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. 

 

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"!