It's All Greek to me

I'd always planned to have a substantial greek contingent in my Persian army, afterall (depending on which source you read) there were only Greek infantry at the Granicus on either side.
I was lucky enough to grab several boxes of the Immortal Greek Hoplites on Ebay. Pictured above is the completed phalanx of four units.
Most of them were given shields with the transfers supplied by Immortal. However, the last twenty four were given transfers that I bought from Little Big Men Studios. Excellent quality and fantastic when applied. For me they really make the figures special largely because they have texture and depth that you don't get from the waterslide transfers. And they're really easy to use to boot.

Of course theses units need a leader and so I used three spare figures to create a command stand. Again using the LBM shield transfers.

So that makes a third two thirds of the army complete. All the Persian foot (bar a unit of Satrapal guards) and the Greek mercenary contingent plus a third of the horse.

I feel a bit spent now and think I'll return, briefly at least, to the eighteenth century for a break.

Battlegames to go on!

From the amount of traffic that the recent announcement has generated I guess I'm a little behind the times.
Henry has announced that the magazine created and nurtured by him is to continue as is, the only change I can see is the publisher.
All I can say is HUZZAH!
The amount of work and effort that Henry has out into the magazine deserved more than for it to implode. The news on his website (see link on the left) is justification that many people felt the same. So my only request now is for Henry to somehow manage to wangle it such that the magazine is available for me to read with a glass of port after the Christmas dinner!

Battle of Kolin

A club game held this weekend, Saturday 12th November, and my first game for weeks (nay months).
I took the Zeitens' command and tasked with holding off the Austrians opposite whilst simultaneously supporting the infantry attacks to my right.

The command consisted of 10 regiments of hussars, 2 each of cuirassiers and dragoons, 3 battalions of grenadiers, 2 battalions of line infantry and four batteries of field guns. The hussars we (my son James was ADC for the day) deployed on our extreme right and used them to hold back the ever increasing numbers of Austrian horse that kept appearing across from us. The cuirassiers and dragoons were on their right and we used them as battering rams to hurl back the immediate threat. The infantry were to storm the hills opposite and prevent any of the Austrian horse on from interfering with the Prussian assaults on the hills to my right.

Above, the first waves of horse have been held and the Prussians regroup. The dice are intended to show losses before whole bases are removed.

Below the Prussian grenadiers have reached the hills and begin their assault.

As the grenadiers climb the hills the Prussian cuirassiers attack the enemy horse on the summit. Several melees later these cuirassiers will have chased off three regiments of the enemy unfortunately the Prussians chased them from the field and decided to head for the enemy baggage train and did not return to the tabletop).

As it should be i have little detailed information on what was happening to my right. The above photograph is the assault to my immediate right. This was a hard fought contest and remained undecided until the very end when the Austrian center collapsed.

In the center the Austrians came down from the ridge line and took the Prussian assault on the flat. It was here that the battle was lost for the Austrians when this corps was routed from the field.

But for the Prussians the battle was won on the right. The above photograph shows the massed Austrian infantry (a third of their army) being held up by the massed Prussian cavalry reserve (some fifteen regiments of curassiers and dragoons). This delaying action allowed the Prussians to apply their central two corps against the enemy and ultimately defeat them.

The last photograph is the point where the Prussian grenadiers under my command were about to throw the Austrian grenzers out of the woods that protected the Austrian right.

It was a good game and my thanks to the other eight players who made the day so enjoyable.

Special thanks must go to Tony for organising the day and his attention to detail that made it such a good game. Tony also provided a lot of the figures so thanks again as there must also be to the other figure provider - Steve.

All the figures are 15mm and from a host of makers but all beautifully painted. Rules are our own inhouse rules which are almost the same as the WSS rules but taking into account such riffraff as skirmishers, hussars and the like.

Rememberance Day

Let us not forget the human tragedy that comes with our hobby.

More Plastic Persians

I have now finally finished all of the plastic Wargames Factory Persians that I intend to buy.
This last lot gives me four units each of 24 sparabara (8 spear with 16 bow) and five units of 12 horse.
The latest unit of foot I've named "Fruits of the Desert" mainly because the colour scheme has a passing resemblance to the old fruit salad sweets we used to have as a kid. Peach tunic with coral trim (both paints from Miniature Paints (purchased through Coritanni).
I gave the tunics a wash with GW Devlan Mud to tone down the colour and to give some definition. A final dry brush with bleached bone doesn't seem to have made much difference.

The last of the plastic horse have been painted in a mix of blues and greys. This unit has also been given shields and is predominantly armed with short spears as described in the WRG Book "Armies of the Macedonian & Punic Wars.

I have to say that I am would not recommend this range to any future prospective purchasers. I've bought four boxes of the infantry and five of the horse and not a single one had the same contents as any other. It was only in the last box of infantry that I managed to be able to field a unit of 24 standing figures rather than having to make up the ranks with kneeling poses (which are awful). The mix of shields in each is completely random as are the spara. The randomisation is equally as bad in the horse boxes.

This is I think due to the design of the sprues. There are several main sprues in each box but to these is added an apparently random mix of sprues containing torso, legs, weapons and shields.

On a brighter note I have also finished the Immortal Figures mounted Persian commander.

This is the figure that I'll probably use to represent the Satrap for the army.
As ever with Immortal the figure is well cast with little flash and fits together very well. My only criticism is the fragility of the axe. Achieving the most accurate figures, as is Stephens stated intent, does not mean that they are going to last on the tabletop & my fear is that I will lose the axe during the gaming life (I have given it several coats of superglue to help it but even so I'm worried).

So that leaves me with the last of the hoplites which are about half finished, some more skirmishers (slingers this time) and seven more regiments of horse.

Battlegames

It is with a deep level of sadness that I read the news that Henry is looking to discontinue publication.
Having read his email and the statement on his website I can appreciate his position. Business is tough and the marketplace keen no matter what industry we are in.
Personally I wish Henry all the very best. I have found his enthusiasm and dedication for the hobby uplifting. His magazine was a bright spot and was always eagerly anticipated and remains the only magazine that I can honestly say I read cover to cover every issue. The magazine was well produced with a good range of articles.
In response to his email I have asked for a quartley magazine but would take a digital issue if the only other choice was to see the publication disappear.
Whatever the outcome I wish Henry all the very best for the future. It's always a shame to see the good guys suffer.

New WSS Plastic Range?

Now there was an exciting snippet in the most recent WS&S magazine (issue 57 - which arrived on my doorstep yesterday) where they said they had heard of a new plastic range for the WSS but had no further details.

Right now I can only think this either refers to the Wargames Factory release (hardly a new range but still with items being added at irregular intervals) or is it possibly the suggested line from Lancer Miniatures?

This later line is in it's very early stages and there are no details as yet other than the company is proposing to make it a 20mm range. This means it would only be compatible with the Zvezda plastics and the very old (but quite delightful) Les Higgins range. If it is 20mm I for one think that it will not be a great success - Front Rank has the market corned and most of us who play the period doing it in 28mm.

Unless of course you know different?