Tag: strelets 1/72

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……

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.

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

Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

1st Schleswig Holstein – the Rebels uniforms 1848

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 28th May 2024
2 Comments on 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.

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.

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.

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

miniatures painting wargaming

A tale of two painting events

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 23rd May 2024
6 Comments on 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

A German ww2 magazine freebie with mods to make a sci fi character of sorts

A button monster made from a 54mm ww2 soldier.

miniatures painting wargaming

Blog Influences 4 Pauls Bods

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 18th May 2024
2 Comments on 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.

Tags 1/72, 1/72 metals, 1/72 plastics, 20-25mm, airfix, hat 1/72, hat miniatures, miniature figures, miniatures painting, painting figures, painting miniatures, strelets, strelets 1/72, wargames, wargames rules, wargaming

miniatures painting wargaming

Paint What You Got II – better late than never

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 2nd Mar 2024
11 Comments on 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.

miniatures painting wargaming

Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge 2023/24

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 13th Feb 2024
8 Comments on 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.

Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

Buildings Blast – some C19th figures used

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 3rd Sep 2023
6 Comments on 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.

Tags 1/72 plastics, 4ground designs, coritani (magnetic displays), hat 1/72, hat miniatures, Magnetic Displays/Coritani, miniature figurines, minifigs, SandA Scenics, strelets, strelets 1/72, strelets 1877 Russians, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming

Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal: 22e 1859 french artillery

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 6th Jul 2022
4 Comments on The Painting Pedestal: 22e 1859 french artillery

My current preoccupation is mid nineteenth century warfare. You can’t travel far without meeting the resurgent French Empire. Here is my offering on french artillery around the time of the Franco Austrian War of 1859. Being a few years before the American Civil War it can be argued that conflict obscures the war which inflated French self belief and probably contributed to their Prussian undoing by 1870.