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. 

 

Poor Old Picton...

 On Thursday I played a marvellous wargame at Stryker's "Hinton Hut" using his magnificent collection of vintage 20mm figures. The refight of Waterloo can be read in full here (with loads of extra pictures to boot).

The opening of the battle with reinforcements off-table.

The French came on in the same old style and as I was playing Picton, I met them in the same old style.

And just like Picton I shuffled off this mortal coil (this time while supporting the 11th Light Dragoons morale throw!)

I now have the record of an unbeaten streak of defeats while leading Ian's toys!

My thanks to Ian, Tony, Nigel and Goya for a fantastic game and to the excellent catering provided by Mrs S.

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"!

5th Italian Line Infantry Regiment

It has been a while since I posted anything as frustratingly I started feeling unwell back in November last year. After months of feeling awful we discovered I had an underlying health condition which sadly is not going to go away. 

While I have no immediate plans to meet my ancestors I am having to get used to some pretty strong medication. I am not 21 anymore.

So, planning ahead I have begun drastically streamlining my collections of unpainted figures and kits which will never be finished in three lifetimes. 

Instead I will concentrate on the one dearest to me, starting with my 20mm Napoleonic figures. 

These figures are RSM95 figures (the original range sold as Pax Britannica in the UK back in the day). 

These are their French infantry/ Guard infantry painted up as the Kingdom of Italy 5th Line Regiment, based on the painting guide from the Haythornthwaite/Chappell "Uniforms of the Peninsular War".

The officer is the ADC figure with a shako head swap. The figures have had a few animation tweaks to add a little more interest.

I have given them the old "Republican" flag as I seem to recall reading the roll out to troops in the Peninsular was a little sluggish. Still my favourite figure sculpts (as I may have mentioned before!).

Next up, French infantry.

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.