RSM Mounted French General Conversion

For those of you who know the figure fairly well, he's the French mounted officer who's waving his hat. I have found I have rather a surplus of this figure. As a result I decided I had little to lose by trying my hand at a little conversion.

I clipped off his hat and the top of his head. I filed the anmputated wrist and the top of his head as flat as I could manage and then drilled them with the finest pin-vice drill I have - I think it's a 0.5mm.

I popped a pin into the head to later hold the hat securely in place. It was fastened with superglue. More paperclip was wound around the hilt of a sword, and supreglued as well. This was then glued into the pin-hole in the wrist. I put a dot of paint on the end of the pin in the head and transferred this to the hat (from which I had filed all trace of the hand) so I could have a reference when drilling the hole in the hat.

The pictures are of the results so far. Later this evening I'll mix up some Green Stuff and fill around the hat/wig join, make a feather edging for the hat and perhaps rebuild the cockade. Then I'll reconstruct the destroyed hand. I think he'll make a nice Cavalry Brigadier. I'll do the conversion again and replace the sword with a flagpole going from the stirrup, through the hand on up.

Scatterbrain

I was just reading over my last month's worth of posts and realised that I might be open to some criticism - to wit: I appear to be working on four infantry regiments at the moment.

This might seem a little scatterbrained, but there is method to my madness.

I have been finding it very difficult to stay motivated with painting at the moment.

On the OSW list when one gentleman was going through a similar slump, people piped up with this that and the other solution.

I find that when I'm in the doldrums that I need a change, so I allow myself to be a bit undisciplined and paint a bit of this and a bit of that all at the same time to keep me interested.

This meand that these four regiments will take a long time to get through, but then they have been hanging over my head for quite some time, and in the absence of any castings with which to polish of my Gardes Francaises, I'm happy to get a few more of the Bavarian and Saxon Armies painted.

On the subject of Saxon Armies, I took a look at another OSWer's site (http://thewhitegeneral.blogspot.com/) with his lovely Russian Regiment of RSM castings, and I am now convinced that they will stand in nicely for Saxons - convinced enough that I'll be ordering a couple of bags of them shortly.

On the subject of my German States armies, I'll eventually also add Bavarian Regiment Minucci or La Rosee to go with the Leib Garde. That is however a project for "the future". For now I'll be happy to get the Leibgrenadier Garde, v. Bruhl's, the Kurprinzessin's and Leib done by September.

After that (or maybe as I go along) I'll get to painting some of the lovely Gripping Beast Anglo-Saxons. I found a cheapish copy of the Shieldwall WAB supplement on eBay last week and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival. To whet my appetite further, I'm re-reading the account of Maldon in BG1, Beowulf, and Jim Bradbury's "The Battle of Hastings" as well as aome more general histories on Saxon England. Love those names - Edith Swan-neck, Aethelred Unread, Edward the Confessor, Edgar the Aetheling... Marvellous, really.

Bavarian Leib Regiment

These are a handful of samples I painted as a test for mass producing the figures for the creation of Bavaria's Leib Regiment. Note that they have coats with white rather than black facings which, according to my copy of Pengel and Hurt, dates the regiment before 1760. Note also the lack of lace on the Officer's waistcoat - Bavaria had been thrice ravaged during the war of the Austrian Succession by Austrian light troops and it's economy had barely recovered by this date.

One wonders at the relationship between the Austrain and Bavarian troops during the Seven Years' War.

Painting, painting...

I've had a quietly productive few evenings painting.

I got through a half dozen Bavarian Leib Regiment, three of the Saxon Graf von Bruhl's Regiment and a couple of officers of the Gardes Suisses. Tonight I'll make a start on another 10 of the Graf von Bruhl's and a half dozen Grenadiers of the Gardes Suisses.

I think I've also got another half-dozen semi-painted Grenadiers of the Saxon Leibgrenadier Garde floating about. They're next!

Diplomacy

"Diplomacy, Bauer."

"Your Majesty?"

"It's an exciting game, you know. "

"Exciting?"

"The most exciting game of all. Better even than vingt-et-un. I learned a lot from our little go-round with the Persian Ambassador the other day."

"Whatever have you done?"

"What was that?"

"Err, It sounds like a lot of fun"

"Oh, it is. I assure you. You've gone green, Bauer. Buck up! You need an iron constitution like mine to play a hand at this one, oh, yes! Sit up straight, you're spilling your tea.That's English tea that is. Good and strong."

Lock

"Don't disturb me now Bauer. Can't you see this is very tricky, very delicate work?"
"Your Majesty is never anything but correct. May I enquire as to your Majesty's activity?"
"Locksmithing Bauer! Locksmithing! It's the way of the future you know. Blast! All these springs and fiddly objects! Did it go on the floor?"
"Perhaps Your Majesty might enjoy a brief diversion? The Persian ambassador awaits without."
"What? Whithout? Whatever are you blithering on about? Now, can I hold this spring down and insert the pin tumbler?"
*twing*
"Catch it Bauer! Don't let it hit the - ah! Good man. Persian Ambassador eh? Has he got nice presents for me?"
"Some kind of miniature mandarine sir"
"What, a dwarf bureaucrat?"
"No, a cumquat. I believe they are good when brandied."
"Brandy, eh? Sounds like the one for me then, what!"

The Graf von Bruhl's Regiment

From Prussian Musketeers, the regiment von Bruhl.

I will be adding more figures to all three of these regiments over the next week while I await the delivery of more RSM French to round out the Gardes Francaises; I added four men to von Bruhl yesterday, with another four to paint tonight.

More Saxons - The Kurprinzessin Regiment

Prussian Fusiliers masquerading as Saxons. One is a Grenadier, painted as a test figure and plopped in the centre of the line. All are based on GW plastic bases.

Money where the mouth is...

Leibgrenadier Garde from RSM Prussian Grenadiers. Note the grenadier Drummer and the Officer wither the pole-arm

Saxon Army, 1740-63

I may have let on at one time or another over the past few months that I'm rather fond of the Saxon Army for this period.

I think this fondness came out of their "Army in Exile" status during the Seven Years War, a bit of sympathy for an underdog.

I have over the past few years put quite a lot of thought into recreating this army using RSM Miniatures and I thought I might share my ideas here.

The Infantry

The Infantry uniform was in it's cut not dissimilar to that of the Prussian army of the day - with certain differences!

At the start of the period - say, 1742 - the uniform was worn with lapels. No problems there - the RSM Prussians all have lapels cast on. This changes for most regiments after 1745 where all regiments apart from the Leibgrenadier Garde lost their lapels. Another change was to the grenadier cap which previously had been very similar to the later Prussian fusilier cap and now came strongly to resemble that of the king of Prussia's grenadiers.

My sources have little to say on Saxon uniforms at the start of the Seven Year's War, but after the constitution of the army in exile, uniforms were being worn with and without lapels depending on the regiment - the von Rochow Fusiliers, von Bruhl's, the Kurprinzessin's and the Leibgrenadier Garde wore lapels on their coats, the remainder did not.

So what does this mean for figure purchases?

For the period from 1740 to 1745 the infantry can adequately be represented by RSM Prussian musketeers with their Prussian Fusiliers standing in for the Saxon Grenadiers.

For the remainder of the War of the Austrian Succession I'd suggest using Russian infantry with either head swaps from RSM Prussian Grenadiers or just using the Prussians with their lapels either filed off or painted over.

For the Seven Year's War, RSM Prussians can be used without modification for the von Rochow Fusiliers, von Bruhl's, the Kurprinzessin's and the Leibgrenadier Garde. For the rest of the army, I recommend the Russian Infantry, again with head swaps from RSM Prussian Grenadiers or just using the Prussians with their lapels either filed off or painted over.

One thing I'd like to see (purely selfishly) is a dedicated 7YW Saxon 28mm range...


From 1740 to 1742

Regiment Bourbonnois

Feeling a bit uninspired this week, so I'm re-basing the Bourbonnois regiment. Half will be on the induvidual 20mmx20mm bases, and the other half will be in fours on the 40mmx40mm bases.

Then I'll see if I can summon up the energy to create some movement trays.

RSMs on GW bases

You'll notice they do fit pretty well...

Looking at the infantryman, I wonder if you couldn't use him as a marker (along with 40 or so copied comrades) in illustratind a battle-report...

Woodland Indians - RSM

Here's something I found last night while going through my painted miniatures.

Some day I'd like to paint some Canadian Militia to go with them. RSM do a nice casting of a man in a capote and cap.

Basing Again

I've re-based the whole of my Gardes Francaises. I hope it's not vain pride, but they look very much improved; I'm really impressed with how good they look like this. Click on the image for a larger picture.

Basing

I'm thinking very hard about changing my basing from the coins I have been using to the 20mmx20mm square plastic bases availavle from GW.

Take a look at this picture and contrast it with those from my recent posts.

I think you'll agree they rank up better and are more amenable to being used with movement trays than the old kind.

Yes, they are painted Goblin Green!

Gardes Francaises

Here then in no particular order are some progress shots of the Gardes Francaises who are coming along nicely. 13 figures to go. All are RSMs except for three officers who are Willies that I added in because they look nice.

You'll also notice a teaser photo I took of some sample Gardes Suisses I painted - and very much enjoyed, too. It shan't be too long before they join the King's Household.

Battenburg Chronicle, 1743

de Saxe, a man for whom the dice can do no wrong...

Move the Fifth

The cavalry renew their fight, von Brownes with desperation, de Saxes with casual arrogance. Remarkably they inflict only two casualties for the loss of three. This is due to Trooper Scheiss fighting a combat against two Imperial troopers and triumphing. He has been nominated for the Order of the Black Eagle (second class).

Taking heart from this Von Brownes Infantry close their files and fire. Again their Grenadiers cannot draw a line of sight and thus only 24 men may fire. They do, and inflict a miserable three casualties! Damn it! His gunners have scrambled to man the piece left by their slaughtered comrades. They fire and miss! Hell fire!

de Saxe, with a wry "alea jacta est" has his men discharge. As they have been all day, the dice gods are with him and 11 casualties are inflicted.

von Browne, finding that his force is now at 50% effectives glumly orders a retreat. The rags of his dragoons will cover the withdrawl. He has decided that when he relates the battle to His Highness he will dwell on the actions of Trooper.. no Corporal... no, Ensign Scheiss. yes, that's the stuff. This is just a tactical withdrawl. He'll never listen to Bauer again...

Move the Fourth

The turn of the Tide?

von Brownes Infantry make a last move. It is discovered much to their discomfort that the Blasthof Berg blocks line of sight. When the firing begins they'll be out of the fight!

de Saxes men, not having moved fire immediately and with effect, eight of the Itzenplitzers being rendered hors de combat. Things are looking brighter again for de Saxe.

von Browne likes not what he sees and deploys one of his guns to fire on de Saxes' infantry next move.

Tragically for him, de Saxes Gunners can fire THIS move and allow themselves the pleasure of firig on his artillery, wiping out the crew who have so bravely advanced their gun in the face of the enemy's fire! de Saxes Gunners allow themselves a "Hurrah!" and tricornes tumble through the air.

The other is trained on the cavalry but dares not fire for the melee that has erupted. In a mad flurry of dice rolling de Saxes' Cavalry inflict 5 casualties for the loss of two. This restores the numerical superiority they had at the outset.

Things are looking grim indeed for von Browne.

His infantry have taken 20% casualties, half his gunners and half his cavalry are casualties also. de SAxes troops are reasonably intact apart from his cavalry who stand at about 70% of their strength and are far from being a spent force.

Move the Third

de Saxes Cavalry continue to close the range with that of von Browne. His artillery bang again. This is more like it! Both are hits! And five casualties are caused! At a stroke de Saxe loses his cavalry advantage. Mentally von Browne rubs his hands together in glee while maintining his exterior sang froid. He'll unleash his cavalry next move.

de Saxe has his gunners fire again at Itzenplitz's Foot. No restlt. De Saxe turns to his ADC and says "There seems to be something wrong with our bloody artillery today."

Move the Second

de Saxes Cavalry continue their ride. Will it be a death-ride? Only time will tell.

His gunners resolutely ignore the temptation of a counter battery duel with von Brownes Gunners and instead let fly at Itzenplitzes' Regiment. Neither shot hits and the sturdy infantry continue their advance.

von Browne breathes a small sigh of relief at this and orders his gunners to let fly at the worryingly large Cavalry force bearing down onhis lads on the left flank. DAmn and blast! His gunners are just as bad as de Saxes!

Move the First

de Saxe orders a general advance, meaning to get his infantry into a secure position with it's flanks resting on an unfordable portion of the River Blast and the flanks of the Blasthof Berg. His guns move forward to cover the bridge. The Horse take a full move toward that of von Browne in hopes of trying conclusions with them.

von Browne is sensible of the threat posed his smaller cavalry by that of de Saxe and accordingly positions his artillery to fire at their flank as they close with his smaller frce of Dragoons. He is confident of the ability of his infantry to handle that of de SAxe and advances them on a broad front.

Arraying the Armies - von Browne

Arraying the armies - de Saxe

Blasthof - the battle

I fought out the battle of Blasthof this weekend as a solo game.

To refresh everyones memory, the two sides Electoral and Imperial were commanded by our own von Browne while those of the Imperium were commanded by de Saxe.

Von Browne commanded 40 Infantry, a dozen cavalry and a pair of guns.

de Saxe had 32 infantry, 16 cavalry and two guns of his own.

The battle was fought out on Blasthof Heath, the objective being that one side or the other be left in posession of the bridge over the River Blast.

The map has come down to us from the von Browne Collection. It may be seen that the electoral forces were to begin from the Northern end of the map while those of the Imperium under de Saxe were positioned at the Southern.