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.

A Little Piece Of Wargaming History

 I have previously described how these images of the 20mm ACW wargame between Donald Featherstone and Peter Gilder really propelled me into wargaming as a hobby. 

The clearly identified Airfix figures and the (unknown to me at the time) Hinton Hunt figures plus Featherstone's wargaming books from the local library had a profound effect and took the eleven year old Matt into his life-long hobby.

When the 1964 collection came up for sale on Ebay from Hinds I could not resist diving in and grabbing myself an armful of wargaming history. 

I give you the first of the batch which is rather surprisingly made up from converted Napoleonic Hinton Hunt figures. I give you the Maryland Guard (sound of drums):

They arrived like this, plastic bases and old flocking. There are some chips but I decided not to attempt repairs - 60 years of service and still looking good!

I like to think that they were painted by PG himself. At this stage he was not the famed figure sculptor/rule writer he was to become and the Wargames Newsletter article regarding this game here certainly suggests they are all his own work. 

From the bases (and a bit of internet searching to confirm it all)  I can identify the original figures as, left to right: DN1 Belgian Infantry Officer, BN 25 British Horse Artillery Officer and DN3 Belgian Infantry Charging. Rather than one off conversions I can see from the matching imperfections that they were converted and then cast. I think the kepis were created by filing down the shakos as the heads do not match original ACW figures I have.

The flag bearer is Airfix and fortunately not brittle so he stays with the unit he has bravely led through the decades.

Finally the flags appear to confirm their authenticity. Red for the rebels and blue for the Union with unit names painted on.

This unit appears to be 2nd US Infantry. I have the 1st US Infantry in this same style.

So, removed from their bases, cleaned up with cotton swabs dipped in odourless white spirit and a new coat of matt varnish applied to the non metallic bits here are the results so far.

While I do not generally add figures painted by others into my collections I think we can say these toys are a worthy exception. More of these gems to follow, plus their Jacklex colleagues and a foray into home casting for the rest of 2023.

Chasseurs D'Afrique

The French Chasseurs D'Afrique are definitely in my top top three cavalry uniforms of all time and the addition of these beauties is long overdue. Perry Miniatures as per the rest of the collection.

They are off to fight at SELWG on Sunday, so if you go please pop over and say hello to the chaps from SEEMS and cheer them on. I will be miles away dealing with "life stuff" instead!

That concludes this particular stage of the 28mm FPW collection.  I will be re-visiting in the New Year.

As promised I will now be re-visiting some of my stalled 20mm projects; starting with the Classic 20mm ACW project.

Pennants Finally Added

 Having added the pennants at last the SELWG Uhlans are finally complete.

I just have to finish the bases to the Chasseurs D'Afrique and the French contingent cavalry are also finished and ready for SELWG. 

Unfortunately I am not and will have to send the toys to fight in my absence. Such is life!

2023 - Part II

It has been a while since my last post simply because of lots of real-life stuff. Broadside was the last time I fired any dice in anger and my painting table needed a dust down before I could pick up where I left off. The plan for the remainder of the year is simple; my club is putting on our FPW game again at SELWG in October so I need to add more troops, including cavalry for both sides. 

I made a start yesterday (although we are experiencing some very high temperatures here in the UK which makes quick drying paint a challenge).

First results are here:

A few touch ups here and there but otherwise ready for pennants and bases.

After SELWG I will be returning to my long neglected 20mm projects including some figures not painted by me.

Honour Is Restored

I start with a small apology. While I did take plenty of pictures I do not remember bouncing along on a pogo stick at the same time. The results on my camera show I clearly was.

I played the French side, consisting of 1 unit of Chassurs a Pied, 3 units of Line Infantry, a single artillery piece, a Mitrailleuse and of course, Corporal Tousan and his engineers, The Prussians were roughly double the size. The mission, to destroy the bridge over the River Pissoire at the village of Pot de Chambre.

The rules were an adaptation of Osprey's The Men Who Would Be Kings.

The furthest forward units, the Chasseurs took the brunt of the casualties and started to collect pinned markers from the first move.

Once Tousan gave the nod the French quickly advanced to the rear over the bridge.

This time there was no misunderstanding, the bridge blew in the faces of the enraged Prussians,

Having suffered less than 40% casualties (which would have resulted in a draw) Tousan had saved the day. His daring photograph standing by the destroyed bridge while under fire shows his steely determination to wipe the slate clean.

So impressed am I that I will actually paint his stripes on his right sleeve too!

Honour Restored?

 Since February I have been busy painting up troops for tomorrow's show, Broadside. It is a small Franco Prussian War encounter around the village of Pot de Chambre.

Here we see some of the central characters, Corporal Tousan and his squad of engineers.

Perry Plastic French Line with tools from Irregular Miniatures to look more "engineery".

Touson is from a long line of military engineers and hopes that tomorrow he will be able to wash away the stain of shame hanging over his family. 

You see, his grandfather Captain Jules Touson served the other Napoleon at a place called Leipzig. He too was charged with destroying a bridge but through an unfortunate misunderstanding earned the soubriquet of "Too Soon" Touson. 

And a reduction to the ranks for the Touson's  in perpetuum.

The Empire needs a new hero. Tousan needs redemption!

The Advance Guard Has Arrived

The next show game is coming up in a few months. This time we are putting on a 28mm Franco Prussian War bash. Here is a sneak preview of the French Chasseurs entering an apparently abandoned village...

Seems quiet enough...

The figures are Perry and I am particularly fond of the trumpeter figures, he looks like he has walked out of a Detaille painting. The release of the plastic French infantry next week is eagerly anticipated. My order went in within hours of news of the release.

For the moment I am wading through those coldly efficient Germanic troops. There are quite a few in the queue! 

Union Cavalry Finally Completed

 Originally I took this picture of my newly completed Union cavalry as a taster for the club's Cavalier Wargames Show game for tomorrow. Due to a family emergency I cannot now make it and have handed my troops to go on without me.

I am sure they will not let the side down as currently my Union forces for Rebels & Patriots have a 100% victory rate for the scenario being played. I am sure the war correspondent accompanying the troops will soon be waxing lyrical with tales of "valor (sic) and glory"!

White Knuckle Ride

Much as I like artillery on the wargames table I often wonder how much fun it would have been to turn up in the day. Dodging potholes in my daily commute is an art even with 21st Century technology. These chaps had no suspension at all.

The ACW wargames show figures continue to amass. This little group completes my artillery contingent for the upcoming show. From now on it is cavalry all the way.

Let's hope that La-De-Da Gunner Graham* doesn't get thrown off before he can give them effective support.

* Apologies this is a very British reference to people of a certain age. 

Oh dear. What a shame. Never mind.

Firing Line Complete

 I managed to add another six dismounted Union cavalry to the collection last night. This afternoon they fought their first action at Neil's place.

They fought dismounted at the earliest opportunity (because their mounted counterparts were at best a bit "undercoaty" and at worst au naturel).

For a first show they did OK - one dismounted rebel cavalryman for no casualties in return. Plus, when the artillery tries to activate and turn on them Neil's rebels threw a double 1 and promptly retreated!

Hurrah for the Union!

Here Comes The Cavalry

I managed to get these fellows based up for a quick "Unit in Progress" shot. Perry Miniatures dismounted Union cavalry. 

A bit fuzzy but you get the idea.

There are 6 more to be based and the artillery limber and crew are coming along nicely which is handy as they are required on the battlefield next Sunday for a club test game. I really need to get my skates on with their mounted counterparts though!

Plans For 2023

 2023 has been dominated so far with a headache and chills. I should have been going down the club tonight but I don't believe infecting everyone else  is a good idea. Still it has given me the opportunity to photograph the first of my new 28mm Perry Franco-Prussian War figures.

In order to keep myself focussed this year I have put myself forward for three club show games.  Each requires a fair amount of effort to complete so I have been quite busy even through the "man-flu".

The 28mm FPW game is actually number 2 on the agenda. The first game requires me to beef up my 28mm ACW Union figures (cavalry and artillery bits underway at the moment).

These Union boys will fill my next few posts, perhaps with the odd vintage 20mm ACW thrown in for good measure.

But for now I'm off to lie down on the settee and wallow in self pity.