osprey MAA 512 – The Wargaming Erratic

The Painting Pedestal 23a – Central Italian League 1860

These figures are from Warrior Miniatures who were my first hobby metals miniatures purchase ever. In this case I bought these figures during lock down after trying to find a suitable figure to show off the Cavalry Regiment Guide who served in the brief existence of the Central Italian League.

My go to reference book is Osprey Men at Arms 512.

The basing uses my standard 3 colouring of bird grit PVA’d to the 40x20mm base. The three colour is yellow ochre dry brushed over burnt sienna with a yellow white highlight. This time I used Gamers Grass Desnse Beige 6mm in large quantities – I am quite keen on the pale grasses they sell which do have a hint of new growth at the base, great detail.

The figure on the cover of Osprey 512 caught my eye – bottom left. This is a fantasic quartet of books by Osprey.

Being guides (although eventually becoming a regiment) I have just two figures, who will be brigaded with others if in the unlikely event they fight in the battle line!

I have done no alteration to the Warrior Figures which are sold as 25mm British Hussars from the Napoleonic Peninsular Campaign.

They will no doubt appear in one of my imagi-nations armies. And if I ever get other forces done – some actual 1860 actions. While the uniform has limited period use I simply found it a compelling one to paint up.

Not sure when the next painted unit will appear as I have at least a dozen units all in states of dis-completion – talk about dissipating your resources……

The Painting Pedestal: Brigata Dunne

Gabriele Esposito has written a fine Osprey about the Italian Wars of Unification. In fact he has two: Part 1 covering Sardinia/Piedmont plus the two Sicilies while part 2 covers Papal States, Minor States and Volunteers.

They are Men-at-Arms series Nos 512 ansd 520.

This particular unit is based for my preferred rulesets by Neil Thomas and Piquet Field of Battle.

With only 12 figures for a battalion they may not be to some people’s liking. Equally they are 1/72 and plastic so 28mm metal fans will have no joy here.

I am quite taken with MAA 520 because it is not just the colour plates that offer so much opportunity and variety. Often in the past Ospreys offered little on uniforms beyond the text for the plates – much of the other text dwelling on potted histories and organisation. These MAA’s offer lots of uniform detail. The black and white plates are very relevant (not always the case in Ospreys), well chosen and in the case of volunteers lots of choice.

I have discovered that there was an English battalion of volunteers in the Sicily campaign of 1860 during the Second War of Unification. It was followed by an English Legion which saw no action. They were all part of the Brigade or Brigata named Dunne after its English Commander.

Plate H1 showing an english volunteer of Brigata Dunne also figures on the front cover of MAA 520.

I used Strelets 1877 Russians in summer dress as they offered the nearest thing to this figure in my view. You might say – well there are plenty of ACW figures that would fill the gap. Well I did look and somehow none looked the part when compared with Strelets 1877 Russians.

Plastic Solder Review complained about the missing bayonets which applies here as well.

I can live with that – 1/72 plastics is often about compromise. I am pleased with the result. In this case Guiseppe Ravas’ illustration made the job easy.