Michigan Infantry By Dopplebockdunkel & Me

You wait months for a post and then two come along  in a week!

I have now finished the 16 undercoated figures generously donated by "Dopplebockdunkel" a few months ago. I have managed to match the colours quite well and now have a nice 8 stand Michigan unit to swell the Union ranks.

I have nearly completely finished re-basing the Confederate forces so progress is definitely on the up. 

I am cleaning up some more Jacklex rebels and generally getting a bit more organised as we have managed to remove some of the storage boxes currently filling up may painting and gaming room.

14th Brooklyn Zouaves

 Here are the latest additions to the collection in the form of more Union troops. 

I always intended adding the 14th Brooklyn Regt to my collection but did not purchase the figures before the closure of Jacklex. 

Fortunately Aly's generous gift gave me enough of the right figures to complete this little unit.

 I am continuing the rebasing and trying to step up the painting rate as I really want the lead pile finished by year's end. Fingers crossed. 

Unexpected Items in the Basing Area

 Following my previous post I was contacted by "Dopplebockdunkel" who very graciously gifted me a sizeable number of Jacklex ACW figures. 

Most are unpainted but there were these 16 Union infantry painted up very neatly and matching the style of the rest of the collection.

I raise my glass to Mr Dopplebockdunkel

All that I needed to do is paint the bases in "my" green shade and apply some gloss varnish. There are another 16 figures undercoated and started so I will finish these alongside the Brooklyn Regiment.

There may be a slight delay with the next full post as I have been specially chosen by my wife for weekend decorating and gardening duties from a shortlist of one.

At Last, Something New

I have finally managed to add a completely new unit to my Classic 20mm ACW collection  in the shape of these Jacklex rebels.

I will tidy up the base sides as I never noticed the patchy bits!

One of the reasons for virtually no output of figures revolves around the state of my eyesight and so I tried a lighter gray undercoat and the use of a wash (from Aly Morrison's recipe). While not as "clean" as Aly's work it was certainly easier to see the detail and so onwards and upwards - I will persevere.

My next new addition will be the 14th Brooklyn Zouaves (my favourite Union uniform).

You May Have Seen These Troops Before...

In the summer I was gifted these magnificent figures from Mr Aly Morrison together with a hefty pile of unpainted Jacklex figures. 

Not only an act of outstanding generosity, I now have figures from Peter Gilder, myself and now Aly in this truly cosmopolitan collection. 

Aly's painting style is, I feel, more in keeping with the figures character (i.e. his look better than mine) and so as well as rebasing the collection I have started a new Confederate unit following his recipe.

I am hopeful that 2026 is a better year hobby wise, 2025 was dogged with too many real life distractions.

Until I get to post my next original post please enjoy (once again) some shiny ACW loveliness courtesy of Mr Morrison. 

 

Recently I Have Been Mainly....

 ...gloss varnishing and rebasing.

Cutting a long story short just before Christmas I decided to streamline the number of sets of rules I was using. As my main interest lies in the Black Powder era and my preference is for a relatively simple set of "fun" rules I decide to go with the old Crusader "Rank and File".

The decision to go "glossy" is another story which I will explain later. But for now let me get back to soaking those poor old Gilder figures who thought they were finally being left to get comfortable on their "forever-home bases"!

The Worst Way To Start A New Year

PERMANENT CLOSURE OF JACKLEX MINIATURES

What an absolute tragedy. Thank you Mark for trying to preserve this iconic range.

69th New York Regiment (Meagher's Zouaves)

 It has been a busy summer with very little painting or gaming. Now that the nights are drawing in however I have finally been able to finish the new Jacklex Zouaves I started in July. The whole unit is kitted out in the Company K Zouave uniform as worn at First Bull Run.

I have always liked the uniform ever since I bought my copy of the Osprey Army of the Potomac. It was the first Osprey title I ever bought and still has pride of place in my ACW book section. 

A special mention about the flags which is a very fortunate recent discovery, 

Maverick Models flags (here). Not only is the range of flags huge they are also printed bespoke in the size you want them. Simply purchase the closest sized flag (6/10/15/25/40 or 50mm) and you will receive an email asking for the exact size you want. The flags here are the "effect" version - with plain flags (no texturing) also available.

With the REVO flags I used now being more difficult to find these are a fantastic alternative.

It Has Been A While

 I have been away from the painting table for a while but finally have had a bit of spare time to hit the backlog of figures. 

I would like to get these chaps finished by Sunday. 

These are the new 20mm Jacklex sculpts by Andrew Stadden which really fit in well in size and style. Worthy additions to the range.

55th New York Infantry - Gilder Style!

 Moving on back to the Classic 20mm ACW collection I did fold and bought one last Gilder unit, this time the 55th New York.

Once again they are (my favourite) conversions from DN3 Napoleonic Belgian infantry with converted FN1 French Napoleonic officers and an Airfix standard bearer.

I plan to continue working on this project for the foreseeable future and try and ignore all other temptations! Famous last words indeed!

Jacklex Union Artillery

The addition of the Gilder Charleston German Battery had left the Union woefully outgunned. These additions tip the favour once more for the Union with 4 batteries versus the rebel 3.

I decided against the bare-chested figure this time and painted on some tasteful undershirts instead! 

My latest Gilder purchase is now cleaned up and varnished once more. I just need a bit of time to get them based up. Then I need to finish the Union dismounted cavalry and some other odds and ends.

More Gilder Goodies

These figures were the first that I purchased from the Gilder collection when it came up for sale last year. They were, until Sunday night, the last of them to be re-based. My latest purchase arrives tomorrow!

They are Hinton Hunt figures again, the trooper in kepi has been converted to an officer and now paired with a trooper in slouch hat.

The second is a converted trooper in slouch hat with an outlandish feather in his hat

 

I have some Jacklex Union artillery with the varnish drying on my paint desk which I will post at the weekend. There is then the small matter of the promised army parades!

The Last Two Gilder Union Regiments

 So here are the last of the Gilder 1964 Collection Union troops, the 6th Wisconsin and 19th Indiana regiments.

The rank and file are our old friends CS 6 Confederate Infantry in Slouch Hat with some minor conversion work.

The Indiana boys have had their muskets pulled down to a horizontal pose and (rather impressively) have real pieces of feather glued onto their hats. Officers are FN1 conversions once more and the standard bearer is CS 10 Confederate Standard Bearer.

The Wisconsin regiment have their muskets at the sculpted angle. They have plumes added onto their slouch hats. Before I cleaned and varnished them once more the plumes (all slightly different so not re-casts) were showing as slightly gloss. I therefore think they are made of plasticine sealed with nail varnish or banana oil as per the technique of the day. The standard bearer is an Airfix figure and the officers are CS 1 Confederate Officer.

That leaves me with three Confederate cavalry figures and my spending binge is then completely re-based. I have more Jacklex figures on the go plus more Hinton Hunt figures that I have collected over the years (I have just won some more HH ACW figures on Evil - Bay tonight!).

I have also started work on completing some of my older projects which is very much the order of the day for the rest of 2024. Teaser below*:

* Well you cannot have too many ACW collections, can you?

Nearing The End Of The Gilder Rebels

 With these fellows re-based I only have a small command group of Confederates from the Gilder collection left to re-base for the rebels. The figures are mainly "proper" Hinton Hunt ACW figures.

The infantry are CS 6 Confederate Infantry in Broad Hat, the standard bearer is CS 10 Confederate Standard Bearer but the officers are converted FN6 French officers from the Napoleonic range. Together they form the 2nd Virginia.

In my original post regarding acquiring these figures I mis-identified the below from the original Featherstone article as the 2nd US Infantry. I do believe now however that it could be the 2nd Virginia. 

The pose is correct, the trousers are different coloured to the tunic and they have blanket rolls. The flag certainly seems a match. I do think whoever re-based the figures before I got them changed the officers from a more enthusiastic sword waving figure!

I also note that the rifles have now been bent down from their original 45 degree angle to a horizontal position. Not conclusive proof but it would be nice to think they are the 2nd Virginia considering the impact the images had on my wargaming years.  

Next up are some rebel artillery, the base was marked as "Charleston's German Battery". A quick bit of research confirms they were armed with a mix of 12 pounders and rifles pieces. 

The crew are ACW range figures, CS 11, 12, 13 and 14. The 12 pounder is a genuine HH piece clearly marked underneath as A1 (12pdr Napoleon Gun). The rifles piece (Whitworth) is clearly a more  modern sculpt. 

I have two more Union regiments, both using CS 6 which will form my next post.

Some Of My Own Work This Time

 I have nearly completed the re-basing of the last three Gilder infantry units I managed to get my hands on which I will post next week. In the meantime here is my latest completed handywork. 

An eight base unit to add to the collection. I have a dismounted Union cavalry unit and more artillery for both sides underway which should get me to where I wanted to be at Christmas.

I have also started on the snake fencing and look to be making my first ever rubberised horsehair trees very soon. The collection finally appears to be taking shape!

Peter Gilder's 1st & 2nd United States Infantry

As promised last week here are a couple of Gilder Union regiments cleaned up and re-based.

The 1st United States, as described earlier this year, are again converted Napoleonic castings. The infantry are FN/ French Line Grenadier, the bugler is BN/20 Rifles Bugler, the standard bearer is BN/14 British Ensign and the officers are the FN/1 & DN/1 conversions we have seen before.

 Next we have the 2nd United States, again Napoleonic conversions. This time the firing infantrymen are BN/4 British Infantry, the drummer is BN/12 British Infantry drummer and the officers are once again converted FN/1 French Officer. 

And of course, the standard bearer is the old reliable Airfix figure.

I have a couple more Union regiments to finish re-basing but the next post will feature my (currently) last Gilder Confederate infantry regiment plus some more Jacklex rebs.

The artillery for both sides is also forging ahead. I also need to start the matching terrain. I have a healthy pile of rubberised horse hair, twigs, balsa wood sheets and other "vintage" terrain making material. This should keep me busy for a few more months!

The St Louis Greys And Some Skirmishers

 Finally I seem to be moving forward in 2024. I am having a real splurge on re-basing the Gilder ACW figures I amassed and have even managed to get some painting done in my own right. I will split the results over a few posts. 

First we have the St Louis Greys. Once again the rank and file figures are Napoleonic conversions and then cast in bulk. 

The firing figure is a converted FN/94 Marine of The Guard and the officer is once again the converted FN/1we have already seen. Standard bearer is a converted Airfix figure. 

The paintwork was a little more scuffed than in some of the other units I purchased.

Next are some Jacklex Union skirmish bases completed by yours truly.

Immediately after taking the picture above I managed to drop a base breaking one figure off neatly at the ankles. The language was as blue as the uniforms.

Lastly a comparison of the size match between the two which as you can see is excellent.

Next week will be more Gilder Union infantry. 

Welcome to 2024

 2023 was a bit of a rollercoaster with a lot of real life interreference which was a shame as it all started off so well. Sadly, by November even the re-basing of the Gilder figures stalled and the planned solo battle called off completely.

So welcome 2024. While I do not anticipate too much for the first few weeks of the year I can at least give an update on the Classic 20mm ACW collection.

First off the 2nd US Cavalry now touched up (the standard bearer's horse was damaged) and based.

Hinton Hunt only produced two ACW cavalry figures, same pose but one with kepi and the other a slouch hat.

I just need to add some dismounted figures which I will be ordering from Jacklex soon.

Then there is the 1st United States infantry who are now next in the re-basing queue.

The infantry are all converted HH Napoleonic figures as follows (L to R):

 FN/2 French Line Grenadier

BN/20 British Rifles Bugler

BN/14  British Ensign Kings Colour

FN/1 French Officer

DN/1 Belgian Infantry Officer (also see Maryland Guard)

FN/2 once more

Again the FN/2 figures show exactly the same imperfections which leads me to conclude they are a single figure conversion which has then been re-cast.

So best wishes for the New Year to one and all.

More Jacklex Confederate Infantry

My latest addition to the collection; some Jacklex Reb infantry in firing pose.

 The collection moves on apace, especially as a considerable amount of Gilder figures are being re-based. The next unit is a unit of Gilder Union cavalry (with a lot more Gilder infantry in the queue).

There are also a significant number of my own work nearing completion.

I am planning on bringing them all onto the field in a solo game around Christmas

The Maryland Guard

I was undecided for a long while on whether to base these figures the same way as the rest of the Classic 20mm collection. Ultimately though I think I made the right decision. The figures had been re-based once before, the spirit based varnish I added will protect them from the water based materials I used to build up the bases and can easily be removed after a soak in water. 

Perhaps (more sadly) I actually thought after they pass from my collection who will actually appreciate their importance? 

Tomorrow's "classic collections" will be Wargames Foundry, Warhammer, Front Rank etc?

Still, I intend to let them battle on for a few years longer. I am basing up some more Gilder troops, this time Union cavalry and put the finishing touches to another unit of Jacklex Reb infantry.