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 is great for figures that can be individually based on round metal washers but for units like this I did not think there was anyway of doing it. 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 I first found them and have always had a first class service.

I should have realised these bases were available; after all, 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. 

Saved By The (Dinner) Bell

Last Saturday I once again attended the Hinton Hut to refight a scaled down Waterloo. I played Wellington and Ian was Napoleon. Umpiring was left in the capable hands of Charles, who also played a significant role when pre-game he presented Ian with a splendidly painted Congreve rocket and crew.

The role of the "Nebelwerfer" was considerable. 

Victory conditions was for Ian to occupy both Hougoumont and La Haye Saint plus have one infantry unit on the ridge. 

British line looking towards the farmhouse

A lot of Frenchies

Who begin to advance immediately on Hougoumont

The Nebelwerfer, saviour of the Allied army.

First contact and Hougoumont falls. Not a good start for the Coldstreams.

While the Allied infantry on the left flank withdraw behind the ridge the 95th Rifles deploy the other side of the farmhouse in anticipation of the major assault forming on my right.

The French advance on my right.

The poor old Belgians who were not allowed to move from their exposed position until turn 2 were absorbing casualties from the massed artillery facing my left.

The Coldstreams reform and retake Hougoumont.

The French columns are taking casualties everywhere as the advance.

And then the French columns and light cavalry start advancing on my left.

The French heavies move up behind the depleted columns attacking my right.

The British cavalry move up to stop the French cavalry.

The only British cavalry victory of the whole game. The Blues beating the French Chasseurs. 

That is a lot of cavalry, they made excellent targets from nearly everything.

The French are still however causing casualties among the Coldstreams.

The Allied cavalry go in on the right...

...and the left

They fight left...

...and right

And lose every single round. The Brunswickers could not even beat a disordered French infantry who had lost their colonel. Ponsonby dies rallying them to prevent a rout.

Oh dear...

In better news the KGL in the farmhouse and the Nebelwerfer cause sufficient casualties to rebuff the attack on the farmhouse by two Old Guard infantry units. Huzzah!

The rout of the British cavalry on the left.

With the Middle Guard preparing another assault on the farmhouse.

The French columns are finally stopped with heavy casualties before they could occupy the ridge.

The British infantry in square - most units did not receive a single casualty.

The Coldstreams make one last gallant stand at Hougoumont, the casualties were so high the unit would be removed from play next turn leaving the objective empty.

And the Middle Guard eventually overpower the KGL in the farmhouse. Retreating columns can be seen at the back.

It was at this point (turn 7 of  a possible 8) that the dinner bell was heard, much to my relief. Also to my relief was the fact that I did not lose Picton which breaks my run of bad luck with him.

Both buildings would have been occupied by the dastardly French on turn 8 but the ridge was mine, so while I cannot in all fairness say that I won, it is the first time of my four visits that I have not lost!

An excellent game, great company, beautiful figures and legendary catering once more from Mrs S.

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.