Courtesy of gravel chips off the road when the road was resealed. I swept a few plastic bags full – have enough stone chips for modelling projects for the next hundred years I think.
Balsa wood bases, stone chips glued on with PVA. When dry spray painted matt black and drybrushed with a grey, then a house paint remarkably similar in colour to GW “Bleached Bone”. Some flock and done.
I had made some stone walls ages ago but left them as natural stone – decided to try painting these ones and was glad I did. Making these reminded me that I really have to fix some fences on my actual property.
I acquired these miniatures a long time ago. So long ago I am having trouble remembering exactly when and where I got them. I am pretty sure that I got them from the Citadel Miniatures shop in Hammersmith when I was living in London in the late 80s.
It is probably a stretch to call these 28mm – I think they are more like big 25s. They are apparently Perry sculpts made c85-87 and were released initially under the “Fighters” range. Later released as Vikings. Apart from three of the figures that I couldn’t find you can still get them from Wargames Foundry – the figures are in sets VSN1-4.
I know the current trend is for round bases but all I had were square ones and I needed to paint while the painting itch was on me – it has been markedly absent in my life for over six months now – so rather than wait to get some rounds I went for it. And before you tell me – yeah I know – I saw the mold lines I missed when cleaning up the figures too.
I am pretty sure I got these in individual blister packs – but so long ago I cannot be sure. Anyways, they were among the lost treasures I found when tidying my stuff up. I knew I had them – just had never got around to painting them. They are forming the basis for a Viking warband for Saga or, more probably, Columbia Game’s Battlelust – a game I enjoy a lot.
New Zealand’s All Blacks have just won the Rugby World Cup for the third time (1987, 2011, 2015). One of their greatest fans is also someone who they have been using as a motivational speaker for some years. He is our own Cpl Willie Apiata, VC. I like to think that his quiet humility in public has had a real influence on the way that the current All Blacks deal with both success and failure. I am always a proud New Zealander, but at the moment I am feeling especially proud that our land has produced such fine sons.
What better use for the Webb Ellis trophy than to chug a beer from.The picture that inspired at least one 28mm miniature
Old Glory War of 1812 American Militia. I planned to use these same figures for Canadian Militia with the addition of a cloth tied around the arm to distinguish them from their US counterparts. These are lovely figures – probably my favourite of the entire War of 1812 range produced by Old Glory. Figures have good animation, and you get a good variety of poses in the classic 20 figure pack. I brought five of these packs – so a lot more militia for me to paint. I was thinking that these same figures could be used for almost any civilian militia in the horse and musket era. Specifically Spanish and possibly Portuguese. Flags are variations on Warflags offerings. These were painted back about ten years ago. I am sure I could do a better job today – but I still like them in all their shiny (old) glory.
The horn blower is a figure from the old Foundry French Revolution range that included a trio of characters inspired by the Delacriox painting “Liberty Leading the People”.Gear is ammunition and forage bag – simple to paint.
An after action report of a small Napoleonic game using Black Powder rules. A French advance guard bumps into a small Spanish holding force, backed by a few battalions of British who are marching to support them.
Spanish
Three battalions of regular infantry, three militia battalions, three partisan bands and two batteries.
British
Two light infantry battalions, a battalion of rifles (split into two Tiny units and one Small) and a regiment of Light Dragoons.
French
Three brigades of infantry, one battery, two cavalry regiments.
Set Up
The Spanish started in possession of the hacienda and the village of San Felipe. They had a strong position on the left behind the stone walls that lined the road. One guerrilla band occupied the hacienda and armed priests started at the church. The final guerrilla band was hidden from the French. Two British rifle companies started on the board – one with the hidden guerrilla unit and one in the hamlet north of the crossroads.
Armed Monks stand ready to defend their church and relics from the Godless French.San Felipe is held by the Real Compania Irlandesa.Spanish regular infantry and artillery await the French onslaught.Spanish Initial deployment. Figures at the back are just pretending to be on the board.French enter the board in column of march.
TURN 2
By the second turn the French had shaken out of march formation and ordered their cavalry to move forward. The French commander was hoping to route the Spanish regulars with a well directed cavalry charge but failed his command roll (twice). The hidden guerrilla unit and the two rifle companies opened fire on the advancing French and caused a few casualties. The Swiss regiment was directed to the north to clear the hill of the annoying guerrillas.
Finally get to use one of my casualty bases. Rifle fire from the hills.Ignoring casualties the French force the Rifles from the hamlet. They fall back rather than engage in a fight they wont win.Deploying skirmishers, the Swiss advance.
TURN 4
The French advance was very slow. A lot of failed command rolls meant little forward movement. With the cavalry refusing to move, and getting disordered by Spanish artillery fire, the attack on San Felipe was left to the infantry. Meanwhile the British reinforcements arrived to bolster the defences.
French Chasseurs take casualties from Spanish Artillery fire.The 85th march across the ford to help their Spanish allies.16th Light Dragoons advance.Spanish Guerrillas and a company of Rifles fall back across the ridge.
TURN 6
By the end of turn six the French had pushed the Spanish from San Felipe village but failed to take the hacienda. Their attack on the Spanish regulars was halted, even though they did manage to destroy one Spanish artillery battery. A Spanish counter attack to retake the village failed. The British Light dragoons charged and broke two French columns.
French columns charge.Spanish pull back behind their steady British allies.British cavalry “Charge at Everything”Real Compania Irlandesa try to take back San Felipe.And are broken.After the Spanish retired to the second rank the French tried to take on the British line. Casualties were heavy on both sides but the French column was routed.The French cavalry that stood idly by all day without achieving anything finally managed to get a result – forcing the British into square.
Final Positions
The game ended with the French falling back. The French contemplated an attack on the Spanish militia with the largely untouched veteran Swiss brigade which would probably have succeeded but given that the other two brigades had suffered serious reversals, discretion was seen as the better part of valour. The French cavalry was totally ineffective. Constantly being disordered by artillery and small arms fire from guerrillas in the hacienda and a string of failed command rolls meant it was unable to support the infantry when required. When they had finally overcome their disorder and were ready to move, the British infantry had replaced the Spanish in the front line and that was pretty much all she wrote. A clear victory to the Spanish and British.
Some thoughts on the mechanics of the game. To be honest I thought that the Spanish infantry would take casualties and flee (Albion Triumphant has the regular infantry rated Wavering/Unreliable. The militia infantry was marginally better with just the Wavering special rule). However, despite taking casualties they made all their morale checks and only lost one battalion in the fighting around the village.
I was not sure about the skirmishing rules. Either I missed something or just didn’t understand them. With veteran Swiss advancing I wanted the guerrillas and rifles opposing them to fall back fighting. If a command is given to “fall back one move and fire”, is that all the skirmish bases firing? I ruled that retreating half could fire. Not sure if that was correct but it seemed to work.
And here are the Imperial forces mustered so far to fight the Zulu. British regulars backed by European and native contingents. I plan to add to thus force using the fantastic Empress Miniatures range to flesh out the various mounted infantry and cavalry units and more natal native troops. So far I have painted the five companies of the 1/24th present at Isandlwana and have enough unpainted lead to finish the remaining British regulars (might even do the band if I can find the figures). Of course, I also plan to do the naval contingent, rifles, some regular cavalry and lots of supply wagons – time to order more pencil sharpener wagons I think. Redoubt do British drivers. Anyone know a good source of plastic 28mm oxen?
Redoubt Miniatures bugler.
Dismounted Boer Volunteers fight the old foe.
Artillery Support.
British Lancers.
Firing Line
Bring up the Reinforcements. Natal Native Contingent.Love these Black Tree Natal Native Contingent infantry – just wish they did a few poses with rifles. I guess it will be Empress Miniatures to the rescue here.Do you want fries with that, Sir?Redoubt and Black Tree figures.
I have not done anything on this project for a while. Got side-tracked by other things and real life.
I have made all my Zulu regiments 36 figures so far. All are individually based on 25mm rounds that slot into custom made six slot sabot bases. Sitting in boxes are about the same number of miniatures in unpainted lead. Almost all the models are Black Tree Designs. Their regular sales make them appealing for the budget conscious wargamer. I brought some plastic Warlord Games Zulus and British infantry during one of their sprue sales but to be honest, once I got them I was just not happy with them. Great miniatures but lacking the heft that I like. There are a few Redoubt Miniatures in the Impi so far – mostly command figures.
My intention is to make all the regiments that fought at Isandlwana. I certainly think that Zulus look just fantastic on the table top in numbers.
One of my favourite units in the Bretonnian army of Warhammer 6th through 8th editions (not that the unit changed in those revisions) are the Grail Pilgrims. These guys lug a relic – in this case the deceased body of a dead Grail Knight and his steed about with them, and adorn themselves in relics of the dead knight – pieces of clothing, armour, surcoats and horse furniture. Also, for some strange reason they often carry their kite and heater shields upside down. They are the soccer fans/groupies of the fair land of Bretonnia. Just a shame the Orks already have a copyright on the ‘Ere we go’ chant.
The sculpts for these were the best foot figures in the entire Bretonnian range that came out way back in 2004 – a range that never saw a new figure from that time until the end of the world.
One thing about them that stands out is that for guys straggling alongside outside for years on end, they are remarkably well fed. Most of them are packing some serious insulation against those cold nights in the Bretonnian Alps.
I have acquired another couple of dozen of these guys second hand so plan to expand this unit out to 40 figures for a Horde sized unit for Kings of War.
The central figure here is an Empire figure I think, slightly modified.This is another Empire figure, with the addition of a plastic Bretonnian jester head from the Archer set.
More from the 1812 archives box. Kentucky Volunteers from Old Glory. These miniatures are very cool – good poses and crisp castings. From what I remember from ten years or more ago, they were pretty easy to paint. Like most of my research I relied on memory and seeing a few pictures online so no real apologies for the accuracy or otherwise of their garb. I am not even sure they carried standards but wanted some so there you are.
I think they were designed with skirmishing in mind but I thought they made a great firing line.Converted standard bearers. There were none in the Old Glory bag so it was off with some muskets and on with flag staffs.The flag is pretty much of my own invention. I looked at some militia flags online and that is what I ended up with.The US flag is from Warflags if I remember correctly.More buckskins.I was doing these bases with the edges cut off – one of our old gaming buddies had AWI armies based like that and I really liked it at the time so copied it.
The Mounted Kentucky Volunteers. One thing about Old Glory ‘Bags o’ Troops’ that I don’t like is the cavalry bags. You get ten figures. I would rather have twelve. While OK for War of 1812 which didn’t see much use of cavalry, it would be annoying doing regular Napoleonic cavalry units under most rule systems.
These mounted figures are however very nice. Good poses – riders seem relaxed in the saddle. The animation is fantastic.
The whole unit.The Commanding Officer.Advancing in skirmish order.Front view.
