Old School Franco-Prussian War

 I have been doing a little painting these last couple of weeks and decided it was time to do a small update on a project of - er - mature years.

So, quite some time ago I started painting some Willie Franco-Prussian War figures. I wanted a very definite style for the figures and basing and this was what I came up with on my first unit.

I liked that very much so I applied it to my first cavalry unit.
 

Very much in favour of how that turned out! So, I cracked on and painted four Bavarian Infantry and primed another eight and... then... ran out of steam.

Basing is a work in progress, however, still I'm liking the result.

I'll finish them up tonight.

Consider this a slow Zoom.

The horse-holder needs a rifle and something to connect him to the horse.

Don't talk to him about Blood and Iron.

Coming up, I have a French Line Infantry unit that just needs a few touches and it'll be finished.

Not the Sudan?

 

Willie goes to the Sudan

I was trawling the lead foothills last night when what should I find but this gentleman. There are a few late 19th Century Egyptians that are suitable for the so-called 'Urabi Uprising' and the early phase of the Mahdist period in Sudan. They are basically this officer, a couple of variant marching infantry and an artilleryman, the latter of which might be convert-able to a drummer.

Yes, Castaway Arts do a much better range of very nicely sculpted, well-proportioned figures, but surely just a couple of units can't hurt, can they?

And I need an excuse to make a fort and a river steamer. Again. 

The Grancey Regiment

Forgive the rough snapshot taken with my phone as I bolted out the door this morning. I made some small progress on the Grancey Regiment over the weekend - the Colonel and the colours as well as prep-and-prime the remaining half dozen miniatures I need to get it about finished. I think I might overpaint the reds on the Ordonnance colour to make them a little more vibrant. Onwards!

So, where is this little project going? Regiments both French and Bavarian? You're not doing the Schellenberg are you?

No, I'm not. I guess they can fight each other or team up to fight the Turks at some stage, especially if the French regiment(s) get swap-out Austrian Flags....

 

Oh, for the Wars of Louis Quatorze..!

Six figures in in three days. These fellows could be from a number of different Regiments and I have gone for Grancey because a) red facings and b) their musicians used Livree du Roi. They are not terribly accurate as I think their 12 Apostles equipment is a little old-fashioned for the period. I've also had to guess a couple of details - i.e. did the NCOs have metallic lace on their hats and as a sign of rank on their cuffs? I have chosen to believe that yes, by god, they did.

The next batch. On inaccuracy, keen students of military dress will note that this Willie drummer is more suited to traipsing about Tangier in the 1670s. Perhaps with Teviot. Nonetheless, he's the only musician in the range, so I am going with it. 

Here's a challenge. Will I finish the unit by the weekend?
 

What I did on the Weekend

This weekend was surprisingly filled with a fair bit of hobby activity. I FINALLY pulled my finger out and finished this unit - five partially painted figures leapt from the "languishing partly-painted queue" straight into the ranks.. Shall we call them Bavarians/Alzheimers for the Turkish Wars? The flags are a fudge, borrowed from warflags.org for the BAvarian Army of the WSS. The basing conforms to that of "Beneath the Lily Banners II"standard.

 

Well, while I was on a roll, I pulled out, cleaned up, assembled and primed these fellows. You see them here in their primer with a coat of the marvellous GW "Darkoath Flesh". I think I will never buy another flesh-toned paint for Europeans.

I was sufficiently enthused that I decided I's paint a few to completion in double-quick time. Not quite there yet, but well on the way. I was going to paint them as "Picardie" but got a little over enthusiastic and the white cuffs got a coat of red before I really thought things through.... Bit of a d'oh! moment, but that's me at 5.30 in the morning before I've finished the first coffee of the day... Next unit perhaps! :^). I decided to make it easy on myself and use Contrast paints as much as possible with these and so went "Apothecary White" with their coats over a very pale gray prime. This marvellous colour will be my go to paint for any more Gris-blanc!

I have also been doing a couple of 1/35 scale miniatures to flex other painting muscles. I don't often paint larger scale figures, and almost never Resin (why?), but this chap needed a little greenstuff sculpting to patch up a nasty casting flaw I hope he'll turn out as nicely as his pal. 

Two thin coats of that Darkoath Flesh again, blended with a little grey to do the 5 o'clock shadow. I'm very pleased with how he turned out. Now I just need a diorama for the pair of them.

Holger's Heroes II, The Artillery...

 Well, it took a little while as there were a few Eldar-inspired diversions along the way, but I managed to knock out this Battery using HE figures. They are a little smaller than the infantry it seems to me - closer to 25mm than 30mm, and, compared to figures like the drummers, they look very slight. 

That said, you would not be mixing them in units, so I feel they look good enough for a war game.

Yes, I painted them as Bavarians so as to stick with a theme, as I just can't swallow painting anything as Russians these days.

Holger's Hero's

 I've been spending my time lately on some old Holger Erickson miniatures I had from the enigmatic John P when he fled the darkest West for the Home Counties.

These are almost all in the marching pose. I went a little large on this unit, 30 Musketeers, 6 Grenadiers and a sketchy third rank of a few Pike, a couple of Drummers and NCOs.

Ga Pa!

Those not in the Marching pose were a bit of a grab bag of advancing and firing, so I started work on a small unit of light infantry, the Hinterland Jaeger. I snipped off their bayonests to make them look a little more "jaegery".

I an thinking a dozen to 18 figures.

Finally, I spent the weekend filing down these lads. I'm open to uniform suggestions. 

Just enough of everything to make up a neat, two-gun battery.

I am looking at this army as being my 1700-1720 Alzheim force, so get out those books on the Bavarian Army...

Staring blankly out of the office window

 Would it not be a nice thing indeed to have a lovely store of German flats with which to fight the Battles of Frederick the Great?

Would it not be a fine thing to have a similar grouping likewise to allow for some of the fights of the Befreiungskreig?

Could one be blind to the beauty of a collection built around the Franco-Prussian War?

One could only dream.

Another week, another unit.

 Presenting a unit of 20 Night Goblin Archers (Ärrers"). Like the others in this collection, they arrived 2nd hand and needing a bit of love to bring them up to standard. I foresee another basing session in my near future.

I'll start work tonight on a unit of 10 Forest Goblin Spider Riders. Think of Bright green Gobbos with red ad white feathers a la 'F-Troop' riding smaller versions of Shelob. Lurid, I know, but that's one of your Goblin fast attack troop types in WHFB 6th Ed.

Apres le Deluge

 I am sorry that I've not posted in recent months.

I've been staggering around rather as I try to re-establish some equilibrium after a rather life-altering event. Not cancer. Nothing remotely medical. I'm OK and the kids are OK and that's all that matters.

Now, as a respite from running about in panicked circles, trying to put things back together into a semblance of order the hobby has always been a patient refuge.

Those little toys are always there, waiting on the time you might be able to sit down with brush or dice to put them through their paces or to provide you with a creative outlet.

Indeed, with money somewhat tighter than in the past, one turns with gratitude to the old projects of happier times with the thought that, well, it's time I got on with finishing that off.

The Idol of Gork from the GW Skull Pass Box set. c.2006?

Nice old monopose Night Goblins from the same set.

The Dwarven Queen Helga and her faithful man-servant Snorri.

The delights of basing.

Waiting on the Postman

 At times when one is champing at the bit to paint more Willie Franco-Prussian War figures and the postman is seemingly dilatory... it helps to have a deep, deep lead pile.

Stadden, of course. When only the best will do.

I - ah - believe it may be time to tidy up the painting desk again.

Willie Franco-Prussian War

 Not too long back, I was gifted by the very kind and generous GW a pile of Willie Franco-Prussian War figures that had come to him from Larry Brom.

This is a period I don't know a lot about, but do rather enjoy the uniforms of. That's more than enough excuse, correct? Free figures, pretty uniforms and a War with a reputation for dash and occasional atrocity.

So, off I went and plunged in with a vague idea of building a small collection that might work with Featherstone's rules as laid out in "Tackle war Games This Way". 12 figure infantry units, six figure cavalry units, a gun is a battery and so forth. Stuart Asquith wrote up a version which float about online. 

I thought it best to start with the Zouaves. Get them out of the way and everything else seems easy by comparison!

The flag is by Warflag, representing the First Regiment of Zouaves, First, Division, First Corps, Army of the Rhine under Marshal MacMahon. I agonised somewhat over the basing, thinking I might even Plinth the stands on nicely polished quarter inch timber. Then sanity prevailed and I went for Renedra treated with Acrylic oils to simulate timber grain, sealed with varnish then garnished with figures, terrain paste and a variety of tufts and static grass.

Prussian Uhlans awaiting their treatment. What gets me about the older production Willie figures was how they would arrive in the post (presumably) with their weapons soldered into their hands. Oh, how I sigh for times past. 2nd Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment Nr 9 if you want their full title!

...and based on my lunch-break.

Shiny or Not

 What a conundrum.

I know that group memory has it that all toy soldiers painted in the 1960s and 1970s were all preserved in an amber of thick yacht varnish. But... were they? Or at least, were they all?

I have been looking at my various picture books about old toy soldiers, and it seems very apparent to me that that shiny was not always the norm at all. It may well have been for certain very famous painters like Messers Gilder and Mason, but I think this was not the norm, yet looking at the visual record I see a lot of matt enamel paint. I'll follow up with some images over the next day or so.

I have a small project going on whereby I need to justify some of my decisions to myself.... Entirely self serving of course.

What to do with the ECW

What to do indeed!

Here's what I am thinking in terms of the general situation.

A small troop of Royalists under that rollicking old pirate, Sir Marmaduke Young control good old Pook Manor - erstwhile property of Sir Maxtible Grant, MP. They have thrown up some rudimentary earthworks and installed a cannon or two. Their forces are no more than a Company of Dragoons with Firelocks, a company of infantry with muskets and a good troop of Horse.

Their modus operandi is to use their musketeers for base security whilst the cavalry and dragoons go on the rampage in the local countryside. You know, beating up Parliamentary convoys, raiding local villages if they are not co-operating. Generally being a nuisance to the local Parliamentary Commander.

So then, Sir Maxtible is decidedly unhappy. Being as he is the leading man in the district for the Parliamentary cause, and concerned for the state of his wainscotting, he has determined that Sir Marmaduke needs to pack his bags and skedaddle.

He has roughly twice the force of Sir Marmaduke, viz: His Own troop of shewe in the form of some of Cuirassiers, two troops of grim-visaged Ironsides and four companies from a London Trained Band; two with pikes and two with muskets. He has two light and two heavy guns. More than enough force to grind out a pesky nest of Royalists, correct? His only complication is that every week he must safely convoy through the area supplies for the nearest Parliamentary city that is being beseiged by the King.

This feels rather like a small campaign.

The Royalist goal is to be a pest as long as is possible. The Parliamentarians must smoke out the vipers infesting Pook Manor whilst at the same time making sure that 'x' number of convoys make it through the district/parish/shire. A points system comes to mind. The Parliamentarians start with 20 points and lose one for every convoy lost or village raided. They lose if the total dips below 10. Something like that.

Thoughts and comments? How does the force balance feel? A troop of horse might be as many as a dozen figures, a company of foot 18. It would be nice to do this with less than a hundred figures. Hm, perhaps something like 140.

UPDATE: Rob left a comment that for some bizarre reason, Blogger won't publish:

"Sounds fun but I think these cavalier types need another unit to balance it out. Currently the parliamentarian foot and artillery look up to taking Pook Manor as it stands. If the horse and dragoons go out raiding the solitary foot company will probably just be overwhelmed. At the same time the three troops of parliamentary horse should be more than enough to escort a convoy.

Perhaps if Sir Maxtible also had a base to protect it might see him more stretched."

And I think Rob is right, so I may add another company of infantry to the garrison of Pook Manor. And Sir Maxtible I feel will be enjoying free quarter in a local village as he plans to smoke the vile Royalists out. What a good way for the Royalists to remove points from the Parliamentarian pile. I was also thinking that every convoy the Parliamentarians get through, they ought to be able to add a few more points to their own store.

 

Prince Rupert of the Rhine. And Friends.

For no good reason I have spent the past few days renovating some old Willie favourites; their ECW range

 I think my love for these figures comes out of reading Ian Weekley terrain modelling articles in Military modelling in the 1980s. There were areticles on making ECW fortifications and Manor houses, and the scenes were liberally dressed with Willie figures. Now, my old Airfix/Dapol houses are not quite at that same standard, nonetheless, they set the scene nicely, especially the thatched cottage.

More over the next few days as I put out a few more.

Chapteris Coddus Latinum

 

For various reasons, I have been painting a few random Marines over the past few weeks interspersed with other bits and bobs. Here a terrifying Black Templar in all his neo-medieval clobber.

And here a self-lacerating Imperial Fist. In a puddle of blue goo. Doubtless the remains of some Chaos horror.

And lastly, Chapteris Imperialis Hello Kitty. Raowr, purge the heretic!

Taking to the Cruel Sea

 I am a relative tyro when it comes to on water matters, but I do know what I like and the Warlord Games "Cruel Seas" has always has quite a strong appeal. I finally pulled out the S-Boats that came taped to the cover of Miniature wargamer in 2019 out and painted them up over the weekend. They are really very pretty models and paint quite easily with some blocking in, washes and some very light dry-brushing to sharpen up the hard edges.

The model above is one of the S-100 class with the armoured bridge that appeared from from 1943. Armament was officially 1 × 20 mm in the bow, 2 × 20 mm gun amidships and 37 mm gun aft. Mine seems to have gotten a sneaky Flakvierling in place of the aft 37mm...

This is one of the S-38 Class. I am of the impression that armament was quite various and included such treats as 40 mm Bofors or 20 mm Flak aft, MG34 Zwillingsockel (twin-mount) midships. I think mine looks like it might have a 20mm or 37mm aft. Quite tempted to leave all the weapons free in their mounting points so they cam be swapped around. Warlord to a nice range of additional weapons and crewmen that might serve to dress the boats up quite nicely.

And here they are together. As to the apparent size difference, the camera and perspective are telling you lies. They are both the same length.

I have a pair of Vospers that will hit the construction and paint desk soon!

Mr Stadden at Waterloo

 Inspired by yesterdays' Minot-fondling I rose early (Was it only 05.30? Surely not!) I combed through my small collection of vintage 30mm Napoleonic miniatures. I was seeking inspiration. I found it in the form, of a Stadden British company officer - still available from Tradition. he was in a bit of a state. Originally painted in enamels, his white trousers were patchy and scarred and his jacket was much chipped. His sword was bent and one corner of his base was turned over upon itself.

Tsk! This would ever do! I cannot think of a single officer of the British Army who would permit himself to meet the enemy in such a state! So, out with the red (albeit with a dab of brown to dull it down), the grey for new trousers, a dab of bright gold here and there and a lovely bright silver for his carefully straightened sword blade.

Ready for anything the French can throw his way.

He is now able to meet the French upon terms that would not be an embarrassment.

Barry Minot

 Some of my favourite miniatures are the Naploeonic range made by Barry Minot in the 1970s.

There were British and French for Waterloo. I know of infantry for both, and Cuirassiers for the French, The Cuirassiers came in the form of an Officer, bugler and a couple of troopers - at least. that's what I have of them.

I thought I would put up some pictures of the few British Infantry I have. They are beautiful figures, slim and well proportioned and a delight to behold

Where should one start but with the veritable "BN1" of the range. A member of one of the 'Centre' companies, he marches with a determined air, "Belgian" shako set square on his head.

Note if you will, the neatness of the paintjob. I wish I could paint as well as this.

Our next entrant I shall call "BN2" - centre company, standing, firing. Again, look at the fanatic neatness of those tapes on his jacket. Marvellously precise paint-work.

BN3. British Drummer, Belgic Shako. Or not, it does not matter. Another lovely figure. The painting may or may not be accurate; I am not enough of a button-counter to try or even be qualified to critique another hobbyists work. Again, though this is a lovely, clean piece of painting.

Maybe BN 4, maybe not, Nonetheless, I shall name this composition so. What a wonderful piece this is. Charming animation to this single-piece casting.

All the fab four (five?)-some.

The Minot figures scale quite well with the Willie range for height and pleasing looseness of style. They remind me of the Stadden range in terms of their and bulk and fineness of detail.

I give them a 10/10 for my favourite Napoleonic figures and if anyone wants to sell me any, drop me a line at bloggerator@gmail.com.

WIPPY Orc

 Not a Russian lost orc either.

I have been playing about a bit recently with colour and technique in ways I have not really done before. So much of "toy soldier painting' is colour by numbers. Grey coat, red cuffs. The right colours have to go in the right places otherwise the miniature is "not right". And that's fine and there are so many miniature painters whose work I deeply respect who paint historical miniatures (and certain fantasy and SF miniatures) without going outside the lines so to speak.

However, I have been chafing under these restraints for a while and decided it would be nice to paint outside the lines on occasion and play more freely with colour and technique. So, here's a WIP shot of a GW LOTR Orc. He's largely painted over a military green base coat with an overspray from above with a 'cold' off white then given a GW yellow wash. Some rough overpainting of metallic colours and that's where we are now. I might do some edge highlights on the armour to sharpen the definition. Some more washing to grunge it up a bit and I think that might do.

UPDATE: Finished with some poo-brown ground work and some of the sickliets grass tufts in the inventory.