.

Book 323 is top left