Perry Stradiots for GIW

The Great Italian Wars project witnesses another light cavalry addition following closely on last month's mounted archers.  Up and off the painting desk today are two Impetvs-sized stands of Stradiot light cavalry.

The figures are manufactured by Perry Miniatures.  As expected from Perry, the sculpting and casting is first-rate.  While some of Perry's Renaissance line requires a combination of metal riders mounted upon plastic horses, these fine fellows are mounted on metal beasts.

Under Impetvs lists, Stradiots can be found in French, Italian, or Venetian service.

Lacking command for a bag of Old Glory Italian pikemen, Perry Italian command were added into the shopping basket.  When the order arrived, I was surprised at the size of these Perry footmen.  Long and lanky, they dwarfed what I thought were good sized Old Glory figures.  I may not use them with the Old Glory pikemen but they are gorgeous figures.  With a favorable USD/BP exchange rate, perhaps fielding a Perry pike block is not an unreasonable notion?

More French Chasseurs for 1859 Project

Mobilizing hot on the heels of the French 10th Chasseur Battalion is a two stand battalion of the 11th Chasseurs.  Figures are Old Glory available from 19th Century Miniatures. 

One curiosity of the Old Glory chasseurs is that some of the figures' anatomy remind me very much of Dave Allsop's sculpting style.  Dave was an early sculptor for Old Glory and produced well animated figures having a distinctive style.  For me, the hands suggest Dave's influence.  Many of my 15mm Napoleonics are Allsop sculpts.  After having painted hundreds of the Napoleonics, one begins to appreciate each sculptor's style.  Although Old Glory's FPW range was designed by another sculptor, I wonder if some of Dave's original works were used as models?  Pure conjecture on my part.

Only after photographing the figures did I notice a failure of the flocking to adhere on the rear stand in the photo above.  Sigh.  I quick trip back into the box of flock for you!

Showing great restraint, I managed to pass on BTD's latest 50% discount offering.  Restraint aided by the fact that I still await a backorder from their earlier such sale!

French Chasseur Battalion #10 in 1859

Work on the 1859 project continues.  After a number of French line regiments marching off from the painting desk, a battalion of chasseurs are called up for action.  This two stand unit of sixteen Old Glory figures musters out as the 10th Chasseur battalion.  

Examining the OBs for the short, 1859 campaign, often only the first brigade of each infantry division contained light troops.  Seems odd that all light troops would be contained wholly within one of the two brigades in each division.

With a paper strength of 800 men per battalion, I mount them in two stands of eight figures each.  Each stand or "half battalion" has the capability to operate either unified as one unit or independently as two units.  Operating as two independent units, these tough, light troops will be helpful in taking or holding built up areas or rough terrain.

A second battalion of chasseurs is in work.

Too Good to be True

Back in early January, I saw an announcement on TMP regarding an Amazon offering of a Winsor & Newton Series 7 Four Brush Gift Set.  All included in a handsome box too. The price of four such fine, Kolinsky sable brushes?  An unbelievable price of USD$17.50 was all that was asked.  Four W&N Series 7 brushes for USD$17.50?  Amazing!  

The caveat was that shipping date was listed as between March and April 2016.  I am patient, I can wait.  So, I ordered two sets each one day apart. Well, yesterday and today, I received notifications from Amazon saying,

Lack of availability?  I wonder if Amazon ever had a supplier lined up to offer these sets for under USD$20?  Hard to imagine.  Perhaps, it was a pricing error?

Anyway, this set retails for over USD$100 but can be found online for about USD$75.
When the price seems too good to be true, sometimes it is!  

State of the Painting Desk

With work taking me out of town for a week, the production line on the painting desk fell silent.  Not only was the painting desk inactive but the gaming table has become a convenient resting place for things to be categorized and put away later.  As the game room photo shows, the Chain of Command layout from several months back is still laid out on the table.  I keep thinking that I will return to the scenario and play it out solo.  Maybe I will; maybe I won't.  Nevertheless, gaming at the table has been silent since that last "Home" game way back in November.  Time sure flies.

Now, for the painting desk.  Upon returning from my business trip, the production line is once again beginning to churn back to life.  At present, I have three groups of figures in work.  Likely to be the next off the painting desk are 32 French chasseurs for the 1859 project.  These 32 figures will be fielded as two battalions.  The yellow on dark blue caps make these fellows very distinctive on the battlefield.  Sharing the painting box with the chasseurs are a half-dozen Perry Stradiots for the Great Italian Wars project.  With a unique and interesting headgear and shields, these light horse will make colorful additions to the collection.

Also in the production line are eight Front Rank lancers for the Peninsular War project.  When building a Peninsular War project, who cannot help but field the Vistula Legion lancers?  Remembering the success of the Vistula Lancers at Albuera, I could not resist fielding a unit of these beauties.

Well, that sums up the state of the painting desk for this time.

French Infantry for 1859 Project

After a three posting barrage of work on the 1799 project, time to switch back to the 1859 project for a unit or two.  When work next returns to the 1799 project cavalry will be the focus of effort.

Mustering off from the painting desk today is a three battalion regiment of French infantry fielded as the 50th Line Regiment.  Each battalion is composed of twelve figures making up a 36 man regiment.  Taken in 36-man chunks, a small handful of lead removed from The Lead Pile is almost perceptible.  

The 50th is sourced from Lancashire Games' excellent 15mm 19th Century range.  Figures in the 50th are outfitted in a mix of greatcoat and tunic and helps explain why some of the figures display yellow collars.  With the calling up of the 50th, French forces can now field 10 x 3 battalion regiments.  Making progress!

On the workbench is another French unit for the 1859 project.  In work are French chasseurs.  When fielded, notice how French lights are organized differently from the line.

French Infantry for the 1799 Project

Work on the 1799 project continues as two battalions of French infantry march off from the painting desk.  With these two battalions of 26 figures in total, the French can field 17 battalions of infantry; enough for many of the battles of 1799.

The infantry figures are recent releases by Campaign Game Miniatures in their early French range with AB mounted officers.  Great figures that are comparable in size to AB Miniatures.  Sculpting may not be as crisp as AB but definitely nice figures.

After seeing these figures announced on CGM's website, I immediately knew I wanted to order a few to get a small sample.  I ended up ordering enough figures for two battalions: one battalion in the advancing pose and one battalion in the march attack pose.  I will be adding more, for sure.

Having fielded six guns and two infantry battalions in quick succession for the 1799 project, attention will return to the 1859 project.

Russian Artillery - 1799 Project

Keeping to a 1799 project theme, up today are four Russian guns and crew.  The models are a mix of two manufacturers.  The guns are supplied by AB Miniatures while the crew are Eureka 1806 Saxon artillery with the plumes snipped. 

To me, the Saxon gunners look close enough to be pressed into service as Russian artillerymen during the Swiss and Italian campaigns.  I actually like the Saxon gunners quite a bit.  More will need to be ordered.  In addition substituted as proxies for Russian gunners, I plan to use the Eureka Saxon infantry as Piedmontese foot and some of the cavalry as earlier French.  With hussars in mirliton, the Saxons will be perfect for the earlier French light horse.  I think the Saxon heavy cavalry can be utilized as French heavies.  As expected, the AB guns are brilliant.  The four guns are a mix of 6 lb and 12 lb artillery pieces.

Although a few guns have been added for the project, more with be needed.  For now, though, the second arm has seen some activity.  Cavalry for the project is woefully under-represented in the collection.  That shortfall will be addressed once I clear the painting desk of a few more items. 

12 lb guns

6 lb guns

Austrian Artillery - 1799 Project

In an effort to get the 1799 project up to a gameable state, all combatants require an influx of artillery pieces.  For the French, four guns were mustered earlier (see French guns).  Now, the Austrians receive a start to their arsenal.

For the Austrians' two guns, one horse gun and one Grenz foot gun move off from the painting desk.  All figures are AB Miniatures from the FRW range.  The guns are nicely detailed as one expects from AB and the Grenz artillerymen are exquisite.  I can envision adding a casquet-topped Grenz artilleryman to a regular gun crew to represent line infantry assisting the crew.  That might make for an interesting vignette.

The Austrian horse gun is the distinctive 6-pdr having the wurst seat upon which the crew may ride.  Again, terrific model.  Going into this project, my thought was to field Austrian guns from my other Napoleonic collection.  The Austrian guns in my main Napoleonic collection are all Old Glory from years ago.  These AB models are so nice, I lean towards fielding an exclusive AB arsenal.  Another order to Eureka is certainly in order.    

Sticking with the 1799 artillery theme, next off the workbench will be Russian artillery for the project.  What will I use for early Russian gunners?  Stay tuned.

British Artillery for the Peninsular War

With only two 28mm British guns and crew remaining in The Lead Pile, I figured no harm in digressing from the 15/18mm pledge momentarily and knocking out a couple of small units for the 28mm Peninsular War project.  Painting the three mounted archers did not take away much from my intended lead push towards the 1799 and 1859 projects.  What could possibly be lost by adding two guns and crew?  Besides, the project could use a couple of guns to return to artillery parity with the French. 

Mustering off from the painting desk are two British guns.  One is a Royal Horse Artillery gun and the other is a Foot Artillery gun.

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The foot artillery crew, in their workmanlike uniforms, offer a contrast against the finery of their Royal Horse Artillery brethren.  One wonders how a weapon can be served in a heavily braided pelisse.

Now work really returns to focusing on a few more units of 18mm figures for both the 1799 and 1859 projects.  I will not be abandoning the 28mm Peninsular War project for long though.  On the painting desk are eight Polish Lancers to be fielded as Vistula Legion.