FPW Work Continues

Work continues on expanding the Franco-Austrian War project into the Franco-Prussian War and even the Austro-Prussian War.  Since the beginning of September, almost all painting work has been focused on mustering out FPW units.  That trend continues today with Bavarian guns rolling out of depot.

Today's offering features four Bavarian guns and crew.  Artillerymen are from Lancashire Games while the guns are from Freikorps 15's.  As an aside, I read today that QRF figures seem to be once more back into production.  Their return is a positive result since I use their limbers and guns for this project almost exclusively.

Still more FPW units to emerge from the painting queue before I turn attention to something else.  This diversion may be a brief one but who knows?

After my recent, long delayed, hostage situation with Irish Customs from my August Lancashire Games' order, I was delighted to see a box of lead drop onto my doorstep in record time from Newline Designs.  Goods are flowing again!

Still More Prussians

Work continues at the painting desk on FPW Germans.  Following closely on the heels of IR31 seen last time, today sees four guns and crew emerge from the depot.  Still, even more FPW figures are seeing activity at the workbench with more Prussians, some Bavarians, and even a battalion each of Badeners and Wurttembergers in work.  Some new and possibly unexpected is working through the production line as well.

Anyway, the four Freikorps 15s' guns and 16 Lancashire artillerymen are ready for service when duty calls.  While I have yet to set a game in the FPW, the flurry of Prussian activity of late is providing motivation to begin looking toward possible scenarios.  The collection still could use some cavalry but not many needed for a suitable scenario.

The lack of games last week offered more opportunities at the painting desk. I should surpass 100 painted figures in September.  Have not seen that in a while.  Gaming returns to the table on Thursday with another look at the Quistello battle.  This time, I get a rare opportunity to step into the role of player as I lead the Franco-Piedmontese in battle against the Wily White Menace. 

FPW Prussian Artillery

While November ticked over with 108 total painted figures for an assortment of projects, midway through December sees that good progress continuing. That continued progress includes working toward a year-end goal of fielding a FPW Prussian infantry division.  With three of the four required infantry regiments completed earlier, I added in the four divisional batteries to break up the painting of countless Prussian infantry.

So, out from the desk today are four Prussian batteries.  Artillerymen are from Lancashire Games and the guns are Freikorps 15s.  Left to paint and muster out are a battalion of Jaegers and the fourth infantry regiment.  Since there are no mounted troops yet in The Lead Pile, attached cavalry and command will have to come later.  Hopefully some of the required mounted arm will be in-house in early 2025.  Still need to decide on which figures to use for the mounted contingents and then place an order.  Right now, Old Glory cavalry from 19th Century Miniatures seems the most likely source. 

Although temperatures have been hovering near freezing for an extended period, new snow this morning gave way to warming to just above freezing.  With a narrow window of above freezing temperatures and daylight, several batches of completed figures were given a spray coat of matte varnish.  Next, those figures will move on to basing.  A quick count shows 81 figures in this latest batch and December is not half over.  I expect to see a slow down as the holidays approach.

Work begins on the next installment of the Great Wargaming Survey analysis.  I often try to set aside part of Friday for this study and yesterday was no different.  What is under investigation?  Several of the new questions in the 2024 survey asked about boardgaming, computer gaming, and the extent to which those two different modes of wargaming fit in with miniatures gaming.  Respondents were asked if they participate in boardgaming or computer gaming and the relative mix between figure gaming and the other two.  Hopefully, something interesting drops out from this analysis. 

Stay tuned.  For now, back to the painting desk.

Bring Up the Guns

After pumping out nearly 25 units for the 1859 project in 2019, this project has not seen much activity at the painting desk in 2020.  Besides the four artillery pieces and crew mustering out today, only two battalions of Austrian infantry have emerged from the production line in 2020.  Why the dearth of units for the 1859 project?  Perhaps I have enough combatants to call to arms for the size of game I envision?  Perhaps other projects have bubbled up higher into the painting queue?  Perhaps I simply have lost focus? 

Whatever the real reason for little activity in the 2020, the project sees a small addition with the bringing up of four guns and crew.  Two guns join the French army and two guns move out to join the Sardinian army.  Guns are Freikorps 15s' pieces.  The artillerymen are Lancashire Games.

While two French 36-figure regiments are waiting their turn in the painting queue, many other units will see a slap of paint before the Frenchmen see any work.  The queue is long but the toys are patient.  The painting desk likely will see a return to the 18mm SYW project.  One battalion of Bavarian infantry and two Russian guns are in work and will muster out soon.

After the SYW units take front and center at the photo booth, the first arrivals of a planned Hittite army will emerge from the workbench.  My 2020 goal included beginning a Hittite army and completing a dozen BMUs before year-end.  We will see how I do.  My confidence is high. 

Prussian Commanders from Freikorps 15s

Another small group of Freikorps 15s' command figures dredged up from the bottom of The Lead Pile.  This time, a three-figure pack of Prussian mounted officers hit the painting desk.  Perhaps not as crisply sculpted and molded as Eureka's fine range of SYW figures but satisfactory, for sure, and with their own bit of charm.

In the Painting Ledger, August is shaping up to be a disappointment on the figure count front.  With travel, increased cycling, and other demands on my time, activity at the painting desk has slipped off.  I can go days without making it down to the painting desk for even the quickest of painting sessions.  One of the demands experiencing a modest bump is gaming.  I recently managed to pull off two gaming sessions on two consecutive weekends.

The first session saw the finale of the San Martino battle.  Often spending time looking over the situation since the conclusion of the first part of the battle, I have been trying to figure out a solution to pushing the Austrians back from their initial land grab.  Were the Sardinians successful?  Stay tuned for the second part of the battle recap.  

The second session featured my 30mm ECW collection in three, decisive refights of the Battle of Southam.  The victor was the same in all three playings despite switching sides more than once.  With the figures reset, I may work through a few solo battles to see if the tables can be turned.  

Still, a lot of figures are slowly working their way through the painting queue.

1859 Sardinian Commanders

Rummaging through The Lead Pile, I came upon several packs of Sardinian commanders for the 15mm 1859 project.  The packages were Freikorps 15s and must have been buried for years.  The only Freikorps figures purchased in the last five years have been limbers and teams for this period.  These figures, therefore, must have been from the early days of the project in 2008.  Note, several limbers and teams were also "rediscovered" in this dig into the bins.  Hooray!  Oh, wait.  I don't enjoy painting limbers. 

While not as nice as the Mirliton mounted commander offerings for the Sardinians and limited to only two poses, these four stands will add some needed leadership to my Sardinian army. 

Also resurfacing during my wander though The Lead Pile, I discovered a few more odds and ends from Freikorps 15s.  One is a Prussian command pack from the SYW range and a couple of packs of AWI generals.  The AWI generals' packs must be at least a dozen years old.  I think I will push the Prussian general pack into the painting queue.   

French Limbers for Second Empire

I don't enjoy painting limbers.  There.  Glad that is out of the way.

In some of my projects limbers are a necessary evil.  In a few projects, fielding limbers and teams is not considered.  In most projects, though, limbers and teams receive their due and are appropriately mustered into the ever-expanding collections.

The 1859 project in 15mm is one such project in which limbers and teams are built to accompany each battery.  Work continues on bringing the French artillery park up to requirements of one limber per gun model.  When the latecomer French first appeared on the scene for the 1859 Montebello battle, fielding guns was a given priority.  I figured limbers could debouch from the confines of the painting desk onto the battlefield at a later date and at my leisure.  This is exactly what happened.  

Off the painting desk today are three French limbers and teams from Freikorps 15s.  Perhaps one reason for my continuing hesitation to produce limbers is that I chose to field each limber with a six-horse team.  A six-horse limber team is the equivalent of two squadrons of cavalry.  Cavalry that could be quite useful in actual combat operations.  With three limber teams, the effort to paint eighteen horses could easily be diverted toward the production of six cavalry squadrons.  Well, I made my choice.  Six-horse teams look impressive on the battlefield!     

1859 French Artillery Limber in 15mm

While only a single artillery limber and team, it is always a welcome addition to push one of these pieces of equipment across the painting desk regardless of the number.  The limber and team were pressed into the painting queue in between two larger units.  Painting only one team was not as painful as setting about to finish three or four of these auxiliary pieces.  And once it is done, it is done!

Like almost all (all but one, that is) of the limbers and teams in the 1859 collection, this piece is from Freikorps 15s.  With ten French guns and crew completed and only four limbers listed as finished in the Painting Log tally, work still remains to bring the French artillery park up to full strength.  Maybe I will continue slipping a limber or two in between other larger efforts?  At least four more remain in The Lead Pile awaiting an opportunity to slide over to the "finished" side of the ledger.

Following the conclusion of the first quarter's concentration on the 1859 Battle of Montebello, painting action on the 1859 project will likely take a back seat to other more "urgent" projects.  Actually, no projects have a feeling of urgency at present since most have reached the point where games can be fielded with troops at hand.  The only project with any urgency might be the Biblical project featuring my budding Assyrian troops.  Jake is ramping up production on a likely foe for my Assyrians in the form of an Egyptian army.  He is making great headway already (see Jake's Egyptian works here and here).  Seems the arms race is on and I need to ramp up my production.

  

French Artillery and Limbers for 1859

The French forces continue a slow but steady build for the 1859 project.  Fresh off from the painting desk and reporting for duty are two French artillery pieces and their accompanying limbers.  Each gun is crewed by four artillerymen and each limber is drawn by a six horse team.

These guns and limbers are all Freikorps 15s.  Very good models although the horses are smaller than the other manufacturers used in this project.  Six horse limber teams may seem like overkill and luxury but the Austrian and Sardinian limbers come with six horses each.  Waste not, want not, right?  Naturally, the French limbers are delivered with four horses so extra sets are needed to bring each limber up to the full strength of their Austrian and Sardinian brethren.  QRF/TSS is very good about filling custom orders.  When I place an order, I often request  extra horses for the limber train.  The extra train has always been provided.  Why is the French train not sold with a six horse train?  That is a good question!

Old Glory 15mm French for 1859

The first figures to make it across the painting desk in June are 36 Old Glory French from the FPW/FAW range.  These 36 figures comprise 3 x 12 figure battalions and are the first French infantry from this range to see some paint.

The sculpting is good but the molding execution on some of the models is suspect.  For one, some heads seem to be molded not quite in the right position.  That is, heads set up a little too high at the shoulder and barely hang by a thread.  Not as many as is the case for the Austrian infantry.  Weapons also seem to suffer from molding issues with detailing on some muskets lacking.  Still solid and functional foot for the forthcoming French masses and the sculptor did introduce much character into the figures.  The poses and uniform details remind me of subjects in Detaille's paintings.

As a comparison, a group photo below shows one French battalion each from Freikorps 15s, When Navy Walked, and Lancashire Games with two battalions of the recently painted Old Glory figures.   

Freikorps 15s are clearly the smallest with Old Glory coming in at the next smallest.  Lancashire Games are the largest but on the gaming table these size differences disappear.

Many more French from both Old Glory and Lancashire Games remain to hit the painting queue.

Limbering Along

Maybe that should be "lumbering along?"  Anyway, off the painting desk this afternoon are three 15mm Austrian limbers each with teams of six.  These limbers exhaust the stockpile of Austrian limbers.  With the addition of these three limber teams, the project now can muster eight total limbers and teams.  I hope eight is enough.  The figures are Freikorps 15s.

Looking back at old blog posts, I find it hard to believe that it has been two years since the 1859 project has been out on the table for a review (DEC2012 1859 Review).  About 100 infantry and a number of limbers were added in 2014.  Progress has slowed since managing enough figures to refight the northern portion of Solferino (San Martino) in 2013.  That battle was a fun exercise and an interesting situation for both combatants.  I may try that again.  Perhaps, now, there are enough battalions to include the Sardinian outflanking maneuver on Madonna della Scoperta as part of the San Martino battle?

The Sardinian grenadier regiments were part of the Madonna della Scoperta action and two of these grenadier regiments are on the painting desk now.

15mm Risorgimento: Austrian I.R. 27/4

Following on the footsteps of the Risorgimento figure comparison featuring the newly acquired Lancashire figures, an 18 figure Austrian battalion marches off from the painting desk.  This battalion represents one of the 4th battalions detached from the 6th Austrian Corps to Benedek's 8th Corps at San Martino.  

Since I am away from my resources and working from memory, the presence of these 4th battalions puzzles me.  In the field, an Austrian infantry regiment contained three line battalions and one grenadier battalion.  The fourth battalion acted as a depot and typically was not present on the battlefield.  If that was the case, were these few 4th battalions mustered up for the campaign?  If not, what were these 4th battalions?  Perhaps, I can investigate once I return to my library.

Figures are Freikorps 15s.   

While the Freikorps figures looked small in comparison to the other manufacturers, on the gaming table, these size differences are not noticeable.  Next time I get the collection into battle, I must make a point of capturing game shots with all manufacturers in the same battle scene.

With the arrival of the Lancashire figures, I am anxious to get the figures into the painting queue and onto the painting desk.  The arrival of new figures always motivates me to get a few under the brush quickly.  Does the arrival of new figures have the same effect on others?  

Lancashire Games Miniatures

My eye has been on Lancashire Games since they produce a range of figures for the mid-19th Century European wars.  From the website photos of the miniatures, it is difficult to get a good grasp of the quality of the sculpts.  What better way to find out for myself than by placing a small, dip-your-toe-into-the-water test order?  Well, that is exactly what I did.

Concentrating on my 1859 project, I ordered enough figures to build two battalions each of Sardinians and Austrians.  The figures were ordered from the UK on 01NOV2014 and the order arrived on the left coast of the USA on 10NOV2014.  Fast!  Communication was good too.

Figures arrived in good shape with a few figures having bent bases; some almost doubled over onto the legs.  With such soft alloy, the bases were easily straightened without any breakage.  I like the soft alloy Lancashire uses and reminds of the good old days of malleable, lead figures.

Pulling a few figures out, I lined them up and made a quick comparison.  No Mirliton infantry remained unpainted for the comparison so a couple of artillerymen were substituted.  These Lancashire figures are on the chunky side of the spectrum especially with stockiness in the upper torso.  These rank and file lads have no neck!  With a slightly oversized head,  I guess neck compression is expected.  I would classify them as 17M on the Barrett Scale. Does anyone still use that metric?

Sculpting style on these figures is very similar to Mirliton infantry with the exception that Mirliton are slightly smaller.  Mirliton have no neck too.  Still, the Mirliton Austrian artilleryman fits in well with Lancashire.  As seen from the photo, size varies even within one manufacturer.  See the the two Mirliton artillerymen in the top row, for example.  The Old Glory figures fit in closely to Lancashire but a little smaller.  Perhaps,16M on Barrett.  Old Glory and Lancashire officers match very well together.  The Freikorps Austrian infantry is in a class by himself at a true 15mm in height.  On the gaming table the Barrett differences between Mirliton, Old Glory, and Freikorps disappear.  Almost certainly be the same when Lancashire battalions are added into the mix.   

First impressions are that I like what I see from Lancashire Games.  My only regrets are that I ordered Austrians wearing their greatcoat when I would have preferred kittel and I forgot to use my Society of Ancients' 10% member discount.  Next time!

Sardinian Limbers for 1859

Yes, painting limbers and team are a necessary evil.  

Painting these three limbers and teams, somehow, did not seem so bad!

Mustering out from the painting desk are three Sardinian limbers/teams from Freikorps 15s for the 1859 Risorgimento project.  A number of these models have been fielded in the past so no surprises with these fine models.  With these three models added to the project, eight Sardinian limbers can now see service on the table top.

What motivated the production of more limbers?  Well, Quick Reaction Force recently held a 20% discount offer and I figured this was a good time to restock!  My plan was to deplete existing limber supplies before the new order arrived.  Well, I made it!  I finished these models on the 29th and the Freikorps 15s order arrived on the 30th.  Just in time inventory management.
  
As seen from the photo below, the restock consisted mainly of limbers and teams for all three combatants.  Both the French and Sardinian limbers came with six horse teams but the Austrians arrived with only four horse teams.  In the past, the Austrians contained six horse teams as well.  Was this an oversight?  In the catalog, AUS40 is described as having four horse teams but the accompanying photo shows six horse teams.  Confusing.  I'll send a note off to QRF for clarification.

Now, with French limbers now in-house, I should focus on painting some French!

  

Risorgimento Sardinian Limbers in 15mm

After persevering through five Austrian limbers and teams, I forged ahead onto four Sardinian limbers.  Like their Austrian counterparts before, each limber carries a six horse team with three artillery train personnel and two artillery crew on the limber.  Figures are Freikorps 15s.

With these limbers, the Risorgimento project now musters five limbers each for Austria and Sardinia.  I have an additional four Sardinian limbers in The Lead Pile but have exhausted my supply of Austrian limbers.  For me, limbers represent a fair amount of work so it might be awhile before I tackle more limbers and teams.

Austrian Limbers for 1859

The last batch of painted figures to pass off the painting desk in 2013 was a set of five Austrian artillery limbers with teams.  Each limber fields a six horse team with three artillery train personnel and two artillery crew on the limber, itself.  Figures are Freikorps and while smaller than the Mirliton Sardinian limber painted earlier, all will look appropriate in the artillery park.  Since the project contains a collection of Old Glory, Mirliton, and Freikorps, some size variation is expected.  These Freikorps limbers and teams are such nice models that any additional limbers will be from this line.  A bonus is that they can be sourced in the U.S.

On the painting desk are four Sardinian limbers and teams to provide artillery mobility for the Sardinians as well.  Like the Austrian limbers above, the Sardinians field six horse teams.