Sunday, March 31, 2013

92nd Gordon Highlanders at Kandahar, 1880


Inspired by the famous painting by Richard Caton Woodville, I recently commissioned the 92nd Gordon's to add to my Colonial armies. These were painted by Carl Robson using figures by Perry Miniatures from their Sudan range.

Here is Woodville's evocative painting of the 92nd Highlanders and 2nd Gurkas storming the Gaudi Mullah Sahibdad at Kandahar, 1st September 1880.





Here is my recreation of the Gordon's. The uniforms are a few year's later but are the best I could find.

















IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers


IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers are almost complete, the officer is still needed for the command stand.











IR17 von Manteuffel


IR17 von Manteuffel  is now complete! The figures are by Black Hussar, painted by Leuthen Studios with flags from GMB.















Wednesday, March 27, 2013

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers


More images of the outstanding new Prussian Grenadiers from "Black Hussar Miniatures", painted as IR13, von Itzenplitz. They formed the Combined Grenadiers 13/26 von Fink together with IR26 von Meyerinck. These were once again painted for me by Leuthen Studios. The uniform follows Hans Bleckwenn with white rather than straw breeches and small clothes. The full detachment is ready for basing, pictures of the complete unit to follow.



































Friday, March 22, 2013

1st Panzer Regt., I Bn, Light Tank Company



More figures (and photos) from Neil Burt of Troop of Shewe, this time elements of 1st Panzer Regt., I Bn. Neil is not only an expert at AFV's, he is also a very accomplished figure painter as you can see from the Kublewagen and BMW crews.


 PzKpfw II's, 1st Panzer Regt., I Bn, Light Tank Company



 PzKpfw II, 1st Panzer Regt., I Bn, Light Tank Company


Kublewagen 

Kubelwagen





3eme Cuirassiers, 4eme DCR


I just received from Neil Burt at "Troop of Shewe" this section of Somua (Société d'Outillage Mécanique et d'Usinage d'Artillerie) S35 tanks of the 3eme Cuirassiers, 4eme DCR, circa May 1940. The resin models are from Warlords. Neil also took the great photos.



SOMUA S35's






Saturday, March 16, 2013

Maurice


























So what's all this about Maurice? Well, as the sub-title says, this is a set of wargames rules for "War in the Age of Gentlemen and Philosophers, 1690-1790". I'm currently using it for my Seven Years War games.

I strongly recommend it and I'd suggest buying the complete set of Book and Cards which are listed at $56.00 on the Author's website:


http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/maurice/



I have been asked some questions about my SYW army and how it fits in with Maurice. Let me explain.

The Maurice basing convention for infantry for all nations (including lights, Jaegers, etc), in 28mm scale, is 4x 2"x2" bases with 6 figures of the same unit per base. So 24 figures constitutes a Battalion. 

In the past, I was collecting 12 figure or 15 figure units for my SYW collection. For the Combined Grenadiers, that would be 2x6 figure units or 12 total of 2 different Regiments to maintain the right proportions. 

When my Will, Jeff and I discovered Maurice, I had a problem. My 12 figure battalions were only half the size of a recommended Maurice battalion. They also looked too puny, based on small, 3 figure, thin Litko bases.

What I decided to do was to take each 12 figure unit, re-base it as 1/2 of a full size Maurice unit on the thick 2"x2" Litko bases and combine 2 of such units to form a Maurice-sized unit. I essentially brigaded the two undersized battalions. This created a "unit" with too many standards (and those of unrelated regiments,) but it enabled us to quickly start playing Maurice.

With my new "Black Hussars Miniatures", I am building 24 figure units. As a test, I initially only commissioned 12 of the IR17 von Mantueffel's from Leuthen Studios, but quickly ordered up the second 12 figures because I liked what I saw. Any future units will be 24 figure units from the outset.


In the case of my Grenadiers, they will ideally be 2 x12 figure Grenadier companies, combined into a four base 24 figure grenadier unit. So far, for IR13 von Itzenplitz, I have 12 figures on order. I need to order the second half of the combined unit.

IR13 von Itzenplitz Grenadiers

Even if I use different rule systems in the future, I think the Maurice conventions will be more appropriate

Jeff has a very entertaining 3-part account of our first Maurice battle on his Squad Painter blog:

Saturday, March 9, 2013

IR Nr. 17 von Manteuffel Musketeer Regiment: Command

Here are some individual figures for the second half of my von Manteuffel Musketeers using the new "Black Hussar" 28mm miniatures. They will be based shortly on the Regimental Command base per "Maurice" rules.

Drummer

Drummer
 The drummer has been beating the pas de charge very vigorously from the look of the drum surface!

Drummer


The talented artist at Leuthen Studios has even tried to simulate the drummer's intricate lace.

Drummer's Lace

Musketeer


Musketeer

NCO

NCO



Officer


Officer