tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51904097879681194302024-03-14T09:13:34.208-07:00Frivolous Fusiliers - Wargaming In The Rococo PeriodAndy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-7842391923107397852017-01-06T03:50:00.001-08:002017-01-06T03:50:51.925-08:00A Painter's Disease<br />
In our childhood we used enamel paints and our bedrooms often reeked with the smell of paint and thinners. Its not so bad these days: most painting is done with water based acrylics, only the final varnishing will bring back the familiar odours of our youth.<br />
<br />
It turns out that <a href="http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol47/47-13.html">exposure to paint thinners is a risk factor is developing pancreatic cancer</a>. People whose professions mean exposure to it have an elevated chance of developing the disease. So it would seem to be a wise precaution to take care to minimise our exposure to it when we are using it.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-65873544488573168262016-10-29T08:40:00.000-07:002016-11-22T12:04:45.425-08:00Somewhere In Lowest Germany (continued)<div>
Von Arlitz, anxious to make some pretence of aggressiveness, ordered a general advance. A more inappropriate order is hard to see: the close terrain in front of him made such a movement with all the troops at hand impossible. Although he correctly recognised the importance of the woods in the centre, and directed his two companies of Croats to converge upon it, they were blocked from so doing by the movements of friendly units and so a company of Free Battalion Le Noble was able to occupy it. From this vantage point they maintained a destructive fire on von Arlitz's troops for the remainder of the battle. The second company of Le Noble found similarly good cover in woods on their left flank, although from here they were able to make only some slight nuisance of themselves because of distance and terrain.</div>
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Von Arlitz's Gensdarmes moved forwards in accordance with his initial orders and then, finding no good place to go, moved across the front of the Reichs infantry battalions in the centre. By doing so they presented a target for the light infantry in the woods and blocked the advance of the infantry. They would have been far better left at the rear building 'battle moves' for later in the battle when they might have found useful employment. Van Erp made a similar error with his regiment of dragoons moving first to his right flank and then back again and to his left. However, as they performed these evolutions to the rear of the rest of his army no great harm was done.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Illconceived General Advance</td></tr>
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Having disentangled themselves, the Croats attempted to fight their way into the woods. But first one company and then the second was swiftly seen off by a few volleys fired by van Erps light infantry who took few casualties in return. These then turned their attention on the confused ranks of line infantry and cavalry behind, inflicting serious casualties as they sorted themselves out. An advance by the sorely tried line infantry to within close range where they could return effective fire on the woods resulted in sufficient casualties to bring the lights perilously close to breaking, but at further cost to the line infantry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le Noble Holds The Woods</td></tr>
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<div>
At this point van Erp rose in his stirrups and waved his tricorne. The younger officers on his staff have suggested many reasons as to what this signified. Those of a gloomy disposition have suggested he was being bothered by a horse fly. The amorously inclined opine that he was seeking to attract the attention of a troop of actresses who had come to view their hero in his martial glory. Van Erp himself insists that his seasoned eye had detected a wavering of the enemy line, and he had judged it was now time to deliver the decisive blow. We are inclined to accept the general's own explanation: the word of a gentleman is not lightly set aside, especially when he has a few battalions at his call. But what is certain is that his two battalions in front of him now advanced against the wilting Reichs infantry. The fire of these, supported by the depleted - but still game - light infantry took a steady toll of their opponents. </div>
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Von Arlitz desperately countered with his cavalry, the Gensdarmes crashing into the infantry's right. One battalion was routed and destroyed: the Gensdarmes, who had lost several officers to fire from the light infantry, pursuing them with no regard for the exposure of their own position. Van Erp in turn threw in his Dragoons. Although these had first wandered over to one flank and then over to the other, van Erp claims this was always part of his master plan: certainly they were now well placed to destroy the Gensdarmes with their counter blow. The Reichs infantry had already lost one battalion to musketry and their second battalion, now isolated, inevitably succumbed to the same fate. Von Arlitz's centre and right flank had collapsed. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This left the armies with one unengaged flank. Both sides had viewed the terrain here as too difficult to attempt. The Rheinfellers were happy to limit themselves to an ineffectual bombardment, while their targets found good cover with which to frustrate it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Von Arlitz now called for a retreat: his dreams of emulating the great Frederick William frustrated for another day. Alas, it seems any resemblance to the king is limited to a certain shabbiness of dress. All credit to Van Erp who correctly divined the nature of the battlefield and took measures to exploit it. Whereas I condemned myself to a well deserved defeat with my initial orders which were impossible to achieve in the limited space available for the troops to move in.</div>
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<br /></div>
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With a shortage of free time at the moment I continue to add a few troops to my army. But I have neglected to make enough terrain for them to be comfortably employed. That is something I must correct before the next engagement. A town, a village, and a decent sized hill are needed as part of any Sittangbad refight so I will be concentrating on these.<br />
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<edited 22nd="" correct="" errors="" in="" narrative="" nov="" on="" some="" the="" to=""></edited></div>
Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-65300139614521445912016-09-08T00:30:00.000-07:002016-09-08T00:30:13.418-07:00Somewhere In Lowest Germany<b>A Small Matter Of Supply</b><br />
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Jim Wannop lay on his couch beside his swimming pool. He frowned: there was surely something he had meant to do. For a while he pondered and then it came to him: "I have not given my friend Andy a good thrashing at a Seven Years War battle for some time". The scantily clad maidens attending him were dismissed, a mobile phone handed to him by his PA and arrangements made. I wasn't an eyewitness, so details may be slightly in error: any well read wargamer will be aware that, as the authorities tell us, such remarks must be taken "cum grano salo by the discerning reader".<br />
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<i>...Following his last great victory Gouert van Erp's army seemed poised to overrun all of Hesse- Rheinfels. The Emperor, alarmed, wrote letters to the Diet. The deputies met, speeches were made, resolutions passed, motions carried: by some small miracle reinforcements and even some funds were found. Meanwhile, the victorious van Erp remained quiescent: his train had broken down. He had looted the botanical gardens at Gottingen of its finest specimens and so many wagons had been sent north with the booty to his newly acquired Dutch estate that his army was bereft of supply and the means with which to move it. This inactivity angered the Prince who, ignorant of both cause and consequence, demanded a resumption of the offensive. In response van Erp blamed and fired a few members of the commissariat whom he had found to be tiresome on matters of fiscal probity, and once some transport had returned, made his excuses and ventured to move forward.</i><br />
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It was time to set up a battle and this I did by placing terrain pieces in all the worst places, and then deploying two armies in no sensible order. Jim, when he arrived, indulgently refrained from comment on the dispositions so made and threw a dice to determine which army he would play: as this turned out to be the Hesse-Marburg army my narrative could proceed without difficulty.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Initial Positions</i></div>
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Army of Hesse-Marburg (Gouert van Erp)<br />
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Dragoon Regt. v Platen<br />
Garde Grenadiere<br />
Fusilier Regt. Graf von Wied zu Neuwied<br />
Infantry Regt. v Finck<br />
Infantry Regt. Prinz von Preussen<br />
Free Battalion Le Noble<br />
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The Hesse-Marburg artillery were not present, their horses being engaged in the transport of tulips at the time of battle.<br />
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<i>Meanwhile, von Arlitz had only retained command of the Hesse Rheinfels army by virtue of that elderly Prince's inability to find a general who understood 'the proper use of the pike'. A consignment of that antique weapon arriving at camp was sufficient impetus for the remaining Rheinfels infantry to desert at first in ones and twos, then by company and by regiment, until von Arlitz found himself left with only Imperial infantry.</i><br />
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Army of Hesse-Rheinfels (Graf von Arlitz)<br />
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Gensdarmes<br />
Hohenzollern Cuirassiers<br />
Reichs Infantry Regt Furstenberg<br />
Reichs Infantry Regt Wildenstein<br />
2 coys Karlstadter Oguliner Croats<br />
2 guns Hesse Rheinfels artillery.<br />
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Grant rules were to be used, As usual, neither of us had read them before the battle so we were relying on our faulty memories and the recently published summary of the rules. We agreed, for the sake of simplicity, that only light infantry could enter woods as neither of us was entirely sure how other unit types interacted with bad terrain. Our excuse is that woods would be too a severe obstacle to troops as badly trained as ours, whose formations would be likely to break down completely if they had to negotiate it. Always suspicious of templates, we used Charge! rules for the artillery, but with 8" range intervals rather than the 12" intervals of the original to reflect artillery of the second grade.<br />
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<i>...confident that their enemies were in disarray van Erp's army lunged forward with little thought of fighting an action, minding the more attractive pursuits of exacting contributions and finding comfortable billets. Van Erp was therefore fortunate that his opponent the Graf von Arlitz was preoccupied with reforming and recruiting his battered regiments. It seems that both sides neglected to send out the necessary scouts and thus, by accident, one army was able to blunder into the other while neither were in any sort of order.</i><br />
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to be continued....Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-17173604544509994632011-09-08T04:20:00.000-07:002011-09-08T04:20:25.363-07:00Imperial Infantry Reforms (or A Touch of Gilder)<div>There was a time when painting white uniforms was an occasion of pure joy. You slapped on an undercoat of black and then dry brushed with white (enthusiasts could use varying intermediate shades of grey). Flesh, facings, and various accoutrements were then added and one held up the result for the approbation of ones friends and started writing an acceptance speech for the inevitable Turner Prize.</div><br />
<div>Those were the happy days when we used Humbrol enamels. The pigments in those paints would separate from the spirit that contained them and settle at the bottom of their tins; where they could be scooped up and readily applied using dry brushing. Nowadays I use acrylics, and while I am grateful that neither I nor my house any longer smells like an oil refinery, my dry brushing has suffered as a result. I simply cannot dry brush properly using acrylics.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Left Side Treated, Right Side Untreated</em></div><br />
<div>The result of this is that my Imperial Infantry, sporting a uniform of the most brilliant white, look like an advert for washing powder. This might not matter if the figure I was using was of the finest quality, but it only serves to highlight the defects of my sculpting. As I am currently concluding the painting of the first company of my second Imperial infantry regiment, I have decided it is time to act.</div><br />
<div>There is a technique that is worth trying here; something I was told by an artist friend some years ago, although I have never had occasion to try it until now. My friend has since disappeared off to Canada where he no doubt spends his time fighting grizzly bears; chopping off one's ear being considered terribly passée among contemporary artists. But fortunately the technique is a simple one and can be used by normal people unaffected by such sinister places as Art Colleges. Indeed, my friend told me that it originated with none other than Peter Gilder.</div><br />
<div>The method uses a touch of Humbrol gloss black mixed into a pot of Humbrol clear gloss polyurethane varnish (and yes I do appreciate the irony in the choice of saviour). The quantity of gloss black used is left to the user's discretion: I simply plunged a thin piece of bamboo into the gloss black and then mixed that into the pot of gloss varnish. I suppose the correct prescription would be 'add to taste', the key being that you can always add more, but cannot take it back out. I would also add the advice that you paint the pot's lid with some black, so that you don't use it on other tasks where normal, untreated varnish is intended.</div><br />
<div>The resultant concoction is used in place of normal varnish: as it dries it will tend to pool in places where shadows are supposed to form, creating subtle effects for no real effort. In my case the figure does not give many opportunities for that to occur, but it does at least tone down the brilliant white to a more acceptable shade. I am not sure yet if I have added sufficient black to have as great an impact as I want: but this is a decision that is worth taking time over.</div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-30903409557050378552011-09-05T03:52:00.000-07:002011-09-05T03:52:01.740-07:00Good Company<br />
<div>Progress on the Croats stutters along: I have one company complete (hence the usual corny title) and the second company is cast, cleaned up, and awaiting its muskets. The photos show the extant company in a rather Napoleonic pose (it really should be lurking off to the side in some woods) in front of IR Furstemburg. The latter regiment has seen the addition of two officers.</div><br />
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<div>As the photos indicate, I have made at least some progress in my sculpting and the newer Croats rather put the older line infantry to shame. The new infantry officer isn't quite as good. When stood next to the Stadden Prussian infantry officer, he looks like a pigeon chested, knock-kneeded evolutionary throwback who could never expect to receive an invitation into polite Viennese society. Needless to say, I shall be avoiding any chance of such comparisons being made.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNtK-UqQNmEoaHiE1FoGuulVzfCJPjN3rjggA9hVI0mZwodlwptCJo5Bo4f5r3po9HrOFkvrlIXlHsUK_TnfGah6VHlqU7TwZjXKxwBH1yNwr9WWl7xFujnQeJr4ZueIWHm-7u__pc-VU/s1600/GoodCompany+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNtK-UqQNmEoaHiE1FoGuulVzfCJPjN3rjggA9hVI0mZwodlwptCJo5Bo4f5r3po9HrOFkvrlIXlHsUK_TnfGah6VHlqU7TwZjXKxwBH1yNwr9WWl7xFujnQeJr4ZueIWHm-7u__pc-VU/s320/GoodCompany+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-23944055322680655902011-08-01T22:44:00.000-07:002011-08-01T22:44:12.623-07:00Sunshine And Light<div><br />
"Ti-ra-la-la-i-tu! I gloat! Hear me!" So crows Beetle and his friends in Stalky and Co. It's clear that while Kipling's characters received a fair number of beatings, as were routinely applied to erring children of his times, they might well have both merited and benefited from a few more. For all that, I am pleased with current events and my glee is exhibited in excesses only a degree less exaggerated than those of the obnoxious Beetle. At the age of 50+ this is I accept, albeit with no great consternation, rather sad.</div><br />
<div>The cause for all this celebration is that I have finally produced a mold for Croats, and the figures emerging from said article are - to my mind - highly satisfactory. The accompanying photo shows the first three figures at the stage before varnishing and applying metallics.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Croats At Last</em></div><br />
<div>Setting aside the unhappy instance of the 'mold' that turned out to be a solid block of rubber, my attempts at mold making are improving. The detail on the figure has come through well; even the moustache is being cast intact.</div><br />
<div>The pose I prefer for light infantry, with the musket held in front of the body, does not lend itself to casting so readily as the usual march attack pose does. There is no obvious plane along which the mold can be split into two halves. Instead, the boundary between its halves has to be shaped to wrap around the figure. The resulting mold has to be flexed slightly to release the casting, but with only 24 figures needed for a light infantry battalion I can hope to get them cast before it breaks up: if this was for multiple battalions of line infantry I'd be making additional molds.</div><br />
<div>There is just one sour note to add: painting all the lace on these fellows is rather like painting that most trying of personages, the drummer, with all his gaudy plumage. Only now I have no fewer than 24 lace-bestrewn dandies to deal with. I shall console myself with the reflection that intricate detail like this does serve to disguise all manner of sins in the both the sculpting and the painting.</div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-46714217586322473412011-07-24T01:37:00.000-07:002011-07-24T01:37:49.004-07:00Bleh, Bah and Bum<div>I would prefer my blogposts to provide a history of my triumphs without any memorials of the accompanying disasters; but this post is perhaps a more useful record of what can go wrong when mould making.</div><br />
<div>Today, I was supposed to carefully pry my Croat master figure out of its newly made mould. Following that, I'd spend an impatient day or two allowing the silicone rubber to dry out fully before introducing it to hot metal. Shiny new Croats would then have miraculously appeared and all would have been sweetness and light.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Not the Desired Result</em></div><br />
<div>It was not to be. Instead of a mould that would split into two halves, I found I had a single block of rubber with a milliput figure somewhere inside it. So I spent an unhappy half hour trying to dig the figure out with a craft knife. That required slow and delicate work to prevent any damage to the figure, requiring a patience that, in the circumstances, was notable only for its absence: my instincts were more along the lines of wanting to punish the offending objects by chucking them against a wall. So the figure was lucky to come away with only the damage visible in the photo.</div><br />
<div>The disaster was caused by my using insufficient separator (vaseline) to coat the half of the mould that had been made from the first pouring of rubber. In my initial attempts at mould making some time ago I had used pure vaseline, resulting in the figure losing much of its detail due to a thick layer of the stuff. In subsequent molds I had thinned the vaseline with white spirits and the detail had thereby been preserved. But there are clearly limits to how far you can go with this: it appears I would be best using raw vaseline to separate the two halves of the mould, while using thinned vaseline only on the figure itself. Oh well, these lessons have to be learnt. I will repair the figure, and my temper, and then try again.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBOh6oqBq0ZPpZrWjb04pGHerpk05OVKAG16X7QGe6QY0jcbnNlz239lKqy8Nr6VnisdmmwY-MDTaL03UwyLqpb1jUxRUPcBhor1y_LSrvdq0f8Tt5Kgu2HG1wX-XVKf98LWWYsFSfZ9r/s1600/Bah+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBOh6oqBq0ZPpZrWjb04pGHerpk05OVKAG16X7QGe6QY0jcbnNlz239lKqy8Nr6VnisdmmwY-MDTaL03UwyLqpb1jUxRUPcBhor1y_LSrvdq0f8Tt5Kgu2HG1wX-XVKf98LWWYsFSfZ9r/s400/Bah+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>The Croat Peril</em></div><br />
<br />
<div>It has been some three years since I was complaining about the difficulty of finding a decent Croat figure that would fit with my Staddens. I should console myself with the reflection that if I am finding it hard to get to grips with these gentlemen, poor old Frederick never really managed to.</div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-29181082655445361102011-06-26T06:41:00.000-07:002011-06-26T06:41:45.391-07:00Ansbach Dragoons<div>I have started work on my second Imperial cavalry regiment. My chosen regiment is Dragoon Regiment Ansbach: a decision made on the grounds that the uniform of this regiment looks good and is also easy to paint. As this unit will complete the two regiments that are required to refight Sittangbad, I have decided to save on time and money by using the same mould as I used for KR Hohenzollern and simply painting over any differences. In truth, given the low level of detail that I paint to, this does not require any great effort.</div><br />
<div>The first three troopers are completed up to the stage of varnishing and metallics. The photo shows them in this state. For all the blue parts of the uniform I have used Coate d'Armes dark blue highlighted with medium blue. This may be a little too light, but the prints I have seen show such variation in shade it's hard to be sure what would be correct. The saddle blanket ought to be 'blue edged with white' but as I have no idea how wide the edging should be I am inclined to use blue alone. In the prints I have seen the saddle cloth has a blue zig zag inside a white edge: this turns out to be easy to simulate as historically correct wobbly lines disguise my wobbly brush work very nicely.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMh7GQr8O-_7M1v-OVF2SZH6K3pHM0b9hxA21YQ4MTMEYiQSCvEO3klhESu5zF1wGa235MA2tS3BUmAtiBjjTtwdiPHU_25s4lijGqMH5DJejGYIxw_8-rQPG_bdOVBv-uALHGx03RjVG/s1600/Dragoons+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMh7GQr8O-_7M1v-OVF2SZH6K3pHM0b9hxA21YQ4MTMEYiQSCvEO3klhESu5zF1wGa235MA2tS3BUmAtiBjjTtwdiPHU_25s4lijGqMH5DJejGYIxw_8-rQPG_bdOVBv-uALHGx03RjVG/s400/Dragoons+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Awaiting the Shiny</em></div><br />
<div>I am happy with the finished model. The casting is pretty awful: mostly because I used unthinned vaseline as a separator when mould making and this blurred any detail I had sculpted on the figure. But, fortunately, once the figure is liberally festooned with bits of brass rod, wire, paper, milliput and thread representing musket, sword, reins, saddle cloth and pigtails this doesn't matter so much.</div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-36467201406878488612011-06-15T11:59:00.000-07:002011-06-15T11:59:39.094-07:00Never Mind The Knees<p>My latest efforts at sculpting have reached the stage where they are worth photographing: the magnification in a photo can show flaws that I will all too readily miss when handling the figure. Both figures have their knees rather akimbo: but the problem is not, I hope, too pronounced, and will not be visible on a wargames table.</p><br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEKOcmdU4FO-yCuI5cj5nZb-GPo-J8GZFrEu4u9tXy6seYbW10rUTfdjGjR24dwokK_QMbK2mQ4almoLpxQdpxIR7SNylI3NwG16BU5EvnUnmSsxkMN7DpBCBhpKzAz8jKD1xU7d4R_h/s1600/CroatInterrupted+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfEKOcmdU4FO-yCuI5cj5nZb-GPo-J8GZFrEu4u9tXy6seYbW10rUTfdjGjR24dwokK_QMbK2mQ4almoLpxQdpxIR7SNylI3NwG16BU5EvnUnmSsxkMN7DpBCBhpKzAz8jKD1xU7d4R_h/s400/CroatInterrupted+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618519442780202562" /></a><br />
<em><p align="center">Officer and Croat, Interrupted</p></em><br />
<p>The left hand figure is a dismounted officer to help control the companies of Imperial infantry that I have already produced. The figure's right hand is empty. It is easy enough to fit a piece of beaten wire representing a sword, whereas trying to gravity cast something as thin as a sword rarely works.</p><br />
<p>The right hand figure is the return of my first attempt at a Croat. I put this to one side after my first attempt casting it resulted in little more than a vaguely humanoid blob. The basic proportions were fine, although the details that I had sculpted were very bad. But I have redetailed it to look rather more convincing than before. As usual, the musket barrel is not present, my intention being to add one made from brass rod to each figure after it has been cast.</p><br />
<p>My desire to get this figure sorted was prompted by the unhappy impact the enemy Frei Corps had upon my army in its recent defeat. My line infantry might be expected to fail me, but an Imperial army should never find itself at a disadvantage in irregular warfare while there are Croats available.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-16370117486341932062011-02-24T07:04:00.000-08:002011-02-24T07:23:02.395-08:00Battle - The Plan Unravels<p>If you are going to have a plan, it had better be a good plan. In this particular case, my plan was an indifferent one, and its implementation was equally lacking. The key to its chances lay in the performance of the left flank cavalry: Kurassiere Regt Hohenzollern. These worthies had the job of blocking the enemy's right wing when it tried to come to the assistance of its left: against whom the rest of my army was supposed to hurl itself.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kyueECXxXBKWAANCnzviRW9zh_o5Vr0sbaEwN3F3TlWGePAZqoSRqfVg6DoQB7H73AnsisvlQ86YVjemWtPd_gTBBMGM6IV_KKoUWrssWashfQ9oIiWd87yG1VmQxnU9GKQNGt4XGC8u/s1600/Battle+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kyueECXxXBKWAANCnzviRW9zh_o5Vr0sbaEwN3F3TlWGePAZqoSRqfVg6DoQB7H73AnsisvlQ86YVjemWtPd_gTBBMGM6IV_KKoUWrssWashfQ9oIiWd87yG1VmQxnU9GKQNGt4XGC8u/s400/Battle+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577273289808570146" /></a><br /><p style="text-align:center"><em>Kurassier Regt. Hohenzollern Loses Badly</em></p><br /><p>Unfortunately, van Erp chose the simple remedy of masking the Hohenzollern's by charging them with his own Dragoon regiment. As I had formed my cuirassiers into a single formation this left me with nothing to halt the progress of his remaining right flank units.</p><br /><p>With both sides fielding twelve sabres in their front rank, it seemed to me that the melee between the Hohenzollerns and van Erp's dragoons was exactly equal. The dice, however, saw things differently and chose this moment to pass severe judgement on the relative quality of the forces of the Reichsarmee. The result was that I lost seven troopers in one round of melee without inflicting any casualties on the dragoons in return. While I couldn't blame the dice on grounds of historical authenticity I did feel rather let down by this turn of events.</p><br /><p>Van Erp's Dragoons repeatedly charged, and although the Hohenzollerns held their own in subsequent rounds, they were finally forced off the field of battle, leaving the Dragoons still in fighting trim and positioned to the left rear of my crumbling battle line.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWxIJsEg1BNy_534iottiL2geYKKr73F9zvCgOdITSO2ZAddv3zY7a-L0qoys4mwjD2dlFNaYVRs_f9T5Ccoi6DkoomKHJSw0XPbrtmvy-k0eR8v1tR0Mt1yfJTETPCjuFp1VZidyp2M7/s1600/Battle+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWxIJsEg1BNy_534iottiL2geYKKr73F9zvCgOdITSO2ZAddv3zY7a-L0qoys4mwjD2dlFNaYVRs_f9T5Ccoi6DkoomKHJSw0XPbrtmvy-k0eR8v1tR0Mt1yfJTETPCjuFp1VZidyp2M7/s400/Battle+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577274185327596210" /></a><br /><p style="text-align:center"><em>Preparing To Charge</em></p><br /><p>Meanwhile, on the far right, my Cuirassiers had charged the enemy infantry battalion and had come off worse. It had taken some casualties from musketry as it charged and then failed miserably in the subsequent melee. I had never expected to overcome a full strength line battalion with a cavalry charge, but was hoping to enfeeble it sufficiently for my following line infantry to have little difficulty in overcoming it. In the event, the enemy infantry emerged almost unscathed while my cavalry had taken a serious knock. In subsequent turns I split the cavalry in two, one part charging to red ruin against the same infantry battalion to halt its progress for a moment, while the other part attempted to punish the enemy light infantry company that had advanced without any care for its flanks. Even here the dice throws were indifferent and the enemy light infantry survived.</p><br /><p>With my attack plainly failing. My line infantry halted and attempted to make some form of defence. With van Erp's succours arriving from his right this was never going to last long. My artillery did finally show some fighting spirit, with a couple of sixes removing a full company of his grenadiers. But its supporting infantry proved feeble and at last the gun was overrun by a charge by his light infantry company, who took some hurt in the charge but showed the by now customary Hessian superiority in the melee. Having reached half strength, the Freikorps then withdrew taking the sole surviving gunner with them: Jim informed me they had spiked the gun although, with no-one left to man it, this mattered little. No doubt, adding insult to injury, they left behind a rude note too.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCy742Yc43zZf2jK2aMcHt10twoXcKjRzKQO3p7p34Iua4lCYZJhvghovQrdro0cQVYZN7qPhagcsEBkmmIUlWlGBaTQZHTlj6mEcALVCcU-brJNx8ICTZSnbhoUeTAXP3MWrX0P1xOow/s1600/Battle+012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCy742Yc43zZf2jK2aMcHt10twoXcKjRzKQO3p7p34Iua4lCYZJhvghovQrdro0cQVYZN7qPhagcsEBkmmIUlWlGBaTQZHTlj6mEcALVCcU-brJNx8ICTZSnbhoUeTAXP3MWrX0P1xOow/s400/Battle+012.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577276163173895010" /></a><br /><p style="text-align:center"><em>A Plan Unravelled</em></p><br /><p>By this time there was no doubt that the battle was a decisive victory for van Erp, and so we halted proceedings. I could feel a little let down by the dice, but there was no doubt that van Erp richly deserved his victory. I shall console myself by reflecting that I had simulated the performance of the Reichsarmee only too well.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-54666829928611387062011-02-22T14:15:00.001-08:002011-02-22T14:21:55.616-08:00Battle - The Plan<p>Viewed from the Imperial side, the features of the battlefield presented a fairly simple subdivision into contrasting halves. To my left, it seemed that any attack I made would be confronted by a strong defense resting on the stream. The right was largely free of such obstacles and so it was to that side I decided to throw all my weight.</p> <br /><p>My left flank cavalry would therefore operate as a blocking force should my opponent attempt to move forces across the field of battle. The rest of the Imperial army would move against the right, led by the Gensdarmes attacking the enemy infantry battalion on the extreme right, my two infantry battalions pressing home their attacks as soon as they could close upon the enemy. My artillery would take up position in the centre where it could fire in support of my attack or else gall any units moving from the left.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGZ2s69_n_KCNfGin7qlKc7rei8GYp8UNAWObRQ7Xa54SgFNlQGxSrrMhZeL5NB7-09f6Ryt-tpN-p8nANNx3f9S58JqqdzBg6LnKHxWVg94xyoJZZlmXXrsfU7bX2Rl87RzLeeCoiTYV/s1600/Battle+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGZ2s69_n_KCNfGin7qlKc7rei8GYp8UNAWObRQ7Xa54SgFNlQGxSrrMhZeL5NB7-09f6Ryt-tpN-p8nANNx3f9S58JqqdzBg6LnKHxWVg94xyoJZZlmXXrsfU7bX2Rl87RzLeeCoiTYV/s400/Battle+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576641312408420562" /></a><br /><p style="text-align: center"><em>The Imperial Army Advances</em></p><br /><p>Well so much for my 'plan' such as it was. There seemed some hope at first that the enemy would fall in with it. There was some milling about by the Hessian units behind the stream, and their artillery seemed about to deploy on the stream's banks. But van Erp came to the realisation that such a position would be too far from the action for the guns to have any great effect, and any force esconced there would be relegated to spectators. And so the Hessians crossed the stream and then, seeing the point of pressure was moving towards their left, began moving in that direction.</p><br /><p>The photo shows the battle after the first moves. The entire Imperial army is in the shot (save for the artillery, which is hidden behind the buildings). I'll conclude by relating what actually happened in one final post.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-13362542274734067642011-02-20T08:03:00.001-08:002011-02-20T08:22:47.488-08:00Battle!<p>Readers of Charge! are aware that Catherine of Hesse Damall was the Helen of her age - notable not only for her beauty, but also for her ability to act as a Casus Belli. In the present case it seems that Catherine, while visiting the baths at Vichy, had made unkind remarks to the Markgräfin von Baden-Durlach who repeated them, with some embellishment, to Madame de Pompadour. A letter full of recriminations was sent by that lady to the Empress, who made it her business to goad the Emperor into taking action. An Imperial army was soon tramping its weary way into Hesse.</p><br /><p>Of course, the real reason for any battle in these parts is a visit from Jim Wannop. As time would be short (Jim's relatives had the idea he was in the neighbourhood to visit them) I set up the terrain, and split my forces into two roughly equal halves, deploying them both with no great thought as to their dispositions. I then gave choice of sides to Jim when he arrived. He scanned the set up, pondered the relative strengths of the forces and how the terrain would play out. He then decided to roll a dice and discovered he had been appointed to command of the Hessians.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHM-sqRnV_-IE9SPiSijlgUtZYNjdKitwRY4ubgGTbPsK9km267MUeTXGAncHjZBtYQ85rB4-dCztuDLxOLzBw4kEYyj-R148oBLndl5xaInaqdAzQEQx4Zed1EmSik7FzQMaZ-XKMJZY/s1600/Battle+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHM-sqRnV_-IE9SPiSijlgUtZYNjdKitwRY4ubgGTbPsK9km267MUeTXGAncHjZBtYQ85rB4-dCztuDLxOLzBw4kEYyj-R148oBLndl5xaInaqdAzQEQx4Zed1EmSik7FzQMaZ-XKMJZY/s400/Battle+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575803436336036290" /></a><br /><p align=center><em>Initial Set Up - From Hessian Left Rear</em></p><br /><p>The orders of battle were:<br /><p align=center><br /><em>Hessian Army (Gouert van Erp)</em><br />Dragoon Regt. von Platen<br />Infantry Regt. Hessen-Darmstadt<br />Infantry Regt. Prinz von Preussen<br />Garde Grenadiere Regt.<br />Freikorps von Noble<br />Artillery (1 gun)<br /><br /><em>Imperial Army (Graf von Arlitz)</em><br />Kurassiere Regt. Hohenzollern<br />Gensdarmes<br />Fusilier Regt. Wied<br />Kreis Infantry Regt. Furstenburg<br />Artillery (1 gun)</p></p><br /><p>The Imperial Army had two cavalry regiments to the Hessian's one. It was, however, weak in infantry with only two battalions to oppose to the Hessian three line and one light battalion.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXoMiVhl0ktG7D0EGCWqlujPxukgGtEw2VLjL2VS6Uwagv1acDqgCAWpB_tNJ7BxZYV6b9h_woL-kLjOkmlImeWYJUvAnru00AvWQCe7Y06y4vt2-cwHdAYXJUu4CPmlu3xdeCbpy2hFe/s1600/Battle+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXoMiVhl0ktG7D0EGCWqlujPxukgGtEw2VLjL2VS6Uwagv1acDqgCAWpB_tNJ7BxZYV6b9h_woL-kLjOkmlImeWYJUvAnru00AvWQCe7Y06y4vt2-cwHdAYXJUu4CPmlu3xdeCbpy2hFe/s400/Battle+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575803432394884018" /></a><br /><p align=center><em>Gouert van Erp</em></p><br /><p>The rules were essentially Charge! basic rules, with some slight modification necessary because my line infantry figures are mounted with six figures per base.The light infantry were allowed a nine inch move when in open order, and could fire up to a maximum range of nine inches while so deployed.</p><br /><p>Ah, an orderly has just entered with the casualty roll: there are despatches to be written. My narrative of the battle must be delayed until my next post.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-14359894170583850162011-01-31T02:29:00.000-08:002011-01-31T02:39:57.217-08:00Tribulations of a Gentleman of Quality<p>As the photos show, Infantry Regiment Furstenberg has finally achieved the proper number of rank and file. It is, however, entirely missing the proper complement of officers and musicians that should accompany them. The obvious solution here would be to buy Stadden figures to fill this gap, but - for vanities sake - I'd prefer to make the entire regiment from my own figures alone, and so the regiment must wait upon my slow and erratic sculpting.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQahYChDVCzuIcCPWq5Tg3rvmIMy0RX76KxNaMCHc3peuGxUBtepFBZRVugxFV5SD0L8fpRUT2pYoCfXUgEGRyxSVvSzM88S6QmPs8zPnvWMSmtWVK729rixzng5Qi0etZjSvUq-A9XpMA/s1600/Furstemberg+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQahYChDVCzuIcCPWq5Tg3rvmIMy0RX76KxNaMCHc3peuGxUBtepFBZRVugxFV5SD0L8fpRUT2pYoCfXUgEGRyxSVvSzM88S6QmPs8zPnvWMSmtWVK729rixzng5Qi0etZjSvUq-A9XpMA/s400/Furstemberg+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568295820515057106" /></a><br /><p>In the meantime, General Lentulus has been temporarily appointed the regiment's Inhaber: one lonely Suren figure amongst a homecast rabble. He has so far remained amiable and, indeed, remarkably tolerant of the situation, running through the regiment directly through the regimental agent and its NCOs. As this has occasioned frequent travel away from his comfortable Viennese town house during the harshest of winters, his zeal might be applauded. But enquiries have found that not only is Lentulus profiting handsomely from the salaries of the missing men, but he has been able to dine out every night owing to the attentions of families anxious to secure a place for their sons in the Imperial Army.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImad9u1XIRhMZk0wWBggsa-Sci_sxsCgE3sBH9DlHMkMQ6o4D1Zbb5PW9FhmUAMvT47FWQ_BhqnKP39tqZ7Y3eZo5Gj0EzUfnRWb0GZ8AcPgry0fgGPHSEB027VAYP3FSFLMgC-oyEMF9/s1600/Furstemberg+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImad9u1XIRhMZk0wWBggsa-Sci_sxsCgE3sBH9DlHMkMQ6o4D1Zbb5PW9FhmUAMvT47FWQ_BhqnKP39tqZ7Y3eZo5Gj0EzUfnRWb0GZ8AcPgry0fgGPHSEB027VAYP3FSFLMgC-oyEMF9/s400/Furstemberg+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568295961107997634" /></a><br /><p>It would appear likely that, regardless of its state, the regiment will be pressed into action this next campaigning season. The current financial crisis has hit the economies of both Hessian states hard, but while Rheinfels struggles to meet its debts, and its army has gone unpaid for some months now, Marburg appears to have obtained money from an unknown source. It is rumoured that British agents have arranged a secret treaty and that, in return for a generous subsidy, the Prince of Marburg will break with the Empire at an opportune moment. If this is the case then loyalist Rheinfels, with its unpaid and mutinous troops, will be vulnerable.</p><br /><p>Hmm... Looking at the photos, I think the figures look best when viewed from the rear. I hope this isn't some kind of evil omen: an indication of the view the enemy will most often see due to a tendency, on the regiment's part, to flee in the heat of battle.</p><br /><p>I have cast, and am currently cleaning up, the figures for the first company of a second imperial regiment. My current plan is to paint this as IR Wildenstein (Kurmainz) unless some particularly attractive uniform from another Reichsarmee regiment takes my fancy before I start painting.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-35153755812980203752010-08-29T06:44:00.000-07:002010-08-29T06:53:48.459-07:00Officers And Tables<p>The Gendarmerie officer is complete and sits proudly at the head of his squadron as the accompanying photo shows. I liked the photo so much I didn't reduce it in size as I usually do. Painting single figures like this is terrible for productivity, but scores highly for pure enjoyment. So the remaining officers for this regiment will be allowed to join at their leisure: the CO has been absent on his country estate for years now and the regiment has not missed him.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQ2YRZK_VcyO9FUz-jCsnP58kZRqufjLcurWbN1bMhvjV2bv6QAY_2wRaFcBPQg2vCewPwdqYoz5VRJr5Nbcn8Q4caMC4t-1DxpsEtLNSfpzQi_4SuJkdvGXPX_35VWLSQMtAZuC1bvH/s1600/Gendarmes+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQ2YRZK_VcyO9FUz-jCsnP58kZRqufjLcurWbN1bMhvjV2bv6QAY_2wRaFcBPQg2vCewPwdqYoz5VRJr5Nbcn8Q4caMC4t-1DxpsEtLNSfpzQi_4SuJkdvGXPX_35VWLSQMtAZuC1bvH/s400/Gendarmes+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510828533003111346" /></a><br /><p>I suspect the availability of a decent sized wargames table is a problem that vexes many a wargamer. In my case I have had a solution mapped out for this for some time: but it has been placed 'on hold' as it has depended on the necessary materials appearing in some nearby skip.</p><br /><p>The ideal wargames table needs to be reasonably light (stories of ceilings bowing under the weight of a sandtable come to mind here) while possessing dimensions normally associated with the banquet tables of reigning monarchs. Even if such an article was entirely homemade, the materials, if shop bought, would represent a considerable sum. However, it occurs to me that there is an unappreciated item of domestic architecture that is admirably suited to the purpose.</p><br /><p>This is the cheap wooden domestic door. Round my neck of the woods these are often discarded in skips due to the belief of local womenfolk that a fancier article is necessary to their peace of mind. It is relatively robust and yet light, being constructed of thin wood stretched over a wooden frame, and is generally 28" wide and 80" in length. As a neighbour has just thrown three of these out, I at last have the materials to make a 7' x 6'8" table: not quite up to the size of Charles Grant's table as shown in 'The Wargame', but as large as I can fit in my house.</p><br /><p>Making the thing will have to wait until Winter: the garden is taking up most of my energy for now.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-51022624666100809332010-08-06T07:21:00.000-07:002010-08-07T01:35:28.406-07:00A Company, An Old Acquaintance, and a New Artillery Table<p>Progress has been slow: this is the time of year when warfare is mostly being carried out in the garden, against invading hordes of slugs, aphids and caterpillars. However, the first company of the Imperial Army's Furstenberg regiment is, at last, complete. The second company is already started and I ought to be knocking companies out at a fair old rate. But there is a monotony here that prevents me doing this at a faster pace. I find myself distracted by other, more fiddly but fun projects.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv7ptB_nIAxy6skR0Es0gwIguL4mN16O77xPHnJXGL1S5oUCzRHOrirEuzESvyepnLiTiLVGEztaI9grCWUGKySQk4pk_QXWWyJWyhbOIqr7fuVMZiCYCdpWWZdqK_sKa1EvtlmdS-ihW/s1600/A+Company+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTv7ptB_nIAxy6skR0Es0gwIguL4mN16O77xPHnJXGL1S5oUCzRHOrirEuzESvyepnLiTiLVGEztaI9grCWUGKySQk4pk_QXWWyJWyhbOIqr7fuVMZiCYCdpWWZdqK_sKa1EvtlmdS-ihW/s400/A+Company+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502575234023502770" /></a><br /><p align="center"><em>Lentulus Wonders Where the Rest Are.</em></p><br /><p>In my pile of unpainted figures (more a metal molehill than a mountain) I have a couple of Suren cuirassier officers waiting their turn to be introduced to their squadrons. This figure has always been a problem for me: it's nicely proportioned, but the right arm is waving about in mid air, in a manner that leaves me baffled as to what to do with it. I am led to believe that it is intended to hold its sword aloft, in which case its not going to be holding a sword at all after a few wargames.</p><br /><p>The one officer painted up until now had his hand dropped to the pistol holders, resting there in a rather unmilitary fashion that might have prompted Old Fritz to make a few unkind remarks. I decided this time I'd try for a better pose, drawing the sword from its scabbard. This should place the sword in a safe position where other parts of the figure protect it from damage.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayGMm_A9TTHsc7QWQICBP_PGdCzeEQYdd8gdL50kOW2VlL9AjQCS03nY646A2QN8v9oiRfCVZr5PSFhXHmlGdFRDSOgeqShih-wwWzrzqXAUYhd_ePoPgpnYzZzRsGcQSfLyjc8qQZicG/s1600/A+Company+003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayGMm_A9TTHsc7QWQICBP_PGdCzeEQYdd8gdL50kOW2VlL9AjQCS03nY646A2QN8v9oiRfCVZr5PSFhXHmlGdFRDSOgeqShih-wwWzrzqXAUYhd_ePoPgpnYzZzRsGcQSfLyjc8qQZicG/s400/A+Company+003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502576030552530962" /></a><br /><p align="center"><em>Suren Cuirassier Officers on Stadden Horses.</em></p><br /><p>There is one small detail that has me concerned. As usual I have replaced the saddlecloth with one made of paper: this makes it easier to fit the Suren figure to a Stadden horse as well as having a better scaled thickness. But the cuirassier troopers all use a saddlecloth that has a rounded shape whereas some - but perhaps not all - officers seem to use squared off ones. At least, this is how I interpret the illustrations in Dorn and Engelmann, but as I can't read the accompanying German text I haven't a clue what the proper distinctions are here. I think I shall mount the Colonel on a squared saddlecloth and the squadron commanders on rounded ones, administering the necessary quantity of lame excuses - as is every wargamer's prerogative - should I be in error.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0njhpbWzhzZNOF4A1-DtPt0Gsd73De1C2rbYCfnCB-bNl2Alw37N95Z3C0fHmqDQzg6VwIS6FverDSC_dPng0QmROOu3uD1y74ZhcQWJRdO7BRzs53845N8V7k3e6OegbGNKqgwgUa9K/s1600/A+Company+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0njhpbWzhzZNOF4A1-DtPt0Gsd73De1C2rbYCfnCB-bNl2Alw37N95Z3C0fHmqDQzg6VwIS6FverDSC_dPng0QmROOu3uD1y74ZhcQWJRdO7BRzs53845N8V7k3e6OegbGNKqgwgUa9K/s400/A+Company+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502575638202872050" /></a><br /><p align="center"><em>Prussian Infantry Under Fire From The Old Artillery Table</em></p><br /><p><em><a href="http://warandpeaceandhexagons.blogspot.com/2010/08/firing.html">This refers to the artillery rules here.</a></em></p><br /><p>My new artillery table is another attempt to recast the powerful artillery of the Charge! rules into something a little more game-friendly. Using a two dice roll to hit gives a Gaussian probability distribution, so the decrease in accuracy at extreme range becomes much more realistically pronounced, while at closer ranges where artillery can be expected to become destructive, there is little change from the original rules. I added an 'mischance' table consulted when a double one is thrown: this adds a little colour but should rarely need consulting as it has only a 1 in 36 chance of occurring. There is a 1 in 6 chance on this table (1 in 216 when the odds are combined with the 'to hit' roll) of killing one of your own gunners. I based this on an incident from Captain Mercer's Waterloo diary:<p><br /><p><em>"He had just finished ramming down the shot, and was stepping back outside the wheel, when his foot stuck in the miry soil, pulling him forward at the moment when the gun was fired. As a man naturally does when falling, he threw out both his arms before him, and they were blown off at the elbows."</em></p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-91521615999320012852010-07-24T01:33:00.000-07:002010-07-24T02:23:44.912-07:00Movement and Curses<p>What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) html editors are hard to find and rarely successful. Sadly, the blogger 'compose' mode editor conforms to type and can best be described as a What You See Is Not What You Wanted editor. So, after much bad language, I have reverted to editing in pure html mode and have switched off the 'compose' mode so that accidentally invoking it does not allow it to work its evil deeds on my efforts.</p><br /><p>This post refers to the movement table at the end of <a href="http://warandpeaceandhexagons.blogspot.com/2010/07/organisations-formations-and-movement.html">this section of rules</a>.</p><br /><p>There is one rules mechanism in Charge! that I am eager to be rid of. Charge! instructs us that moving within a set distance of other companies (rule 7c page 56) reduces a company's movement rate: this is the method by which the rules prevent a battalion deployed in line moving at the same rate as a battalion deployed in coulumn of companies. There is good reasoning behing this idea: if a column has room to its flanks then it can navigate around terrain features that would throw it into disorder were the unit compelled to march through them.</p><br /><p>But it matters very little to the individual infantryman whether he has thirty or a hundred men to his right and left: he is still expected to advance at the regulation pace of so many strides of regulation length to the minute. If a battalion in line advances across ideal terrain that happily resembles a parade ground then it will advance as rapidly as a single company in line. But if the same battalion advances in line across a battlefield which has all the typical features of a rural landscape, it will find its advance slowed as its various companies encounter obstacles.</p><br /><p>If we can model the problem of terrain in our wargame, then we will see that the rate of movement of a line will be dictated by the frequency with which parts of it become entangled in obstacles. So we can replace a somewhat awkward rule with a more pleasing simulation of the problems of manouevre that were associated with linear tactics. This is made easy because we have hexagonal terrain, and so we are able to define unambiguously which terrain areas have the potential to impose these kinds of delay on a formation. We have only to scatter hexes that represent this terrain around the battlefield judiciously. Movement rates for the company in line and in column are therefore all that are needed.</p><br /><p>I can therefore use a hex-based variant of the movement table (page 59) with the reduced movement rate for infantry in battalion line removed. I have reduced movement distances so as to favour a smaller table than the original authors of Charge! envisaged, using 1 hex as equivalent to 6 inches even though my terrain hexes are actually 4 inches across. For consistency the same system will be used when determining firing ranges.</p>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-63781580250476144592010-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:002010-07-21T08:19:10.219-07:00Organisations, Formations And Movements<em>This post discusses the rules </em><a href="http://warandpeaceandhexagons.blogspot.com/2010/07/organisations-formations-and-movement.html"><em>linked here</em></a><em>.</em><br />
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I am going to try following the list of chapters that is used by Charge! So the first chapter discusses the organisation of units, their formations, and how this determines their movement rates. This part is uncomplicated: the organisations used by both Charge! and The Wargame require little alteration.<br />
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The biggest change from Charge! rules is to use four twelve man companies instead of three sixteen man. On aesthetic grounds alone, I prefer the 'square' organisation, and I suspect that Charge! adopted sixteen men per company solely because it uses firing groups of eight men. But my musketry will use a system based on The Wargame and that uses six man firing groups, so the twelve man company will work well enough.<br />
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Light infantry are organised as per Charge! The use of open order formation is one instance where hexes are beneficial: it is easier to denote use of open order by limiting deployment to four figures per hex rather than having to carefully maintain proper spacing between every figure.<br />
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The cavalry squadron organisation of eight troopers plus an officer is nominally as per Charge! but in reality represents a slightly weaker unit as my officers are nothing but eye candy whereas in Charge! officers would fight along with the rest of the squadron. Cavalry don't fit so well into hexes. A squadron must be able to opt between deploying in a single line or a double line: in the former case the space required dictates that the squadron can use two adjacent hexes.<br />
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The next step will be to lay down the various movement rates. There are some problems here, but also some benefits from using hexes: but this will be covered in the next post.<br />
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I put a lot of photos into the section: they aren't particularly informative, but do give some feel for what the units will look like when conforming to hexagonal terrain. The formations in column do not look pretty: the half hex offset between hex rows is aesthetically unpleasing. So the photos in this case do serve to warn about how the look of the wargame suffers in this manner.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-46328708836698776092010-07-16T01:38:00.000-07:002010-07-16T01:38:53.548-07:00HexedWhen I first started this blog I wrote that I was interested in developing hexagon-based rules for fighting my battles. Since then, although I have used traditional 'measurement by ruler' based rules, the goal of using hexes has remained fixed in my mind. My unit organisations have all been ordered to fit within 4 inch hexes, and my terrain has been constructed upon these hexes.<br />
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Using hexes has significant advantages. The speed with which a game can be played is speeded up because there is no measuring to be done: ranges can be assessed at a glance, movement distances are immediately apparent. More importantly for a competitive game, there are no ambiguities; no borderline cases where a distance might be 'in' or 'out' depending on how the ruler is held or on the prejudiced eye of the observer. Movement orders - defined by destination hex and facing - are made precise.<br />
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I have reached the stage where it is time to start setting down my ideas for the rules themselves. This is where the technology that is now available to us all comes into its own. My idea is to set out my rationale (if that's not too kind a description) for a particular section of rules in an entry on this blog, and to write out the rules themselves in an accompanying blog that contains the rules without any of the associated blurb.<br />
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There is sufficient precedent to show it is possible to create hex based rules, but whether it is possible to do so while retaining what represents to me the essential look and feel of old school rulesets is another matter. There are some obvious problems. The imposition of hexes removes all chances of making small adustments to position or facing: a battalion in line cannot face just where it wants. There is no move distance smaller than one hex, so penalties like 'half move up hill' cannot always work. Using a rules blog for the exercise will, hopefully, help a lot with trying to develop mechanisms that cope with all this: it represents an easily editable medium in html that I can update as the rules develop (or flounder). If I set the layout of the blog correctly it should be printable.<br />
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Inevitably, the rules are intended to suit only my personal taste, but anyone interested will be able to make suggestions (or point out shortcomings) in the comments section of the blog. All such help is gratefully received. And at the worst, the rules blog can be deleted without any great sorrow if - as is only too likely - the effort does not prove fruitful.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-92054526589260440232010-06-06T01:24:00.000-07:002010-06-06T01:24:35.196-07:00More on Multiple BasingI have rebased a complete infantry battalion so it is now possible to judge whether the method gives the visual effect that I want. The photos show my Grenadiere-Garde battalion deployed with various august personages inspecting. Just laying out the battlion for a photo would have taken some time with single basing, whereas this shot was prepared in a few minutes and the figures, constrained by card and milliput, are arrayed with a precision that the Erbprinz regiment would approve.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXnIVsx6wzpNY5lZPbyWtZvSfB75wZh7rVZyLdV_ZHWICUly7-N-wg3tWLOnVETKFhESAj-2aBhkfLisidYTgE-Jpn_T5y7JLPqBDZ6hNdh6qOo8JAbO0J635Xx258lVWw0zx9UKZ6LSz/s1600/MoreMultiple+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXnIVsx6wzpNY5lZPbyWtZvSfB75wZh7rVZyLdV_ZHWICUly7-N-wg3tWLOnVETKFhESAj-2aBhkfLisidYTgE-Jpn_T5y7JLPqBDZ6hNdh6qOo8JAbO0J635Xx258lVWw0zx9UKZ6LSz/s320/MoreMultiple+001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<picture completed="" grenadiers="" of=""><br />
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I decided to retain officers and musicians on single bases. They do not represent the same time problem as there far fewer of them, and there is no need for the precision in placement that is required when drawing the rank and file up in formation. So I am happy, for now at least, that I have obtained the compromise between practicality and looks that I was seeking.<br />
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As the photos show, the unfortunate 'Oick on a yellow horse' has been found a position. My artillery battery was lacking a CO and this happy coincidence allows me to find a use for the Oick while observing 18th Century prejudices against the lower classes. It is yet to be discovered whether the fellow's understanding of ballistics is any better than his knowledge of horseflesh.<br />
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Modern architects like to use the description 'honest' to describe many of their most hideous productions. My basing system uses the opposing philosophy. I no longer have figures that are individuals, they are now mere components of six-man blocks, irrevocably linked together until the end of their days. As this is something I don't like, I'm happy to use a basing method that disguises the fact; that lies about it. I am reminded of something Michael Flanders' description of his revue '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc_BFM_wJMU&feature=related">At the Drop of a Hat'</a>:<br />
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<em>The purpose of satire, it has been rightly said, is to strip off the veneer of comforting illusion and cosy half-truth. And our job, as I see it, is to put it back again.</em><br />
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Once figures are mounted on multi-figure bases, there are numerous modifications that need to be made to the Charge! rules. The following amendments are intended to cover these.<br />
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1. Casualty Removal. Casualties are always removed from the flanks of the unit, the unit gradually shrinking in upon it's centre. If only one base is removed then this is taken from one flank and the remaining bases are shifted half a base's width in the direction of the flank the base was taken from.<br />
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We lose the appealing spectacle of gaps opening in the ranks as casualties are taken, but this is not necessarily any less realistic. It would be natural for the men to close in upon the centre as their losses mounted: in bad regiments the officers struggled to keep their men spread out in line rather than breaking ranks and ending up in a formation best described as a huddle.<br />
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2. Melee Resolution. The number of figures in contact on each side are counted up. If there are X figures on the side with the highest count and Y figures on the other then we have:<br />
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X minus Y = Z combats at 2:1<br />
Y minus Z combats at 1:1<br />
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So if twelve figures are fighting ten, we have 12-10 = 2 combats at 2:1 and 10-2 = 8 combats at 1:1. This isn't difficult maths to do in one's head. Anyone playing Little Wars will have become accustomed to such calculations. I find it's a lot easier than working one's way along the figures keeping a careful eye on where we have gotten to in a confused melee.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-75278875029171993502010-05-22T04:31:00.000-07:002010-05-23T00:17:15.626-07:00The Imperial Infantry At Last (Part 2)<em></em><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have finished painting the first four castings. The photos show the final result.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWzSjwzxSZ7VwuXQ4uM92htQQ3MRnK7RybiBoTyQZRzjq_Sjt_2HwTzeEEReoBSgia8unHl11txjl_NXdkSXSU4-FtYxIarWeByELLDPXQN2JG0sYhS0NAtzxudBaRDwnTyOizy765tAx/s1600/Furst+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWzSjwzxSZ7VwuXQ4uM92htQQ3MRnK7RybiBoTyQZRzjq_Sjt_2HwTzeEEReoBSgia8unHl11txjl_NXdkSXSU4-FtYxIarWeByELLDPXQN2JG0sYhS0NAtzxudBaRDwnTyOizy765tAx/s320/Furst+001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Imperial Infantry (Home sculpted and gravity cast)</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_gp-MlJtw0VhJIrtgl8E7tJbA5mS3ADDvfLPod_qGc19fC2ArG5RITl40PIf076f1kdXFaYmtpXYzbLZf5ORhmMdGEO1FrG70qYxPz4NHfc2sMj-mMEizgvI0XImFsEf74Fg_rr9jTZ/s1600/Furst+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_gp-MlJtw0VhJIrtgl8E7tJbA5mS3ADDvfLPod_qGc19fC2ArG5RITl40PIf076f1kdXFaYmtpXYzbLZf5ORhmMdGEO1FrG70qYxPz4NHfc2sMj-mMEizgvI0XImFsEf74Fg_rr9jTZ/s320/Furst+002.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Imperial Infantry - Rear View</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have a second mold for the same figure currently drying out: if that works then I have all I need to start casting the figures in quantity. I still plan to make a third mold for safety's sake.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCK5gzB3QqoWjU0farTtfROIts-fGbg-sIn1TK92nDSmRhs-9fjMvwa5EGHU8g5930JbQWOVrg7QUMnMUrx9vFp1D89y_Y9isoqvqdfEknzqLFhnhAyIL5PVlt2XS_ceLtwP_K2_uZ8c9/s1600/Furst+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCK5gzB3QqoWjU0farTtfROIts-fGbg-sIn1TK92nDSmRhs-9fjMvwa5EGHU8g5930JbQWOVrg7QUMnMUrx9vFp1D89y_Y9isoqvqdfEknzqLFhnhAyIL5PVlt2XS_ceLtwP_K2_uZ8c9/s320/Furst+003.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Imperial Infantry - Side View</em></div><br />
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The muskets are made from 1/32" brass rod, which allows them to be far more slender - and stronger - than if they were cast. Surprisingly enough using this diameter brass rod means they are still slightly too thick than if they were properly scaled.</div>Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-3043557098747272562010-05-09T08:16:00.000-07:002010-05-09T08:16:20.362-07:00Bizarre BasingOne consequence of my starting work on my fifth infantry regiment is that I have to rethink my method for basing the figures. It is apparent that my armies are reaching a size where moving individual figures becomes too lengthy a process to be practical: fighting a battle with hundreds of men on each side cannot be done in the few hours that will generally be available.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDzaTtRq9dkTIbP7I1BqbdAQOH_CunKqKxwLUYcY89EstRlsiEDGWRiSlbDZDWTc3otjdi-MzFcvkf6NtCyHCuxDVInhIQ0feX_8eF8sO6hmMwCvDsCBnCr-iGB6-dY3Rfe2I-P7IpAj0/s1600/BizarreBases+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDzaTtRq9dkTIbP7I1BqbdAQOH_CunKqKxwLUYcY89EstRlsiEDGWRiSlbDZDWTc3otjdi-MzFcvkf6NtCyHCuxDVInhIQ0feX_8eF8sO6hmMwCvDsCBnCr-iGB6-dY3Rfe2I-P7IpAj0/s320/BizarreBases+001.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>Infantry Company on Single Bases?</em></div><br />
Moving to a system where I can pick up and move multiple figures is now a necessity. I know trays are used successfully in many big battalions battles. This, to me, is a pragmatic solution that sacrifices too much of the 'look' that I want. The trays have to be relatively robust if they are to hold the weight of an entire big battalion, and so they add to the already considerable bulk of the bases of the figures and are very noticeable.<br />
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But I don't like the look of multi-figure bases either. It is possible to create terrain on them that is, in itself, a work of art, but to my jaundiced eye it never really works out. The problem here is that the bases do not merge tidily into the terrain that they cover. For example, it always appears that a battalion marching along a road is dragging turf and other foliage along with it. The problem becomes worse when the terrain is contoured, as the base cannot sit comfortably on a rounded surface.<br />
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I'd like to preserve the look of Charge! formations as much as I can. So I have decided to try using a base that has gaps between the figures on its exterior edges. If the connecting material can be made stiff enough to support the weight of the figures and yet remain sufficiently slight; it might appear to the observer, if he does not look too closely, as if the figures are still individuals. My infantry battalions are organised into four companies each of twelve rank and file. My plan is to rebase these on eight bases each of six men. This will allow the battalion to be deployed in all the formations I use ( I use three man wide columns of march rather than four man wide). And so, on the photo at the top of the page, the six figures on the right are all mounted on the same base. I hope this was not immediately apparent.<br />
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I won't be leaving any figures on individual bases for casualty removal: whether I use casualty markers of some form or else rely on record keeping is still undecided. Officers, standard bearers, and musicians will be left on separate bases so that I will still get the look of Charge! battalions where the mass of the battalion is surrounded and decorated by such folk.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-13164248866007805672010-04-27T05:30:00.000-07:002010-04-27T05:30:38.784-07:00The Imperial Infantry At LastRecruitment for my Reichsarmee has been slow. Since the onset of winter I have recruited but one regiment of cuirassiers. With my painting a few personality figures, this might have resulted in an army with as many generals as private soldiers: appropriate given the subject, but not my intention. Fortunately, it appears I am reaching the end of the process that has been causing the delay: I have gotten the first mold for the Imperial infantry working. The results of the first four attempts to cast a figure are shown in the photo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgyDOePE-uqu2JM5z8lmMNcmxUkCDn3wH-eyF8YGqWBD1rjpKiK11CAejhyXaCMwL_LAqodgeii6xyEMF9Y8GF896IUHcgIViHVHCZVznohcIdf3EmNyi9ymmi21f1wCsCWivzFdet7m8/s1600/Imperials+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgyDOePE-uqu2JM5z8lmMNcmxUkCDn3wH-eyF8YGqWBD1rjpKiK11CAejhyXaCMwL_LAqodgeii6xyEMF9Y8GF896IUHcgIViHVHCZVznohcIdf3EmNyi9ymmi21f1wCsCWivzFdet7m8/s320/Imperials+001.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>Imperial Infantry - The First Castings</em></div><br />
These castings represent a considerable improvement over my cuirassier figure. As this was my second iteration at creating figures I felt confident enough to invest a little more time in the sculpting. I had also learnt from my first molds that it is necessary to thin the vaseline used to coat the sculpt when pouring rubber. Failing to do this last time resulted in a pronounced loss of detail.<br />
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There appears to be only two flaws in the mould; both in the form of small air bubbles. One is at the front of the tricorn: had it only appeared slightly further to the left it would have made a nice pompom. As it is, it will have to be cut from each figure, along with the second bubble which is lodged between the turnbacks at the rear of the figure.<br />
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I'll be casting elements of at least three Imperial infantry regiments from this sculpt. A single mold will be very unlikely to last that long, and I'd like more molds so I can cast more figures from one melt of metal. So I'll be creating two or three more molds from the same sculpt. <br />
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More immediately, I need to try making muskets and then painting a few figures to see how they look. Until that's done, and I know there's no adjustments that I want to make to the original, I'll hold back on further mold making.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-19293596168743280782010-04-20T06:26:00.000-07:002010-04-20T06:26:44.215-07:00Nag Nag NagI'm afraid I can be unkind at times. My relatives are inclined to agree, although they replace the 'at times' with 'usually' while gently indicating their disapproval and urging me to reform. That Stadden horse is feeling the full brunt of this callous side to my nature. Having been frankly unimpressed by what I consider to be the deficiencies in its anatomy, I decided that a steed of such ignoble character warranted a paint job to match.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Oick On Horseback</em></div><br />
<em>"It was a Beaunese sheltie, of about twelve or fourteen years of age, yellow as an orange, without any hair on its tail, but abundance of galls on its legs, and which, whilst carrying its head lower than its knees, yet managed gallantly its eight leagues a day."</em><br />
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Anyone who has read the book will not fail to recognise Dumas's description of the horse that propelled Dartagnan from the parental home to Paris. When Dumas wrote "The Three Musketeers" in 1844, he could assume his readers would be familiar with horses and popular prejudices towards their appearance: we can be sure that the colour is not intended to recommend the animal to us.<br />
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It seemed to me, at the time of painting, that such a apparition might, in this case, suit admirably. On reflection, it seems my imagination has gotten the better of me: I have produced some poor oick mounted on a nag that no gentleman of quality would be seen dead on. Oh well, I shall try and palm it off on visiting generals.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-54633415541739644252010-04-12T03:44:00.000-07:002010-04-12T03:45:23.555-07:00Anatomical AngstThe first half of the mold for my marching infantryman is drying out. Its been over a week now and the surface has only just solidified: I suspect I didn't use enough catalyst, so it will be best left a while longer. In the absence of anything else to do I've continued fiddling about with the Suren personality figures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLTTceg_etFeSgVeq8pclhXT7PHOhn8NLuyICDA7AQNeTBUBt8iA6oMwVr8__dieQO4f16W1ROCvPR24KqsiAr3fyDvmgYIH961DM96tLLT_Y2ruUXYWGLc7miraRHAiNv40zK7M11R4x/s1600/Nobbly+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLTTceg_etFeSgVeq8pclhXT7PHOhn8NLuyICDA7AQNeTBUBt8iA6oMwVr8__dieQO4f16W1ROCvPR24KqsiAr3fyDvmgYIH961DM96tLLT_Y2ruUXYWGLc7miraRHAiNv40zK7M11R4x/s320/Nobbly+002.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Nice Figure, Shame About The Legs</em></div><br />
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</div>Almost every horse I use is the Stadden H1 standing figure. The only exceptions to this is for the colonels of infantry regiments who use the H2 walking figure so they don't get left behind by their troops who are inevitably moving forwards in march attack pose. I decided that for the Suren personality figures I could use a wider range than this, amd as a 'daring' experiment I bought one of the H10 horses. This noble steed is rearing in a dramatic manner, that is just begging to be used by the more flamboyant kind of general (or possibly any gentleman who has difficulty controlling his horse).<br />
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On examination, I was surprised to find what I think are a couple of flaws in this figure. This is something I am reluctant to admit to: Stadden served in Mule Pack Transport during WW2 and so his knowledge of equine anatomy was on an entirely different level from my own. However, I decided not to let the flaws pass because they bothered me, and fortunately I have only myself to please.<br />
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The first problem was the front right leg. This seemed to have telescoped considerably and had to be shortened to match the left fore leg. I chose not to cut the leg down as the legs on this figure are rather flimsy: instead I build the ground up beneath it and modelled a new hoof using Milliput. The second problem lay with the bending of the neck. The inside edge of this had a considerable arch to it that looked wrong to me. Photos on the net - with one exception - seem to show that the horses neck would compress rather than arch in this area, so I chose to fill the arch in with milliput. Right or wrong, the new neck looks more believable to me.<br />
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Having attached rider and reins as per usual, I applied the usual black undercoat and a light drybrushing of white as a preparation for painting. This is the stage at which the first photo was taken. What seemed to be a satisfactory figure when viewed as bare metal, doesn't look so good when undercoated: the noble steed has rather bent, thin and nobbly upper legs. I could straighten them out a bit, but I have decided the figure would benefit from a little bit more preparation, filling the insides of the upper legs to create a most robust set of limbs. Oh well, time to scrape off some black paint and break out the Milliput again.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190409787968119430.post-50005248277675143532010-04-02T01:32:00.000-07:002010-04-02T01:37:33.588-07:00Marechal De SaxeThe world is full of secrets and it should be no surprise if Tradition of London have theirs. If you go to their website, all the wargame figure ranges seem to be visible in a block on the main page: so you click on "30 mm Tradition" or "30mm Suren" and off you go.<br />
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And you might just miss the link <em>Tradition Scandinavia</em> which leads to <em>30mm Willie Series</em> which would be a shame because, unless you follow them, you will never happen upon such wonders as <em>The High Command T.S. Willie Box D F1</em>. These boxed sets are Suren figures that have been cleaned up: they retain all their original beauty but have had the wrinkles that come with age removed. With Private Schulz currently awaiting his great encounter with destiny (in the form of silicone rubber mould making) I have need of another project. And this will fill the gap nicely.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxnf2DKdYVC4gMHye_NPk7D8mvWLz0zZ-aHzCtcqHVzoA3JNAj7ClBkAmf-P0lBSZRInxFJ_9fBv910-DVj6X4wgvD6U_iJ6wjKiHvL4yJ47GvyoRRh6qhyphenhyphenuvi8LLOBVA84zzOh32AtTg/s1600/DeSaxe+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxnf2DKdYVC4gMHye_NPk7D8mvWLz0zZ-aHzCtcqHVzoA3JNAj7ClBkAmf-P0lBSZRInxFJ_9fBv910-DVj6X4wgvD6U_iJ6wjKiHvL4yJ47GvyoRRh6qhyphenhyphenuvi8LLOBVA84zzOh32AtTg/s320/DeSaxe+002.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Marechal De Saxe: Suren Figure on Stadden Horse</em></div><br />
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The box does not come with horses supplied: a great convenience for me as it allows me to order the Stadden horses which I prefer. The first figure I chose to work on is the one that I take to be Marechal De Saxe. Any general lively enough to die from a 'surfeit des femmes' following an 'interview with a troop of eight actresses' deserves a figure to commemorate him.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Saxe at Fontenoy - Or Not</em></div><br />
I found the choice of uniform for de Saxe problematic. Pictures of him at Fontenoy show him mounted on a white or a brown horse and he is dressed in a dark blue or a red uniform. According to Wikipedia he was carried round the battle in a wicker chair (he probably needed a rest) so the artists are clearly not fussy about accuracy. I chose to use the red uniform simply because it differs from the Prussian blue of the "other lot". <br />
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The only physical changes I made to the figure were to cut the rear of the saddle cloth off and replace it with milliput that I could fit more exactly to the horse's back, and to replace the cast reins with wire. There's a small blemish on the horse's mane that I didn't notice until I could see the photographs I took of the figure: it's only with the magnification these images give that such problems are noticeable by me, alas.Andy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975141756383175819noreply@blogger.com7