Getting up to my old Tricks

Phew, I haven't done this in a while.

IR von Pinckel. Near Federstein am Donau, 1740

A small reduction in the Spencer Smith plastic mountain.

I had forgotten how so much of the painting these is in the black-lining. Once that's done the miniature is as good as finished!

They are interesting figures to paint. Very primitive, with detail that is indistinct at best and which comes and goes as you follow it around the figure but the basic shapes are there. What I like about them especially  is that if you paint with a fairly strong line and good, solid colours you are able to impose your will upon them to a very great degree. Does your regiment have lapelled coats? Yes? Well, paint them on! Marvellous.

You won't get away with more delicate wash-based styles with these, but provided you show the figure who's in charge, you'll get a good, strong result.

If you're man enough for them.

Action!

One of the less-played Charles Grant scenarios is "Action!".

This is the introductory scenario outlined in The Wargame.

It's a strightforward meeting engagement between two pretty evenly matched forces, each of two line infantry units, one light infantry unit, a unit of heavy cavalry. One side has a gun, the other a howitzer.

Terrain is simplicity itself. in the north, a line of ponds and marshy ground forms the tables' edge. There are substantial woods to the north and south boundaries of the table, each abut a third to a half the table length which give the light infantry avenues to play in. Walled enclosures are potential redoubts and tow roads quarter the table diagonally, turning it into something of a St Andrews' cross for the vexillographically inclined.

I'm not too sure why it's not more regularly played. The forces are not too different to "Sawmill Village", and the terrain is pretty easy to reproduce.

Why is it not as well-known as Blasthof? Who can tell?