The last time I had the 6mm ancients out for a game of Commands & Colors, I thought that the collection was a little "light" on light infantry. Perhaps this discovery was made during a recent Pass In Review? No matter the source of my revelation, motivation struck to field more light infantry. That is exactly what I have to share this time. It has been almost a year to the day since I last had 6mm figures on the painting desk. I forgot how quickly the little guys can be fitted-out for duty. Off the painting desk are 48 Baccus 6mm figures arrayed on six stands of eight. The figures look to be Spanish and can readily fit into either alliance.
There are more Baccus figures in The Lead Pile but not many. I will have to dig through and see what remains. I recall seeing more light infantry along with Roman and Carthaginian heavy infantry. Adding more stands to the project pulls me in the direction of getting in a few more games of Commands & Colors soon.
Your 6mm Light Infantry look nice Jonathan. I love Commands and Colors Ancients (and Napoleonic's), great game engine/system I have fun playing solo games with C&C :o)
Commands & Colors Ancients is a fantastic game engine. My preference leans towards the ancients version but enjoy Napoleonics too. CCA makes for a great solo game too as you noted.
Perhaps, we should have a game via VASSAL some time? I have never tried that means of distant gaming yet but looks easy enough to muddle through. Might be as fun diversion.
I tried Vassal a few times, it is slow and at times frustrating and in some cases confusing :o) anyway I will download the files and I will contact you soon...
as you know I love the C&C game system and to my surprise I finally got my C & C: Ancients Exp. Combo Pack #2 & 3 plus long awaited Commands & Colors: Napoleonic's Expansion #3: The Prussian Army arrived at my front door step and I was lucky to see the packages were still there!
I hate painting 15's - need just as much detail to really look right as 25's, but harder to do and less to show for it- at least in my (highly) biased opinion.
I could conceive of 10mm perhaps for ACW, FPW, or colonials. 6mm are just too small for my taste, and the mass effect look doesn't do it for me. I lioke a bit more "Toy Soldier " look.
Overall the best decision I ever made in this hobby was to stick pretty much exclusively to 25/28mm for all periods. Your mileage may vary, of course - and obviously, it does... almost as much as your scales :-)
Peter! I understand and often wish I had your focus on sticking primarily to one scale. Sometimes I ponder downsizing the number of collections but when I dispatch one period, I start three!
FPW in 10mm - check out Bob Jone's Zouave blog earl;ier posts about Zouave, which he developed at least as much with FPW/FrancoAustrian/Austro-Prussian wars in mind as ACW. He used Pendraken 10mm figutres - very complete range. Of course, having decided that was now the scale for him ,his next project was Malburians in 28mm, which what he chiefly used for his own Die Fighting games and development.
At this point after about 45 years of painting, the collection is close to 6,000 Napoleonics, 600 ECW, 2,000 Ancients, 2,000 Late Medieval/Renaissance, about 60 Colonials, maybe 100 Fantasy figures, a slew of Space ships, a dozen or so 15mm Renaissance Galleys and about 40 1:1200 Napoleonic Sailing ships. The Napoleonics will probably eventually top out at about 7,000 by the time I finish the British, add some Spanish, and add a few more troops to some existing forces. Probably a couple of hundred more additions each to the Ancients and Late/Medieval Renaissance armies. If I'm sane, after that it's time to PLAY with them a lot more and paint a lot less. Maybe... :-)
We are paddling furiously in the same boat, I see. I keep thinking, "at what point do I stop painting and concentrate on gaming?" That point never seems to arrive. Another interesting period or range of figures is always lurking around the corner in ambush.
What is waiting in ambush for you?
I often say that I need two lifetimes: one to paint and one to game!
I think what happens is we keep painting until we have to downsize our residence, and can no longer fit our bloated collections in our living space, LOL!
I am not particularly inclined to start any new periods. I will add to what I have as cited above. I could be talked i to doing an army as part of a club project - the likely candidates there would be "Tricorne" period such as Malburian, 7YW, or AMR, or less likely later 19th century (ie, 1848 - 1870 era).That is very unlikel;y to happen.
I do plan some HYW armies, gradually, which I have a start on. 20th century and beyond has no real; appeal for me - my famous "ant-Khaki rule" apllies there). Well. OK, a pulp faction or tow for IHMN, really more Victorian than 20th century, is a consideration using my Portuguese Colonials as the nucleus.
Overall, though I really feel that my goals should shift to using what I have more. When it comes to painting, though,. I can stop any time. Really. :-)
Quite impressive results. I am learning to love 6mm but find that Napoleonics, even in that scale, don't paint up quite as quickly as these guys seem to have done. Are you using purchased bases? They look quite even and professional. Cheers, M
I like these and hopefully will get me started on my 6mm ancients soon
ReplyDeleteIan
Baccus 6mm ranges are vast. Much variety and fun to paint. I bet you enjoy it!
DeleteYour 6mm Light Infantry look nice Jonathan. I love Commands and Colors Ancients (and Napoleonic's), great game engine/system I have fun playing solo games with C&C :o)
ReplyDeletecheers,
Commands & Colors Ancients is a fantastic game engine. My preference leans towards the ancients version but enjoy Napoleonics too. CCA makes for a great solo game too as you noted.
DeletePerhaps, we should have a game via VASSAL some time? I have never tried that means of distant gaming yet but looks easy enough to muddle through. Might be as fun diversion.
I tried Vassal a few times, it is slow and at times frustrating and in some cases confusing :o) anyway I will download the files and I will contact you soon...
Deleteas you know I love the C&C game system and to my surprise I finally got my C & C: Ancients Exp. Combo Pack #2 & 3 plus long awaited Commands & Colors: Napoleonic's Expansion #3: The Prussian Army arrived at my front door step and I was lucky to see the packages were still there!
cheers,
Very impressive, Jonathan. At that scale you've painted and based them amazingly.
ReplyDeleteDean, I appreciate your very kind comments!
DeleteYou just gotta love 6mm for their easiness to paint! Nice one Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ray!
Delete6 mm (!) - I'm impressed with the detail you've managed to squeeze in there despite the micro scale!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Since the aim is the mass effect, it takes a little different style of painting.
DeleteWhile not my scale at all, yours came out very well, Jon.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Peter! Sure you would not enjoy trying your hand at 6mm?
DeleteAbsolutely not! :-)
DeleteI hate painting 15's - need just as much detail to really look right as 25's, but harder to do and less to show for it- at least in my (highly) biased opinion.
I could conceive of 10mm perhaps for ACW, FPW, or colonials. 6mm are just too small for my taste, and the mass effect look doesn't do it for me. I lioke a bit more "Toy Soldier " look.
Overall the best decision I ever made in this hobby was to stick pretty much exclusively to 25/28mm for all periods. Your mileage may vary, of course - and obviously, it does... almost as much as your scales :-)
Anyway, Vive L' Difference(s)!
Peter! I understand and often wish I had your focus on sticking primarily to one scale. Sometimes I ponder downsizing the number of collections but when I dispatch one period, I start three!
DeleteVive l'difference, indeed!
I would enjoy seeing FPW in 10mm!
FPW in 10mm - check out Bob Jone's Zouave blog earl;ier posts about Zouave, which he developed at least as much with FPW/FrancoAustrian/Austro-Prussian wars in mind as ACW. He used Pendraken 10mm figutres - very complete range. Of course, having decided that was now the scale for him ,his next project was Malburians in 28mm, which what he chiefly used for his own Die Fighting games and development.
DeleteAt this point after about 45 years of painting, the collection is close to 6,000 Napoleonics, 600 ECW, 2,000 Ancients, 2,000 Late Medieval/Renaissance, about 60 Colonials, maybe 100 Fantasy figures, a slew of Space ships, a dozen or so 15mm Renaissance Galleys and about 40 1:1200 Napoleonic Sailing ships. The Napoleonics will probably eventually top out at about 7,000 by the time I finish the British, add some Spanish, and add a few more troops to some existing forces. Probably a couple of hundred more additions each to the Ancients and Late/Medieval Renaissance armies. If I'm sane, after that it's time to PLAY with them a lot more and paint a lot less. Maybe... :-)
Excellent recap of your painting journey!
DeleteWe are paddling furiously in the same boat, I see. I keep thinking, "at what point do I stop painting and concentrate on gaming?" That point never seems to arrive. Another interesting period or range of figures is always lurking around the corner in ambush.
What is waiting in ambush for you?
I often say that I need two lifetimes: one to paint and one to game!
I think what happens is we keep painting until we have to downsize our residence, and can no longer fit our bloated collections in our living space, LOL!
DeleteI am not particularly inclined to start any new periods. I will add to what I have as cited above. I could be talked i to doing an army as part of a club project - the likely candidates there would be "Tricorne" period such as Malburian, 7YW, or AMR, or less likely later 19th century (ie, 1848 - 1870 era).That is very unlikel;y to happen.
I do plan some HYW armies, gradually, which I have a start on. 20th century and beyond has no real; appeal for me - my famous "ant-Khaki rule" apllies there). Well. OK, a pulp faction or tow for IHMN, really more Victorian than 20th century, is a consideration using my Portuguese Colonials as the nucleus.
Overall, though I really feel that my goals should shift to using what I have more. When it comes to painting, though,. I can stop any time. Really. :-)
"When it comes to painting, though,. I can stop any time. Really. :-)"
DeleteReally? I tell myself that too!
Very little...and very nice! Great job Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThey are, indeed, tiny little bits of lead, for sure!
DeleteThanks!
Quite impressive results. I am learning to love 6mm but find that Napoleonics, even in that scale, don't paint up quite as quickly as these guys seem to have done.
ReplyDeleteAre you using purchased bases? They look quite even and professional.
Cheers,
M
Thanks, Michael!
DeleteI find the ancients paint very quickly but Napoleonics probably not as fast. The bases are professional and from LitkoAerosystems.