Plastic Fantastic

Well I've finally managed to get my hands on some of the Wargames Factory WSS generic infantry. Unfortunately not through the rapidly imploding unit that is Wargames Factory (does anyone outside of the Company actually know the truth about what is going on with them?) but from a vendor in the UK - Caliver Books.

So first - what do you get in the box?

Twelve sprues all the same. Each has two generic infantry figures which only need one of the eight heads provided to be attached. The heads have a variety of head wear with upturned fronts, full tricorn, soft turnups, feathers, feather edging and periwigs.

Additionally each sprue has the legs for another figure. Here you have a choice of four torsos for drummers, officers, nco's or grenadiers. Each has their own arms (including the option of having a grenadier with grenade if desired - very nice touch), heads (again if you want grenadiers you have a variety of headwear to cover all the different options from the period) and sashes swords and other paraphernalia.
The drum comes in two halves which looks like it's going to need some filling. But there is only one arm with a drumstick so more of a beat than a drum roll.

As for size - well the above shot gives a good idea of how they match in with my other primary range choices.

From left to right - Front Rank - Wargames Factory - Old Glory.

A good fit with Front Rank even if they are slimmer and a lot more slender. Right now they look a bit awkward - gangly and with uneven proportions for the arms and legs.

As I put then together this afternoon I did think that the heads don't quite meet the neck of the torso cleanly and on some of the head options look as though they have chicken necks. Also there is no halbard for the NCO since they have to have a half pike.

But so far I'm happy with them and am looking forward to painting them.

And as for painting .................

Well I've just based the last of the Old Glory figures. These will appear later this week once the base texturing is done.

This last unit marks a milestone. It is the last of the old infantry figures that I want to revamp. I do have another battalion of figures from Lamming but when I came to repainting them I fond that I really don't like them much. Whilst I can understand the appeal of them for me they are ungainly, chunky, poorly defined and no matter how much I tried to give the faces some definition they still ended up looking like General Urko from "Planet of the Apes".

So for now they're all going into a storage box whilst I concentrate on other figures.

Bears Knocked Out

The better team won. Although in the end I don't think there was that much to chose between them. Apart from that first twenty minutes when the damage was done and the Bears offence couldn't respond.
The real surprise last night was our special teams. Or rather the ability of Green Bay to nullify them with some excellent punt and return work.
Still the better team won by not giving up some huge penalties at key times (and especially not three first down in one dive because of penalties). One wonders if the man on the left will survive the cull that has to come. The Offense needs a good overhaul on the line because we've been outplayed for much of the season and the offensive scheme needs to be altered to suit Cutler and get rid of the seven step drop which is giving defenses way too much time. The skill positions look to be okay with young talent in all areas. Personally I'd look for a new OC first and a better backup QB (promote Hanie after a superb showing last night).
The defense has to alter in the secondary. Jennings and Tillman were made to look pedestrian at times on a pitch that should have catered for the Bears. The line looks good and the linebackers too although age is a concern here.

Another Week

....and another unit finished.
Now it's time for the Swiss to make their first appearance in my WSS French collection - Regiment Manuel.
I decided early on in this revamp to reduce the number of French in grey/white uniform and increase the diversity of colour. So now along with the dark blue of the Germans and the cornflower blue of the Bavarians are the red of the Swiss.

I chose to make the Swiss appear in a darker red than the English and so used GW Scab Red & GW Red Gore with the officers receiving a further highlight of GW Blood Red. As an additional incentive the Swiss seem to have had their NCO's in reversed colours so these appear in dark blue with red facings.

I like the Swiss colours too. Lots of colour and dramatic presentation rather than the usual French quartered colours.

I intend ultimately to produce three battalions of Swiss.

As yet I have not received my Wargames Factory figures although I notice that there were sets for sale on Ebay last week.

Bring on the Pack

The Bears will host the Packers for just their second post season meeting - can't quite believe that stat but there we are.
We got there by routing the Seahawks in the first half of the game with Cutler picking the Seahawks apart. The passing game was enhanced by some determined running from the backs and Cutler.

So what odds on a 25th anniversary rematch of Bears & Patriots? If is to be then can we have the same scoreline please?

German Brigade Finished

Painting continues in, what is now becoming a bit of a rush, to revamp the WSS collection before Triples.
This latest stage for completion is the German brigade. Three battalions representing Alsace, Greder & Sparre (the last being the latest as it were).

The figures are all from Reiver available through Under the Bed Enterprises (http://www.underbed.co.uk/) and are actually from their Great Northern War collection. I wanted something different because n the uniform descriptions they are referred to as having turnbacks which is unusual for the French army at this time.

They have been a feature of my army for a while now but have laboured under the wrong colours and with the wrong waistcoat colours for far too long. So revamped and on slightly bigger bases I'm hoping that they take to the field with renewed vigour and aggression.

This going to be a rush because I've been told that I have to go into hospital for surgery on my knee at the end of March, and the subsequent enforced recuperation will prevent me getting into the painting room for several weeks.

The Spring Project

I've mentioned it and hinted at it several times. Indeed it is the very reason for the revamping of all the older figures in my WSS collection.

So what is it?

Well it is the intention of the Grimsby Wargames Society to go on the road and have a demonstration game at Triples this year on May 21st & 22nd.

Our intention is to showcase a regular night game from the club as it were. Standard terrain boards, the figures we use week in and week out, the rules we use for the period. All with the aim of showing that large (in this case some 2000+ 28mm figures) games can be played quickly and with fun.

And the fun part is if you want to join in we are happy to oblige, just let me know.

Steve Walker

Sadly Steve passed away last night after losing his fight against cancer. He was a long time member of the Grimsby Wargames Society and, although not a regular atendee, his enthusiasm for the hobby was undiminished to the end.

Steve was still painting figures upto Christmas although sadly he never got to use them in anger. Particular favourite periods were the Second World War and latterly the Spanish Civil War but his interests expanded beyond these and encompassed many periods and topics.

For more on his painting and thoughts go to www.panzerfaustepainting.blogspot.com

Steve will be missed and my sympathies got to his family on this sad occasion.

Defence

I couldn't work out what the game plan was last night. It seemed as though Cutler must have upset the coaches in the week and as a punishment they had a plan to get him sacked, knocked and hit as often as possible in a game that would not affect the Bears position.
No offence from either side although the Packers had the better of it in the last quarter when the Bears looked to have said that was enough. The last drive looked good until the interception though and Cutler was throwing well in that last drive.

I just hope that we don't see a repeat of this picture in three weeks time.