well, that didn't go so well.

a new record, out of a period before I even post a picture! well true enough but there are extenuating circumstances. I haven't really had a ton of time to paint with working about 50 hours a week and a minor rant.

For a while I was very interested in getting what ever figures caught my fancy, that is gradually changing thanks to the economies and the post offices of the world. Mostly I have been buying figures from the UK and will continue to do so from time to time. I was prepping an order for Austro Prussian figures and I realized I hit my personal limit for postage. I simply do not want to pay 20%. If you do not mind more power to you but I have reached my limit. I know there is an impact on the small business and I appreciate that. but the bottom line is the same, I do not want to pay $40 for a $200 purchase for postage from England.

So for now I will concentrate on UK lines I can order from American Retailers or American lines of figures. since I can't get this line it is going on the back burner for now. I have another Austro prussian war I am currently reading about. more on this later.

Let's restart the blog Man!

Well, alot has happened since my last post, I finished my degree at 44! moved across country with my wife and cat. (San Diego to Western New York) and started a new job as a Registered Nurse. oh and moved into our 130 year old house. So time to restart the blog.

First if anyone reads this is in the southern tier region of Western New York. let me know. I am looking for some wargaming friends. Good news is I have a painting room, also I have enough room to set up as big a battle as I can imagine, and I can imagine quite a bit.

Painting wise I have been all over the place as I usually am . But I have settled on finishing my Austro Prussian war figures for 1866. I had bought a bunch of these 2 years ago and no sooner did I have them then I heard the range was getting sold. but North Star Miniatures have bought the line and even started to expand it so I am back in.

The Austro-Prussian war has a lot for potential wargamers. While the Austrians got beat pretty handily it seems more as a consequence of vary poor leadership than any thing else. The Artillery was outstanding and while the Austrian tactics were a little dated a combined arms approach could definitely make up for it. At least that is my theory.
Second The uniforms are pretty interesting. I have always a soft spot for funky mid 19Th century look and this conflict has it in spades. Prussians in picklehaubes and Austrians
in in grey overcoats and light blue pants. cool.

Rules wise, I am going with black powder. It has pretty good flexibility which is somewhat necessary in a rules governing this period as each side utilized different tactics. The Prussians will be mounted 6 to a stand for 3 companies and 3 to a stand for 1 company. That will give me 1 company mounted for skirmishing ahead of the rest of the battalion which will be either in line or colum. The Austrians will be mounted 4 figures in 6 companies. I like the look of mounting the figures in company formations and making a reasonable go at correct battalion and brigade tactics. well that's it if anyone is still reading the blog pictures will be posted shortly.

Failed my morale check!

ugh,

I can't paint anymore Civil war. I just don't have it in me. oh well, maybe latter! Well the year proved to be somewhat good. I finished 100 Napoleonic, 40 civil war figures and Nursing school. Bonus to me. and since the new year is just around the corner time to plan next years goals. I don't think I am going to try and do more multi 100+ figure projects any time soon. My last really successful completed project was Rhodesia. So I am going to go back to a small project that can be completed in a reasonable period.
First 3 projects for the new year are as follows:
1)Korea at 100 figures per side this is the big project for the new year. more to follow on this one.
1)1980 cold war hot project that I have been working on for a while now
3) 1950 Malayan emergency project very small roughly 20-30 figures per side with a couple of vehicles. more to follow.
so with some modern themed projects on the table I will start with the first Korea.

First Figures

First figures are complete. 32 union figures. I have used just the sack coat figures for the advancing figures to represent the standard union uniform.

The firing figures are a mix of sack coats and shell jackets . this unit will represent a Illinois regiment with some of the troops in the state issue jacket.

I have been of a mix mind for union head gear. Generally speaking western troops are thought to use the hat more than the kepi and this appears to be borne out in photos. However since this is an early war battle I am leaning toward more kepi's to show a more smart appearance.

Interesting to see how the light effects the color of the blue . All pants are the same color and are not the turquoise blue of some of the pictures. Also all figures are 25mm perry plastics

Pea Ridge Project

When asked what I find appealing about war games my stock answer was always that I could recreate a historical battle and change the results. Now I know that's a little simplistic but it has always been a factor in my thinking.

But it never happens. and I mean never, In 23 years of painting miniatures it has literally never happened. when we play which is rarer these days it is always a hypothetical meeting engagement between 2 roughly matched foes. and one that only generally matches a historic order of Battle

well, it's time to change that. for my civil war project I am picking the battle of Pea Ridge AR. This is an important battle in the trans Mississippi theater and fits my criteria in most ways.
1) significant, keeps Missouri in the union and stops a confederate offensive under the general ship of Earl Van Dorn.
2) size, I can do all the forces for either wing realistically. using the frontiers scenario guide to guns at Gettysburg it is 15 union units vs 17 confederate units and that is including 5 artillery batteries.
3) interesting units, from Illinois infantry armed with colt repeating rifles to Indians to Texas cavalry there is a mix of colorful units.
I 'm going to give myself 1 year and 5 months to collect the figures and terrain and get it all painted up. so here is to playing the battle on 7 march 2012, the 150 anniversary.

A not so new period

It has been a long time since I lasted posted anything. The summer and fall have been spent finishing school. And I have not had any time to paint. Of course now that I can paint I am pretty much out of naps for the moment . So what to do ? Huzzah, a new period !

When I was a child the civil war (American) all ways had a fascination for me. I would pour over my copy of the American heritage civil war book by Bruce Catton and stare for hours at the pictures. Of course I never read it. I in fact still have that very battered book and the pictures are still pretty good and I still haven't read it. It is the one period I have danced around the edges of, painting a unit here or there but never trying to in fact paint a large force for.

Well, now is the time. I have references, I have ospreys and I have a copy of Gettysburg in the dvd player. Time to get busy.

Artillery

Just finished this weeks batch. 12 artillery figures and 3 12lb guns. Old Glory figures and guns. I liked the figures and they painted pretty up easy but I used really thin paint for the undercoat and keep seeing specks of silver where I missed the primer. Annoying. I think I will have to go back with a magic wash to see if I can take care of the worst of it. oh well. For GdB thats 1, 6 gun battery.

11 weeks 84 figures. I'm thinking of switching gears for a while and trying some oppostion forces. first up the Saxons

The Regiment is finished.

Well, I did not get a chance to finish my 8 figures last week. But I was able to make up the difference this week and finish the last 8 fusiliers completing the 72 figure regiment. It is both satisfying and intimidating to think this is just the tip of the iceberg. I will probably paint different units from here on out. 1 week artillery the next a battalion of Saxons, or what ever. only to keep the interest fresh. I felt good about painting the same thing 56 times minus the grens and light troops. but I am worried about burn out. All together I liked how this unit came together. I read in Chandler that the French relied on Prussian stores for various restocks. That is why I painted some figures in the tan pants. to represent the Prussian campaign pants.

10 week total 72 figures.

voltigeurs

Here are this weeks 8 figures. the regiments light companies of voltigeurs. These are 2 companies. for both battalions. 8 more fusiliers and the regiment is complete hopefully I will have time over the rest of the memorial day weekend to polish off the regt. then on to the next project. either artillery or Saxons! 64 figures to date in 2 months.

Grenadiers

Here are this weeks figures. 8 Grenadiers. which makes both battalions grenadier companies. I really like this batch of old glory figures lots of animation and differences between figures. a total of 7 weeks 56 figures.

reinforcements have arrived!

First, how many projects start out this way massive outlay of money, diminishing painting returns and finally back of closet never to see the light of day. well this time is different because of 8 a week. 8 a week is my new wargame philosophy. I will just concern myself with painting 8 figures a week. If I want to paint something else, fine paint it. just finish your 8 a week first. It has both rewards and manageable goals built in. so will it last? nah, but let's try!

I have got a little of everything first round of 1806 Saxons, infantry, artillery and cavalry, more French infantry and a 12lb French battery. The Saxons I think look cool in white uni's and are also useful for 1809. The French are really good for the 1805-1807 campaigns but are perfectly useful for the earlier battles as well sans the eagles. But I am sure I well be using them for any battle we play.

And a thank you to my nephew the 25mm warrior. Josh for the French artillery for my birthday. And my wife who every year says "what do you want for your birthday?"and then "oh, you order it yourself".

8 a week, that's all we ask

I have always had the attention span of a moth when it comes to painting. Even this blog shows my fluttering from one project to the next. but what if...

What if I could paint just 8 figures a week. in a year I would have over 400 figures painted. can you imagine such a thing. I might actually have enough figures to play a real game!

So here is my challenge 8-10 figures a week for the next year. I think I can do it. 6 weeks down only 46 to go! So here are this weeks 10 figures. more old glory Fusiliers. for a total of 6 weeks, 48 figures.

This weeks figs

I am turning into a veritable painting machine! I have never had output like this before. in fact in the 20 + years, 24 to be precise, this is the most I have ever painted including 15's! So enough self congratulations here is this week's French. 10 more old glory Fusiliers for a total of 38 figures in the last month.

I think one thing that has really helped is painting while listening to podcast. These seem to work much better at keeping me engaged and focused than music. And what better podcast then the Napoleon podcast. There are 50+ episodes lasting from 1-1/12 hours long and while I don't agree with everything they say.( I find the hosts to be rather Bonapartists) they are lively and and fun discussions.

1st battalion 40eme Ligne

First battalion is finshed sans the elite companies. with the pre 1808 organization of 7 line fusiler companies and 2 elite companies. a total of 36 figures.

I am going to do a historic organization and have chosen General (The future Marshal) Suchet divsion in Marshal Lannes V corps. A hard fighting corps that was in the thick of things at both Austerlitz and Jena it also was involved at Saalfeld.

And yet more French

Something is wrong, more finished French, what is happening to me, I am actually painting! Here are this weeks 9 painted figures. in 3 weeks 28 figures painted, enough for a whole battalion. Crazy.

A score on Ebay!

I have been going to used books stores since I was a little kid. The fun of the hunt and the thrill of the not knowing what you will find has always been a great part of the experience. I have had lots of great finds but one of my all time best coups came today.

With the start of the Internet most things are a click away. the fun of mystery has been replaced with the knowledge that any thing I can think of is probably available if I want to spend enough money.

Trolling through ebay I spotted a copy of David Chandlers campaigns of Napoleon for sale. I have always wanted a copy but it is generally in the $30-60 range. I have been to cheap to pick it up.

so imagine my surprise when I found a copy on the buy it now list for $19.00! and today it arrived. a near mint first edition! with a great dust jacket. life is good.

More French

Well, those that paint certainly know the dreaded doldrums when nothing is interesting and there is no motivation fora period. but I am having the opposite effect with the wind at my back and the excitement of painting is making it fun again. here are the latest finished figures. once again old glory 28mm French pre-1807. I really enjoy these figures. Great fun and lots of variation.

With all of the new Nap rules on the market it is something of a renaissance for Nap gaming. I am going to base these 4 figures to a base with what seems to be an emerging standard of 40mmx40mm bases. 1 stand per company. this will allow me to use either the rank and file rules by crusader or black powder of general de brigade. all of which I own. I will wait until the last 9 are finished before basing them. current total 19 figures done in 2 weeks. wow, that's something of a freakin record for me!

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In praise of Old Glory

I have seen a lot of postings on sites bashing old Glory by people that do not like them . First, I have to say to a large degree figure beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Anyone remember the old mikes models? They where definitely in the eye of the beholder. and if you don't like OG ,then you don't. However, I have to say I am generaly impressed with what I order. The Boer war line I felt was solid. Thier 1812 range I loved. Here are some napoleonic French pre 1807. When I first got these I was not really impressed with them and they sat on a shelf for the last several months. I finally pulled them out and am glad I did. they really painted up well and have a lot of character. I really love the NCO with the pipe in his hat and the bareheaded guy showing his war face ...ahhh. and in a day and age when 28mm guys are $1.90 to 2.30 apiece these are less then $1.00 apiece.

My long suffering wife ordered a small saxon army for me for my birthday. I have long wanted to do an 1806 campaign. so here are the first.

huzzah! a new period

Well, only sort of a new period. These are Helion miniatures Austro-Prussian war of 1866 figures. I bought them back in October but have just started painting them. This is part of a great line that should encompass all of the major troop types for this period. the figures themselves are on the big side of the 28mm size. lots of detail and a joy to paint. really I haven't had this good a time painting miniatures in awhile. crisp lines that make painting easy. very recommended.

The period it self is a little obscure even for me. but has a lot to offer a gamer. first a great mini line in Helion! plus a fair amount of books on the period also offered at their site. Second it has an interesting array of tactical possibles. Austria had Superior artillery combined with shock tactics for the infantry against Prussians with a superior rifle in the needle gun. I am already thinking it looks like it should have been closer than it was except for dismal Austrian command. Uniforms are mostly colorful with a different mid 19Th century feel about them.

5th Lancers

Here are the latest figures for the week. Cavalry proved to be very valuable during the Boer war. scouting, finding, chasing the Boers but not so much the charge. Lances proved to be even less valuable and soon most lancer regts would forgo the lance for the remainder of the war. The lance was used to great effect at of the first battles of the war, when the 5Th Lancers charged the retreating Boer commandos at Elandslaagte.

These continue the old glory figures using the dip. These figures would also be real nice for northwest frontier figures which are gaining an interest for me.

This brings the year total to 15 infantry and 5 cavalry.