Naval Officer

From a distance

I had picked up a Naval Brigade Gardner gun with some HAT figures last year, but they'd sat in a corner unused for the last while.  Our Afghan adventures do not have much call for Naval Brigades.  But I needed some extra officers and managed to pick this fella up without realising.

Up close

Having started him and realised that he was not the infantry officer I was looking for, it seemed a shame not to finish him. So the latest addition to the Crown forces is this naval looking character from Hat Gardner gun set. And what is he exactly, well I'm not sure.  I think I shall leave it to no less an authority than H Rider Haggard, describing his first encounter with Captain Good in "King Solomon's Mines", to explain. 

"The other man, who stood talking to Sir Henry, was stout and dark, and of quite a different cut. I suspected at once that he was a naval officer; I don't know why, but it is difficult to mistake a navy man. I have gone shooting trips with several of them in the course of my life, and they have always proved themselves the best and bravest and nicest fellows I ever met, though sadly given, some of them, to the use of profane language. I asked a page or two back, what is a gentleman? I'll answer the question now: A Royal Naval officer is, in a general sort of way, though of course there may be a black sheep among them here and there. I fancy it is just the wide seas and the breath of God's winds that wash their hearts and blow the bitterness out of their minds and make them what men ought to be."

From the rear

I shall have to wait until we reach the Sudan, before I make much use of him - but in the mean time, painting him was a pleasent way to spend an hour. 

And who wouldn't want to make the acquaintance of one of Natures Gentlemen?

Ruga Ruga

Spot of formation dancing on the porch. 

These chaps are Hat Models Ruga Ruga from the box of the same name. These guys existed between about 1800 and the Great War and were essentially mercenary soldiers who served tribal chieftains, similar to the Scots-Irish Gallowglass in that respect. Their defining characteristic was skill with firearms and they made their way serving as guards for the caravan trade. 

You can read a bit more about them here. 

The huts are cut down plant pots. I got a stack of 10 for a euro and they do very nicely thank you very much. I'm all about the high speed low drag approach to terrain. 

From the front. 

These guys were dealt with as follows. 

1. Quick run through in the dishwasher to clear any grease. 

2. Base and then give them a coat of PVA. 

3. Let the PVA dry over night and then spray undercoat in Army Painter Brown. 

4. Wash the whole figure in Army Painter mid tone ink straight from the bottle. 

5. Paint the robe white and then wash with another colour. Add a highlight if time permits. 

6. Paint the gun and add hair to taste. 

7. Dry brush a white highlight onto the base, add static grass. 

8. Spray varnish. 

And the rear. 

These came along very quickly, I did them in between more demanding figures and knocked out the lot in a couple of hours split over a few evening. They will no doubt do good service protecting my porters from similarly armed young chaps. 

I intend to use these with The Sword in Africa small unit TSATF variant for African exploration games. The problem has been finding some opposition, my afghans will do for Arab slavers and so on, but there was a distinct lack of general tribesmen that weren't Zulus. 

I had a bit of a brain wave and had a look through the Ancients section of Plastic Soldier Review. Both HAT and Ceasar do biblical era Nubian figures who look close enough to 19th century African tribesmen. I reckon they should do the trick. 

Heliograph Team

Is that Jones over there?

I've been mucking about with Colonials recently, mainly because I've a real yen to play more The Sword and the Flame and because they don't require a huge investment of time and painting energy.  This is a HAT models heliograph team from one of their artillery sets. I've read a little bit about heliograph's recently. They consists of a focused mirror that could send a beam of light towards another station.  This was shuttered so that the operator should make the beam flash either short or long. The chap with the telescope them noted down the flashes which were in morse.  The result was that messages could be send relatively quickly anywhere in line of sight, so long as it was clear and there was light. 

Who is that fearful Herbert with the telescope? 

The result was that helios saw extensive service in Afghanistan, the Sudan and South Africa. I painted up these boys because three figures don't take very long it's nice to finish something in an evening.  The machine is a simplified version, lacking the arms with the additional mirrors, but it serves.  I've painted these fellows as members of the 117th Royal Mallows, so faced in green.  I'm in two minds looking at them now, I am wondering if I should have added some white lace to the cuffs. I've certainly made a hash of the equipment, as I believe the holsters should be brown. I just liked the "Zulu" style bright white on red. 

Here it comes - flash signal. 

The figures were given an undercoat of white and then painted with washes of colour, not something that has worked particularly well on the red, but one can't have everything.  But, who is that odd looking fellow in the blue facings with all that extra stuff on his uniform?

Well from the blue facings and the insouciant air, it appears he's a recent transfer from the GAAAAAAARDS! I have yet to discover his name, but he is an elegant extract, who sports more lace on his tunic than the Mallows consider really decent. His cuffs definitely look the worse for the lack of additional lace, so he is due an assignation with his tailor once I have a moment.

Finished Austrian Artillery

The Battery

I finished off the Austrian battery during a spare hour.  It's a simple paintjob, but it does the business.  The guns were painted by Krisztian Takacs. 

  

Look over there!

Now that these fellas are done, I only have to sort out the horse artillery to have the artillery arm completely finished. 

 

Gun crew number 1

If we're going to play some Overlord games, I may need to recruit some more.  But for the time being, these are plenty.  I have the remainder of the set laid away. The basing was done in the usual style and while it does put brown with brown, it looks rather better when placed with other figures. 

Class Photo

Because I use figures from a variety of sources,  I keep to one house style for basing which I find ties disparate figures together regardless of manufacturer or painting style. 

Class Photo Number Two

Things are pretty busy here between assignments due, work and Christmas, but Mrs. Kinch is doing her best Elizabeth Montgomery impression and things are firmly in hand. To be honest, I can't wait until the 19th when school closes for a glorious two weeks.  I have been able to take some leave for that period, so Mrs. Kinch and I should be work and school free for a couple of days. It's going to be heavenly

Mrs. Kinch's best helper - plum tuckered out after a hard evenings wrapping. 

HAT Austrian Artillery

HAT Austrian Artillery

Mrs. Kinch and I had a rare day off together today. We ate leftovers and sat on the couch and watched films and it was glorious. In between another project, I decided that I might do a job on some Austrian gunners as I thought that this might be a job that I could finish at a sitting.  

I found these images on the HAT website and they serve pretty well. I don't think I'll mess about too much with the detail of the cockade or the shoulder boards, but I managed to get the broad strokes done in a single sitting. I only need three gun crews for my Austrian army, so nine figures is plenty. 

Group shot

I sprayed these fellas with Army Painter brown spray and then threw a quick wash of Devlan mud over them. After that it was pretty much painting by numbers, the trick was just to make sure I was careful in applying my colour so I didn't have too many corrections to do. 

Man with stick

I have some 1848 Austrian gun crews that Krisztian did for me, based on Hat Swedish figures, but the uniform changes between 1815 and 1848, but I can use the guns interchangeably.   These fellows are almost done, needing I think one movies worth of time to finish them off. 

Man with other stick

None of these are going to win any beauty pageants, but they are perfectly workmanlike figures with a perfectly workmanlike paint job.  I wanted to pick something small as with another four  assignments due by the 14th, I won't have time to devote to anything more complicated. 

Man with yet another stick (aka a rammer)

I'll post pictures once I've finished them off as I've made a hole in another painting project that is slowly going ahead. And more on that anon. 

A touch of Borsch

Motor Rifleman with an RPK 

In preparation for some more Cold War shenanigans, I've been slowly tipping away at a few more Soviet Motor Riflemen. These are some rather beautiful figures from Matt at Elheim and they really are something. 

A very dapper sniper

I never tire of this chap, I just love the pose. Motor Rifle Platoons were issued a single Dragunov which was given to a Platoon Marksman. I imagine this chap thinks he's Leningrad's answer to Robert De Niro in the Deer Hunter. 

Two Riflemen 

This completes my Soviet Motor Rifle Platoon. The TOE (culled from a variety of sources) for one of those is as follows. 

Platoon Leader

Radio Operator

There are two free seats in the BMP-2, so the Platoon Leader and his radioman bunk in with one of the sections. 

BMP-2 (three of these)

Section Leader

BMP Driver

BMP Gunner

RPG-7 Gunner

RPK Gunner

Four Riflemen

And what is this???

Spanish Grenadiers - New HAT material

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These arrived today from those nice chaps at HAT miniatures. These are Spanish Grenadiers in 1/72 and very nice they are too. The sculpting is good, with all the figures being quite slim and anatomically correct. They fit well with their brothers in the line infantry and will consequently match Falcata figures rather well. 

Based on the look of them I reckon you'll get about six frames in a box, like the Austrian Landwehr.

I am very, very happy with the marching poses. They look sharp, I wouldn't mess with those moustaches. These are made in the same soft plastic that has made up most of HAT's output of late. It does take paint and glue well though. 

So there you have it, another box of figures to add to the pile. The HAT site has been fairly quiet recently, but E22 will be along shortly (it's being shipped from the factory at present) and the lineup for E23 has not been announced yet, so I hope the Dons will be making an appearance there.

HAT Spanish Infantry

Infantry sprue

For ease of reference each ruled square is 5/8 of an inch (click to embiggen)

I was very lucky to get my paws on some early released sprues of HAT Industries rather handsome new Spanish infantry. These will be of no real interest to those for whom it is eternally 1810 (I'm looking at you Foy), but for those of use who would like to play Bailen and the Sieges of Saragossa, these figures offer the first opportunity to do so in platic.

The figures themselves are made in the soft plastic familiar from most of HAT recent releases. It glues and takes paint well. The numbers of poses feature a pleasently large number of marching men, which will make it a great deal easier to make up whole units. 

Marching poses           6
At Attention                2
Advancing                   2
Firing                           1
Loading                        1

Command sprue (click to embiggen)

The command sprue is a mixture of figures. There is a Infantry Line officer, two ensigns (one of whom is a grenadier), two sergeants (one of whom from his belly bullet box* and poncho, I believe is a light infantryman), a pioneer (with seperate arm bearing a spade), a light infantry hornist, a grenadier drummer and another officer with a sash. The final figure (bottom right hand corner) is a drummer or perhaps a flautist, he's carrying something that looks awfully like drumsticks, but there is only one drum.

Perhaps prospective buyers will have to choose between wanting a grenadier drummer or one from the line.

Some HAT marching infantry lined up with advancing Falcata chaps

I spared no time and set to with stanley blade and superglue and put a unit together with the figures from the sprues and some Falcata spares that I had lying around. I shall have to consult my sources, as I'm not sure what Spanish infantry regiments I'm short, but I think you'll agree they look well.

A close up of three of the command figures, officer, pioneer, sergeant

The command figures are nice, I particularly like casual air of officer, marching into battles while tapping the palm of his hand with his sword - a pose reminiscent of a particularly repellant Irish teacher I had in primary school. Our Spanish friend is better dressed though.

Falcata and HAT side by side

I think the Falcata are slightly heftier, which is understandable given that they are metal, however I think they are a good match for the HAT figures and I expect to use them to supplement the plastic set in my growing Spanish army. This is a set I'm looking forward to seeing more of.

Viva Espagne!

*And if that isn't a phrase that gives pleasure for simple alliteration, I don't know what is. I shall say it again - belly bullet box.

A very generous gift

From left to right: Kennington Spanish Infantry, Hat Dutch Line Infantry, Minifigs French Dragoon Officer, Der Kreigspieler (nee Hinton Hunt) Dismounted French Dragoon. As always click to embiggen.

The Napoleonic collector faces something of quandry - there are so many Frenchmen. In much the same way that the collector of the Second World War will usually have a collection of Germans that surpasses his needs even at their most extravagant, the Napoleonic gamer is haunted by visions of Chasseurs, Lancers, Grenadiers of the Guard and six different kinds of hussar.

I have achieved most of my purely personal goals in Napoleonic toy soldier collecting; I have vivandieres for many of my regiments, I possess a good supply train, I can field the "Die Hards" and a troop of the Sixth Light Dragoons. There are other goals and to be honest, I add more all the time, but one that has dogged me for years is the desire for a regiment of Dragoons.

Left to right - Minifigs French Dragoon Officer, Minifigs French Dragoon Ensign, Minifigs French Dragoon Drummer, Der Kreigspieler (nee Hinton Hunt) Dismounted French Dragoons. As always click to embiggen.

Easily done you say, there is the fine Italeri set, go to it young man - but I am an awkward sort and want Dragoons mounted, dismounted and horse holding. This is more difficult - I had Italeri Dragoons and the Strelets dismounted set had some good (and some very bad) figures in it, but it didn't completely scratch the itch. My chum John C was able to provide me with some Der Kriegspieler French dismounted dragoons. I had been pondering what to do with these, should I convert some of them into horseholders?

I have since learned that the original figure was a horse holder that was converted by the addition of a musket.

This did leave me with the tricky question of what to do for officers, musicians and other such harmless persons?

Left to right - Hat Dutch Line Infantry, Minifigs French Dragoon Officer, Minifigs French Dragoon Ensign, Minifigs French Dragoon Drummer. As always click to embiggen.

By an incredible stroke of luck, I got to corresponding with Mr J of Chicago, who had in his collection not only some more Kriegspielers, but also some Minifigs in the shape of an officer, a chap with an eagle and a drummer. These he sent off and they are now tromping around my wargames table, sowing panic and dismay in their wake. They are of a height with the other figures, though considerably bulkier, but I think with a lick of paint and the same basing they should do the job. The tricks the eye can play are extraordinary.

I don't think it can be too long before I have a troop of Dragoons, charging and on foot. Just in time to do some damage when the Command & Colours Spanish supplement arrives.

HAT Waterloo Dutch Infantry

HAT Waterloo Dutch Infantry

Warriors for the working day

Now as regular readers of this blog will know, there are only two things I hate in this world; people who are intolerant of other cultures and the Dutch.

I have had to overcome this particular foible in order to field appropriate troops for the Quatre Bras scenario in the Command & Colours rule book as not even the most crazed of chauvinists can say that Wellingtons army was an entirely British one*. Who says that wargaming doesn't broaden your horizons?

Happily, one box gives sixteen compatible poses,

a sergeant, an officer and a passable drummer

I had originally decided to leave the two Hundred Days scenarios to one side for a while, but I was returning from court recently to discover that my local model shop had a box of HAT Waterloo Dutch Infantry. I quick calculation convinced me that if I was willing to forgo my usual habit of assembling troops in Charge! style regiments, I could assemble two infantry units from one box. I paused for careful reflection for two, possibly three seconds and then bought them. It appears that I'll have to muster some Brunswickers, Belgians, Nassauers and Hanoverians before I can actually play the scenario, but it is no great sacrifice.

A box of Hats Dutch Belgians and Nassau troops should plug the gaps with very little difficulty. The Nassauers in particular are cracking figures. I shall have to get my copy of Mark Adkins "The Waterloo Companion" over from the old house before paint encounters plastic as beyond knowing that they were there and that Crown Prince William of Orange was an ADC in the Peninsula (thank you Georgette Heyer), I know scandalously little about their involvement in the battle.

So, anyone for a schmoke and a pancake?

*Down at the back, Hofschroer. See me after class.

Kaiserlicks

Austrian Johnnies off to fight the French

One of the perils of gaming with 1/72 figures is that they are damnably cheap - the problem for impulsive types like your correspondent is the habit of buying several boxes on a whim. I know very little about the Austrian army during the Napoleonic wars, just what I've picked up in the course of things. Therefore, I am still at a loss as to what I was thinking of when I bought six boxes of HAT Austrian infantry. Similar motives were no doubt behind my purchasing of several boxes of Zvesda Black Hussars, beautiful figures for a period I don't play and an army I don't field.

However, I was in the mood to do a little work the other day while on leave and the Austrians were the only figures that I hadn't packed. The officers and drummers are from SHQ miniatures, whch are a good fit. I've organised them as per the regulations laid down in Charge!, but I think I shall have to do some reading before I work out how I shall have them painted. I generally choose what regiments to field using a simple, but foolproof method...

British Regiments
1. Do I need the unit to fill out a particular order of battle?
2. Does the unit have a snazzy uniform?
3. Do I know anyone currently in a successor regiment?
4. Are they Irish?
5. Is there an amusing fictional regiment that I could use?

French Regiments
1. Do I need the unit to fill out a particular order of battle?
2. Has the unit lost its Eagle or taken a severe whipping? (The French are the baddies in my games and naturally it cheers me immensely when they lose)
3. Does it have a snazzy uniform?

I don't have the knowledge of the Austrian army that I do of the French and the British, nor do I have the same emotional attachment, so it may be some time before I settle on an appropriate regiment.

Now to get to the ensigns..