79th Highlander Command Stand

Painted up some "spare" Victrix figures for another Black Powder command stand - this one for the 79th Cameron Highlanders. Since I chose to use only standing figures for the basic unit, this is a good way to utilize the kneeling figures. The kneeling guys were originally painted up as 42nd Highlander, but a simple repaint of their facing in green, as well as adding a few red and yellow over stripes to their tartan converted them to 79th. I've seen the 79th's piper wearing a regular red coat with green facings, but I like the reverse colors better for this unit.

I hope to get in on a Black Powder game next week at game day up in Seattle - Drumbeat.

Black Powder Skirmisher Basing

Plasticard bases with magnetic tops were cut into round bases for the pairing of skirmishers already singly-based on metal washers. This way they can still be used as single-based figures for Sharp Practice games. As they are paired, the British Rifles, along with attached Portuguese Cacadores, will be in two separate 12-man Small units.The French Voltigeurs will be part of mixed formations; their parent units one each Legere and Line battalions. Although mixed formation shooting values are limited to 1, they do receive a re-roll for missed shots being Sharp Shooters. Mixed formation units are also screened by the skirmishers so receive a -1 to hit as targets. They also get to use normal Closing Fire as a charge response since the skirmishers would return to their place in the line or attack column.

For a playtest game, I'm thinking of having three smaller brigades instead of two larger ones per side. Since the game will ultimately be hosted at a convention, this will allow for more players and, hopefully, faster playing with less troops per player to move around.

Merry Christmas from the King's German Legion 1st Hussars!

Merry Christmas everyone from the KGL 1st Hussars!

Perry British/KGL Hussars - WIP +1

Another quick update, as I may not get around to painting much with the Big Guy's birthday coming up. Managed to paint the heads & busbies, as well as the lining for the pelisses. After debating between the 15th Hussars and the 1st KGL, the latter were settled upon for this unit. The visored busbies are unique to the KGL. The sculpting seems to reflect the Germans' preference for wide sideburns. I didn't realize until after I started painted them that the troupers' flounders for the busby cords are sculpted on the torso. You may want to line up the cords when gluing the heads onto the torso. I removed and re glued one head to more properly aline the two items.

Perry British Hussars - Horses Painted

Finished the horses, and think I've decided upon the 1st KGL for the riders. The officer's shabraque is colored for this unit - although usually depicted with dog toothed border.

Except for the musician's grey, the rest of the horses were given a quick block paint job and then a wash of Minwax Tudor Satin stain. The blue cloth was given a little bit of highlights first. Here they are prior to staining.

 

Although not as varied and colorful as the French, the British Hussars have a smart appearance.

A Few More Black Powder Casualty Markers

This time for cavalry units - one each French and British Hussars and a French Cuirassier. As the earlier infantry casualty figures, they're based on cheap plastic poker chips that have received a little bit of dry-brush treatment.

These were made from spare parts from Perry and Victirx. The legs are spares from a Perry French Hussars box; heated and bent appropriately for fallen casualties.Green Stuff was used as filler, as well as for belts and the tops of the Cuirassier's boots. The sabretaches were cut out from sample credit cards - the French one has a print out of the design (created by TMPer Aldo) added to it. The sabretache straps were cut from bond paper.

Except for the horses, the British Hussars haven't been started upon as I'm still undecided as to which regiment they'll represent. I'm stuck on either the 15th or 1st KGL. The main difference is the 1st KGL trousers are dark blue as their dolmans. Both units have exceptional battle records; the 1st KGL probably being the better though.

71st Highland Light Infantry - Ready for Battle

Here they are mounted on Litko 40X40mm plywood bases - for Black Powder. The colours are actually a spare from a box of Victrix. The flags are folded as much as possible to disguise the fact that they're for the 92nd.

Also completed is the Spanish Hacienda kit from Brigade Games. The veranda base is secured with a couple of brass rods. It's suggested that the model be attached to a base to protect it better; I may do this later. Here it is with the Warlord vivandiere as well as some Front Rank Spanish G's.

Next up are the new Perry British Hussars. I think they'll be 1st KGL guys.

Old Glory Highland Light Infantry - Painted

Just need to add the colours - after I drill holes into the hands of the ensigns. The original poles were too flimsy so I cut them off at the hands. Otherwise, I really like these 1st Edition Old Glory figures. The detail is good and the poses look right for being ranked up in close order.

Now the British have six battalions of infantry as the French. After the Perry British Hussars are painted, another Black Powder game will need to be played.

Old Glory Highland Light Infantry - WIP

Just a little update before I head out the door and run errands for most of the day. The dicing pattern on the shako bands are done - except for the green spot where the red lines cross.

Spanish Buildings and British Reinforcements

The Brigade Games Hacienda is painted. It needs a base before attaching the roof for the veranda. The building was primed white and the roofs and floors were primed black. The railings, doors and flooring were painted browns. The roofing was painted a light brownish red - basically a mixture of red, yellow and brown. All the pieces were then given a stain of Minwax Tudor satin. After the stain was dry the parts were sprayed with Testors Dullcote. Finally the stucco areas were give a dry brushing of white. Here is the Hacienda along with another building treated the same way.

Here is the Hacienda prior to being stained with Minwax.

On Monday I finally received the Old Glory British Light Infantry that I bought off of a fellow TMPer. These will be painted as 71st Highland Light Infantry - they'll have that cool diced pattern on their shakos.

And to top it all off, a box of the new Perry British Hussars arrived today. It was pre-ordered from Maelstrom Games in the UK. It took less than a week for it to arrive - free shipping, and they give you money back credit for orders too.  Highly recommended.

The hussars will be painted as either the 15th Hussars or 1st KGL Hussars. They'll be wearing busbies in any case. Oh, the poor French Dragoons will once again be put on the back burner; I need to beef up my British first - especially with their first cavalry unit.

Work Bench Update - 12/4/11

Nothing special, just added some epaulettes to these Perry French Dragoons to indicate their elite status. I also added a plume, raquettes and cord to the bearskin of the musician.

I plan to paint them up as the 16th Dragoons - the musician will be in full dress like the one on the cover of this old uniform book.

I'm also working on a Spanish hacienda from Brigade Games. My buddy who I painted the balance of the Perry Dragoons gave it to me as part of the "payment" for the work. He's already given me another Spanish building too. These will come in handy for both Black Powder and Sharp Practice games.

 I used Green Stuff to help hold the walls and pieces together - then added some Super Glue.

Black Powder Command Stands

Picked up some plywood discs from Jo-Ann's yesterday for .29 cents each. They measure 3 1/4" in diameter, and about 3mm thick. A magnetic sheet was also picked up so I could use figures that were already individually based on either washers or metal bottom bases in the case of the mounted figures. I wanted to keep these figures as singles for Sharp Practice games. Here are three British and two French command stands. I need to pick up a few more mounted commanders to flesh out both armies.

The magnetic sheeting was added to the tops of the discs after cutting them a little smaller in diameter. The individual figure bases were than outlined with a ball point pen. Acrylic caulking was squeezed around the outlines and allowed to harden a bit.

More acrylic caulking was then added to fill in around the outlines for the bases.

Sand was added in irregular patches and after it was dried, the stands were painted a dark brown, followed by dry-brushing of lighter earthy colors. Besides static grass, taller grass (painted brush bristles) and rocks (aquarium pebbles) were also added.

I didn't add any period specific articles as I plan to use the same stands for Hail Caesar command bases.

Warlord Vivandiere & Donkey Painted

Okay, so this was a nice interlude before painting up another battalion of infantry. It is a very nice set; both the vivandiere figure and the donkey are cleanly sculpted and details are easily made out. I highly recommend this set to anyone interested in livening up a Napoleonic battlefield.

I have no idea what the veggies are supposed to be, but I kept thinking broccoli and celery.

Here they are next to a Perry figure for comparison.

I'm hoping the Old Glory British Light Infantry I picked up off a fellow TMPer arrive this week. I'm also waiting on a box of the newly released Perry British Hussars. Once they are both painted, another Black Powder game will soon follow.

Warlord Vivandiere - WIP

While awaiting the arrival of some Old Glory British Light Infantry, figured I'd knock out the Warlord Vivandiere that was ordered a while back. Still need to finish the burro. It's a nice model, and I hope to get the nice Eureka model also.

She will be useful in Sharp Practice games. The model comes with two choices of heads and right arms. The other hat has a rounded top, and the other arm wields a pistol. Here's a link to a nice blog entry of vivandiere reenactors.

Perry RHA Based

Here are the Perry 9 and 6 pounders based.

I also rebased a couple of Sash & Saber French 12 pounders. These were initially on bases with only the guns, with the crews singly based on washers. Technically, the 12 pounders were assigned to the Guard, so these Line crews shouldn't really be with these guns, but...

Royal Horse Artillery - Completed

Old Glory limbers and Perry Guns w/crews. The guns need to be based along with their respective crews.

This is a pretty good set - as it comes with two limbers with not only drivers, but gunners seated upon the limbers. The Old Glory French limber set only comes with drivers.

And the Perry guns with crews.

I've been reading the Osprey Salamanca book that I just won off of ebay. Really good read with nice illustrations. Plan to play out a portion of the battle the next time we play Black Powder. Happy Holidays all!

Royal Horse Artillery - WIP +1

Here's the current progress on the crews - Perry gun crews in the front and the OG guys in the back. I love the animated facial expressions of the OG guys.

The jackets haven't been highlighted yet; nor have the red facings been added.

The limbers and horses have been mounted - here they are with the Perry guns - a 9 and 6 pounder.

I ran out of acrylic caulking and tried using some spackle I had in the garage. Acrylic caulking is better for adhesion of figures; I ended up using some white glue to hold some of the horses down.

Royal Horse Artillery WIP

Started on an Old Glory limber set, as well as two Perry guns - one each 6 and 9 pounder. Here are the horses, limber and gun carriages with basic block painting prior to a Minwax stain.

And the pieces after the stain - along with the guns added to the carriages.The gun and limber crews are next.

Napoleonic Infantry Rebase Complete

Okay, so all of the Victrix, Perry and OG 2nd Ed. guys have been based or rebased as the case may be for the earlier washer-based figures. There are six French battalions, of which five are 24-man, and one 36-man.

The British are currently at five battalions, four 24-man, and one 32-man - the Guards battalion. Thanks to another TMP buy, I'm waiting on the arrival of a pack of Old Glory (1st Ed.) British Light Infantry. These are planned to be painted as 71st Highland Light Infantry.

So, in the end there will be six infantry battalions each for the French and British. Enough to flesh out two or three brigades per side.

Next on the painting schedule are some Perry British RHA and Perry French Dragoons - the left overs from the ones I painted earlier for my buddy. I hope to play the next Black Powder game based upon the Battle of Salamanca. This battle had the British and French forces pretty evenly matched; the British victory earning Wellington the reputation of an offensive general as well.
As far as the OG 2nd Ed. French go, I'd say the 1815 (& likely the 1812) guys are a decent match for Perry French in both style, uniform and size. The Perry are a bit more robust, but not so bad to look out of place - possibly even in the same units. (ERRATA: The OG bayonets are a little thicker than both the Perry & Victrix ones.) The 1809 OG 2nd Ed. French are a little smaller - even compared to the 1815 guys. Mainly they are little shorter; however, if you add some height to their base, as I did with plasticard, they look okay in their own units. The Victrix French, as well as their Highlanders are taller and larger overall than both Perry and of course the OG guys. In fact, the Victrix French and Highlanders are larger than even their own British regular infantry sets. Anyway, they all are not so bad to look out of place on the table next to each other. Especially when the cannons roar and the smoke fills the air.