First Napoleonic French unit

The first figures off the painting tray for 2016 were meant to be 28mm Fallshirmjager, but after putting the base coat down on the smock and trousers I saw a little unit of poor lonely French infantry sitting there all forlorn, and knew that I must paint them. 

The 9e Ligne - my first Napoleonic unit in a long time.

No flags will be used for the French - traditionally they just took the eagle into battle. And the poles are too short to put a decent sized flag on.

Like the Crimean War project, this one is going to be strictly base colour and blackline style.

I knew they wouldn't take long - three hours in total - due to the black-line single colour style I was planning to use. I really like this aesthetic, and will probably paint all of the pocket projects in this style (apart from the Great Northern War, which is already painted in two tone).

The fallshirmjager will be the next to roll off the painting tray. I finished the camo last night, now it is just the webbing and accoutrements which I should get done tomorrow night, a wash and the bases. Tonight is games night around at John's place.

In the last 48 hours I have already changed my mind about one of the projects this year. The 1965 India-Pakistan War will be scrapped in favour of building an Indian Flames of War force for Burma 1945. I have the Shermans and infantry, I just need the rest of the supports. I assume with the Pacific being released this year that a Burma book might appear in 2017 or 2018, but for now I plan to use the Indian list from the Cassino book and John can use the Rising Sun book, because it isn't like the Japanese equipment list changed a great deal is it? Sherman vs Chi-ha? Bring it on!

The change in plans is actually based around leaving enough space in my cabinet for a Byzantine and Sassanid pocket project. Again I'll be looking at using a Lion Rampant adaptation for Belisarius and his boys.

SUCH a good book!

Yesterday Dragon Rampant arrived and I read through it last night. I absolutely loved it. The tone is perfect and makes you want to play the game much more than anything GW ever put out. It could have done with a bit more proof reading in places, but this doesn't detract from a great game system produced with an obvious love for 'old school' fantasy gaming. Now, where are my killer sheep?

Nate

Dark Ages dabbling

Yet another pocket project underway, this time the Norman conquest of England. This is really revisiting the period, as I had already painted up a 28mm SAGA project with the same two forces, Norman and Anglo-Danish. These have since passed into John's collection, but an email from Geoff recently piqued my interest as he talked about projects he was considering abandoning. One of them was 15mm 1066. Upon further inquiry he said I could have them if I wanted them. Did I? You bet!

The figures duly arrived and I was very happy to see some of them were painted, and very nicely too, by Rodger, he of Rebel Barracks fame and frequent commenter on this blog. Going through the figures there was more than enough for a 1066 pocket project, although I have ordered a battlepack of Anglo-Saxon fyrd from Lancashire Games (which mix in nicely with these Essex Miniatures - I checked) to create the bulk of the English infantry.

So after some rebasing, here is what we have so far:

The general's unit of huscarles.

A second unit of huscarles

The core of the English line - both units together

English lights - archers.

English lights - javelinmen

A unit of Norman knights

And from another angle (no pun intended)

So a big thanks to Geoff and also to Rodger for his wonderful painting. I hope I can match it withe the rest of the figures.

Nate

Vive l'empereur - second time around

Yes it is the first French unit for the Franco-Prussian War.

Allons mes enfants!

These chaps are 15mm figures from Lancashire Games and they paint up very easily indeed. It's funny, looking at the photo above the guy on the right looks like he is trying to do squats, but the poses are actually very natural in real life. 

Seen from behind

The figures are only marginally bigger than the Rank and File Prussians, and it is only when you put them side by side that the difference is really noticeable.

Officers see eye to eye but the French Line have obviously been eating better than their Prussian counterparts.

I still have to fix the edges of the flag and varnish the figures, but the French army is underway! Chasseurs up next.

Nate

Cossacks

This is the last unit that I needed for my Great Northern War pocket project - Cossacks. They are 15mm Irregular minis like the rest of the armies. I really struggled with painting these chaps, mostly in terms of colour selection. In the end I just went with a bit of a rainbow but red bags on all of the caps. It seems to have worked OK.

'Charge! But only if the enemy aren't looking...'

The rules as they stand at the moment state that the Russians will have a seventh unit on the table - either an artillery unit or the Cossacks. The artillery seemed to work well in the last battle and balanced out the Swedes' hitting power. It will be interesting to see if the Cossacks can do the same thing.

Nate

The latest project - Franco-Prussian War

Not content with all the other things that I am already procrastinating over, I went and started a totally new 'pocket project'. This time it is the 1870-71 conflict between Germany and France rather inaccurately known as the Franco-Prussian War.

The 8th Regiment - Brandenburgers to a man.

These Prussians are Rank and File 15mm. I bought them at the beginning of 2013 when I was at Cancon. They were on special and I had a vague idea that I'd quite like to use them for something. Of course, I never did, until I stumbled across them in the spare figures box. I'd looked at the Franco-Prussian War several times in the past but decided that I didn't like the rules I had, and the armies looked like too big an investment. That was turned on its head by One Hour Wargames. I worked out what I needed to complete the Prussian army and a French army and prepared an order for Allan at Lancashire Games. The figures are a pretty good match in terms of size, and I now have everything that I need for my Franco-Prussian pocket project.

How they appear on the table - in extended line

The Franco-Prussian War has always been one of my favourite periods. I remember a conversation years ago with my wargaming buddy Tim where I said to him that I found Napoleon III more interesting than Napoleon I. His reply was ' Only because he cocked everything up!'. To a ceratin extent yes, but it also has a lot to do with the aesthetic - baggy red trousers and picklehaubes - can't go wrong! And of course, as I was obsessed with WWI, the Franco-Prussian War loomed large in the background to that conflict.
As I painted these chaps up I have to admit to a feeling of attachment. It is hard to describe the exact nature of the connection, but it is entirely possible that people in the real regiment were related to me. My family history on at least one side traces back to Brandenburg, at least as far as I can go with it, and I have to admit to having a certain amount of pride in possessing Prussian heritage. At any rate, I've decided that I'm basing my brigade on Alvensleben's III Corps, Stulpnagel's division. These are the Brandenburg Leib-Grenadier regiment. I'm not too sure if they should have any distinctive lace anywhere, maybe someone can tell me. Up next on the painting tray are the 5th Brandenburg IR48.

Nate

Battle on the border, 18 September 1701 One Hour Wargame scenario

After the action at Valk the new Russian commander, General Kantstanski, led a withdrawal to the Livonian border. General Vakt, sensing he had an advantage that he could press decided to pursue the Russian force. Upon reaching the Ludzha river he found a bridge guarded by a single battery. The plan was simply to storm this bridge and carry on to intercept the Russians before they reached the defences of Pskov. Little did he know that the new Russian commander had a surprise in store for him.
This action plays out scenario 18 from Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargames - Breakthrough. I rolled up two 6 unit forces which included some units that had already taken a bit of a battering in the previous action.

The view from the Swedish side in turn one. 

Arrayed ready to try to force the bridge.

The solitary Russian gun guards the road at the bridge.

The Swedes begin their advance. The Vasterbotten regiment will have the privilege of forcing the bridge. You can see that a couple of units already have casualties from the battle at Valk.

Wait! Where did all those Russians come from?

The battle begins. The Tverski Dragoons charge across a hidden ford straight into the Uppland regiment. The Moscowski Dragoons follow on foot - blocking their ability to recoil any distance.

The Smaland cavalry spin around and charge the Tverski regiment in the flank, rolling a 6 and running them down (6 +2 for cavalry charging doubled for a flank attack - devastating!).

The Vasterbotten regiment charges into the hail of grapeshot.

And they have no fire support as the artillery is kept busy by the arrival of the Russian infantry.

The Smaland cavalry regiment charge into the Dragoons who have recrossed the river to defend the banks. After taking out a few of the enemy they fall back from the combat.

The Semenovski cross the river at another ford the Swedes had no idea about!

The Vasterbotten continues to charge into the guns only to be repulsed by close range canister.

Trying to rally the Vasterbotten regiment General Vakt is hit by a piece of grapeshot and is carried from the field.

The Smenovski regiment begin to press the Karelska cavalry regiment, advancing and whittling them down with fire.

The Russian artillery is shredding the Vasterbotten regiment.

The Dragoons continue to defend their position.

Using the cover of the river bank the Swedish infantry are driven off.

The artillery are dangerously close to being wiped out - just one more charge!

The Swedish artillery is likewise imperiled by the Butyrski regiment.

The Semenovski Guard continue to press the isolated Karelska regiment that just can't seem to break them.

The Uppland regiment are once again see off.

The Russians roll a 6! The Vasterbotten regiment breaks!

With just a solitary hit remaining the Swedish artillery likewise rolls a miracle and the Butyrski regiment are dissipated.

This will be the end for the Karelska regiment. But it is turn 13. This last charge has stopped the town from falling and the Swedish line of retreat is still open.

The Jonkopings regiment follows in the footsteps of their Vasterbotten colleagues and removes the artillery. - They have the bridge!

Turn 15 and the Semenovski guard wipe out the Karelska regiment but are out of time to occupy the town.

Stalemate has ensued on the Swedish left flank. The brave Moscowski Dragoons have put in another creditable performance and held the ford.

The Ingermanlandski regiment advances to contest the bridge.

The situation on Turn 15. The Swedes have the bridge and the Russians have not taken the town, so technically a Swedish victory, but in the context of the campaign this is a very bloody draw.

Left in possession of the field the Swedes had time to mourn over the demise of the gallant General Vakt (he rolled a '2').  With so many casualties the decision was made to return to Marienburg to bury the genral and recover. The Russians likewise felt it prudent to return to Pskov and await reinforcements. This covers the October turn of the campaign.

Nate

GNW Pocket Project Complete

The last two infantry regiments were finished off last night. I wanted to have them complete on Sunday, but I needed to repaint the flag for the Semenovski regiment.

The Swedish Jonkopings Regiment

The Semenovski Guard regiment. I had to paint the eagle and recolour the feathers on the flags.

So the Great Northern War project is complete, and these will be much needed reinforcements for both sides in the campaign.

I've really enjoyed putting this together - not just the forces but the backstory and campaign as well. The next pocket project for use with One Hour Wargames based rules will be Samurai, followed by the Great Paraguayan War and then I have my eye on a conflict from 1894. More on that later. Right now I have a commission to paint!

Nate