Something Old...

... Something New, as the old saying goes, and very appropriate for the new/old project which this post previews. Of course, back in the mists of time, when the world and I were young, I had a Wargames Foundry Crimean War collection. It was moved on a good while ago, in what has morphed into sad circumstances, and consigned to happy memories. Indeed I don't even appear to have a single photo of the collection!

I've lost count of the occasions where I've declared that there'll be no new projects here in GHQ, indeed it's almost embarrassing now to declare a new one is in the offing! I suppose an explanation, beyond saying I'm a Wargamer, would be the least I could do! 

It all stemmed really from a conversation with Phil the other week when we were chatting about this and that after a game. I was musing on having no 'List' for the Partizan show and thinking out loud about things I might add to my various collections. It struck me later as I drove home that this adding new units was getting out of hand: not just storage issues in GHQ but then physically getting stuff on the table for a game when I already had too much!

So, no additions then seemed to be my position, but what of painting which has always been a pillar of my mental health down the years. When I was working I used painting as a stress management tool, finding the stress seemed to flow out of the body and mind through the tip of the brush as I lost myself in the joy of painting figures. I've found this continues in retirement to be my best route for dealing with the attendant anxiety of aging and health issues, so I did want something to continue to lean on. As my late father, a keen amateur golfer, once said to me, 'When I can't play golf you can screw the lid down on my coffin!' Replace the golf metaphor with wargaming and painting and you can see where I'm heading and why despite everything I have chosen a new project I hope.

Anyway, Great War Miniatures figures are ordered and at least one book and one package of figures have arrived and another is on its way to start the ball rolling, so we will see where it goes over the coming months I hope!

Coerls

For some light relief I have been painting some Saxon Coerls for my '1066 & All That' project. These are Wargames Foundry of course, sculpted by Matt Bickley early in his career. I started this collection not long after they were first released back in the day and if I recall rightly this is the fourth basing scheme I've used for them. Rebasing, one of the underated joys of the hobby giving the wargamer new units without having to paint more figures! I've already shown the two figures I used for a skirmish base, but in case you missed it, here it is ~

Skirmish bases are a new development for my Dark Age collection as we have moved from Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval Wargames rules to Hail Caesar following the release of the second edition.

When the figures were laid out on the tabletop battlefield in GHQ I thought I might add some so I ordered two packs of Saxon figures to populate a base of Coerls. In our games a unit can be represented by one base, or two skirmish bases, though as I almost inevitably add more that can evolve I'd guess! Anyway, here's the latest base of Saxons added to the game ~

Right now I'm painting some North Star Canadian Militia I picked up at Partizan. The figures are simple and cleanly cast so they seem to like the brush and suit my geriatric-in-waiting painting talents!

A Parade...

...though admittedly only a small one, so I'm sorry if that disappoints any dear reader. Having completed my SYW Brunswick contingent with the converged Grenadier regiment von Redeken I thought I'd get them 'all' out on the table in GHQ, before it morphs into India for next week's games! So, without more ado, here they are ~

I'm not sure I'd want to add any more to these, at least in the foreseeable future, as I'm planning something new, or rather revisiting something old. More on that in due course when my orders arrive from North Star and Colonel Bill's. The latter order was despatched yesterday, so I'd hope to get that soon, Postie willing. Nothing from North Star as yet, but they are biggish orders and probably cast to order. I'd hope to see them both next week. The book I ordered from Caliver Books on Wednesday duly arrived today, Dave & Co's usual fine service! (Not forgetting Royal Mail of course!)

Meanwhile, back in 1066...

...and All That, a base of Saxon skirmishers, which I started two weeks ago but only finished yesterday as Sue and I had been away in Norfolk for a week. The figures are from Wargames Foundry, sculpted by Matt Bickley early on in his career ~

There are 10 other figures underway now to form a further base/unit for the Coerls as further light relief from painting Mitres on Brunswick Grenadiers! In the meantime I have placed a couple of substantial orders for figures to form the backbone of a new, or not, project. More on that as and when as they say 

No2 Grenadier Battalion von Redeken

With some encouragement from Spanner on the Loose Association of Wargamers forum I've already created a converged Grenadier regiment for my small Hanoverian contingent so I decided to do the same for my even smaller Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel contingent ~

The converged grenadier battalions of the Brunswick infantry regiments became independent battalions, in 1759 with each of them consisting of four companies totaling some 588 men. Those of von Behr and von Zastrow became No2 Independent Grenadier Battalion von Redeken. The troops continued to wear the uniform and Mitres of their parent regiments. The regiments did not carry any colours it seems, a disappointment as I like loads of flags in my armies wherever possible!

The figures I used are from Crusader Miniatures via North Star, with half painted as von Behr and half as von Zastrow. The bases as ever are from my chums at Warbases. No more waffling on, here they are ~

With these the European theatre of my SYW expansion project draws to a close, at least for now, but the F&IW theatre will pick up the baton and see a further unit added to that collection. Specifically some Militia from North Star are already nearing the head of the painting queue, so still some tricorns there for the hardcore addict! Next up though a few Saxon Coerls for the '1066 & All That' project for some lace relief!

By His Command!

 That is to say rather that at Phil's forceful suggestion this blog entry has seen the light of day. A bit of background here: I like to take advantage of days like Friday - warm, light breeze, low humidity - to spray varnish figures in the 'done but not done' queue. So I got out the kit and sprayed my 12 Brunswick Grenadiers. Seemed such a shame given the conditions not to have anything else waiting it's turn. So, into GHQ, where the AWI game was still out on the tabletop battlefield. Most figures we'd used are relatively recent and are matt varnished, but their storage boxes contained many other  more venerable figures either satin or gloss varnished. So, can and boards are deployed and off we went spraying gaily all afternoon. The result, well, somewhat surprisingly I have to say, a whole collection reinvigorated ~

The core of these Front Rank figures originally came into my collection starting in about 1984 when I bought two 'Starter Armies' at Salute in Kensington Town Hall. Back almost in the dawn of time Alec Brown the then owner attended many shows with his Front Rank trade stand so I must have added to these down the years, but I've no recollection of that. It's an age thing I'd guess! 

More recently though I'd added Foundry, Perry Miniatures, Eureka and even more Front Rank figures to the collection but I don't think I fully realised until now how it had grown - and there are still three Continental Dragoon regiments in another box! Anyway, Phil has ordered a parade, so here it is, starting of course as is only proper with the forces of the Crown ~

After the forces of the Crown, those of the Revolutionary Americans ~

It's a bit of a surprise, you might even say a shock, to realise how projects can seem to grow with a life almost independent of your own. I had no idea that down the years I'd acquired this many AWI figures as we usually play smaller sized games. Another thing I noticed as the figures were drying in the sun was that they were rather better painted than I thought, though I've long moved on from black lining figures! Having got them all in the same varnish finish now has the effect of drawing the whole collection together more satisfactorily to the eye. So, it seems only right that we might have to move up a size in coming battles...

Liberty or Death!

Enthused and invigorated by Partizan Phil and I set to in GHQ to fight an AWI game this week. An encounter battle fought over the rolling Virginian countryside sees ol' "Liberty or Death" Bykleigh confronting his nemesis Lord Rawnsley. The Americans fielded four small brigades of infantry, two of Continentals and two of Militia, supported by a battery of 9lb guns and two 3lb galloper guns accompanying the two Continental battalions, the Philadelphia Light Horse and the 4th Continental Light Dragoons. Lord Rawnsley commanded two infantry brigades, one of Regulars and one of Loyalists, together with two small cavalry brigades, one of Light Dragoons and elements of Tarleton's Legion and a second of Loyalist volunteers. In addition he was supported by De Whit's Hessian mercenaries comprising four infantry battalions, two of Light Troops and the force's only artillery, a 3lb gun. Phil won the initiative and opted to move first, though in true style not a lot entered the field of battle for him in Turn 1!

Slow progress by the Virginia Continental battalions on the American right from the off rather set the tone for the game with hindsight...

Lord Rawnsley had more joy of his subordinates hastening to carry out his wishes, excepting De Whit's Hessian mercenaries of course. Had he forgetfully omitted to pay them I wondered?

In the American centre the first Militia brigade take up position behind the fence line while the Continental battalions struggle to get moving at all. 

The Continental Light Dragoons face their British rivals along the lane, a rare outing as Small units was going to catch up both out as the game progressed!

The impetuous Philadelphia Light Horse charge the British Light Dragoons. It might have worked, but for the dice... The advancing Loyalists behind the melee are halted by Disorder resulting from the Militias' opening volley.

The Continental Light Dragoons have charged the King's Orange Rangers, my second mistake with a Small unit!  Old 'Victory or Death' has carelessly lost all his cavalry!

On the American right progress is still glacial with the Hessians slightly edging the movement stakes! The Virginia Continental battalions are very slow to get moving!

Rebel militias confront Loyalist battalions and losses begin to mount as they trade volleys.

On the American left the New Jersey Blues and the 3rd Maryland mimic the tardiness of their Virginian compatriots on the right. Thankfully Lord Rawnsley's advancing Regular brigade is equally cautious as it suffers losses from the American artillery battery.

Finally both sides get into position and the delayed fight for the left behind in earnest.

As it does on the right, with the Hessians and Virginians trading volleys across the fence line.

Despite being Shaken and Disordered the Militia put up unexpected resistance in a long melee with the Regulars! Four Turns passed before their morale finally broke! What I might have given for their dice elsewhere in the unfolding action, or for Phil's Saving Throws?

The American right is the first to crumble, the Virginians finally broken by Hessian volleys! In the centre the first Militia brigade has finally fled leaving the second to its fate as Lord Rawnsley's attack presses forward 

With the loss early on of his cavalry brigade compounded by the mounting infantry losses Bykleigh finds his army has lost the will to carry on with the fight and concedes defeat in Turn 9. With hindsight the battle turned on a combination of slow deployment and mishandling of cavalry on the American side while the steady build up of momentum by the Crown's forces continually pressed home their localised advantages: Black Powder at its best we thought!