Tag: Irregular miniatures

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 16

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 16th Dec 2025
4 Comments on Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 16

So AHPC16 is upon us – well the 21st December is storming towards me far too fast.

In previous years – well the last two to be exact – first year I started preparing on the 21st way too late and then last year did prepare one primed unit beforehand but held off having a plan before knowing about the themes which then derailed me with a sci fi bug.

I found I was doing stuff (deciding about theme models or simply digging out figures to clean and prime) but not actually painting colour – much before the January deadline loomed into view!

So this year I started my plan in November!

And I have primed some of the planned pieces.

And I decided to ignore the theme and just see what came along.

And lucky me this years three themed pieces have fallen nicely into place within my plan.

Declining Empire should see some planned 1848 Hungarians appear

Childhood toy memory fortunately gets the wild geese treatment from the 1700’s

And rebels hopefully will see some Covenanters appear before the various deadlines

Alas last years failed star of my show might fail to appear yet again. As its anniversary related this is a constant theme – I started my 28mm stoke field armies in 2015……still not much progress ten years on!

And now I have scenery options nudging their way into my plan.

I was hoping to get some more Fauxterre 1930 kit done.

Then there were the 1848 Hanoverians, 1848 Neapolitans, 1700 French Dragoons, 1848 Roman infantry all crying out to be on the plan – the list goes on and on.

Way too much of course for this painting snail, which having done a plan shows so well. It means the exercise has proved its worth already.

However real life is very very busy right now so I might fail on all fronts!

The optimistic wargamer marches onwards……

life miniatures painting

Irregular Loss

I have just discovered that Ron Kay of Irregular Miniatures has died at the age of 98. He was full time on the team until 93, casting figures for all us hobbyists. He carried on as a part time member of the team still handling the big and complex castings. “Hats off” as they say.

I did not know Ron personally but seem to remember him at the Irregular stand at wargames shows.

I can do best by sharing some of my Irregular Miniatures collection and sending my condolences to Ian Kay and the Irregular family.

Irregular have provided me with some great 20mm figures that helped me build my 1848 forces.

1848 Danish Infantry repurposed from Irregulars colonial range

Duchy of Modena Dragoons which were Neapolitan Dragoons

1848 Rumanian infantry which were ww1 Austrians

1848 Roman Legion which were ww1 Austrians

1848 Garibaldeans in red and blue shirts

wargaming

One Hour Wargames and 2 more Sneedens

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 3rd Jul 2025
4 Comments on One Hour Wargames and 2 more Sneedens

The thing about one hour wargames is it’s genuinely “pick up” attraction. If you want to throw dice, move figures and get that war game with a purpose feeling for minimal preparation, then I find it’s a winner.

Yes, the mechanisms are abstract but you have to compromise somewhere and Neil Thomas rules generally offer that blend of compromises I like.

These battles were prompted by my reading atlas of the civil war and discovering Robert Sneeden – a Union Cartographer. https://thewargamingerratic.home.blog/2025/06/05/a-game-wow/

In the first game the Royalists held the hill with some rookie blues and grays in action

The royalists divide their forces to hold both enemy objectives

The royalists include this new blue unit

Rebel forces enter the fray

Rebel victory

The rebel attack on the town is overwhelming

The rebel cavalry destroy the royalist right wing infantry

So the second battle ends in Royalist defeat. It’s all square and all to play for…..

The royalists needed to escape through the town and up the great road……

The royalists choose the remote river crossings on their left wing to make progress

The royalists are peppered by the rebel skirmishers

And so victory to the rebels in the action and also the short campaign.

Today of course saw the end of 3 days of fighting at Gettysburg – the great Union victory which along with the capture of Vicksburg saw the war finally turn against the Confederate Southern States.

miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Portrait 25k: AHPC15 leftovers

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 26th Apr 2025
2 Comments on The Painting Portrait 25k: AHPC15 leftovers

I just missed the end of AHPC15 with some 1848 era artillery.

Rather than park them like last year I decided to get these Properly finished.

Irregular miniatures bell shako British do good service as Dane’s of the 1840’s

Guns were different to the Russian 1850’s version.

Full complement with earlier model to fore.

B and B Miniatures provided these chaps posing as 1848 Schleswig Holstein rebels.

One 4 pounder horse gun and one 6 pounder field gun both rifled breechloaders

But it’s hard work getting pickelhaubes for the 1840’s and the figures come with the guns – waste not want not. At three feet I can live with the difference.

miniatures painting wargaming

Slow work in progress

Well AHPC15 has started but I have been very slow out of the traps.

I have made a start with some irregular miniatures that arrived very promptly in the Christmas post.

They are Neapolitan Dragoons circa 1860, but I took a punt on them for my 1848 Tuscany Dragoons.

To roach or not to roach that is the question in the 1840’s (image from nypl vinkhuisen collection – public domain)

Ok so they have some incorrect details – I can live with that.

I did manage some model prep for AHPC15 as well. Not sure when/if they will make an appearance.

For AHPC15 you need points on the board in January. The Tuscan dragoons will remain my focus.

Dave Stones “paint what you got” is all about clearing off what you have already. And that’s a rich vein for me.

All abandoned 2023/24 painting efforts! Queuing is no problem here.

Tags 20-25mm, 20mm, 20mm metals, Irregular miniatures, mid 19th century wargames, miniature figures, miniatures painting, painting figures, painting miniatures, wars of italian unification, wars of the italian unification

miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24i

Ralph Weavers’ book on the Hungarian Army of 1848/49 was my source for this unit or rather legion. They represent the Romanian or Rumanian legion who fought for the Hungarian side in the war for independence. The Austrians crushed the rebellion as they saw it but the empire was diminished.

The Romanian troops came from ethnically Romanian areas that ultimately became Hungarian ruled in the Transylvanian region after World War One ended the Austrian Empire.

Again I have used Austrian World War One infantry turning a blind eye to ammunition pouches etc.

The flag is homemade and again it suffered some bleeding when pva coated.

A trim of the peaked cap and a paint job gives me what I wanted. The fact is I bought these Austrians speculatively during lock down when I was in the hunt for capped infantry. The 1840’s is a difficult period to model as you often get the right hats with the wrong uniforms or vice versa!

World War One era figure ranges are useful if you ignore the equipment errors.

The uniform was a bluey purple so I tried contrast paints and was very happy with result.

Again I used Ralph’s text to help me decide on uniform details – the flag says Justice Fraternity.

This basically clears the decks for two painting challenges. AHPC15 started last Friday and “paint what you got” starts Boxing Day. They finish 21st March and 28th February respectively so will keep me occupied.

Merry Christmas and thanks for stopping by.

Tags 20-25mm, 20mm, 20mm metals, Irregular miniatures, mid 19th century wargames, miniature figures, miniatures painting, painting figures, painting miniatures, the painting pedestal, Vienna Treaty Wars, VTW1848, wargames, wargaming, Wargaming Nineteenth Century Europe

miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 24h

It’s been quite a gap since June when I posted the last of my AHPC14 miniatures – Danish artillery 1848. And I had not clocked a pedestal moment since my French cuirassiers appeared in May.

In fact the pedestal has physically moved on to a new home but I plan to keep the post title for now.

Today on parade are some irregular miniatures I painted as part of a challenge I did with John@justneedsvarnish.

https://justneedsvarnish.wordpress.com/

The figures are actually 20mm Austrian World War One infantry.

I like irregular’s style of figure which works for the relaxed 3 figures per 40mm square basing I use for my nineteenth century armies

I trimmed the peaked caps and a paint job later I got my 1st Roman Legion (who became the 10th line infantry) of the Roman Republic.

My reference is Ralph Weavers Garibaldi and the Siege of Rome published by Partizan Press. I used his text description which differs somewhat from the colour image in the book.

As I mix old 25mm, 1/72 and 20mm figures from different manufacturers basing sometimes includes height adjustments.

2mm washers help these 20mm figures blend in.

The flag is homemade and the emblems in ink bled when I pva coated them! So that flag will need replacing-one day!

Finally the background tree was a bring and buy find while the two very nice trees to the fore are from “scenics ?”. The cottage is one of my very old airfix models given a makeover during Dave Stones season of scenery this autumn.

wargaming

A Plan of Sorts

First up, I normally plan my wargames activities in darkest December during the lull in UK shows.

This summer I began thinking that perhaps the football season cycle is now more attractive?

I tend to stop gaming and painting in spring as the outdoors beckons. This kind of coincides with the football season ending climax in early May.

And as football returns and autumn beckons my thoughts tend to turn towards indoor interests.

Ok so this summer I did do quite a bit of scenery work courtesy of Dave Stones season of scenery challenge.

Plenty of long in the tooth scenery pieces got some attention-this resin one dates from 1970’s according to its makers mark!

https://wargamesculptorsblog.blogspot.com/2024/09/put-one-foot-infront-of-other.html?m=1

That however, seemed to reinforce summer as a break.

So if this is now to be the start of my wargames season what’s on the cards for the next twelve months?

Well firstly probably the plan will fail! With that out of the way what might be done if it succeeds?

Painting wise I feel it will be more mid 19th century forces.

Some more obscure units are likely – Jutland sharpshooters 1848

Also nearly mechanised feels like it will get an outing.

My pontoon bridge but John at just needs varnish provided the armour!

Brief summer spells of interest in ancient and renaissance plus Wild West periods have fizzled out in 2024 and I can’t see that changing into 2025.

I guess one wild card could be sci fi which has gained some traction in recent years.

The painting table is more likely to see guns rather than spears it would seem.

Gaming wise I think it will revolve around campaigns and again currently mid 19th century wins out along with nearly mechanised.

Nothing like a map to get the campaign spirit moving

I hope to go to the Other Partizan which I missed last year especially as I missed Partizan this year. Oh and I should manage two out of Battleground, Fiasco and Recon.

Recon will be the last at Pudsey civic hall as the property is being sold off.

And just maybe online painting/modelling challenges will figure given both AHPC14 and season of scenery have seen my output of painting and making increase and diversify.

Testing out a quick build Italian hilltop town for grid gaming during season of scenery challenge

Purchases wise the war chest has been thin of late more because I have what I need so it follows the figure mountain and scenery pit are full.

Books wise purchases have trailed off since 2023. Although 2034 gave me a surprise. But that’s another post.

If I do buy it is more likely targeted. For example I would like some more Irregular Miniatures bell shako infantry as well as some garibaldi men.

Well that seems like the bones of a plan. We will see……

Happy Wargaming.

Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

1st Schleswig Holstein War – Royal Danish Army uniforms 1848

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 8th Jun 2024
2 Comments on 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.

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.

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

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.

Tags 1/72, 1/72 metals, 1/72 plastics, 20-25mm, hat 1/72, hat miniatures, Irregular miniatures, mid 19th century wargames, miniature figures, miniatures painting, painting figures, painting miniatures, strelets, strelets 1/72, Vienna Treaty Wars, VTW1848, wargames, wargaming, Wargaming Nineteenth Century Europe

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

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.