WSS FRench Revamp Part 1

There is a major project in the offing for the spring of next year and whilst I am nor prepared to say more about that at the moment, part of the project requires that my French army has a revamp. What I want to achieve is a uniform presentation for the figures and to improve the quality of the paintwork on the original core of the army - the Old Glory figures.
These were purchased in the 1980's and painted to a standard that stands out against the better Front Rank figures from the last five years. So this weekend saw the first battalion reorganised, presented with new standards and given a face lift.

These two shots show Regiment Souvre as they are now in their 1980's format. Four bases of seven figures, one command base of three figures and a separate grenadier company of four figures.

As you can see detail i s minimal, flesh is basic and the basing is not my current preferred method.
Below is Regiment Piedmont in their new format. Four standard bases of eight figures, including four grenadiers. New flags care of Warflag (see link on the left), with finials and ribbons from Front Rank.

As you can see below I've painted the faces, given the moustaches a better look, new hair colours rather than uniform black. Additionally I've redone the webbing to match that of the later regiments that I've done, touched up the grey and the waistcoats and, rebased them.

Not as good as the Front Rank figures but they do now blend in and look part of the army.

One aspect of the revamp that I hadn't anticipated was the creation of extra figures. I had though I might lose some in the process with the Old Glory figures being prone to weak ankles and breaking. So far I've lost one figure fro three battalions (Picardie & Auvergne are on the painting table right now). However, with the original battalion having 35 figures and the new 32 that leaves me with some spares. I haven't bothered replacing the wounded figures, somehow I've never liked the idea of my nice neat lines being littered with men falling wounded. That accounts for 1 figure per battalion. Leaving me with 2 spares.

I'll discuss more of this in the Revamp part 2 and explain more of the reasoning going on behind this revamp.

Vikings

All 260 Norse are done apart from the need to replace some spears and to create a few standards.

The leader, Harkon the White, whilst he may be anachronsitic and have more to do with Hollywood then history, he is my favourite figure of them all. I think he is an old (very old) Citadel figure but I have no recllection of where or when I bought him. I gave him a polar bear skin cloak to make him a little different from the other fur clad figures.

En masse they are an imposing site and look so much better thena my original 30 year old paintwork.

A Little Light Relief

An exercise in skin and white tones. Fantasy footballers picked up from Hasslefree Miniatures.

Generally the figures I paint don't pose much of a challenge in that they don't have a lot of exposed skin and don't wear clothing that would benefit from multiple subtle shades of white. So as a change and for some light releif after revamping all those Vikings I thought this would be change.

I was really pleased with the way that they came out althought the photographs don't do them justice (in my opinion at least). I especially liked the grey body protection on the QB.

Skin tones were achieved from GW Bronze Flesh then GW Bronze Flesh + GW Bleached Bone, folow that with GW Orgyn Flesh Wash, follow with GW Elf flesh and then keep adding GW Bleached Bone until the last highlight you want to add is achieved.

The uniforms (uniforms?) are based on a founding memeber team of the NFL who play in blue orange and white - and no it ain't Denver!

War of the Spanish Succession Game

Just an average size game this week. The French bringing eighteen battalions and twenty seven squadrons of horse, the Allies fifteen battalions and thirty squadrons. The field was flat with a few rolling hills along a short stretch of the road from the river and two small copses dotted along the flood plain.

Both sides marched on in very similar formations, horse split to the flanks and foot massed in the centre. For the French that meant that the French horse on the left faced the English massed horse and on the right the massed Bavarian Kuirassiers were against the Dutch horse.
The main difference in the two infantry lines were that the French, as tradition dictates, kept their guards to the rear whilst the English & Dutch foot guards were meant to spearhead their attack.
As is usually the case both sides sent the horse forward, both hping to clear the enemy away and gain an advantage. In both cases the first attacks were repulsed with heavy losses and both sides forced to retire and regroup.
Meanwhile the French had uncharacteristically opted to attack. The entire left flank and half of the centre moved forward to the covered roadway that divided the battlefield. Reaching it they found themselves facing the English First Foot Guards, a fear inducing sight. Both sides raised their muskets and fired, the French fearing they were to get the worst of it. Whether it was the rain the previous night, the wind blowing into their eyes or the lack of belief we won't know but the result of that first volley was that the French were almost unscathed and the English with gaping holes being rapidly plugged in their ranks.

Several volleys later and the Foot Guards were brought out of the line to recover. The French front line had become rather disjointed and so failed to take the advantage offered.
On the French right results were a little more mixed. The Dutch Foot Guards had pushed across the table and were breaking down the first line of the Bavarians. Not without some losses themselves (they lost their first line supporting battalion bt had others in reserve), however they were proving to be annoyingly stubborn and were reduced to less then a third before finally being recalled.
The horse were once again in action. On the French right the Bavarians saw off the entire Dutch horse, themselves being reduced to less than sixty percent.

On the French left the English were having the better of it. In a seesaw mseries of melees the Englsh lost, won and then won again routing all the French heavy horse bar Cosse Brissac and the remaining mounted unit of Dragoons. One regiment of Dragoons were dismounted in the wood watching the English dismounted regiment facing them (and that's all they all day).
The French lines advanced as light began to fade feeling that victory was in their grasp. However, the Allies had stabilised their lines, regrouped and presented a united front that prevented any further forward motion of the French.

With light failing both sides retired from the field leaving it in no ones hands.

My thanks to Mark for bringing his figures along and to James & Jason for helping to push metal around the tabletop. A most enjoyable game that had opportunities sadly not taken.

Who'll be first?

The first to go that is. Mike Martz and the offensive scheme that has now allowed Cutler to throw more interceptions then touchdowns and failed to provide a TD from 10 chances from the opponents 1 yard line. Lovie Smith for allowing the offense to fall so far so quickly from a promisng start. r Cutler who is on course for a club record 71 sacks (the previous being 66 in Lovies' first year as head coach with Shea os offensive co-ordinator.
Sunday was the fifth offensive line set up in seven games and despite Tice reorganising, the Bears are running out of options and Cutler time - literally. So two weks now until Buffalo which two weeks ago looked like a tick in the win column. Now?

Covenanter Staff

The first of the proposed staff figures for the ECW project. Three mounted commanders from Perry Figures.
Rubbish photographs great figures.

I chose to use generic mounted commanders for the lower level staff - there are "proper" Sottish commanders to do yet - for two reasons. Firstly they are nice figures and go exceedingly well with the Warlord Games range. Secondly, if the proposed Thirty Years War project gaining momentum in the club goes ahead I'll have figures ready to play.

WSS in Plastic

Wargames Factory have announced that their next plastic release will be WSS infantry and will probably be the cause of me breaking my pledge not to expand the collection!

(http://www.wargamesfactory.com/)

Enough figures in a box to build a 36 figure unit complete with staff. from the description of the contents it would seem that there are 24 fixed figures - head required, and 12 others presumably for staff and grenadiers. At $19.95 (that's around £12.50) it's looking good for more units to move onto the field.

I can't say how they compare to other ranges (Front Rank dwarf all others but if they fit with Old glory I'll be happy).

Help Needed

This got real ugly real soon.
Cutler was so out of synch you might have been excused for thinking it was preseason. Worse - the offensive line failed to block rushers and Cutler was being bounced around like a pinball. The secondary were out matched and Tillman had a dreadful game missing several key tackles. At times on defense it seemed as though there was Urlacher tackling and ten other guys joining in afterwards.
There were signs of a potent offense but they flickered all night and never caught fire. The same with the defense. Two games now where the blitz has killed the Bears and Mike Shanahan and his 32nd ranked D in Washington must be thinking that they have a chance to redeem themselves next week.

Classic Wargamers Journal

Issue 1 volume 1 arrived yesterday and is an excellent read. Interesting, thoughtful, inspiring and well presented this issue is as good as the first. Phil has a very intersting interview with Stuart Asquith and Stokes presents some interesting thoughts about creating your own army.
There's even a reference to my wife on page 2 (if you read it you'll understand)!

Busy Brushes

Whilst the opportunities to get on the table have been few that is not to say that I haven't been busy in related areas.
The most recent addition being this, the third, pike and shot regiment to be added to the ECW project.

Another box of plastic from Warlord that are a real pleasure to paint. Very quick and simple, a design that suits the wash system rather than the three tone method. I have also steered away from using the Army Painter dip on this range as well.

The main body of foot so far. I am planning for three more foot units to complete the project after three more units of horse.

Whilst not using the dip on the Scots I am using it on the revamping of the Vikings. Now a quarter of the way through with 64 figures done. Mixed in with the old metal range are 16 plastic Gripping Beat Hirdmen who match in very well.

For the Vikings I'm trying to keep the front two ranks in mail, the third are spearmen or spear and javelins with a mix of chain and leather armour, whilst the fourth is largely composed of archers.

Knocked Out

The Bears were literally knocked out of the game last night by a Giants defense that as Olin Kreutz said played "lights out". I cannot recall any other game where we had to put on our third string QB because of the ferocity from the opposing defence.
The concern now is that the true flaw in the Bears - the O line - has been exposed and shown for what it is.
On the upside we are still top of the NFC North.

Derby Wargames Show

And what a busy show it was today. We got there at 10:30, not long after opening, and found it already quite full and buzzing. As you can see, even though it was quite ctowded the venue is bright and not at all claustrophobic.
The traders in the main seemed to be doing well. It took a while to get served at Dave Thomas' stand where I picked up the Scots horse and some Wars of the Roses gunnes that just said "buy me".
Other purchases included the pirate ships and the additional figures for the rebasing of the WSS figures. I also got the bases and other materials I was looking. I did shoot myself in the foot though with my purchase of a second copy of Marlboroughs Wars by James Faulkner (it was marked down in price and I couldn't remember if I had it or not).

Games seemed to get lost in the crowd though. A few caught my eye. The one above was set in the Boxer Rebellion I think and had several splendid ships disgorging troops of all nationalities onto the harbour complex.

Another was Torgau 1760 in 6mm. Not so much for the game but the presentation - members in full dinner dress with wine being served, martial music playing and the paraphanaia of generals littering the table. The intention was to give a sort of 3D map perspective and it came off very well (and the gamers were a real pleasure to talk to).

The other was this Weird WWII game with a great island ide and lovely figures to boot. I especially liked the rocket troops.

Derby Wargames Show

Away tomorrow to the last show of the year for me. I haven't been to this show for over six years but I do remember it being light and airy unlike the Assembly Rooms (and had a decent cafeteria for a change).
Quite a long list of wants for a change:
Minimi - pirate ship (sloop or brig? Small or large these are the questions).
Warlord - the last of the plastic Scots for the ECW project
Perry - more metal Scots for the ECW project (I knew I wasn't going to be able to resist their dragoons for long)
Front Rank - I want some of their new mortars to add into the French WSS army list
Old Glory - additional packs of infantry and horse to replace the ones that will break as I rebase the WSS collection for the spring project.
Warbases - more ready cut mdf for the stockpile which will take a hit with the new spring project

Plus I want to stock up on paints, dip and other sundry items for those long winter nights that are getting closer.