From AndrewG - Wars of the Roses Artillery (50 points)

I got a bit distracted this week painting figures for other games, so my War of the Roses project took a bit of a hit. Nevertheless, I was able to put two artillery pieces together. These Culverins and crews are all metals from the Perry miniatures line. They arrived with quite a bit of flashing on them, and the elevation guides were pretty bent, so they required more cleaning up than I would have otherwise expected from Perry’s. Also, there's no clear up/down or left/right for any of the pieces so I made sure to refer to technical illustrations before cleaning and gluing - I saw a few of these miniatures online where the elevation guides were cut off and/or the barrels had been inverted.

Looking forward to firing ... if the rain would stop!

Let's hope it doesn't blow up this time...

Kept the crew liveries generic so I can use them in different forces

Crew sizes were varied to add some variety

I purposely left the mountings and barrels black, as most paintings and illustrations I could source for the period suggested they weren’t shiny gun metal (if anyone knows otherwise please let me know). I mounted them on 80x80x2mm bases and gave them the usual treatment of Vallejo muds, Noch grass, Tajima tufts, and driveway special gravel blend. Overall, I’m happy with how they turned out. Now to make about ten more…

 

Claiming the following points:

2x 28mm artillery & crews = 20 pts

6x28mm foot figures @ 5 points =30

2x28mm Weapon @10 points =20

Total = 20 50 points.

Great work on these Perry pieces Andrew.  I have these kits in my Italian Wars Army and they are very nice, but I agree that one needs to pay attention in assembly.  I really like the basing and posing of figures.  These were typically wrought iron weapons, basically made of staves and hoops like a barrel.  As far as I can tell black is the correct colour, think of an old timey fence.  You seriously undervalued yourself on the points as you get to claim the guns and the crews.  I've upped your scores accordingly.

From LeeH: 6pdr Gun with crew plus a water wagon (60 Points)

So a few weeks ago, I painted a 12pdr Gun Team, and I mentioned that I also had a 6pdr gun and crew to paint. But you may recall that I had to ‘borrow’ a crewman from the 6pdr team because Sharp Practice has a five-man crew for guns, but the packs only come with four figures. Well, now that it was time to paint the 6pdr, I was two figures down, so I bought a couple of artillery officers from Front Rank to fill the gaps. 

Actually, what I plan to do is swap back the ‘borrowed figure’ from the 12pdr crew and give each set one of the officers (shown below).

As with the earlier gun, this was fun to paint, and I look forward to doing more artillery at a later date. During Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, the Russian army had a substantial artillery force, with estimates ranging from over 600 guns present at Borodino alone. Some sources indicate the Russians had over 2,000 artillery pieces available during the campaign compared to the French, who had approximately 1400 artillery pieces available. 

I also had time to work on another wagon, this time a 3D-printed one from Iron Gate Scenery. The large barrels are also 3D prints, this time from Debris of War. Lastly, I added a spare horse, which I think I got from Tiger Miniatures. I didn't add in the harness this time because I'm not sure whether I'll use this as shown or separate from the horse. I can always add that detail in later when I have made my mind up!

This is likely my last Friday entry as we move into the final week of the challenge. It won't be my last entry, however, as I already have two more groups of figures on my desk. I have two part-completed units of Carabineers and, if I have time, some rather angry civilians!  

Scoring: 1x28mm Gun = 10pts, 5 Crewmen = 25pts, one vehicle = 20pts and a Horse for another 5 points for a total of 60 Points. 

It has been great fun to see your Retreat from Moscow project rolling along at a steady pace, Lee! I admire your focus and determination. Russian artillery has always been considered one of their main strengths, so it is fitting that you end your regular Friday posts with another glorious gun. I also very much like the wagon! Painting is up to your ususal high standard. I remember you expressing some doubts at the beginning, as you had not been painting 28mm figures for a long time, but all your contributions have been absolutely amazing. I am looking forward to hopefully see some more next week! 

Martijn

From JohnB: 5th level of the Abyss - Wrath or the Fury of Artillery (103 points)

My journey this year continues to be sluggish although again AHPC15 has got me to parts of my hobby I have failed to reach previously. This time it is WW2 artillery which has not figured in decades.

Back in the restricted Covid times I was ever present in charity shops tied to walking as much as possible and just getting out. The net result - I bought a lot of books mostly on military history. Wargames don't really figure in these shops book sales so imagine my surprise when one day I walked past the window of the Amnesty International Bookshop in York to see a wargames book on display. It was being sold as a vintage item. I bought it simply because I had not seen a wargames book in years in these charity bookshops. Then again Charles Grant the author was always worth at least a look and the book in question was his meccano magazine articles of the sixties packaged in book form in the seventies. By the time it was published the world had moved on - colour print magazine articles about the American War of Independence is what I remember from those times not to mention Dungeons and Dragons.......

This book was very very old school but equally simple in its presentation. And that simplicity as I flicked through the book was what caugnt my eye. I bought it and pretty quickly decided that this could be my solution to a problem I had. The problem was I wanted to revisit WW2 wargames but neither through skirmish or gamey (too fat lardies) rules or attempts at scale accuracy (drives you to 1/300 or board games...). I wanted the sixties compromise - WW2 on a traditional dining room table - so roughly 5x3 or 6x4 feet max. or 1.5 to 1.8m x 0.9/1.2m.

The book delivered this but I did not - despite acruing a lot of hard ware. Even now I have not progressed this project to anything like my original idea. I have it in parts.

Part of the problem was CSGrant opted for late war kit while I managed to hijack the whole thing into an exploration of the 1930's era. I also wanted it to be fantasy as in - you get the kit but not the countries/political back story. So I had men in adrian helmets or italian helmets and green/ brown uniforms only. So no Germans at all.

Initially I actually opted for Russians v USA using PSC 1/72 figures but again although they could pass for early war characters they somehow still looked too late war to my eye.

So this a long introduction to some artillery - anti tank guns to be specific.

There is a British bren carrier and 6 pounder AT gun - the vintage Airfix model no less.

There are two Hotchkiss 37mm AT guns with Polish gunners from the "First to Fight" range.

 As regards the Abyss journey I think that when any artillery opens up it will be wrathful to hear and experience. So I would claim 20 points for this level. I am quite pleased I now have at last some AT guns, given I seem to have acquired a lot of AFV's!. Charles Grant advised a fantasy approach to collecting - in his case both sides used german halftracks for infantry transport - he pitched russians v germans or rather red v black armies.

My forces will occupy FAUXTERRE - my fake world of fantasy history and in this case its FAUXTERRE1930. The beauty is you can deploy your favorite models and figures in your own organisations and your chosen backstory and none of it can be fact checked! Now where are those weird tractors for the Hotchkiss AT battery..........

Points wise for the figures and guns - they are 20mm and add up as follows:   

Polish AT Gun battery 

    8 gunners @ 4pts = 32 

    2 37mm Hotchkiss AT Guns @ 8pts = 16 

British AT Gun 

    3 gunners @ 4pts = 12 

    1 6pdr AT Gun @ 8pts = 8 

    1 Bren Carrier @ 15pts = 15 

Abyss Level = Wrath = 20pts 

Grand Total 103pts 

What a great nostalgic post, John! Any wargamer of a certain age must remember the early work by Charles Grant, surely! For me it was his Napoleonic Wargaming, but this charity shop find of the original Battle is great! And to top it up a venerable Airfix kit, what is not to like! And I admire your fantasy setting too, there is nothing like an ImagiNation to spark off some creativity. After all, we are playing with toy soldiers. I fondly remember pitting my Airfix Waterloo British against some WWII Japanese when I was a wee boy, and having tremendous fun with it! 103 points will be added to your total.

Martijn

From LeeH: Russian 12pdr Gun & Crew (50 Points)

I have been looking forward to starting this piece since I bought it at Partizan last year. This is a Perry miniature and comes with four crewmen. But only last week did I realise that Sharp Practice guns have five crewmen…so I found an extra figure from another set to make up the numbers. I’ll worry about replacing the crew from the other gun later. The sculpts on these are outstanding and the crewmen all look suitably cold, especially the guy hugging his hands in his greatcoat. He looks thoroughly miserable and makes you realise that while the French army had a terrible time in Russia, the Russian troops weren’t much better off. There’s a good reason why campaigning in winter is a silly idea, even if it is your homeland and you are used to the weather. When the temperature drops to -20℃ everyone suffers. 

The 12pdr was the standard heavy artillery piece of the Russian army in 1812 and their crews have been described as highly professional and very well trained. At the Battle of Boridino, General Kutuzov ordered the artillery to hold their ground to the last possible moment and then fire at the enemy with canister. When artillery is about to be overrun it takes a significant amount of training and discipline to follow such orders. 

I also wanted to get a few more officers painted so here are three, including one who seems to be overcoming the cold from the bottom of a bottle. All three officers are from Wargames Foundry and are beautiful minis with plenty of character. 

 

Already on the workbench are the next unit, a fearsome looking unit of Don Cossacks. Once again, I should stress that I haven’t painted multi-part 28mm cavalry in decades so I am approaching this unit with some trepidation. However, now that I have got started I am enjoying it. Whether they are finished by the next submission day remains to be seen. I’d rather take my time than rush these… especially with their sharp lances. I’ve drawn blood already and I’m not even half done. 

(Scoring: 8x28mm Foot = 40 points + 1x28mm Gun = 10 points : Total 50 points)

More great Russians, Lee, excellent! The figures are full of character, and your painting is crisp and clean as ever. I like the snowy effect on the greatcoats. And yes, they show why war is not really an activity for winter. Nor for spring or autumn with their pouring rain, nor for summer with its sweltering heat... Let's keep it to our wargaming tables, and yours will be graced by these lovely figures. 50 points then.

Martijn

From KentG: 18mm Westphalian AB miniatures unbased (108pts)

 For this post we have more of the 18mm AB miniatures painted as Westphalian's. AB's are so nice to paint they almost paint themselves. I am now in the final stretch of this commission.

first up we have ADC's took a bit to find the right information

 on these and I'm still not quite sure I got it perfectly right

I used the same blue I use for my 28mm French which I think works.

we have 8 x Chevaleger

Next up 4 Guard Du Corps

and then 24 artillery crew and 6 guns

                    Points unbased figures

                   18 x cavalry 4pts each =72pts -(25%) = 54pts

                    24 x foot 2pts each = 48pts (-25%) = 36pts

                    6 x artillery 4pts each = 24pts (-25%) = 18pts

                        

                                                            Total 108pts

From Millsy: More lovely work in 18mm from you mate. I know you don't enjoy these from our discussions but you cannot argue with the quality of your work regardless. Cracking stuff and thanks for doing the math for me! 

From JohnE - 28mm Napoleonic British Rocket Frame - (20 Points)

 "Very consistent, Lieutenant. Ten salvos and you've missed every time." - Richard Sharpe

For someone that pooh-poohed Napoleonics for many years, I am certainly enjoying my Sharpe project. Here's a British Rocket Frame from Warlord. Normally assembling metal artillery pieces frustrates me to no end, however this one went together without much trouble.

 

 

Points Summary:

2x 28mm foot @ 5 points = 10 points

1x 28mm artillery piece @ 10 points = 10 points

Total = 20 points

Minion Miles: Yet more for JohnE - a very nice rocket Launcher

From Curt: Turnip28 Artillery (90 Points)

Hi Folks!

So, now that I have the officers, rank-and-file and skirmishers done, let's move on to some stuff that makes a big bang on the table. Yes indeed, it's the artillery! In Turnip28 artillery are as prone to blow up their crews as they are to harm the enemy. But with grave risks comes great rewards, right? 

Stump Guns are the garden variety artillery in Turnip28 (heh, see what I did there). Think of them being similar to the artillery used in the late medieval period, but even more capricious and undependable. 

For a bit of fun and colour, I played around giving a verdigris patina to the guns using a variation I found on a YouTube tutorial (so handy for ideas). 

Next are two Rocket launchers. Again, quite dangerous contraptions, but they have the siren's sweet promise of wreaking havoc amongst your foes. If your dice are lucky. Maybe. Otherwise, well, at least the crew will get to see some sights as they enter the atmosphere.

Finally we have The Grand Bombard. This beast can be rather rude to the enemy, and in a pinch, its crew can even 'invite' Snob officers to serve as makeshift ammunition. So when the gunner says, 'We'll shoot you to the head of the column, Guv'nor', he's really not fibbing.

All of these whacky pieces of ordinance need to be crewed, so we have a half-dozen fanatical gunners, along with a brace of ammunition carts for them to gather around during their smoke break.

The rocket batteries, Grand Bombard and crew are from Knucklebones Miniatures, whereas the Stump Guns are from StoneAxe Miniatures and the carts from Mammoth Factory.

Points? Hmm. The five artillery pieces are worth 50 points, while the 6 gunners another 30. For the two ammunition carts, let's say 5 for the pair? So, if this is amenable to our esteemed Minion Martin, that would give a total of 85.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you all have a great week ahead.

- Curt

Spectacular, as always brilliant work. Love dodgy artillery. 5 points each for the carts I think