Steel Yourselves Men!

 While I wait for my next delivery of early war ACW figures for the First Bull Run expansion I thought I might start to tackle "the started but not finished" pile.

I give you the 31st Huntingfordshire Regiment from the First Sikh War. I think I started these during the final COVID lockdown, so they were a little dusty. I washed them down and decided to start again from scratch.

The simple uniforms meant that these took only a week to paint and base.

Wargame Foundry figures with flags from Maverick who currently have three flags sets suitable for the First Sikh War. I will use Napoleonic flags to fill the gaps.

I am currently painting the same unit again but this time using the 20mm Newline Designs range. I will then decide which scale I will go ahead with because I do like both ranges/scales for different reasons.

Steel Bases

In my mind the most convenient way of protecting figures from the risk of damage while storing and transporting them has been the use of A4 box folders lined with magnetic sheets. 

This great for figures that can be individually based on washers but for units like this I did not think there was anyway of doing this. However, thanks to Mr Google I found a company called Precision Wargames Supplies Ltd here

They are laser cut steel bases which are nice and thin (less than 1mm thick) and their heft will help when using plastic figure for my other collections. And best of all they stick in my box folders nice and snugly! I have made a few more orders since and have always had first class service.

I should have realised these bases were available; the technology has been around since the 1960s.

Next up I will give you the "wee 31st"!

First Rhode Island Detached Militia 1861 in 28mm

 These figures are my first addition to the 28mm Rebels & Patriots ACW collection for a few years now. They are part of a separate First Bull Run collection, because I like the early war uniforms.

The First Rhode Island was one of Lincoln's 90 day volunteer units and raised in April 1861. They fought at First Bull Run before being mustered out in August that year. They were commanded by a certain Ambrose Burnside.

However, I like them for their smock tops and havelocks.

Slightly better angle on the flag

Perry miniatures  with flag courtesy of the ever useful Maverick Models.

I have enough figures for another few more 12 figure units and I am considering using some for the 2nd Rhode Island because their flag is pretty cool too! 

And I believe they fired the first volley at First Bull Run.

I Think We Would Have Got On Well

An image that is currently circulating on social media. A Union Officer in a less than period pose of staring at the camera in a serious fashion.

He is on the right side and goofing around. 

We would have been friends I think!

 

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.