The Scots Grey Dragoons

As Phil had returned the first six horses painted to my specification in double quick time it was only polite of me to advance their completion, by painting the riders, to the head of the painting queue! To refresh your memory these are my first Warfare Miniatures figures and proved to be almost at the limits of my hand and eye when it came to colouring them in. Not that I'd like to give the wrong impression though: they are sharply sculpted and cleanly cast, in fact the latter is outstanding as no clean up is required at all as Barrie sees to that before posting them out. The figures are posed full of life and movement too, so see what you think ~

The standard is from David Morffit's wonderful blog, 'Not by Appointment', which I make no apology for printing out in larger format as I just liked it! 

The figures come from three of the many available packs: Horse Command; Horse Charging; and Horse Charging Enthusiastically. 

I really like the look of the finished Squadron base using the figures from the three packs, a charge in full flow. They may have been Dragoons, but they participated in charges alongside their Cavalry companions!

I've included this picture of one of the Troopers to give an idea of the quality of the sculpting. The face is beautifully modelled in my opinion and painted up nicely I think.

The officer figure is nicely animated, I especially liked the full wig flowing over his shoulders! The poor effort at picking out his waistcoat buttons though clearly shows the limits of my colouring in! But I know you will cut me some slack there!

Next up for their time under the Brush of Doom are the third British Foot regiment, River's Regiment of Foot, again using Ebor Miniatures figures.  As I didn't buy any figures at The Other Partizan on Sunday I have treated myself to an order for a fourth Foot regiment! More on all that in due course though.

 

The Other Partizan...

...a TOP day out with Phil and Will, meeting many good friends in our wonderful hobby, seeing so many outstanding games and even depleting the warchest slightly with some necessary purchases - honest!

Chatting with folk has become increasingly difficult as crowds have increased post lock down, I worry folk get the wrong impression when I go off on a tangent having misheard them, or worse just guessed! I always look forward to meeting those who live at distance from me, so I'm glad to have chatted briefly with Kevin & Viv, Dave O'B & Colin from Gothemberg Gamers, Aly Morrison, know to be known as Norman, and Colin Rumford, Ray Rousell from "Don't  throw a 1!", Barry from Warfare Miniatures and Shaun from The Bunker! I took some pictures of bits of games with bias towards the Iron Brigade, WSS period games and buildings ~

Scenes from the Iron Brigade's Juno Beach D Day game. Wiilliam gives it a 5 Star rating!

The hordes of figures from the Jewel in the Crown, the Boondock Sayntes.

From Simon Miller's  Lust For Glory WSS game showcasing his forthcoming rule set.

The Glorious Revolution from the chaps from Derby Wargames Society!

The League of Augsberg in full cry!

Wonderful buildings and small details draw in the eye, a joy to see this table set up.

I have long converted this set of buildings from across the pond!

A splendid castle from the chaps at Shrewsbury Wargames Club!

A Motte & Bailey castle to write home about! Shades of Charlton Heston in The Warlord?

The Pacific! Pictures by William.

Somewhere in Italy? Picture by William.

The 1st Corps Arras 1940 game? Pictures by William again. As you can tell he is into WWII gaming in a big way. It's his birthday next month so he treated himself to some Warlord Games Bolt Action boxes...Me? Tufts and Static Grass from Great Escape Games, steel pikes from Coritani, a town square and rubber cobbled roads from Early War Miniatures and 3 brushes from ABC Brushes. Roll on 2027 and the next two Partizans!

Churchill's Regiment of Foot

I have been painting these Ebor Miniatures figures for what seems like eons, but certainly since well before we slopped off to Tenby for a lovely week's R&R. These are the second infantry regiment I have completed for the British tranche of my War of the Spanish Succession project. You may recall the first, Orkney's Regiment of Foot featured three standards, solely because three were on the Flags of War sheet, so I have added an extra Ensign with the English national flag to the regiment.

Ebor Miniatures sell various deals to reduce costs even more, with the Infantry Regiment deals having 18 figures. As I aim for 24-27 figures on three 80x60mm bases I have supplemented each regiment with six extra figures: an Ensign; two Grenadiers; an Officer; and two hatmen.

The central base features the regiment's command elements, in this case the Colonel, three Ensigns and two drummers. I'm not a fan of painting drums I have to say, second only to my dislike of painting horses!

The left hand base, as you look at the regiment drawn up in firing line, features four grenadiers and an officer, plus four hatmen. 

The right hand base balances this look with eight hatmen and a sergeant. Unlike the Danish infantry I didn't add any casualty figures to these bases.

The third infantry regiment was delivered by Royal Mail as I settled to write this blog entry, accompanied by a battery of British 12lb field guns. By way of variety for painting the infantry regiment will feature some kneeling figures in the firing line. While I waited for the delivery I started on the first of the Scots Grey Dragoons using Warfare Miniatures figures, the first of three planned cavalry squadrons in the British tranche of the project. If all goes well I shall add some Dutch after these are all completed, probably early in the new year. Plans though, we wargamers know what all too often befalls them...

Orkney's Regiment of Foot

Having completed painting the Danes using the Wargames Foundry elements of the retro-nostalgia project my focus has turned next to the British infantry in the form of my first Ebor Miniatures figures. I purchased one of the 18 figure regiment offers with a few additional individual figures to bring the count up to my strength of choice, 24-27 figures on three bases. I had purchased a few cut price Flags of War flag sheets from Colonel Bill's at the outset of the project, the first being Orkney's. The sheet has three flags, so the extras include an additional officer/ensign figure. Waste not, want not after all...

First then a view of the whole regiment drawn up in line as they might appear in action on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ. I chose to portray them in their earlier white cuffs, using Foundry Boneyard Light over Arctic Grey Shade to reduce the otherwise stark look of white. 

The central base features three drummers, three Ensigns and the Colonel. The drummers are wearing reverse colour coats as seems to have been the norm, while the officers are wearing all red, not being yet obliged by regulation to show regimental cuffs & linings. With the wigs worn by officers I've restricted a powdered look to just the Colonel, for effect hopefully.

The 18 figure regiment deal includes a pointing sergeant figure. To my mind he fits nicely on the end of a base of firing infantry, pointing out the target as he is! One nice point about all the tricorns by the way is the sculpting on of hat lace on rank & file figures, so much easier to paint!

The regiment pack deal also contains two grenadiers. I thought I'd like more so added two extra figures and an officer to balance the composition of the whole line. Detail of the mitres from the period is vague, so Ive settled on a few squiggles which might suggest a crowned royal cypher...or not.

Before we came away for our brief late summer break in SW Wales I had started on my second regiment, Churchill's regiment of Foot, completing the central base and the grenadier element. I have to order my next tranche when we are back home which will comprise a third infantry regiment together with a Battery of British field guns. As an aside, the British cavalry, numbering three Squadrons as with the Danes, will be Warfare Miniatures figures. I've already purchased those and Phil is kindly painting the horses for me ~

The first Squadron's horses are already underway, can you guess which they will be? By the way, I chose to use the Warfare Miniatures' range simply for their wild and exuberant poses! That brings us pretty much up to date with the project's progress. After the British are done, hopefully by mid November-ish, I'd like to add some Dutch infantry and artillery, perhaps a couple of cavalry Squadrons, and I'd be done then. We will see...

SYW Action

We should have been gaming at Phil's on Tuesday last, but Sue and Di had tickets for the Andy Warhol exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery meaning that we switched venues for an unscheduled game in GHQ. We settled on a simple encounter battle using parts of my SYW collection. Lord Rawnsley took command of the Allies, the Comte du Merde the French. A few pictures from the action as usual ~

A bold if a somewhat uncoordinated advance by the French opens proceedings. Masking his own batteries not the best of ideas Du Merde had that day. {The first of many such unforced errors some might say!}

On the other hand, Lord Rawnsley's command advances steadily and to a coordinated purpose! The left and centre lead by British forces, the right by Württemberg and Hanoverian allies.

Despite their commander's encouragement early Disorder from enemy artillery fire cannot be avoided. The first of many such occurrences which reduced the French attacks to piecemeal and uncoordinated probes.

On the French left flank the attack gets off to a more promising opening. In the distance the Flying Geese with cavalry in support advance with determination, while the Scottish infantry are even bolder in their advance!

The French centre though is less assertive and much less coherent in response to Du Merde's orders. Perhaps Le Comte's judgement is clouded or his wording unclear? Whatever, the advance is already unravelling!

The French cavalry are short on élan. In fact it is mostly AWOL all game! Orders seem to be delayed, lost or just ignored! Some even blundering off the table at a crucial moment!

On the other side of the battlefield the Allies are the very epitome of coordinated aggression. Even by the end of Turn 2 it was obvious the French were up against it. Suffering losses and Disorder to disciplined musket volleys and unable to form their own firing lines!

Despite more disciplined and coordinated performance on the left from the Flying Geese the lines of Württemberg infantry look dangerous. Out of shot a large body of Hanoverian infantry with cavalry support add to the feeling of dread gripping the French!

The French and British cavalry close with oneanother. The light woods did not disrupt good order, just counting as a linear obstacle.

Despite a far from promising opening, by Turn 3 the French are regaining their poised and coordinating their attacks with more cohesion. Du Merde is getting a better grip on things it seems.

Or perhaps not...Disorder strikes the Flying Geese after a devastating volley from the ranks of Württemberg infantry! Morale is dangerously low as their losses mount!

Cuirassiers du Roi clash with the 2nd Horse. Despite the advantages of weight the result of the melee is far from clear.

In fact the Cuirassiers rout! Lack of support proves crucial to the result and their morale collapse! A loss which subsequently paralysed the mind of the French cavalry as Blunder followed on the heels of rout!

The first of the French infantry break under sustained and galling infantry and artillery fire. 

Massed French cavalry advance to deter the enemy's attempts to exploit a gap in the line! The remaining Flying Geese regiment retires from action, its morale eroded by the sight of its fellows fleeing in rout!

The British cavalry, aided by French confusion, have stabilised the left of Rawnsley's battleline enabling the infantry attack to develop with confidence. The French are under pressure and on the back foot as Turn 5 opens.

In fact the French are coming undone at the seams with losses mounting everywhere and their own responses pitiful at best. Repeatedly Disordered by enemy fire they fail to respond effectively to the unfolding attack. Du Merde senses the battle is slipping away from his grasp.

As the situation reaches a crisis point Le Comte directs a desperate defence in person, despite warnings from his ADC as Württemberg infantry close on the unprotected flank!

Merde! It's all up for Le Comte du Merde as Hanoverian Hussars arrive on his flank! A swift retreat is his last order of the day! A resounding victory for the Allies under Rawnsley's command! Another grand game delivered by Black Powder Mk2! Off to Welsh Wales now though for some R&R to ease the pain of yet another walloping here in GHQ!