Gaming and planning for games are consuming much of my hobby time of late. Two games (possibly even a third) are scheduled for this week, and I am making preparations to host a remote game on the 23rd. Given these demands, meaningful painting sessions continue to be few. Progress is being made, however. Off the painting desk is the first French cavalry contingent for the 18mm SYW project. Mustering out today are two squadrons of French dragoon regiment, La Reine. Figures are from Eureka Miniatures. Several more French cavalry units are in work and slowly making their way through the painting queue.With sights set on getting enough French together to field a viable force for some smaller WAS battles, I still have much work to accomplish. One battle in mind requires seven cavalry units. Having only one completed, I need to pick up the pace. The Alamo battle mentioned in the previous post, we fought on Saturday. Scott and I took command of the Mexicans while Tim and Jeff hunkered down behind the palisades of the Alamo. As seen in the photo below, the Mexicans stormed the defenses early in the second wave and few Texicans escaped. Bowie and Crockett fell early in the fight.
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| WoFun Mexicans clear the Alamo |
With several days of rain combined with spring snowpack melt, the Spokane River is swollen with water. Last week, I made a short stroll along the Lower Falls to see the action. In the photo below, a torrent of water passes over the Monroe Street Dam and down the Lower Falls. The volume and power of water flowing through town is impressive. To get a sense of scale, the gondolas dangling near the bridge each holds four passengers.  |
| Water rushing over Lower Falls |
Time to put together a battle plan for Tuesday's game as I take command of the Scottish army at Falkirk. If I can call upon the Gods of fortune, perhaps, I can reverse history? Probably not but it will be fun to try.
I take it it will be 1746 and not 1298? Nice cavalry.
ReplyDeleteTuesday’s battle will be the 1298 edition.
DeleteGood luck if you are Wallace.
DeleteYes, I play the role of Wallace. I will need a great amount of luck!
DeleteThose cavalry are superb
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Neil!
DeleteA fine start in the French cavalry, that water shot is awesome.
ReplyDeleteA fine start, indeed! A lot more to do, though. In the water photo, I was situated well above the falls. At river level, the power is almost frightening.
DeleteVery nice cavalry. Impressive water pressure!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joe! Good water pressure, for sure.
DeleteBeautiful work Jonathan. How do you find SYW cavalry compares to their Napoleonic counterparts? About the same level of intricacy?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence!
DeleteIf not for the hat tape, I would give the edge in paintability to SYW cavalry. Still, I think I prefer painting the SYW cavalry to Napoleonic cavalry in 18mm.
You’re making a lot more progress with your SYW French than me Jon. Which is not difficult because the manufacturer isn’t making the figures 😆.
ReplyDeleteChris/Nundanket
Chris! You made it through as Anonymous! One step forward.
DeleteWell, if there are no figures, you cannot be blamed for no production. I have a few dozen French cavalry lined up and slowly making their way through the production line.
They are a handsome first unit, Jon!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLovely cavalry Jonathan! That river shot is impressive. You probably couldn’t hear yourself talk above the din all that water must have been making.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You are right. The sound of the cascade was deafening.
DeleteBeautiful start Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteCracking cavalry their Jon! I tend to simplify the details when I paint now, due to ageing eyes, shaky hand and losing the will to live when faced with intricate patterns etc. Shameful I know.
ReplyDeleteThe water is impressive in full spate and I can only imagine the noise. When I used to cycle to work past the river even when in flood, it made quite a bit of noise, but was as calm as a mill pond in comparison to your river!
"Losing the will to live" when painting? My gosh! This sounds desperate.
DeleteYes, when close to the river, the roar is deafening.
Splendid looking hussars, I'm working on a Napoleonic French unit at the moment and rather enjoying them, the river shot looks impressive and good luck with Falkirk!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! More to come although this is the only unit I have in fatigue cap.
DeleteThe Scots will need a great deal of luck to succeed at Falkirk.
Wow - that really is an impressively untamed river to be passing right through the centre of a large, modern city Jon! The French cavalry look good and Yay for the Mexicans - mind you, they have lots of practice getting over walls in Texas I guess....hope that doesn't offend anyone ....its a JOKE people! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is an impressive river cutting through the city.
DeleteOur southern neighbors may be playing the long game with respect to holding control of Texas. I laughed at your comment.
Did Bowie and Crockett at least die well? Lovely cavalry - I'm partial to La Reine (albeit in a smaller scale) myself.
ReplyDeleteBowie went down early but Crockett put up a better fight. French cavalry look good on the table regardless of scale.
DeleteMother Nature is a real power house when she wants to be.
ReplyDeleteI do have a fondness for Eureka, and these have painted up well indeed!
We should not mess with Mother Nature. The Eureka figures are superb especially the SYW cavalry.
DeleteLovely looking 18mm sculpts Jonathan and very nicely painted. I look forward to seeing the collection grow.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat!
DeleteNice cav!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that with the breadth and scope ofcollection that there could be a first unit of something. 😀
Poor Davy Crockett.
Thanks, Stew! I still have many "firsts" to tackle.
DeleteHoly heck! Send some of that water down here! We're already in the 90's >_<
ReplyDeleteVery nice cavalry mate! Strange hats though?
A lot of water running through town, for sure. We have yet to reach 70F this year.
DeleteThe hats are fatigue caps called pokalems. Strange headgear, indeed.
And there I was thinking this period to be all tricorns and bicorns…
DeleteYes, more than just tricornes and bicornes.
DeleteLovely cavalry and a truly impressive water flow!
ReplyDeleteThanks on the cavalry. In spring, the river can be impressive.
DeleteSplendid looking cavalry Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteExcellent looking cavalry Jonathan, I really must get back to my Bavarians for this period. The painting really compliments the sculpts.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Ross
Thanks, Ross! Yes, get back to work on your Bavarians.
DeleteGreat additions to you SYW collection, Jonathan. I have to admit at first glance I thought you had gone into an entirely new period. Their headgear made me think they were Indians wearing turbans! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean! No new period yet.
DeleteAre you hosting any games at Rnfikde?
Great looking French cavalry! Must do some French cavalry standards sometime... :-)
ReplyDeleteThat river is certainly very impressive!
And, given the odds, it's hard to see how The Alamo can really go any other way, isn't it?
Cheers,
David.
Thanks, David! On French cavalry standards, I was thinking the same!
DeleteThe fate of the Alamo defenders is almost preordained. Kevin says the Texicans have one time out of many. I would like to see a report on how that was possible.
The dragoons are looking excellent. I found it always difficult to decide how the musicians looked.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I have a similar problem with painting musicians.
Delete