Russian Infantry

With the impressive strides being made in the Russian cavalry lines, it's time to get weaving on the Russian infantry. These are some Hinton Hunt castings that I got from Old John. They have a certain delicate charm about them and I've trimmed the plumes so that they can be used as regular infantry, rather than Guards or Grenadiers. 

These I've based on some custom infantry bases made for me by Jim over at Products for Wargamers. Good price, good service, heartily recommended all around. I based them up this morning when I had twenty minutes to spare before going to work. The thing about these units is that under the new Russian rules, they'll be a three strength to the French four, but a certain number of units may be upgraded before the battle. This means that I'll have to find some drummers from somewhere, but I've yet to put my great mind to that one. 

A Hinton Hunt Russian officer leading the charge. I'm hoping to find a suitable drummer or perhaps an Ensign to accompany him, but we'll see. I have a collection of painted Russian troops to base up, so I may have some spares. 

Schilling French Grenadiers

Schilling French Grenadiers

Sharp eyed readers will no doubt have observed the freshly painted grenadiers lurking at the rear of the French line at the Battle of Vimeiro. The fellows pictured above are Schilling French Grenadiers bought from John Cunningham of 20mm Nostalgic Revival. John lectured me during his last visit that no true Napoleonic wargamer can be considered as such until he has fielded Old Guard Grenadiers. However, being of a Peninsular turn of mind, I didn't have much call for them at the time. However with Waterloo looming it seems I'll have to field some after all. 

And in close up

These were painted by Krisztian Takacs and they're brilliant figures well painted. Krisztian is also a photographer of some skill. He took the pictures above for Uwe of History in 1/72, who is also selling the Schilling grenadiers. As you can see they are crisp, beautifully proportioned castings about equivelent in height to SHQ I think, but I'll try and get a comparison photo posted soon.

From left to right, Officer, Pioneer and two grenadiers

I've also discovered that there is so little differance between Guard and Line Grenadiers that I'm happy to use the same figures for both. As Windrow & Embleton write in Military Dress of the Peninsular War,

"British diarists recalling the fighting in Fuentes de Onoro mention being attacked by "Imperial Guards", but there were no units of la Garde present.  The troops who made such an impression were three battalions of detached grenadier companies drawn from all eight of Drouet D'Erlons two divisions. It was a natural mistake for any man to make in the heat of battle, with the massed ranks of tall bearskins coming at him through the powder smoke."

The paths of glory lead but to the grave...

Lastly, there is the ever important casualty figure to mark where the unit has fallen.  Inigo, Uwe's sculptor has done a wonderful job - there is pathos there that gives weight and feeling to Thomas Gray's words.

All in all, two wonderful units that will hopefully break as soon as they see the sight of cold steel.

But somehow I doubt it. 

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Spanish Infantry by SHQ

The Regiment Del Rey

I was only able to take two pictures before the battery in my camera made its excuses, but I think you'll agree the fellows above look very well indeed. These are SHQ casting, formerly Kennington, and painted by Mrs Kinch's cousin, Casey Minor. I think he's done a cracking job and I'm afraid you lot will have to endure at least one more post on the subject as these chaps deserve a great deal more than two photographs.

He has painted them as the regiment Del Rey. They were the senior unit in the Spanish army and still are, though they necessarily somewhat changed. Sebastian Foy writing of the Spanish army said "...the oldest of them all bore the name of Immerorial Del Rey, and the date of its creation is beyond memory". They have some claim to being the oldest formed unit still in existence in the world, at least according to Wikipedia*.

"The King's Own Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment of the Spanish Army is considered to be the oldest armed unit in the world. There is certain proof of this and according to what the chronicles mention, King Ferdinand III, "The Saint," in 1248, during the conquest of Seville, with some of his men-at-arms, assaulted and took a tower. Seemingly, with such boldness and bravery they gained the admiration of the King. The campaign finished and with the consequent disbandment of troops, King Ferdinand decided to permanently keep with him said force, giving origin to the permanence of the Armies, that is to say, the origin of itself."

Officer, Drummer and Ensign

(click to embiggen)

The flag is a new one for me, as I rarely field units with them and when I do, they are invariably painted rather than printed. The flag is a Rofur flag which I got from Simon over at Painted Napoleonic Armies, and rather sharp it looks too. I based this fellows up a few days ago, but haven't gotten around to varnishing them yet, though they did good service in their first battle, Barrossa.

And sadly, the story of that battle will have to wait for another time.

*Though there is some truth in the words of Doctor Johnson who said, "Madam, he who quotes Wikipedia is a guttersnipe and certainly no better than a Scotsman, as confirming the quotation is difficult as every silly person will have repeated it and the labour of doing so is wearisome."

Cold War US Infantry by Platoon 20

A column of US Mechanised Infantry making their way down a secondary road, somewhere in Germany circa 1984

As I'm a sucker for a bargain, I picked these up a while ago when they were offered for sale on the Guild*. They are a collection of 20mm Platoon20 Cold War era Americans, about a platoons worth with some added assets. The M113s are plastics, I think Italeri, but I couldn't swear to it. The Platoon20 figures are solid enough, though they're no Elheim, who are my gold standard for moderns. I'll be using these for my Cold War Gone Hot scenarios, to be honest, I'd have been happier to pick up some Ruskies, but the price was right and I can use them as an occasional break from my Britishers and when we decide to give Oisin's Memoir84 variant a go in 20mm.

As the lead tracks near an obstacle, riflemen dismount and search the nearby buildings for an ambush, and most likely, anything not nailed down

The platoon spreads out before clearing the obstacle

Meanwhile, a stinger operator keeps his eyes skinned for Ruskies

The American wonder at the tiny size of European cars

A Dragon ATGM team set up, "just in case".

A lonesome fellow hoofs it over to a derelict building before taking a knee with his Gustav

Two fireteams (2 riflemen, 1 SAW, 1 Grenadier) under a team leader make up a squad

"Swartz! Hyde! What the hell are you doing outside the track!"

The two riflemen who should be manning the M113 scurry back to their posts.

"We never get to be in the group photos," they grumble.

A sniper team scouts ahead looking for more Ruskies.

They appear to have spotted something

The Platoon Sergeant loitering outside a public convenience.

There's a probably a perfectly reasonable explanation...

I'm not really happy with the sniper base as I don't think it's very practical, the footprint is just too big and it limits the places I can place the figures on the board.

*Pre Lent, I hasten to add Padre!

Spanish Light Infantry

Edit: It would appear posting from my phone is not as easy as I thought.

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Hat Valencian Light Infantry

There's a wargaming stereotype that all Napoleonic collections include several regiments of Old Guard Grenadiers, the Black Watch and a six battalions of the 95th Rifles. I suppose the Second World War equivalent is the chap whose German army fields nothing but Tigers and Konigstigers. I'm not sure 60 Spaniards wearing kilts is quite in the same league, but we shall see.

Which brings me to the matter at hand, I have sufficient HAT plastics to make three full units of Spanish light infantry so long as they are all Valencian Volunteers. As it happens I know very little about the regiment, but I'm relatively sure they were not so prevalent as to make up 100% of the Spanish Light infantry force. When other fellows have this dilemma I usually comment something terribly helpful like "Please yourself," but as usual doing is harder than saying. It seems silly to ignore the fact that I have all these figures - but at the same time, those new Falcatas are very tempting.

Not a decision I'll be making before Easter as I'm off sugar in coffee and tea, buying figures and buying books for Lent. Mrs Kinch thinks I'm mad and doesn't think I can stick to it. It hasn't been easy, but we're getting there.

Light Infantry - the supernumeraries

There is apparently only one officer figure available for the Valencians, a Minifig who is rather on the chubby side. At Foys suggestion I decided that my volunteers are led by a regular officer who wears his old uniform. The camp follower is an Uwe of History in 1/72 original. I normally wouldn't include camp followers in the supernumery rank, but light infantry are a five strength unit in Command & Colour Napoleonics and with the distinctive uniform, coming up with another figure would have been difficult.

The two chaps to the right are a marching figure who will be doing duty as an NCO and advancing figure that I've hacked about a bit and added a Dutch drum to.

The War Room - pre-cleanup

After the chaos that was Leprecon, I manage to knuckle down and clear up the War Room, a bit. The place wouldn't pass inspection, but the floor is clear and most of the rubbish is gone. Games can be played there - which is the main thing. I also started coming across a few things that I thought I'd lost or had just forgotten about.

Suspect is ginger, repeat ginger

As it happens we're entertaining a house guest at present. He's grown on my somewhat as his behaviour has improved since our last meeting. However, he is a suspect for a number of petty thefts that have occurred in the home over the last few days.

Enquiries are ongoing - a full statement will be issued in due course.

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French Infantry - 39eme Ligne

39eme Ligne

When I began my Napoleonic project many moons ago - I was rather intimidated by the number of figures required and the intricacy of painting demanded. With the eye to raising a large number of troops in short order, I picked up six boxes of HATs Young Guard. These are fairly innocuous looking fellows in great coats and shakos. The idea was that I would be able to paint these up without any of the facings or other flapdoodle required and I would have my French army relatively quickly. This was the case and they've stormed across many a shot torn tabletop, but in retrospect I'm a little unhappy that I went this route. Part of the attraction of the period is the sheer pagentry of the uniforms, the horses and so forth and while the grey ranks of the greatcoats are probably damn sight closer to the reality - they lack a certain something.

I think the French have a word for it, but I don't know what it is.

A Kennington officer, Ykreol Drummer and HAT NCO

In many ways, I suppose it sums up my attitude to the French army of the period - a grey mass of stormtroopers. The hussars and the foreign legions add colour and I've plenty of Irish and Swiss troops in my French army. Which reminds me, I must add some Poles.

The 39eme Ligne broke during the Combat of Foz de Arouce in 1811, during Massena's retreat from the Lines of Torres Verdras. They attempted to cross a river to their rear, but found the bridge blocked by French cavalry who were attempting to join the fight. Forced to ford the river, several soldiers drowned including the chap with the regiments eagle, which was lost. The eagle was later recovered by Portuguese peasents in return for a hefty sum and now sits in London.

A rather gory casualty figure

The casualty figure above is part of a collection of generic French casualty figures I bought from Mark Bevis a few years ago. I think they look rather well for an odd figure that he's taken a craft knife to. I think this chap started life as an Italeri French Infantry Standard Bearer.

I should probably read some of the French memoirs of the period, which would probably make the Gallic juggernaut a little more human.

Any suggestions?
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Bengal Native Infantry

A sergeant (more properly called a Havildar)

and Grenadier of the Bengal Army

I have a copy of the above print that I picked up while we were honeymooning in London*. It was not long after that I got in contact with John Cunningham and a wonderful, if somewhat abusive, relationship developed. John is somehow responsible (I think Uwe may have had a hand in them as well) for the figures below and he will certainly sell you some, possibly whether you want them or not. I've wanted to mess about on the sub-continent for a while and for that sepoys were a necessity.

A unit of the Bengal Native Infantry braving the wilds of an Irish back garden

I got my first units of my Honourable East India Company troops a few weeks ago from Mark, who I think you'll agree did a nice job on them. John Company had relied on mercenaries for much of its history, but in the years after the battle of Plassey, they organised their independant companies of sepoys into the First Bengal Native Infantry. These chaps are slightly later and were raised to fight Uwe's Mysore troops.

I haven't given much thought to how to rate these chaps, mainly because I haven't a mat for India yet. Might give some thought to that for my birthday.

A drummer resplendent in yellow

The Osprey on the subject "Armies of the East India Company 1750-1850" informs me that Indian units favoured brass shelled drums rather than the painted wood used by the British, as they were less susceptible to the depredations of insects. I presume that brass or wood, no self respecting drummer would be seen on parade unless his piece was resplendent in the facing colour of the regiment.

The Jemadar, a person not to be trifled with

I quite like this figure mainly because of his magnificent moustaches. I had contemplated using European officers, but firstly that was much a feature of the latter years of the Company's life and secondly, I've only met one Indian army officer. However, the chap I did meet was a such a ferocious looking character (he was a Sikh) that I thought I'd be a fool to deprive myself.

A closeup of the humble sepoy

This chap in his rather fetching shorts is a sepoy, an English corruption of the word Sipahi, which means soldier, at least that what the Encyclopaedia Britannica tells me. They will be taking the field against the Mad Rajah of Kala-Akaata whose forces grow stronger by the day. I will be using Command & Colours Napoleonics as they are my prefered set, though I'm still in two minds as to what tweaks will be necessary.

I have quite a collection of native soldiery, though its rather cavalry heavy, and three units of Sepoys. Coupled with my Napoleonic redcoats that should be sufficient for a small game at least.

I'm beginning to think that this is something I should try sooner rather than later.

*This decision has often been questioned. We chose it on the basis that we'd had drama quite enough in the run up to our wedding. Mrs Kinch and I have three criteria for a good holiday destination, a country must score two out of three to be considered. England ticks all the boxes as we speak the language, like the people and eat the food.

Drummer 1st Dublin Volunteers - Mr Johnston - Part 1

A rather ham fisted photograph of a rather special figure

There are some debts that can never be repaid, but it behooves us to try. Mrs Kinch's uncle rescued us when we were in dire straits some years ago. He's a man who appreciates a large scale model soldier. I had purchased some 120mm figures for him a while ago, but when I saw this, I knew I had to get it for him.

This is number 8 of 200 specially made resin figures made to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Irish Model Soldier Society. Mrs Kinch's grandfather and great uncle were founder members, but Mrs Kinch the uncle hasn't attended in years. The figure is a drummer of the 1st Regiment Dublin Volunteers. These were territorial troops raised during the 18th century to stave off Frenchy while the proper redcoats were off in America. A muster of the Volunteers was painted by Dennis Wheatley and the figure was modelled on one of the men pictured. The chap in question has been identified as a Mr Johnston, who later became a porter at Carton House. The picture currently hangs in the national gallery.


I took the pieces apart and gave them a wash with warm soapy water and then trimmed each piece with a stanley blade. I must say this was a great deal easier than my last effort. The resin cut more easily, the detail was finer and the model required hardly any filling at all.

Mr Johnston, ready for undercoating

You'll notice I've placed a small blob of blu-tack at Johnston's waist. His drum attaches by means of a pin and I thought it best to mask the hole so that when I do glue it in place, I won't be gluing it to paint and I should therefore get a strong joint.

With most of the work that was so time consuming with my last figure done, I'm looking forward to launching straight into painting.

Sniper

To the left

To the right

Shoot it up, shoot it up, it's alright*

Falklands sniper painted at last. I tried to think of something clever to do with the cape, but ended up painting it in DPM after all. I'm beginning to think that this chap isn't actually a fully qualified marksman, but a gifted amateur who due to unforeseen circumstances at the beginning of the Russian/Volgan invasion got his hands on a snipers rifle and had to quickly jury rig the rest of his kit.

The face paint was copied from an illustration in "Basic Battle Skills" and everything else was just sort of made up as I went along.

Note that like all soulless killers, Mr. Sniper is a ginger.

*With apologies to Claphams finest, the Stereo MCs.

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.

Painted Chasseurs

Amongst the figures that arrived yesterday were some French Chasseurs, which I think you'll agree Mark did a good job on in such a short space of time. I particularly like the Pioneer, though I will have to think of some way of using him in C&C Napoleonics. I foresee a special card.

These chaps are of the 1st Legere, who were like my Swiss were at Maida. Hitherto fore, the French lights were represented by the Irish in the shape of the 3ieme Legione Etranger. They looked rather fetching, but it was probably a little odd to have the entire light arm of my French army hail from Mayo.

It would probably have been more appropriate to use figures in skirmishing poses for lights, but I thought the HAT marching figures were so splendid that I plumped for them instead. Pleasing oneself is one of the satisfactions of wargaming. Napoleonic infantry look right marching along.

The arrival of the French Light Infantry and British Heavy Cavalry broadens the number of Command & Colours: Napoleonics scenarios I'll be able to play with my new setup.

Two gentlemen who have been giving it a try on a similar scale are Clive (of the Old Metal Detector) and Foy (Prometheus in Aspic) - they used some lovely old Hinton Hunts to play a version of Rolica. I recommend the slideshow on Clive's blog, a sparse table with simply painted figures. Evocative of Charge!