15mm Risorgimento 1859 Project

Progress continues on the 1859 project.  First up, are two Sardinian infantry battalions from the 11th Line Regiment.  Figures are Old Glory.

Speaking of Old Glory, my latest order for Old Glory figures arrived from 19th Century Miniatures in record time.  Time from order placement to arrival was seven days.  Much better turn-around than I have experienced.

Next up is one Sardinian limber and team from Mirliton.  I ordered this as a sample and am happy with the quality of the model.

Finally leaving the painting table are Austrian command figures.  Once I began the San Martino replay, I quickly discovered that I lacked sufficient command for the Austrians.  With these reinforcements, I can field two division commanders of two figures each and four brigade commanders of a single figure.  That should do for now.

28mm Crusader Hoplites

The batch of Crusader hoplites shown in their primed state in my earlier primer/Dull Cote posting, marched off the painting table.  These hoplites are very well sculpted with great detail.  The Crusader figures fit nicely with the Renegade, Aventine, and BTD  figures currently fielded in the collection.  When I bought these figures, no solid plan for their use existed.  Having always been interested in painting Greek hoplites, it would have been nearly impossible to pass up an opportunity to grab several packs when they were on discount.  Clearly, I didn't resist the temptation. 

How will I use these figures?  My plan is to field these fine hoplites as mercenaries for the Punic Wars project.

Reliability of Primers and Dull Cote

Over the decades of figure painting, I have tried a number of spray products for the first and last steps in the painting process. At some point in time, the product is discontinued, formula is changed, or I am otherwise unhappy with the results. Sometimes this change is infrequent while at other times it seems like I'm bogged down into a cycle of product swaps and experimentation. I may be emerging from one of those annoying cycles now.

For the undercoat, I typically use a flat black primer (when I can find it) or flat black enamel.  Over the last two years, a number of spray enamels have been used.  The ones I recall are shown below.  

I have had problems with nozzles clogging with some brands, terrible smell with others, coarse spray with some, and a tendency to get cans that spray a gloss rather than flat black.  In particular, the Rustoleum Ultra cover 2x went on too thick and too glossy.  Sometimes, the product works for awhile and then I get a satin or gloss finish rather than flat.  I often rationalize the gloss coat as related to variations in either humidity or temperature.

During the winter, I typically spray in the garage and then bring the figures inside to dry in a well-ventilated storage room.  Often that works to cut down the gloss finish; other times not so much. 

On a trip to Home Depot this winter, I spotted the Quick Color brand.  It was only $0.97 a can vs $3.50 - $4.00 a can for the products above.  I brought it home and the result was a dead flat finish.  Cheap and effective.  Hope that result continues.  The Greek hoplites are sprayed with Quick Color and the result is a flat black finish.

For the final topcoat, I spray a flat, clear sealer.  I have tried Krylon products but have never had satisfactory results.  I know painters who are satisfied with Krylon but for me, it never produces a dead flat finish.  

The product most used is Dull cote whether it is from Testor's or Model Master.  At one time, I could only get the Testor's brand but now both are equally available.  Both products appear to be the same formulation.  Again, temperature and humidity seem to affect the results so a quick spray in the garage and then into the storage room reduces the tendency for glossy results.  

The problem with Testor's dull cote is the recent change to the can and formulation.  No longer can I find the black and yellow can.  The white and blue canned product still produces a flat finish but reliability issues have been frequent.  Reliability issues?  Yes.  Every third can seems to ooze the dull cote liquid from the base of the nozzle while spraying.  This liquid pools up in the lip and then liquid dull cote runs down the can and either onto the garage floor, my hand, or onto the painted figures.  The can still produces a spray but I usually put the can aside once it begins oozing from the base.

What are your favorite flat black and flat clear products that are readily available? 

Battle of San Martino 1859 BatRep 1000 - 1100

When we last left our antagonists,the battle for the heights hung in the balance.  Lippert  (Austria) maintained a hold on the high ground above San Martino but just barely.  Sardinians were applying pressure against Lippert.  Whomever maintained initiative likely would have the upper hand.

To recap, the initial battle dispositions can be found here while the account of the 0800-1000 battle phase is found here.

1000 In an attempt to stop the panic from spreading throughout IR59, Benedek catches up to the routing IR59/1 as it flees back towards Pozzolengo.  Benedek's presence was all that was needed to halt and rally the battalion.

Lang's Austrian division is the next to activate.  Activating before Mollard  allows the Austrians to consolidate their gains on the heights before receiving Sardinian counterattacks.

Austrians consolidate gains

Suffering from casualties and weakened effectiveness, IR59/3 falls back through IR59/2 as Lippert rides over to rally the battalion.  With Lippert's encouragement, IR59/3 rallies.  Lippert's horse battery moves up to Ortaglia and unlimbers near the road between the Ortaglia farm and Contracania.   

Austrian guns deploy

On the Austrian left, Reichlin's horse artillery moves up to the heights overlooking Contracania and unlimbers. IR18/4 and IR19/4 fire into Contracania from medium rifled musket range causing some casualties to 10/1 Bers.  The 9th Jagers advance down from the slopes to outflank the Sardinians holed up in the Contracania farm complex.

Austrian guns deploy

On the Austrian right, Philipovic launches an attack along the Pozzolengo road east of San Martino.  Leading the attack are IR17/Grenadiers supported by IR17/1.  As the Austrians close, the target of the assault (11/1) breaks and routs scattering one half mile to the north.  

Attack out of the vineyard

The 5th KJ take up positions in the treeline north of Ortaglia as it probes to the north.

Jagers probe

With no sign of Mollard's second brigade (Pinerolo) and the quick stabilization of the Austrian positions on the heights above San Martino, the Cuneo brigade redeploys seeking a less aggressive posture.  The 8th IR takes up a position west of and parallel to the road opposite the Roccolo farm to counter the jagers outflanking of Contracania.  The 7th IR withdraws from its exposed position on the heights back down the slope to take positions between Roccolo farm and San Martino.  The 8 Bers continues to hold on amongst the buildings of San Martino.

Sardinians form a line

Cucchiari's brigade, Casale, arrives on the battlefield and advances down the road leading to Pozzolengo.  Cucchiari joins 11/1 to rally the broken battalion.

Casale arrives

Casale arrives - close up

Berger's second brigade (Kuhn) reaches Pozzolengo led by four squadrons of the 1st Hussar Regiment.

1st Hussar Regiment

Kuhn's brigade

1030 Reichlin's horse artillery fires into Contracania to soften the defenders prior to a direct assault.  Artillery fire is ineffective.  Reichlin personally leads the assault on the walled compound taking IR18/4 in the front line with IR27/4 in support.

Reichlin attacks

Being on the side of the farm in direct view of the oncoming Austrians, 10/1 Bers fails to stand and evades, disrupted, back down the slope.  Sensing the danger, 10/2 Bers redeploys to cover southeastern approaches and fires relentlessly into the approaching Austrians.  IR18/4 takes heavy casualties but the assault continues towards Contracania.  Casualties mount on both sides as the assault devolves into a close range firefight with neither foe yielding.

Firefight at Contracania

On the Austrian right, Philipovic's artillery, deployed on the road to Pozzolengo, fires into San Martino.  Taking casualties from the artillery bombardment, the 8/2 Bers abandons San Martino and falls back to the north.  With half of the San Martino defenders in retreat, the 5th KJ erupts from the cover of the treeline and attacks downhill.  

Kaiser's Jagers assault San Martino

Fire from 8/1 Bers in San Martino is ineffective in stopping the KJ.  In the following clash, 8/1 Bers is thrown out of the town and falls back, disrupted.  Victorious, the 5th KJ garrisons the collection of buildings.  IR17 forms up to the east of San Martino to support the 5th KJ while IR59/grenadiers advance into the treeline south of Ortaglia formerly occupied by the 5th KJ.

Kaiser's Jagers storm San Martino

Once near San Martino, Casale infantry regiments deploy astride the Pozzolengo Road with the 11th IR deploying on the west and 12th IR on the east.  The 12th forms up north of the vineyard and preparations are begun for an assault to retake San Martino.  Both batteries unlimber on the road and prepare for action.

Casale deploys

Mollard activates and remains vigilant to the arrival of Pinerolo's brigade.  Still no sign of the brigade.  With 10/1 Bers ejected from Contracania and 10/2 Bers desperately fighting off the Austrians on the southwestern corner of the complex, 8/4 IR slips into the walled farm in an attempt to keep this key objective in Sardinian hands.

In the continuing firefight, the additional firepower of 8/4 IR tips the balance towards the defenders.  Taking moderate casualties, the Austrians fall back about 300 yards.  Benedek sees the repulse and hurries over to 18/4 to aid in rallying the wavering unit.

Reichlin repulsed from Contracania

Kuhn's brigade continues its march towards Porticello.

Kuhn marches to San Martino

To relieve the growing pressure against Contracania, the remainder of 8th IR attacks the 9th Jagers to the northwest of the farm.  Not wishing to face formed infantry in the open, the 9th Jagers fall back disrupted.  The 7th IR advances cautiously up the lower slopes of the hill.

7th IR counterattacks Jagers

Postscript:  Thus far, the rules are holding up well to this exercise.  To me, the results being produced are reasonable and fit into my perceptions of the combat during this period.  A couple of minor modifications have been added and notes are being recorded to revisit later.

After the starch has been knocked out of a fresh unit, it never regains that level of effectiveness.  Given that, fresh troops and reserves become very important to keep a drive alive or to hold a key battlefield objective.  Good leadership is important to rally defeated units and step into the fray at the right moment to turn the tide.

Small, well-armed infantry can make a stand in built up areas and pushing them out of towns requires a combined arms approach.  Even then, the outcome is far from certain as we saw in the firefight at Contracania.  In the next hour, we get to see how artillery fares against an infantry assault. 

Cavalry has not been tested in the battle yet.  While both combatants have deployed their cavalry in opposition, neither is willing to launch the first thrust in fear of losing that threat.  We will have to wait and see who flinches first.   

18mm SYW Project Update

Back from a week in San Francisco, I set about finishing up a couple of odds and ends for the SYW project.  The stockpile of Eureka figures is quite low so my choices were limited.

First up are the combined grenadier companies from Hungarian IR#2 (Erzherzog Karl).  The two musketeer battalions mustered out previously.  Usually, I paint both the musketeers and grenadiers for the first battalion and then join the second battalion grenadiers onto one stand with the first when the second battalion figures are completed.  For some unknown reason, I missed painting the grenadiers along with either battalion. 

Next up are 1-1/2 squadrons of hussars from Prussian Hussar Regiment #4. Why 1-1/2 squadrons?  Well, I actually painted 11 figures but lacked one trumpeter.  That missing trumpeter will have to catch up with his squadron after I place a Eureka order.  As I have noted before, the Eureka Prussian and Austrian hussars are rather large and the horse footprint is greater than that of the dragoons and cuirassiers.  As a test, I'm fielding these Russians as Prussians.  Seems that most countries' hussars were very similarly outfitted so this substitution works for me.

   

Baseball in the Bay

I'm in San Francisco attending both a conference and class this week.  Conference begins Sunday evening.  After sitting and passing a two hour certification exam Sunday morning, I ventured out on BART at noon to watch the Oakland A's host the Baltimore Orioles.  The sun was out in full force and an afternoon spent basking in the sun was quite enjoyable.  My seat was close to the field and I withstood all temptations to try any of the potentially heart stopping fare.

Oakland beat Baltimore in a very exciting game 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth.  Tomorrow night, Oakland hosts the Angels.  Hard to believe it has been 40 years since the A's dominant run in '72-'74.  I remember those years quite well.

Even though the conference is focused on a particular software product, Billy Beane (GM for Oakland) is giving one of the keynotes at the conference.  I imagine he'll be discussing the power of data mining in the context of "Moneyball."

Markers for 28mm Ancients Project

Occasionally, I purchase figures for which there is no immediate need. Am I alone in this weakness? I bet not. Such is the case with the Roman figures shown below.

Having not seen Mirliton's 25mm ancients range in person, I added these eight figures onto a recent order meant to resupply my 15mm Second Italian War of Independence project.  I had no specific use for these wounded lads but imagined they could be pressed into service as status markers of some sort.  These single figures could be used as disorder or casualty markers depending upon the rules used.

Each figure is reclining on the ground holding his shield over his head in a manner that suggests he his fending off a blow. In a more passive interpretation, perhaps, he is shielding himself from the harsh rays of the Mediterranean sun while relaxing on the march?

The figures are open handed with separate shields.  Figure quality is good.  Since the soldiers are reclining, the wounded veterans should fit in with either 25mm or 28mm armies.  On a few of the figures, I stuck surplus Renegade scuta onto their outreached hand.

With the recently completed Spanish and now these markers, I seem to be trending towards an ancients push.  Next up for this project is a unit of Crusader hoplites.  My plan is to field these hoplites as a mercenary unit.  Also pulled from the stockpile of lead are a couple of handfuls of BTD Oscans.  I really liked the sculpting on the earlier unit and plan to paint enough Oscans to field three, 12 figure units.  

Lastly, Renegade Miniatures is holding a 5-4-4 sale.  That is, buy five regiments (or blisters) for the price of four.  I would like to build up a Carthaginian force to face off against my burgeoning Roman army.  Too bad only one cavalry regiment is allowed per deal.  I could really use a greater proportion of horse to foot to oppose the Romans.

Back to thoughts of basing.  For now, I'll keep the basing at 60mm x 30mm but a concern still lingers about durability on the gaming table with overhanging weapons.  I have difficulty lining up the formations without banging weapons and shields under relaxed conditions.  What would happen during the frenzy of a game?  Even though the weapons are epoxied, I envision casualties.