Monday, October 22, 2018

French Limbers for Second Empire

I don't enjoy painting limbers.  There.  Glad that is out of the way.

 In some of my projects limbers are a necessary evil.  In a few projects, fielding limbers and teams is not considered.  In most projects, though, limbers and teams receive their due and are appropriately mustered into the ever-expanding collections.

 The 1859 project in 15mm is one such project in which limbers and teams are built to accompany each battery.  Work continues on bringing the French artillery park up to requirements of one limber per gun model.  When the latecomer French first appeared on the scene for the 1859 Montebello battle, fielding guns was a given priority.  I figured limbers could debouch from the confines of the painting desk onto the battlefield at a later date and at my leisure.  This is exactly what happened.  
Off the painting desk today are three French limbers and teams from Freikorps 15s.  Perhaps one reason for my continuing hesitation to produce limbers is that I chose to field each limber with a six-horse team.  A six-horse limber team is the equivalent of two squadrons of cavalry.  Cavalry that could be quite useful in actual combat operations.  With three limber teams, the effort to paint eighteen horses could easily be diverted toward the production of six cavalry squadrons.  Well, I made my choice.  Six-horse teams look impressive on the battlefield!     
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42 comments:

  1. NormOctober 22, 2018 at 12:20 AM

    I know exactly what you mean, but once done, they are nice to use, rather than just turning a gun base to represent it being limbered and moving.

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 7:39 AM

      Quite right, Norm! While I do not like painting them, once finished, I am very glad to add them to the collection.

      Delete
  2. PhilOctober 22, 2018 at 1:12 AM

    You don't enjoy painting them Jonathan, but I do like seeing them, especially on a battlefield, I think they add a lot to the atmosphere...Great job!

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 7:40 AM

      Glad you enjoy seeing them, Phil! Having your support helps ease the pain.

      Delete
  3. caveadsum1471October 22, 2018 at 1:22 AM

    You might not have enjoyed them but they look great! I think I might have gone for four horse teams but six is splendid!
    Best Iain

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 7:41 AM

      Thanks, Iain! The Freikorps 15s limber come with six horses per limber. Not wanting to have surplus horses lingering about, I field all six.

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  4. Mark StrachanOctober 22, 2018 at 1:38 AM

    Great sets Jonathan. I hadn't seen those Frei Korps models for years. They are lovely pieces still stand up don't they?

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 7:47 AM

      Thank you, Mark! Yes, the Freikorps limbers fit in quite well with the more modern manufactures. It helps that the limber and teams are self-contained BMUs so little cross-contamination with respect to slight size differences. Almost all of my limbers for this project are from Freikorps 15s.

      Delete
    2. Mark StrachanOctober 22, 2018 at 9:39 AM

      Back in the '80s we used to manufacture Frei Korps under license so I have fond memories of fhem. I painted many hundreds of them. My favorites were the French and Indian Wars

      Delete
    3. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 11:04 AM

      Mark, you are full of surprises!

      Delete
  5. DeanMOctober 22, 2018 at 6:30 AM

    These are marks of a true, dedicated gamer, Jonathan! Lovely work on these oft overlooked and neglected pieces.

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 7:48 AM

      Glad you like them, Dean, and that you approve of my methods.

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  6. Peter DouglasOctober 22, 2018 at 9:33 AM

    Limbers are a bit of a snooze fest to paint, but I always like having them on table. Yours are very nice.

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  7. Ray RousellOctober 22, 2018 at 3:34 PM

    Annoying, but essential bits of kit! Nicely done Jonathan.

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  8. ChasseurOctober 22, 2018 at 6:10 PM

    Excellent work, an often overlooked element but adds a lot to the look and feel of the game!

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 6:54 PM

      Thanks, Mark! Limbers do add a lot to the look of a battlefield.

      Delete
  9. GonsalvoOctober 22, 2018 at 6:23 PM

    Nice work Jon.... and in the case of Limbers, it is indeed work! :-)

    I am afraid I could easily spend a years budget of money and painting time were I ever to attempt to field anything like the number of Limbers needed for the batteries I already have!

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 22, 2018 at 6:56 PM

      Limbers are work but when the task is finished, worth the effort.

      With the number of 28m Napoleonics you have, outfitting the entire collection with limbers would be BIG WORK, for sure!

      Thank you for your comments, Peter!

      Delete
  10. Michal DwarfCryptOctober 22, 2018 at 8:38 PM

    Awesome work sir!

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  11. Biblicrafts MiniaturesOctober 23, 2018 at 1:45 AM

    Very nice work! Clear and detailed painting!

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 2:39 AM

      Much appreciated! Not the most flashy units but necessary, I think.

      Delete
  12. Christopher(aka Axebreaker)October 23, 2018 at 2:31 AM

    They look great! I always liked the look of limbers.

    Christopher

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 2:40 AM

      Thank you, Christopher. I like the look of limbers too...when finished!

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  13. Simon Quinton October 23, 2018 at 5:43 AM

    They look really good. I bet it feels good to have them done though.

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 7:33 AM

      Thanks, Simon. Good, yes, but still plenty of limbers remain...

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  14. Ed MOctober 23, 2018 at 6:02 AM

    I like the look of limbers on a table but could not imagine investing the effort to do them (aside from my 6mm collection). Well done!

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 7:34 AM

      Limbers are not usually at the top of my queue but sometimes you do what must!

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  15. Matt CrumpOctober 23, 2018 at 9:02 AM

    There you go again more great additions, my ACW limbers and next in the que but at 28 mm I’m going for 4 horse sets as 6 is too big for the table. 6 does look better tho in smaller scales🙂

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 11:17 AM

      For limbers in 28mm, I go with four horse teams as well. Six would be too large even for a big table.

      Delete
  16. Scott MacPheeOctober 23, 2018 at 9:30 AM

    They look great, Jon, and they will certainly add to the game.

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 11:18 AM

      Thanks, Scott! Limbers do add to the game. Notice, however, that I don't field any for my SYW project. For most other projects, I do.

      Delete
  17. StewOctober 23, 2018 at 11:31 AM

    6 horses per limber is of course madness; more accurate but madness all the same. 😀
    I started with 4 per limber and quickly went to 2 for the ACW. The first game I placed on the table they did look good but the players on the first turn removed them for being in the way...
    These look good though and I hope provide a sense of satisfaction for completion. Well done😀

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 2:54 PM

      Quite right. Madness! To waste figures would be equally as mad. N'est pas? For all other projects, four horse limber teams seems to be the standard. For my 10mm ACW project, Old Glory sells limber packs with enough horses for six-horse teams. What I did was request extra limbers so these extra horses did not go to waste.

      It is with some relief to have these three limbers and teams finished. Still more in The Lead Pile awaiting their turn, though.

      Delete
  18. DartfrogOctober 23, 2018 at 12:19 PM

    They look great, and I have come to believe they are a useful part of the table. I think the fact they 'get in the way" adequately reflects the reality of the footprint required to support the guns on the table. The 'king of battle" requires a substantial logistics tail which should be modeled somehow. Also, I like how it makes the artillery element seem more substantial on the table.

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    1. Jonathan FreitagOctober 23, 2018 at 2:59 PM

      Limbers are a useful table complement. That they tend to get in the way is a good thing too. Having limbers present does provide a sense that the artillery arm is more substantial. Of course, as soon as my opponent's artillery begins hitting me I am convinced of its substantive effect on my battle line.

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  19. The Jolly Broom ManOctober 23, 2018 at 1:10 PM

    Kudos Jonathan, I can't stand painting cavalry let alone limbers...and mine are only 6mm blobs. Your work is fantastic.

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  20. DaiOctober 24, 2018 at 3:34 PM

    They DO look impressive though.

    I refused to paint limbers for my 15/18mm ACW Reb's for exactly the same reasons you stated. LOL

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