The Lockdown Follies cont'd...

 Last month it was doing all the fantasy figures (farewell to my old LotR and a GoT commission) whilst in lockdown this year. After a brief interlude the *#%$ing Covid lockdown has extended curtailing all meetings and games although resulting in a corresponding range of projects being completed.  Some have been hanging around for years and now finally getting attention. 

That said the one that I was really enthused by was the more recently acquired Empress Miniatures Model T Ford scout with de-mountable HMG & crew. It is a really superb model of the first Ford truck with beautifully sculpted figures which come in several sets to enable multiple choices in your model set-up. Here it is all based up and good to go. Note that the NCO figure with the binoculars is a conversion of another Empress 'Jazz Age' figure using a Woodbine head, the actual crew consists of the two MG and the driver. 

Historically these scouting vehicles were introduced in the Palestine campaign in the Middle East in early 1917 and operated mainly by the Australian Light Horse as well as the British Yeomanry. Despite the mechanical difficulties of maintaining these machines in such a hostile desert environment they were remarkably effective - the Turks had no real answer to them. By the end of the war ALH Model T scouts were the furthest advanced of any Allied unit ending up in Aleppo, northern Syria just next to the Ottoman Turkish border. 

I was so impressed with how it eventually turned out (although fairly simple the Ford was a tricky build - and getting the MG and crew to fit together involved much superglue and bad language!) that I have acquired another (from my great kids for Fathers Day!) I'm in the process of doing it up now - after commission work that is. This Model T was (unbelievably) more of a challenge to build than the first one but here's what it looks like ready for paint:

Amongst the figures I've painted are a number of Revolutionary and Napoleonics I've had left over or waiting around (sometimes for years) for paint. These included some Trent French Revolution figures in tricorne for my French-in-Egypt army. Although many are in Kleber uniforms unique to the Egyptian campaign, the idea is to have a number of units in early Nap/Revolutionary kit that can also be used to fight in northern Italy etc. Note: Trent are a terrific range of figures who appear to have been bought out by Warlord and are now marketed by Skytrex. If you're into French Revolution or early Napoleonics these are definitely worth considering. 

As you recall from a previous post - they match in (ie. same make) as these guys:

Nicely animated and some fierce expressions! They also compare well and mix with other makes like Front Rank and Elite, speaking of which I happened to have an Austrian 'German' unit hanging around for years primed and ready for paint. So they too got the treatment! 

Lastly was this (old Perry?) figure of Marshal Ney - quite a challenge as it was in a very dilapidated condition. I tried to remove it for another base but no go - it was glued fast and in real danger of snapping off at the fetlocks! So with a bit of cutting back and pinning (cunningly disguised!) plus a good repaint the Marshal has been given a new breath of life on the wargaming table! 

I've been more productive than anticipated despite health concerns including a back injury that has limited the time spent at the painting desk. I've got to maintain my 5km walk per day too which means NOT risking the progress I'm making (oh so gradually!) by staying up hours every other night painting! Nonetheless I've managed all the above and a few odds and sods over the last six-eight weeks. 

Amongst the latest of these are the following Franco-Prussian War Bavarians. These are some of the original Perry's sculpts they did for Foundry back in the day (which was forty odd years ago!) - I have complete armies of them - but these Bavarians, like the Front Rank Austrians, have been waiting for years to be painted. I'd forgotten what lovely figures they are and found a regt. of Kuirassier to go with them (which still remain to be done). All of this was inspired by the recent release of the Perry's FPW range, particularly the boxes of Prussians. I'm hoping the commission work will fund a few boxes of them for skirmish games but I'm also eagerly awaiting their release of the French in plastic, hopefully this year. Meanwhile I've painted and based up the Bavarians as per my other FPW figures three to a 60 x 30mm base. 

Most of my commissioned work thus far (some lovely Calpe Saxons at the moment) are to pay for a unit of mounted Perry's Bashi Bazouks and some wonderful WWI French Hussars all of which will also need a good repaint. Until next time. 

Doc

PS: As usual feel free to comment!

Doc's Bavarian Bad Boys!

In amongst the Bolt Action WWII AFVs and Italians I've had my Napoleonic Bavarian Brigade project puttering along.  It was unfinished, a mishmash of figures and needed sorting out for years, all the more so when I succumbed to temptation yet again with the new Perry's line of Bavarians.  I bought enough for three battalions worth - two line & one light - plus artillery limber and caisson. The Bavarian Brigade consisted of six x 12 figure battalions, one of them painted as LI, two of them Front Rank and the rest old Foundry.  Added to this is one three gun battery (scratch built to match captured Austrian pieces) with Foundry crews and two Chevau Leger regiments one Front Rank and the other Foundry. Like I said, a bit of a mishmash.  

Doc's Bav Badboys - (from L to R) old Foundry, Front Rank and new Perrys figures on all Doc's patented magnetic movement trays!

Doc's Bav Badboys including Bav cav with (L to R) Foundry and Front Rank and in between a new Perrys mounted commander on rearing horse.  My scratch-built Foot arty guns to the right.  The closest one with the long trail is a Seven Years War vintage light howitzer, the other two standard 6 pdrs.

The plan is to have a Brigade consisting of one regiment of two 24 figure battalions of Foundry, one regiment of two 28 figure battalions of Perrys and one 12-16 figure battalion of Light Infantry (Perrys).  I'd also have my 24 figure battalion of Front Rank for good measure which would make for a six battalion brigade - historically matching what they marched into Russia with.  Apart from the Foundry command stands and the repainting/rebasing of them and the existing 12 figure Foundry LI I have over 70 new Perry figures including three mounted commanders to paint and base.  Together with diversions for the WWII stuff including my Italians and AVs its taken me the better part of nearly four months - but the end is now in sight! I have five battalions of infantry and mounted commanders for both infantry and cavalry finished and very happy with the result!

The Perrys prancing horse Bav CO - I've made him a cavalryman by giving him a fancy feather in 'is 'at!

Bav Cav and their prancing Perrys CO

Interesting the size discrepancy between the old Foundry (also possibly sculpted by the Perry brothers when they worked for them many years ago?) the Front Rank and new Perrys figures.  The 28mm FRs tower over everyone and are positively Teletubby-ish in their proportions compared to the 28mm Perrys - I think the old Foundry Bavarians are probably 'true' 25mm. You tend to notice the difference in the foot figures rather than the cavalry which I thought blended in quite well.

The guns - love the old Foundry crew poses - amongst the more animated in their day and beautifully proportioned even if smallish 25mm.  The guns are the same scale which next to the 28mm figures makes them look more like 3 pdr light guns.  The Bavarians made use of plenty of these captured in the 1809 campaign but of course lost the lot in Russia.

I found myself slightly short of command foot when I went to make up the Perrys regiment so I used one of the mounted commanders as the regiment's Oberst (Colonel), putting him with the infantry command figures on a slightly deeper base (60x40 rather than the 60x20). I have a mounted CO for my old Foundry figures which I converted from a Revolutionary French commander which in turn fits in with a mounted Oberst for each two-battalion regiment. Basing the mounted CO up with the foot worked so well with the Perrys I might try and do the same for the Foundry figures if I get the time.

Regimental command stand with mounted Oberst. The standard bearer with the CO carries the Liebfahne  or regimental colour rather than the Ordinarfahne carried by the other battalion(s).

Bavarian tete d'colon - I have no idea what colour the battalion marker flag carried by the pioneer was so I gave him a nice red one (warning flag: fierce beardy man with axe and attitude!)

Herr Oberst mounted on a beautiful Perrys horse - they do very nice ones in perfect (correct) proportion. I've noticed the newer sculpts don't appear to suffer from the sometimes fatal spindly fetlock syndrome - they are far better attached to their metal base. 

The Perrys are some of the finest figures around and being priced accordingly I have in the past whinged about the occasional lack of quality control - the ultra-thin horse legs that have an alarming tendency to snap off bases for instance.  While Perrys seem to have addressed that issue I should warn that one reason they took me so damn long to paint was that I discovered after I had finished painting that there were unsightly lumpy bits, particularly on hands, cartridge boxes and bayonets that only became apparent when painted. Every figure has some flash from the casting process and the Perrys are no exception.  They have less than most but they still have some - ALL the Bavarians had tiny tendrils of metal on many of the raised and termination points of the cast figure.  Including bases I found these most prominently on the hands, ends of bayonets (and sabres), musket stocks and cartridge boxes. Mostly pressed and folded back onto the figure they were very hard to detect when prepping the figures for paint and once the base-coat was on, impossible to see. So the first two batches I did resulted in a lot of scalpel work, paint touch-ups and f$%*ing bad language after I thought I'd finished them! Very stressful as I don't bloody swear much.  I learned the hard way that it pays to go over every figure very, very carefully before paint!

Some of my favourite figures that I've now added to each battalion - a stand of them suffering from a 'whiff of grapeshot'.

My old Foundry Bavarians with their mounted Colonel. Love the expression on the face of the officer - really barking out orders 'Vorwarts meine Kinder!'

Contrast the scale: (L) Foundry and (R) Perrys Bavarians

Perrys Bavarian Light Infantry Schutzen - rifle-armed Bav Badboys!

My Bavarian Brigade Commander - probably should have a big cocked hat rather than the casket helmet but I couldn't bring myself to butcher such a nice figure!

Most of the Perrys figures I've added to my Bavarian Bde

I have one more battalion of infantry and the artillery limber and caisson to go before I've finally finished my little Bavarian army. Might have to get a high command for them at some stage but for now I'm more than happy to finally finish one of my longer standing projects. 

Achtung! Doc's Bavarians on parade!

 The matt on which all these figures are standing is one of my new wargaming tablecloths that I've made from rubber-backed canvas paint drop sheets, a liter of paint via my large spray gun and copious amounts of flocking. A messy process that had to be done outdoors but now I've got a mat that will cover a 12' x 4.5' table. Now that winter's over and I'm less likely to perish from exposure working outdoors I'm planning to do one for desert/Mediterranean theater games as well. 

Achtung! I must to be going to der Little Wars convention @ Lanyon for zum wunderbar gaming action!

Well that's about it - Auf Weidersehen from Doc and Herr Oberst.  Almost forget to mention a plug for the forthcoming 'Little Wars' convention to be held in Canberra on 8 November at Lanyon Vikings club showcasing the hobby (click on the link to find out more). There will be traders there and games covering a wide range histroical and fantasy.  We're putting on our famous French and Indian Wars game 'Tomahawks Along The Ohio' which I have posted on previously on this blog.  Its a gold coin donation entry to go towards our returned servicemen and women - a most worthy cause so hope to see a few of my blog-followers and fellow gamers there.

Figures from Doc's cabinet

I'm afraid that spider post is giving me the creeps so I found some shots I took of the collection in the cabinet when I did the wargamer's equivalent of 're-arranging the sock drawer'.  Frankly it needed it badly.

First cab off the rank are the Bavarians - well one regiment of them at any rate.  I had to remove the figures cabinet from the family room, where it served a useful purpose embarrassing my children by constantly reminding them what a nerd their Old Man is, to the slightly less obvious place in the old lounge room. 

This required removing hundreds of figures and cleaning all the dust off the cabinet shelves etc, then re-packing those shelves with a slightly different display.  The whole exercise took bleedin' hours and I was so glad to finish I got the camera out and took some pictures.  As you do of course.

This shot is of the Berg Lancers next to the Bavarians.  They are slightly converted Elite figures who absolutely tower over the old Foundry Bavarians next to them, the latter having positively Teletubby-like proportions and stature in comparison.  The lancer pennants are my own, made using the colour printer at home and a bit of PVA glue for a nice wavy effect - "Vive l'Empreur!"

Above, my first French (foot) artillery battery with really nice Foundry crews and Old Glory guns and limber just behind.  Bit of a scratch built outfit but at the time I wasn't allowed to spend the kid's inheritance to buy a proper one!

My massed Russians, mainly Front Rank & Foundry with a regt each of Elite Hussars and Dragoons.  I really like the FR artillery and because they didn't produce one, I scratch built a limber with Old Glory and an Elite artilleryman as the horse holder.  Apologies for the slightly blurred photography, must have imagined 'Boris' scuttling across the ceiling above me.

Last but not least, my Austrian cav in action "Vorwarts Meine Kinder!" - on a tabletop somewhere.

These are my Elite figure hussars, when I had a full regiment.  They are supported by some Dixon(?) dragoons behind and some Russian jaeger in front trying not to be ridden over.  Alas most rode off into glory and somebody else s' collection [sigh]  Just have to collect them again - you can't 'ave a decent Austrian army wiffout 'ussars!

So, maybe a bit pedestrian and indulgent even for this blog BUT better than pictures of 'airy great spiders, I'm sure you'll agree!


Cheers,
          Doc

Mounted - L'arm Blanche... and a French General

French Divisional General from Perry's set: another beautifully proportioned figure.

Amongst the other figures I've collected and painted are some Russian, Austrian and Bavarian cavalry.  The Russians are the very tasty Front Rank Don Cossacks I bought to keep Platov company.  They like him and give him a rousing chorus of cheers before they race off to loot and plunder.  The usual great quality you come to expect from FR - they are in my opinion, one of their better sets.  And even better - a Christmas present for me last year! (Wonder what Santa will bring this year?)

Yaaay Platty! He's our man, if he can't flog the French no one can!

'Err, yair... uh, thanks... guys'

'Three cheers for Platty!'  'Yeh, OK guys... that's enough - you're embarrassing me now...'

'Actually, we just like yelling alot, any excuse really...' 'Urrah! Urrah!...'

Another lot that turned out well - seemed to take ages to collect - were the Foundry Austrian Cuirassiers.  Part of my Reserve Division with the Grenadiers, they have yet to be 'blooded' but I'm sure they'll acquit themselves like true Austrian nobelmen: 'Vorwarts Meine Kinder!'

The trumpeter was an old small Foundry Chevau Leger but we 'dragooned' him into the 'eavies - a bit of green stuff on the helmet to make a bigger crest and he makes a good boy bugler!  Even let him grow an 'eleven-a-side' mo to feel part of the lads!

Next lot are amongst my fav-o-rite German cav - Foundry Bavarian Chevau Leger.  A birthday present (thanks Doug!) I spent ages painting them.  They took more time to finish than any other unit of cav I've done in living memory.  Dunno why - but getting the shading and detail right took forever.  I did them in stages.  Finish one bit, put 'em aside and do another unit, then do the next bit and so on.  A year later they were done! Phew!  They are beautifully sculpted figures and I think worth the trouble just to make 'em look the ant's pants - nearly went blind and mad painting those dot-dash lines on the horse blankets tho...!