Thursday, December 26, 2013

Christmas Break Figure Painting

Completed a few more 25mm French and Indian War Figures over Christmas Break, excuse me Winter Holiday Break.

British
12 - Rangers
12 - 15th Infantry Regiment
8 - Independent Company

French
12 - Canadian Militia - Languedoc Infantry Battalion

I anticipate finishing up some additional figures by the End of the Year.
I have the remainder of the 15th Infantry and Virginia Provincials primed and some first colors slapped on them.   I have another unit of British "Local" Militia primed, a unit of Rangers and a second Independent Company started.
For the French I have another block of 12 Canadian Militia which I intend to have completed for the Bearn infantry Regiment, a block of 24 Grenadiers, 12 Marine Piquets and another unit of Native American Indians already primed.

There is little question I cannot complete everything on my list.
I need to fill in the needs first.
15th British Infantry Regiment (two Divisions)
12 British Local Militia
12 Canadian Militia (Bearn Infantry Regiment)
24 French Grenadiers (Composite Unit)

Native Americans

Here's to my effort.

Monday, December 16, 2013

A Few more F&IW Figures

EDIT: COUNTS UPDATED DECEMBER 26, 2013

I finished up a unit of 12 Canadian Militia Piquets (Skirmish) with a command stand.

I also got a good start on a unit of 10 Native American Indians and it's command stand plus a over all Command Stand for my Native American Indians. 

In looking at what I have Painted:

British
  • 45th Infantry Regiment (54 of 54)
  • 15th Infantry Regiment  (12 of 54)
  • Virginia Militia (12 of 44)
  • Artillery (12 of 12)
  • Highlanders (23 of 23)
  • Highlanders (23 of 23)
  • Highlanders (8 of 50)
  • Rangers (12 of 12)
  • Rangers (12 of 12)
  • Rangers (0 of 12)
  • Independent Company (12 of 12)
  • Independent Company (6 of 12)
French
  • Languedoc (38 of 44)
  • Royal Roussilon (32 of 32)
  • Bearn (32 of 32)
  • Artillery (8 of 8)
  • French Piquets (12 of 12)
  • Companies Marine (44 of 44)
  • Companies Marine (32 of 44)
  • Marine Piquets (0 of 12)
  • Canadian Militia - Formed (16 of 16)
  • Canadian Militia - Unformed (14 of 14)
Native Americans
  • Unit 1 (12 of 12)
  • Unit 2 (12 of 12)
British Allied - Hessian
  • Mansbach (54 of 54)
  • Erbprinz (42 of 54)
  • Artillery (8 of 8)
Saxon in French Service
  • Graf Bruhl (20 of 44)
  • First Lubomirsky (0 of 44)
  • Artillery (8 of 8)
Austrian
  • Artillery (12 of 12)
Swedes
  • German Grenadiers (26 of 46)
  • Jagers (12 of 12)
  • Friekorps (12 of 40)
  • Artillery (8 of 8)

I guess I am beginning to see the end of painting the figures I currently have mounted up and primed, scary thought.  So I started looking through the unmounted and unprimed figures...
  • Two Battalions of French Marching
  • One Battalion of French Advancing
  • Three Battalions of Prussian Muskeeters
  • One Battalion of Austrians
  • 30 Native Americans
In addition I have some ungodly number of American Militia to remount.

My Goal between now and next week is get a good number (30 to 60) Native American Figures painted and remount at least two units of American Militia.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A Ford Too Far - Preliminary Discussion

The Irish historian Cornelius Ryan wrote several narrative histories on the Second World War; the most famous include The Longest Day, The Last Battle and A Bridge too Far.  Cornelius Ryan's writings and the films made based upon his books had a serious impact on my views and choice of hobbies.   I have slowly been painting up the figures to run Operation Market Garden using 15mm figures and "Spearhead" rules.  

Over the years the Centurions have discussed using historical scenarios in different periods; for example the Battle of Gettysburg set in 1779 between the British (Union) and the Continentals (Confederates), or Waterloo in 1870.   

However an intriguing idea was presented as Operation Market Garden set in the French and Indian War, dubbed a Ford too Far.   Would it work, can it be played, what rules, scale...

Obviously with a far number of 25mm Figures painted up already (even though not much is playable, see last post) the scale of the project was chosen for us.

As for rules, my love hate relationship with all rules is clearly in play, however we have been leaning towards Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (AKA BAR) locally and for now with nothing else peaking anyones interest BAR gets the nod.

So we have rules, scale, figures and now the start of creating a scenario.

To me the first step was breaking the game into playable areas or tables.   Specifically the space the table becomes the rivers/canals.   Between Table 1 and Table 2, the Rhine with Oosterbeek and Arnhem on Table 1.   Between Table 2 and Table 3 is the River Waal with Nijmegen located on Table 3.  Between Table 3 and 4 you have the Wilhemina Canal with Eindhoven located on Table 4.

The next step is locating whose where and how do you represent them.
The 1st British Airborne is located on Table 1 holding the crossing there in Arnhem.   The Polish Parachute Brigade is on Table two attempting to take the crossing from Arnhem.   The 82nd is attempting to take the crossing from Nijmegen on to table 2, and the 101st is attempting to take Eindhoven and the crossing onto table 3.
The Germans have a series of Kampfgruppe on each of the tables, including an SS Division, a Parachute Division, a Panzer Brigade and several unique divisions.  

The 1st Airborne - 80th Regiment of Foot
Polish Parachute Brigade - Allied Native Americans
82nd Airborne - American Rangers
101st Airborne - American Rangers
Guards Armored - Highlanders
Wessex Division - Regular infantry
Northumberland Division -  Regular Infantry

The question then becomes how many figures....
If you figure each player will command four units of 10/12 figures than ...
80th Regiment of Foot (Gage's Light Infantry) - Five skirmishing units of 10 figures.
Native American - Three Skirmishing units of 15 figures
American Rangers - Three Skirmishing units of 10 figures
American Rangers - Three Skirmishing units of 10 figures
Highlanders - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 15 Figures
45th Regiment of Foot - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 12 Figures
15th Regiment of Foot - Four Regular Foot Divisions of 12 Figures

Additional Figures
Grenadiers - 8th Armoured Brigade?

More later on all the Kampfgruppes

Monday, December 2, 2013

BAR Update - December 2

WOW!  Has it really been 9 months since I blogged on Miniature Gaming?   According to BlogSpot it has been, I just cannot believe it has been that long.

Any how...

Over the long Thanksgiving Weekend I spent some quality time with brush, paint and figures.   It seemed like I didn't complete much in the way of completed figures, twelve French Piquets (One Unit), four Austrian Artillerists, three command stands, half-a-dozen French Canadian Militia, and a solid start on another half-a-dozen French Canadian Militia.   That's 30 figures, plus 6 half-painted figures.   I shouldn't complain but...

I also spent some time looking over my French and Indian War / Seven Years War 25mm figure collection and attempted to decide upon some priorities.  I suppose that having the attention span of a six year old doesn't help me all that much; however here goes.

I think that creating playable forces has got to be the most important aspect.

On the French side you have Bougainville, Dumaz, Senezergues, and Montcalm's commands, Brigades if you will, however that is not the proper term, columns or lines is more of the vernacular for the period.
On the British side you have Wolfe, Monckton, Murray, and Townsend's commands. 
I also have two Saxon Regiments in French Service, two battalions of Hessians, and a number of Swedish units in the works for other SYW projects.

As I take a closer look at the French Side for the F&IW:
Bougainville Flying Column
Levis' Militia Cavalry - 200 Men - Don't own figures
French Piquets (IR) - 100 Men - Completed
French Piquets (CdM) - 100 Men - Figures Primed
French Piquets (Militia) - 120 Men - 6 Painted / 6 half-painted
Composite Grenadier Battalion - 240 Men - Not started
Native American's -

Dumaz's Column
La Sarre (II) - 360 Men - Not Started
Montreal Militia - 8 Figures Painted
Quebec Militia - 8 Figures Painted

Senezergues' Column
Guyenne (II) - 360 Men - Not Started
Royal Roussilon (II) - 360 Men - 12 Figures Painted
Montreal Militia - Not Started
Trois River Militia - Not Started

Montcalm's Column
Langdoc (II) - 360 Men - 24 Figures Painted
Bearn (II) - 360 Men - 24 Figures Painted

Levis' Brigade
Compagnies Franches de la Marine - 960 Men and 240 Militia - 48 Figures and 24 Figures 

The problem, even though I have 150 to 200 figures painted I haven't complete one command, what worse is that each of the commands needs about 50 figures to make it playable.   

On the British side I am even more in shambles as many figures are half-painted.    I have commands stands completed for four or five battalions but very few actual line figures painted.  

So what can I get completed to make pained playable forces.
Bougainville's Flying Column needs Militia Piquets and a number of Native American's completed.   arguably this is my closest to playable command.   One I should focus on in the short term.
The next closest to playable is Montcalm's Column of two battalions, I am short 24 figures and actually have these figures primed and based up.
Levis' Brigade is in practical purposes playable, but under strength, a couple of artillery pieces and some more Marines are in it's future.

The British, well since I cannot put what I have painted into any kind of semblance of order I am practically starting at ground zero.   I have two divisions of the 48th Foot done (24 Figures) and 24 figures primed I need to finish those before moving on to the 15th Foot.   I also have 30 figures of the 78th Highlanders started and well I also have the 60th (Royal Americans) and a Virginia Militia Battalion started, plus two Independent Companies, three Ranger Companies (basically done).   Wow are they a mess.   I guess that why I am focusing on the French.
Dumaz's and Senezegues' Columns are the furthest from playable.

Friday, April 19, 2013

BAR Update

A quick look at four of the sixteen Prussian Artillerists that I am painting up for Jim.    I actually have eight of them done and started on the other eight.

Jim is working on Prussian Brigade with a Musketeer Regiment (two battalions) and a Fusilier Regiment (two battalions) plus artillery.

For the Imaginations games of Jumboed Alliances I am working on a Swedish Brigade and a Saxon Brigade.   My plan is that once painted the Saxon's would be sold to someone locally.   Hopefully at some point I can get back the Royal Swede and Royal Bavarian Brigade for the French Army, but that is now on the back burner.

Speaking of the Swedish Brigade I have really given some thought on its organization and have decided to get back to work on it.   The brigade will have Narke-Varmlands, Dalanars as a single battalion of three small divisions of 15; two battalions of a Vavarde Regiment.   To be supported by one battalion of Grenadiers, more artillery than you can shake a stick at (It is a Swedish Command after all), plus a company of Jaegers.

Monday, April 1, 2013

AAR - Battle of Fort Schuyler

My Lord,

I wish to present to you a report of the action of March 30, 1758 between the Sarcastic Alliance and the 33 1/3 Coalition of Lunacy near Fort Schuyler New York [Utica, New York].

The Relief Column of the Dunbar's Infantry [48th Infantry Regiment] followed by our glorious allies of Hessen-Kessel's von Mansbach Regiment departed Fort Herkmer and marched to relieve the besieged forces of Fort Stanwix [Rome, New York].    On the morning of March 30th scouts of Brewer's Rangers reported French troop concentration along the banks of the Mohawk river.
The Brewer's Rangers under order to investigate used a farmstead called Cherry Point Hill as base of operation as it members moved towards the river to determine the make up of the French Force Concentration.
Without delay I ordered Dunbar's Infantry to form into battle line in the clearing between Cherry Point Hill and the Fort Schuyler.    I directed the commander of von Mansbach to do the same; however I believe a language barrier presented issues as the men of von Mansback decided to take a holiday and bath in the glorious sunny afternoon.
From my vantage point I saw a second French troop concentration forming near Fort Schuyler and begin advance on the Fort.
Dunbar's Infantry ran off to two battalions of French Marines and spent the remainder of the afternoon reforming.  After much coaxing and some language lessons I finally urged the soldiers of von Mansbach to form a line of battle and move towards the French troops assaulting the defenders of Fort Schuyler.   
The mass of French succeeded in breaking the defenses and have taken Fort Schuyler and now hold those heights above the Mohawk.
Unable to secure the Fort and lines of communication I have withdrawn to Fort Herkmer and await further instructions.
Your humble servant.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

A weekend's work

It was a quiet weekend so I spent it working on a few figures.   I pulled out my French Army for Batailles de l'Ancien Régime [AKA BAR] and tried to finish up things I got started a while back.

I finished the first division of the Royal Suédois Infanterie (Royal Swedish Infantry Regiment) of 12 figures.  I had one figure completed before Friday, I did three figures Friday night and eight figures on Saturday.

I have been working on a variety of painting techniques using different color primer and seeing what effects work and don't work.   This weekend I think pretty much everything worked, except for the white primer.


I finished up both divisions of the Béarn Infanterie (Bearn Infantry Regiment) by completing seven figures and the Languedoc Infanterie (Languedoc Infantry Regiment) by completing four figures.   Both of those Battalions have two divisions of 12 figures.

I also got a started on the Royal Roussillon Infanterie (Royal Roussillion Infantry Regiment) by getting the remaining 12 figures primed, and finishing the first division of 12 figures and a very good start on the second division.   

In addition I spent some time finishing up movement trays and getting some bases flocked.
While not completed this "Battalion" of Compagnies Franches de la Marine has 1 division of Marines and a second division of Canadian Militia.   The bases have all be covered in medium ballast and will get some green flock in the next night or so as I also have to give the Color Guard their standards.

A close up of a random Royal Suédois Infanterie  figure.   Not sure this is the best example of the painting techniques I am using currently.  

In the end I also started working on the list of things to do before our first game of the Wars of the Jumbo Alliances.   The Wars of the Jumbled Alliances are our 15mm Koenig Krieg game, so bigger figures Jumbo sized..    Okay what ever it works for me.

I also sent out the invitations to the game.

Esteemed Gentlemen.
Upon great effort I have pinned the forces of that Irish Mog; for he is neither man nor dog yet the British have conferred upon him the title of Major General; Fitzgerald in the Woods of Berry.
 
With extreme prejudice I plan to launch a full scale assault against positions held by British Forces on the Thirtieth Day of March in the Year 2013 of our Lord when the Sun reaches its zenith in the Woods of Berry.
 
Your assistance in this nature is most assuredly needed as our forces skirmish with one another.   Undoubtedly we will have glorious repartee, humorous witticisms, tales of past glorious deeds, adult beverages, and failed dice rolls to mock and ridicule.
 
Please respond in kind.
Marquis de Bosinbaie
Jeffrey

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Projects for 2013


Clan War is the miniatures game for Legend of the Five Rings, it has been out of print for a decade, however I like the basis of the rules and the story line.   I have decided to lead a revival of the rules with in the yahoo group, and after some gnashing of teeth I made the decision to create an updated version of the rules called the Ronin Edition.     Hopefully about mid summer the freely available version of the rules will be ready.

Batailles de l'Ancien Régime, the decision was made a year ago to move away from Wilderness Wars, a fatal flaw in the rules and well the second edition is not to my liking, is something I really want to finish up.  I will post something on this separately.

I have learned that a new Codex for the Black Templars is in the works for Warhammer 40K, it won't be available until 2014 but I have a few BT Space marines that need to be finish painting.  In addition I need to work on Gunther's Tau, some day I will understand why he choose the Cow's but it is what it is.

Brother Against Brother, well I am not 100 percent sold on Brother Against Brother but I have been painting figures for the Skirmishes that lead up First Battle of Bull Run and those immediately following.  IE all those wacky uniforms in the first year of the American Civil War.    Currently I have about 80 figures a side painted, give or take a couple.   I need to paint 20 Confederate Troops (Louisiana Tigers) and some Union Artillery to add to Burnside's Command.  After that I really have to decide upon the rules.   Brother Against Brother misses some complexity and is very bloody while I am not sold on the rules I have yet to find anything better.

I have some other things I want to finish up on, Noel's Bavarian Cavalry, Jim's Reich's Armee and maybe a few more Swedes for the SYW in 15mm.

Batailles de l'Ancien Régime - Seven Years War in 25mm

One of a few projects I am working on for 2013 is Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (AKA BAR) for the Seven Years War (1756 - 1763) in both Europe and North America.  You can find the link to the rules here: http://www.oldregimerules.com/bar_0.html

Originally I was planning on using Wilderness Wars for the French and Indian Wars; however a fatal flaw in the rules (and very questionable changes for a second edition) lead me to look at other options.   Thus a hard decision to use BAR was made.   I may be tempted to use Drums of War Along the Mohawk for the French and Indian War, but I am not sure I really gain anything with the additional complexity.   

With the decision made a year ago I had to reorganize my figures and yes it will take some additional figures to fill in.

For my French Forces I have 3 Battalions of French Line Infantry, 2 Battalions of Colonial Compagnies Franches de la Marine, 2 units of Canadian Militia, 2 units of Piquets (Light Infantry), a contingent of Woodland Indians, 2 Light Artillery Pieces with 8 Gunners, a mounted officer, and a number of figures to fill in the ranks.

For the British Forces I have 2 Battalions of British Line Infantry, 1 Highland Infantry Regiment, 1 Highland provincial infantry company, 3 companies of grenadiers, 1 Provincial Infantry Regiment, 3 companies of Rangers, and 2 Light Artillery Pieces with 8 Gunners, and a mounted officer.

In addition I have 2 regiments of Saxon Infantry in French service, 1 regiment of Swedish Infantry, and 1 company of  Swedish Jaegers.

Of those units I am at 52% completed painting, and virtually all those figures are primed and many have the basic block colors on them.  

I also have a metric long ton of unpainted figures.   Many of which have been bagged for units, but I want to get what I have primed painted.