Nearly done with the 40mm Hessians and Spanish

So this week I have reached the final few of the Hessians and the last two of the green faced Spanish. I've also started to add some more livestock for the games.

It was a bright day so I decided to reduce the lighting, this didn't suit the new works phone camera so this is the only shot I took with it. Bit washed out.

The first few of the sheep were already painted to a decent standard but very much as English sheep, I wanted to try more of a Spanish breed so went for the Chorra from the Basque region of Northern Spain a similar area to the home of the Asturian Cattle I chose. Not an ideal fit for the model sheep I have but hopefully near enough

Bit of a group shot here with most of the Hessians. Spanish and Sheep.

I painted the faces and legs of the sheep off white and tried to add a little black around the ears. I think the end result is good enough, these were an ebay purchase, O gauge model railway sheep with another 30 or so unpainted that need removing from their sprues along with 8 cattle, the cattle are painted as Herefords so will need repainting completely.

The last two Spanish both with sleeved waistcoat and Bonnet de Police which adds some much needed variety to my green faced regiment, these last two leave me with a total of 40 plus command figures so I can now start thinking about getting this lot based up for the table.

Six Hessians as discussed before brown trousers predominate with a couple of yellow stripes mixed in, I have also added a couple with off white shako covers to widen the range of colours being used.

Despite the odd set back with a head or musket snapping I cant help thinking that the "gamble" with 3d printed figures re-sized is paying off. I plan to use more in future. I may possibly add a company of Voltiguers to the Hessians and maybe get some French marching to add more poses to the metals.

The last 6 Hessians are painted (Unless I add some skirmishers later lets see) all3d printed Piano Wargames

 

I had two printed without heads so I could add Bonnet De Police, I think this one came out well.

The pale shako cover and trousers will add some much needed contrast to the browns and blacks in the wider unit

The blue stripes on this ones trousers are a bit far apart but are really meant as a nod to the striped ticking trousers.

Light buff, I like how this one came out.

Even lighter buff, I think the end result when these are all mixed together should give us a quite colourful mix.

Lastly the drummer printed without a head and Bonnet De Police added, not come out as well as the other one, either the head or the body but the head in particular. I think I will just hide him at the back.

So now its getting figures stuck to bases and I can start finalising pom pom colours plus the basing side and start thinking about getting the figures on table in the near future.

Thanks for stopping by.

Defence in Depth 2 Sharp Practice 40mm AAR

Dave invited me over for a game bank holiday Monday with him and Si.  We had spoken for some time about trying a Sharp Practice as neither had used the rules so I put on a 40mm Peninsular game using the defence in depth scenario.

As a few of you have asked I decided that the main forces would be my new Spanish and Hessians to get them on table.

We had all day so I made fairly large forces, Dave commanded the French and would have:

24 Municipal Guard Grenadiers with  2 level 1 leaders

24 Hessians with a level 2 and a level 1 leader

5 units of 6 Volteguer skirmishers each with a level 1 leader 

78 figures total 

The Allies would have starting at deployment point 1 in the middle

24 Spanish with 2 level 1 leaders

2 Spanish Guerilla skirmishers units of 6 each with level 1 leader

secondary deployment point 18 inches behind the initial one:

24 British line level 2 leader and level 1 leader

2 x 6 rifles with level 1 leader

1 x 6 light British infantry level 1 leader

78 figures

Quality wise the French are slightly better than the Spanish but the British slightly better than the French so with equal numbers and equal leaders this should be pretty balanced. 

As we get started the Guerillas are first out and head for the cover of the church.

Meanwhile one of the main French formations comes on in the shape of the Paris Municipal Guard.

This is immediatly followed by the Spanish line who form up across the open middle of the table to square up to the Parisians. First time on table, lets hope they dont fall foul of the first time curse.

The British come on 18 inches behind the Spanish. These guys need to get forward quickly.

The forces are closing but notning major has happened so far, thats all about to change.

Dave volleys his Paris Municipal Guard into the Spanish taking an action to present and the first fire his volley is predictably devastating, he then plays four flag cards to immediaty re-activate them, re-loads and fires again.  

Shock and casualties are not as bad as they could be on the Spanish, the key will be whose card comes out first next turn.

Si has bypassed the cover of the church and Dave volleys him with his skirmishers and charges into fisticuffs. Not surprisingly the Guerillas take a kicking and are driven back with subsequent loss to force morale.

Woldnt you know it, next turn and the Paris Municipal Guard come out first, re-load and fire again and this time one group of Spanish takes enough damage to be forced back braking the formation and forcing a loss of force morale.

With skirmishers closing on both flanks and the British making no headway things start to look a little bleak for Si and the allies.

The British lights get into action and start to inflict casualties on the Parisians.

Unfortunately another volley and two rounds of skirmisher fire see another group of Spanish forced back and the earlier one forced back again with 3 more losses to force morale.

Si is still smiling as his Spanish disintigrate along with his force morale.

As the British finally arrive on the scene the second unit of Gurillas breaks and flees and the Spanish line is forced back yet again leaving Si's force morale completely broken. We decide to play on a couple of moves as its a play test for Si and Dave, lets see if the British could have rescued the day.

The Hessians are finally moving forwards behind the Paris Municipal Guard, although they weren't really needed in the end.

The British unleash a volley and are supported by the lights and one unit of rifles, the other has gone around the church to find a flank and never got involved.

Its pretty obvious at this poitn that had the British arrived sooner the game wouldhave been very different indeed.

Two rounds of firing sees 6 casualties and multiple shock on the Parisians along with their second in command wounded. Very close to taking multiple force morales and swinging the game but unfortunately for Si its too little too late.

They never fired a shot but as its their first time on table I had to get a picture of the Hessians.

A fun game, not surprisingly for their first outing the Spanish were mullered and the Hessians never did a thing. Still I think Dave and Si enjoyed it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Additions for 1920 Poland

As mentioned before my next project is going to be Russo-Polish War 1920.

I have made a small start on figures but also decided to add some more support, vehicles are on of the few things I outsource for painting, Rich Croisdale does a far better job than me and with my gut still recovering I can use the help.

The Polish Legionaire is also a new addition but in these images for scale.

The Car is an Erhardt German Armoured Car with late war German camoflauge. They had a large crew of 9 I believe with multiple MGS.

In terms of figures I have focused on the Polish Legionnaires in their Pike grey Uniform, I have 10 painted so need another 23 and an MG to complete a battalion.

The figures are a mix of Studio Siberia and Woodbine (By Gripping Beast) Studio Siberia are bespoke Polish figures for this conflict whilst the Woodbine figures are actually WW1 Turks. 

Both manufacturers produce the figures with separate Heads and I invested in a  bunch of Studio Siberia Polish heads alongside British, French and generic heads from Woodbine.

These four are Studio Siberia, three have Polish caps and the one in the coat has a Woodbine British soft cap, this one is the least Polish looking I think so I wont use many of these caps. 

The rest are all Turks from Woodbine with Polish heads, the cut of the Uniform, the webbing and rifle all lend themselves to the Poles.

Pretty happy with these, just a few to do to complete a unit. 

Talking of which, heres a few more.

Particularly like the officer, he will be on a seperate leader base.

No doubt more to follow soon.

Realised as I am adding narrative that I neglected to crop most of these

Next two give you more of an idea of the Woodbine figures, I like the bomber with the bandaged head.

The Studio Siberia Miniatures are lovely too and very dynamic if a bit chunkier.

A close up of the officer.

With the Turkish MG the heads are cast on so a bit of surgery required before I can add the Polish heads, really pleased with the end result though.

Altogether these guys will finish off the Legionnaire battalion.

And here they are ready for basing with the MG and command base separate. Hopefully on table in the not too distant future.

Thanks for stopping by.