Tag: wargames

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
metal miniatures miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23c – Danish Infantry 1864

Another batch of World War 1 Austrian Infantry became this unit of Danish. Irregular Miniatures are the source of these nicely sculpted figures.

You can see previous posts here

Now the Danish are up against the Prussians yet their uniforms will not save them from defeat and the loss of Holstein and a great chunk of Schlieswig.

Had Britain taken more notice of the Schlieswig Holstein Question consequences, maybe 80 subsequent years of Teutonic misery across Europe might have been avoided.

Back to the figures – its a paint job with the caps being cut down at the front. To match my typically 24 mm 1/72 figures I based these with a washer beneath them as Irregular sell them as 20mm and use thin base metal. Some of the figures sport a black greatcoat.

Next up some cavalry.

Categories
metal miniatures miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23b – 1850 Danish Infantry

I bought some Austrian WW1 infantry from Irregular Miniatures – I thought they might work for mid 19th century forces. The peaked cap was my interest. The lower leg bindings were not desired and the baggy trousers equally did not look promising. Also the front peaks were a bit obvious.

I put them aside way back in 2020.

And then just before Xmas 2022 I had another look and decided they might work as fill in for my mid 19th century Danish tests.

In this case I had a go at painting away the errors. The only mods were to slice off the hat top and add a sliver of tapered plastic. One original test with a tall “wood” mod cap can also be seen!

Here are some 1850 infantry fresh from defeating their German adversaries.

At the start of the war the Infantry sported Red tunics and Bell Shakoes. My previous post for such a unit is here.

Categories
wargaming

What a mess!

The log jam
Some progress

2023 has proven to be one of thin pickings wargame wise when it comes to painting.

I managed a few games and I have started on some permanent grid boards – now half abandoned!

Yet Painting which has been a mainstay over the last few years has dried up.

Well until yesterday when ignoring the paint queue I started some new figures…..madness this way lies…….

In the queue are mid 19th century Dane’s, French, hannovarians, Austrians, Piedmontese, with some zorn painted ecw figures from 2021 plus 1970’s Vikings to add flavour!

So now I have added more – Prussians, Bavarians, Danes and wagons.

This latest madness stems from the battle of standard and me looking for a medieval cart – queue I find my half prepped danish and Prussian horse plus some newline Prussians earmarked as 1848 Bavarians.

No medieval cart but more painting log jams

Enter the wargaming painters gorge at your peril

Hey ho.

Categories
wargame shows wargaming

Hammerhead 2023

This years Hammerhead was very busy – the car park was full and early on. This site is no good for public transport being well outside Newark with no bus services to the site. The car park is therefore a good measure of attendance.

Inside the main hall it was extremely busy. Traders were doing lots of business or rather had many visitors. How much was being spent was another matter.

The participation games looked well patronised.

One change was the second hall that held mainly the DBA gamers was not open this year. So the DBA gamers were in the main hall. Much reduced in number post covid19 and perhaps some were grateful for the hubbub around them while others maybe longed for the quieter setting of the second hall. Earnest stuff though!

I spent little – in fact just a set of transfers on the day!

Normally I have a few things in mind but not this time. I was tempted by some paper boys books, see below one of the participation games, while Helion publications on Franco Prussian and Hungary 1848 wars almost made me part with some cash. Osprey have published yet another book about late roman britain – my interest was that it covered Gaul as well – but not enough to make a buy – yet. Some 1/72 plastic kit armoured cars nearly captured me. In the end I was happy just to look.

A few games I did snap all looked fine. I forgot to go back and play the Spanish Civil War game (GB30 a very spanish civil war by Three shirews gaming) or get a pick – it was very lively.

Similarly no pick of Anarchy in North Yorkshire 1138 (GB15) by Red car Iron Beards: Using the versatile Lion Rampant ruleset for a small skirmish. I had a good chat with them – hope they find a new home and grow again.

GA03 Gaslands on show – but I am guessing this product has run a bit low on gas since its spectacular arrival?
It remains an interesting alternative that is easily accessible – Homefront Gamers offered a good set up.
Not much scenery tempts me although I have a soft spot for sunshine buildings – maybe thats a winter thing? TD19 Charlie Foxtrot Models was busy.
GB01 Ice Slaughter – Lake Priepus by Like a Stone Wall Wargames Group I think.
GB17 Edge on Flat Figures don’t seem that tempting.
However – face on I think they are more than impressive. And these are 10mm – much smaller than the original sets. So en masse they look good.
My only purchase! Pendraken TD10 to the rescue………

Hammerhead offers an excellent variety of gaming opportunities. When you add in the trader range it is definitely a show to consider.

For me there was the added social aspect – it is a welcoming show.

Compared to VAP 2023, Hammerhead was clearly well organised on the day. It benefits from being on one level although it perhaps lacks facilities to be much bigger – the second hall only really works on fine days I guess!

The emphasis on participation brings a greater variety of games, it seems to me.

In that sense the two shows being close together on the calendar are complimentary.

Categories
life wargaming

On the High Street 23b

York is a good place to visit as a Wargamer especially if you like History. Aside from all the sites concerning the Roman, Viking and Later Medieval periods, there are still real shops where you can buy things for your hobby.

Bookshops have still been dissappearing at a fair rate, yet Amnesty International reopened their York book store which involved moving across the river to a new revamped premises.

On the model front you can still get a good range of stock,

  • Warhammer in Lendal – does what it is says on the tin – well packaging!
  • P&S Hobbies sell large scale models – boats, trains and planes but also a lot of kits including 1/72. Their miniature figure stocks have been shrinking though.
  • Monkbar Models sell large railway related ranges alongside extensive military model kit ranges and collectible ready built aircaft and vehicles. Their stock figure ranges – notably 1/72 have also been shrinking. No.2 Goodramgate.
  • Boyes General Store does a a good range of hobby tools and paints and many Warhammer boxed sets. They no longer carry Airfix or Perrys post lockdown.
  • Down whip-ma-whop-ma gate is the OG gaming store which is ideal for your RPG needs
  • And by Ousegate Bridge is a board game cafe – Geek Retreat
  • Travelling Man offers a massive range of Board Games along with selected RPG lines.
  • The Alma Cafe on Coppergate sells some Irregular Minatures – 40mm figures
Board Game Cafe – next to Ouse Bridge, 3 Low Ousegate.
RPG gaming store 1.5! Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate – what a street
Boyes everyday shopping plus warhammer and loads of paints and hobby tools – 35 Goodramgate
Don’t be fooled by the for sale sign – thats the upstairs office suite. P&S Hobbies are a large scale specialist covering boats, planes, trains and military interests. Good source of scratch build parts including balsa wood – 4 Walmgate
Amnesty International reopened a bookshop in York in 2022 which has more space and is less cramped. 19 Micklegate.
No question – if its board games – then this is the destination. 74 Goodramgate
Need a break then head to Alma Cafe. 6 Coppergate.
In the gifts area you can inspect and of course buy some 40mm Irregular Figures
Of course if you pick Viking Festival weekend then you get some live vikings strolling round town.

So if your visiting York check out these traders and give them some valuable support. And remember February is the Month for Vapnartak Wargames Show and the Viking Festival.

Of course the centre piece of Medieval York is the Minster which on a sharp winters day looks fantastic.

Or you could visit the many other churches in the city and take in the glazed windows.

Categories
lance and longbow society wargame shows wargaming

VAP 2023

VAP 2022 felt like a throw back – as if COVID19 had not happened – all those companies were back and there was a feeling of relief.

You can read here my thoughts a year ago https://wordpress.com/post/thewargamingerratic.home.blog/4337

VAP 2023 felt changed – I had seen changes at other shows in recent years – VAP had seemed to buck the trend. It had continued to grow and evolve. This time it was the show with empty space and yet more shoppers and less players?

It also had the misfortune to have some logistics issues around not enough people on the entry tills and perhaps not enough show experience either?

So what about the actual show? Well I decided to “play” first. I chose the lance and longbow society refight of the Battle of Buda between The Ottomans and Imperialists. My post about the Tour de France visit to Hungary finishes with scenes of Hussars and Berlioz in the Capital. Budapest is still a fantastic city and well worth a visit if you like history and panorama.

The Ottomans led by light cavalry Akinji begin their attack on the Imperial forces

The game was multiplayer using modified Lion Rampant and played well in a crowded show area – the actual play took a few hours simply because it turned out neither side could get a knock out and the attrition took some time to play out with both sides in with a shout of victory until the final turn. I compounded poor decision making with poor dice throwing in the early stages – nothing new there! It was a good game in my book (for multiplayers) as there were no early disinterested observers.

Thanks to the guys at Lance & Longbow Society for another great game.

The Ottomans begin to crush the Imperialists – now hemmed in on all sides.

By the time the game ended I needed some food and after that it was early afternoon – the show was now emptying out after seemingly very crowded. I wandered round the trade stands and detected satisfaction – maybe buyers had been out in sufficient force?

There were participation games The Balkan Wargamer highlighted some and the Lake Priepus game looked enticing. On the other hand I was now in buying mode. Actually I only bought some 1/72 figures at the, by then, deserted bring and buy.

Some nice 28mm Ancients – not my bag or maybe………….

One company did catch my eye and given I am not into 28mm that was interesting. Black Scorpion Miniatures had a small but effective stand showing their range of 3D printed miniatures.

3D printed ranges are growing in variety and number

If I was to enter the 3D market in 28mm I think this sort of figure type might entice me. The detail clearly repays careful painting.

Thats it for VAP 2023 and I had a great time playing a game but found little to tempt my wallet on this occasion.

Categories
metal miniatures Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

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……

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
Categories
miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 22h Austrian Artillery

This Austrian Artillery Battery works for the 1st and 2nd Italian Independence Wars of 1848/49 and 1859/60 respectively. We are still in muzzle loading smoothbore territory but with rifling growing in popularity.

This time I opted for individually based figures.

Previously I had based some of them for Piquet Field of Battle rules.

The artillery pieces are Irregular Miniatures Russian guns.