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.

 

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...

🎼🎵🎶There is nothing like a Dane!

 I painted my first figure for this retro-nostalgia project in early July, starting with figures from Wargames Foundry representing Danes in the service of the Maritime Powers 1702-1704. This part of the project has now reached its conclusion so I thought that I would celebrate the first milestone with this post. As ever your comments are very welcome ~

Figures by Wargames Foundry, bar the mortar which is from Warfare Miniatures; bases from Warbases; flags and standards from David Morffit's wonderful blog Not By Appointment. On to the second element next, the British, with Infantry from Ebor Miniatures and Horse from Warfare Miniatures. As yet I've not settled on which will be the prefered source for their artillery, as I want to complete the planned purchase of the infantry arm first.

Moving Forward Steadily...

...with my War of the Spanish Succession project sees the third, and for now at least the final, Danish infantry regiment finished to complete the three regiment brigade. These are the Fynske regiment, chosen for no other reason than I had downloaded their flags from David Morffit's wonderful blog 'Not By Appointment'! If you don't know this site and are interested in C18th armies then you are missing out. Here are the chaps in question without more addo ~

Foundry figures of course, a range sculpted by the Perrys back when the world and I were young. The figures have stood the test of time better than I have!

The central base features the regiment's commanding officer, colours and a drummer alongside three rank and file figures.

The officer adds a touch of colour to the otherwise drab grey-white of the rank and file figures, whilst the casualty adds a touch of movement and adds interest. The figure does not come with a musket, but fortunately there were spares in the bits box!

Similarly the third base sees the officer adding colour to the unit and the alternate casualty figure a point of interest. I added his musket after taking the picture, must plead age there, sorry! I've been adding a touch of seven o'clock shadow to the faces of figures in this project using a mix of Foundry Expert Flesh and British Gun Grey with mixed success, some being a darker shade than others. I put this down to differing beard growth between individuals, or different opportunities to shave while in the field!

In addition to these I've completed three more Danish artillerymen, the remnants of the eight figure pack and a spare figure of a sergeant pointing. They will crew a large mortar, currently in the post from Warfare Miniatures, along with figures for a third Squadron of British Horse. As an aside I've also ordered figures from Ebor Miniatures for a second British infantry regiment.

Meanwhile I made a tentative start on the first figure from Foundry for the cavalry element of the Danish tranche of the project in the form of a cuirassier charging with sword arm outstretched. I think it will be the middle of the month before any of these are finished though! More as and when...

Danish 12lbers

While I sorted out the missing/incorrect figures with Carol and Sam at Wargames Foundry I pressed on with painting two 12lb guns and crew figures for my small Danish contingent. To say that the colour combinations of the pieces and the gunners uniforms are garish is perhaps being mild, rather they evoke fairground rides in my mind. See what you think either way ~

One point of irritation with the packaging of the artillery crew figures might be of interest to readers. This venerable figure range predates the blistering of figures and clearly displays the weakness of the 'lump them in' approach, in that the eight figures' poses make it difficult to utilise all of them in two crews of four figures. I settled for one gun crew suggesting firing and the other suggesting repositioning after recoil from firing. The two figures left over I have combined with a spare sergeant figure for a third crew. I was going to order another 12lber from Foundry but I see Warfare Miniatures do a lovely period mortar, so I may order one of those, we shall have to wait and see where the muse leads me... 

In the meantime I've completed painting the figures for the first base of my third Danish infantry regiment. More on those will be shared with readers in due time of course. Meanwhile we are accommodating William and Emma for a couple of days so painting will slow to a snail's pace I expect... Not that I'm complaining I have to say!

The Kindness of Friends...

...is a constant theme in this wonderful hobby of ours I find. Last week Phil presented me with a small box. It contained a few figures, he said, which would be useful for my nostalgia driven War of the Spanish Succession project. Opening it up back home revealed four finished figures and two others. The finished figures comprised: a mounted Dutch general by Ebor Miniatures; a mounted British general by Dixon Miniatures; two British officers on foot ~ one by Ebor Miniatures, the other by Dixon Miniatures. The two other figures were both drummers, one by Ebor Miniatures and one by Dixon Miniatures, always useful for filling out command stands or vignettes.

I have combined the three British figures to make a command stand for my planned first British infantry brigade. "Lord Rawnsley receives the latest news from Captain Watkiss, while Colonel Bykleigh looks on." ~

I have almost completed the Danish battery of 12lb guns, just a few highlights and then the bases to texture, colour wash and vegetate. I still hope to have these finished and blogged for Monday, if this heat ever eases that is. 

Prins Carls Infantry Regiment...

...finally musters in and joins its compatriots in GHQ. The figures are from Wargames Foundry's venerable range sculpted by the Perrys. The flags are from David's Moffit's excellent blog, Not by Appointment, and the bases as ever are from Warbases. I hope my loyal reader will approve of the finished unit ~

The third base which completed the regiment proved a slow job in the midst of the organised chaos of decorating.

I've already started the first of the two 12lb guns and three artillerymen to serve the gun. I'd hope to complete both by next weekend now the chaos of the decorating is but a haggard memory...

I have the third Danish infantry regiment to complete the brigade I planned. I can't start them as yet however, I'm waiting on three replacement figures from Wargames Foundry. After over 40 years as a customer I got a pack with three figures from a completely different code. They should be sorted this week I hope ready to join the queue in the Lead Pimple!

From Amidst the Chaos!

 The second base of figures for Prins Carl's infantry regiment has passed under the Brush of Doom and joined its fellow completed last month. The first figure for the third base has been completed and four more are very nearly finished. All this while the decorators are working in what looks like organised chaos to the outsider.  Enough blathering on, here is the new base for your considerstion ~

As you may recall The War of the Spanish Succession project is mainly driven by nostalgia. I fell to wondering where the two Minifigs War of the Spanish Succession armies Phil and I had sold on to a gamer in South Wales had ended up after John Tuckey has passed on, him being their last known owner. Hopefully they are loved by a gamer and doing battle still over someone's tabletop battlefield. In the meantime here are both completed bases ~

 As Ebor Miniatures are on holiday until August 20th I have to wait patiently before placing my order for more figures, for the first English infantry brigade. No rush though really as Phil told me recently, I have plenty to occupy me already in stock! I can't argue with that obviously, but that never stopped me - and others no doubt - ordering up more! In my sights for further acquisitions are Dixon Miniatures, for a Dutch infantry brigade; or Reiver Castings perhaps? That leaves Front Rank to consider, perhaps for a second brigade? As you see, a set of vague aspirations rather than a firm plan! We shall see in due course where the project takes me no doubt...

Prince Carl's Regiment

Hobby time has been at a premium as you may recall me outlining in previous blog entries. In precious but short downtimes I have managed to complete the first base of figures for Prince Carl's infantry regiment. I thought you might like to see them rather than wait until the middle of the month when they may be completed. The figures are once more from the venerable Wargames Foundry range, the flags from David Morffit's wonderful blog, Not by Appointment, and the bases from the ever dependable Warbases ~

I enjoy trying out various permutations of the figures' positions on the 80 x 60mm bases I'm using for this nostalgia project, trying to capture a moment of the regiment in action. I have, as you no doubt are aware, never reconciled myself to the blistering of figures, longing for the time past when I could choose individual figures to suit my own composition of regiments. Yes, I know Front Rank are sold individually, and they may feature at some point in the project's evolution.

I have seen that Wargames Foundry are having a Summer Sale so I ordered up further figures for the project's small Danish contingent. The warchest has stretched to a third Infantry regiment, two squadrons of cavalry with cuirass, and two 12lb guns and crew. I had been planning to wait on these, but at 10% off I think a change of plan was justified. Ordered on Friday lunchtime, delivered on Saturday morning; you really can't complain about that for service all round! Meanwhile, work on figures for the rest of Prince Carl's infantry regiment continues slowly...

A Command Stand? Already?

Well now, one regiment is completed for the nostalgia driven project, so what could be more natural than to pick up the figures for a Brigade Command stand? There is method in my madness if you will bear with me. After completing the figures for the Livgarde til Fods I had a small window of opportunity for wielding the Brush of Doom before our friends from Adelaide arrived for a visit. Not enough time though for even one base of the next unit queuing in the old Lead Pimple, but enough for these three figures which form the Command stand for the planned Danish infantry brigade. They are from the venerable Wargames Foundry range of course {though they have cast with more buttons than the Livgarde figures!} with the base from Warbases ~

With Pam and Chris with us now there will be an  inevitable hiatus in any hobby activity here in GHQ. Disruption will extend beyond their stay too as the decorators will be in the following week, meaning GHQ will be performing its storehouse role again! More hobby stuff as and when is all that I can say for now...

Livgarde til Fods

As I mentioned in previous posts starting off this new venture with the Danish Livgarde til Fods was a no brainer when both Matt and Phil had urged me to prioritise them. Nostalgia is afterall a powerful driver in both our hobby and in our life as we grow older. So, here is my interpretation of the regiment in English service using the venerable Wargames Foundry figures. The flags are from David's wonderful blog, Not By Appointment, and the bases are from Warbases, as ever ~

Back when the world and I were young Phil's WSS army included this unit resplendent in bright yellow, modern research though has tended towards a more straw yellow coat colour. I wanted a nod towards their venerable antecedents and so compromised with using Foundry's Ochre triad but omiting the final Light stage. I also opted not to paint on the red lace which went up the coat front in a ladder design. As the lace is not modelled on I felt it was fine to ignore it. I had one or two issues with missing buttons, especially on the cuffs of some poses. It's a bit of a thing with me but at prices charged I really do expect more attention to detail like that in quality control. It's either a moulding or casting issue, either capable of being rectified...if there is the will.

Next under the Brush of Doom will be one mounted and two foot figures to populate the Command stand for the Danish infantry brigade. Circumstances have pointed me towards this smaller component of the WSS venture next as our friends from Adelaide are due to arrive on Friday for a week's visit. After this pleasant interruption I hope to start on the second Danish infantry regiment, Prince Carl's. The flags are already printed out, from David's aforementioned site, and so for a change I shall start with the Command figures for them!