Tag: wargaming

wargaming is everything from gaming on the table top with dice, painting figures, reading history, collecting figures, scenery and rules through to geography, politics, art, crafts and imaginative writing……..

The Painting Pedestal 23d – Composite Cavalry

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 21st Apr 2023
3 Comments on 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.

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…………………..

Tags 1/72, 1/72 plastics, hat 1/72, hat miniatures, lucky toys, miniature figures, miniature figurines, painting figures, painting miniatures, the painting pedestal, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming, warrior miniatures, wars of the italian unification, waterloo 1815 1/72

metal miniatures miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23c – Danish Infantry 1864

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 20th Apr 2023
6 Comments on 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.

Tags 1/72 metals, 20mm metals, danish infantry, Irregular miniatures, painting figures, painting miniatures, the painting pedestal, the schlieswig holstein question, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming

metal miniatures miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23b – 1850 Danish Infantry

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 19th Apr 2023
2 Comments on 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.

Tags 1/72 metals, 20mm metals, danish infantry, Irregular miniatures, miniature figures, painting figures, painting miniatures, the painting pedestal, the schlieswig holstein question, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming

wargaming

What a mess!

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.

Tags miniature figures, miniatures painting, painting figures, painting miniatures, the painting pedestal, wargames, wargaming

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.

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.

Tags Gaslands, hammerhead, paper armies, wargame shows, wargames, wargaming

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Tags lance and longbow society, renaissance, wargames, wargaming

metal miniatures Mid 19th Century Wargaming miniatures painting wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 23a – Central Italian League 1860

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 15th Jan 2023
4 Comments on 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……

Tags central italian league 1860, Guides, osprey books, osprey MAA 512, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming, warrior miniatures, wars of the italian unification

miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 22i 1850 Austrians

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 28th Dec 2022
5 Comments on 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.

Tags 1/72 plastics, 1850 Austrians, austrian artillery, austrians, austrians 1859, osprey austrian army 1836 to 1866, The Austrian Army, Vienna Treaty Wars, waffenrock tunic, wargames, wargaming, wars of the italian unification, waterloo 1815 1/72, Waterloo 1815 1859 Austrians, waterloo 1815 Austrians

miniatures painting Vienna Treaty Wars wargaming

The Painting Pedestal 22h Austrian Artillery

Post author By lorenzoseventh
Post date 19th Dec 2022
1 Comment on 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.

Tags 1/72 plastics, 1850 Austrians, austrian artillery, austrians, austrians 1859, irregular crimean russian artillery, Irregular miniatures, The Austrian Army, Vienna Treaty Wars, wargames, wargaming, wars of the italian unification, Waterloo 1815 1859 Austrians

Military History new additions wargaming

High Street Hiatus III

Slightly off track Bangor in Snowdonia or rather Eryri National Park as it is now called is not an obvious destination when you have the mountains, seashore and a host of attractive towns and villages – usually accompanied by a castle – to pick from.

On this occasion this High Street trip included an island hop and a pier!

Bangor does have a church – a cathedral in fact, a pier and as it happens a very useful military and transport history bookshop. https://www.facebook.com/people/Pete-The-Hat-Militaria-Antiques-and-Collectables/100063839724031/?sk=photos

The 6th Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers (Caernarvonshire & Angelesey) were originally a volunteer rifle corps raised in 1859 at a time of concern about Britain being invaded. The more I visit the UK coast the more this issue of possible invasion around 1860 pops up.

The Tomb of Owain the Great is also to be found in the Cathedral

I chanced upon a militaria shop in a very tidy 1970’s shopping mall, a stones throw from the Cathedral. It was full to the brim and also had a decent range of secondhand books. The owner gave me a good price for the items I bought and was very welcoming.