David Bickley's Wargames Blog

The occasional ramblings of an average gamer, journeyman painter, indifferent modeller, games designer, sometime writer for Wargames Illustrated and host of games in GHQ.



Friday 21 April 2017

Expanding, and not my waistline for once!

As I believe I've banged on about before I have no new projects in the pipeline this year, for the first time since I retired from teaching in April 2002. Strangely I've found this unusual situation to be unexpectedly liberating rather than depressing as I had feared. I've found myself painting only when and what I felt like painting rather than feeling as if I were on a self imposed treadmill, pressing on with numerous figures and units towards the goal of getting a 'new game' on the table in GHQ.
One period of peripheral interest I've painted extra figures for is the French & Indian War. We've played occasional games here in GHQ using amended Astounding Tales rules and had great fun, but last year I bought the new Sharpe Practice 2 ruleset with a view to playing F&IW games with them instead, as I had enjoyed several games at Phil's of their WWII rules, Chain of Command. Working through their helpful lists showed me that I was short of figures for the core of Regulars on both sides. I rectified this at Warfare in Reading last November, buying the figures from Redoubt Enterprises to match those I already owned. I've been painting and basing them off and on and now the whole is finished I thought you'd like to see them for yourselves ~




































































One unexpected consequence of this photo session is that I've realised I have only 3 French command figures to the 6 British ones! Doh! I really should write things down rather than trust to memory now a days! In the short term I can borrow figures from my main SYW collection until I cross paths with Redoubt at some show or other and pick up the French High Command set.
As I started by mentioning painting, I thought that I would finish on the same theme. I'm currently working on a French National Guard unit for my FRW project, using Foundry early French in bicornes for the unit. I've managed 12/24 so far and am surprised to find that even though on the small side I am managing to make a decent fist of them. A by product of the lack of pressure perhaps leading to more relaxed and focused painting? Who can say, but I'm pleased by the end product so far. A Bientot Mes Amis!

20 comments:

  1. A fine assemblage of troops there Sir, one shall look forward to leading one or the other to the slaughter in due course.

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  2. If I could be tempted by one more period this would be it, terrific figures and beautiful painting.

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    1. Go on George, you know you want to dabble.

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  3. Great looking forces David and reminds me I really do need to expand my own F&IW project!

    Christopher

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    1. Expand away Christopher, you know you want to really...

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  4. Good looking collection David.

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    1. Thank you my good man! Is good the new satisfactory I wonder? Enjoy Salute, buy moe toys...

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  5. Lovely work. Have you checked your email, recently on the aol account?

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    1. Thank you Nobby! I've just emailed you, I hope.

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  6. Impressive work and excellent result

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  7. Lovely looking figures, a nice period that I am studiously ignoring so that I am not tempted into a period that would sit waiting for, probably, years!
    Best Iain

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    1. What's a few years wait in the leadpile between friends?

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  8. They certainly look great, also really useful to see these figure in some decent photos. The Redoubt website is rubbish.

    I'm looking forward to hearing how you find Sharp Practice for this period.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the pictures. I hope we will try a game in May.

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  9. These look great...you should give Muskets and Tomahawks a whirl as well..

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    1. Thanks Eric! We tried M&T and found them not to our taste.

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  10. They look fabulous Mr.B. I will bring the new FIW additions to the painting pile over on Wednesday....

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    1. Thank you Jon, and for the gift of the figures, much appreciated. Great game last night too I thought, so tense and uncertain. A draw was the fair result for both sides I thought.

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