Having a seemingly, unending stream of Lake Trasimene battles monopolizing blog content, I figured it time to slip in a painting post to break any monotony. Trasimene sees action at least one more time late today with a Postie's Reject rematch. Seeing the Romans bludgeoned last week, the tables turn and sides are swapped. Will Carthage find victory again with a pair of different players at the helm? Stay tuned.Getting back to the painting desk, off the table today are twelve French dragoons from AB Miniatures. The troopers muster out as the 8th Dragoons. These dragoons are from AB's 1796-1806 range of figures for use in planned FRW battles. With these figures in the Ready-to-Paint box for quite a while, I checked on the Eureka website to confirm that these are actually dragoons from the early period. They are. I also noticed that Eureka has raised prices on AB figures. Given the state of the economy, a price rise is not that surprising. I am somewhat surprised that the prices were held steady for so long. 
Having the recently released book, Wargame Scenarios: The Italian Wars Battles 1494-1559, drop onto my doorstep on Saturday, I may find something, therein, of interest to bring to the table.
Time to make final arrangements for today's Lake Trasimene game.
Very handsome dragoons! Gradually rising figure process are the main reason my lead stockpile is occasionally added to. . . Although I generally have everything I "need" at this point to finish my semi-fictitious mid-18th century armies. Time in the painting chair remains the main challenge to that goal. But if/when Jim has a sale anytime soon on his Fife&Drum Miniatures, I plan to add one more line regiment of Austrian infantry to the mix.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Stokes
Thank you, Stokes! I buy in anticipation of price increases too.
DeleteDashing done dragoons there Jonathan. Look forward to reading of the next Carthage v Rome game. Come on Flav old boy you can do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil! Maybe today is Rome's day for victory?
DeleteGreat looking unit. Good variety in the horse colours.
ReplyDeleteThat Italian Wars scenario book looks interesting.
Thanks, Chris! Once a scenario or two has seen action on the table, I may offer a book review.
DeleteFrench dragoons, particularly the earlier: always elegant (no wonder the Empress chose Dragoons as "her" Imperial Guard unit). Nicely rendered, of course! Good lead on that book--a new one on me!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ed! The book was only released, so new to many. George, at Musing on Wargames and Life, brought the book to my attention.
DeleteI've just bought that same scenario book....
ReplyDeleteI could do with spending some time painting as I haven't done any for a while...
Neil
We should compare notes on the book.
DeleteGood to see you have had time for painting in between all the battles! It will be interesting to see what gets to your table next..
ReplyDeleteThe mix and trade off between gaming and painting are somewhat of a zero sum affair.
DeleteWhen I figure what is next on the table, you will be among the first to know. Seems Italian Wars or WAS are leading in the polls for what is next.
Lovely looking figures, AB are amongst the best in my opinion and you have done a very nice job on them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donnie!
DeleteLovely work on the dragoons and nice to see the trumpeter in reversed colours, something that frankly I'm too lazy to do! Kesseldorf sounds fun and look forwar dto seeing what you and Chris come up with. I noticed that the scenario book has lists for three different rulesets, which makes a rare thing these days and something we should see more of IMHO.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, trumpeter appears in reversed colors. On Kesselsdorf, Chris is doing much of the heavy lifting to date. My job will be contorting Chris' fine research to fit my rules and table.
DeleteHaving Impetvs-specific lists is what pushed me to hit "Buy" although my first impression is that the price is high for a print-on-demand book. Oh well, shipping was free!
Over £30 for the book does seem a bit steep to me, even with the rise in printing costs. Not sure if they do a pdf version or not.
DeleteI saw no pdf option.
DeleteLooking forward to your adventures with the Italian Wars.
ReplyDeleteMe too! I am very tempted to have Italian Wars as next on table.
DeleteExcellent cavalry Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Richard! Heading downstairs to set up the game...
DeleteThose dragoons are great. Be nice to see the Italian wars collection on the table top
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil! It will be nice to get the Italian Wars collection out for a few games.
DeleteI do like those dragoons. I sense an upsurge in popularity with the French Revolutionary Wars. There certainly seems to be more coverage/books/figures. Not that I can afford yet another project especially having just bought that Italian Wars scenario book (thanks Jonathan!). It isn't super-cheap but it does seem to cover pretty much every significant conflict (thought he had missed Novara but on re-reading the contents page, no) and it looks a) rules agnostic and b) I feel, although reading will confirm, the headings on "How Many Miniatures" and "Captain's Values" should give useful practical insight into how the battles could be replicated.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrew! I have been building FRW armies for many years, long before it was cool. This is another collection to get back out into gaming rotation.
DeleteHope you enjoy the book. I have only had a chance to skim through it. The price is high for what it offers but my sentiment may change over time. I do like the multi-ruleset approach especially since I play one of them.
Beautiful dragoons Jonathan. That is one of the more appealing uniforms of the period and they don't look too different from the later dragoon uniforms. I have been thoroughly enjoying the Lake Trasimene refights, so will look forward to the next rematch.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the dragoons! It is an elegant uniform. One more Trasimene game to chronicle before turning the page. Today's game with the Rejects was a dandy!
DeleteLovely looking dragoons, bring on the Lake Trasemine refight and that scenario book looks interesting, my vote is for the Great Italian Wars of course!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain caveadsum1471
Much appreciated! I think Italian Wars may see the table next.
DeleteNice troopers Jonathan, I wonder how you will find the IW scenario book.
ReplyDeleteGlad you approve! Thank you for the heads-up on the scenario book. Like you, i think it was rather on the expensive side. We will see how much use we get out this work.
DeleteThe dragoons are nicely done, reminds me how many cavalry units you have mustered with such great looking results. Triasimine has been interesting, the Italian Wars is a great choice for the next 'big thing' on the tables.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Good to get these cavalry out of the Ready-to-Paint pile. Besides the colorful armies, the Core game engine remains as Basic Impetvs so players have not much of a learning curve. Tactics will change the the general mechanisms remain mostly in place.
DeleteExcellent looking Dragoon additions Jon, and an interlude is always welcome - so one can pop off to the "restroom" or maybe buy an ice cream or hotdog before the second (or seventh!) act.....
ReplyDeleteGreat Italian Wars sounds like a nice destination for the next series of games.
Glad you like the horsemen! The players have become accustomed to dealing with large units in the Punic Wars. Now, they get to try to maneuver and fight with even larger pike blocks in the Italian Wars. Should be another fun challenge in a colorful period. I need to pick a battle to recreate.
DeletePretty good looking troops!
ReplyDeleteI didn’t even know there were Italian wars, great or otherwise. 😀
For me, “pretty good” is good enough. Thank you! Stay tuned and you may learn something about the period and how warfare was waged.
DeleteThe scenario book looks very interesting and I look forward to reading about anything that fall from them. Seeing Dadi&Piombo and Warlord Games on the same cover is a first I think.
ReplyDeleteThe book caught my eye as well. Once read through and played a scenario or two, I may provide a review. Those two sponsors offer support since the book features OBs specific to both Impetvs and Pike & Shotte. Good way to encourage sponsorship.
DeleteBeautiful looking unit Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michal!
DeleteAwesom dragoons Jon! I didn't know you had F. Revolution & Napoleonic troops.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Vol, there is probably a large number of collections that you have yet to see..
DeleteCan't have too many reports of games of Lake Trasimene Jon, but these dragoons look wonderful. I love the implication that, "I knocked these fellows out in-between hosting on-line games" (completely unintended, I realise).
ReplyDeleteRegards, James
Thanks, James. One more Trasimene battle to tell. That sixth game recounting will post in a few hours.
DeleteExcellent brushwork on those Dragoons Jon. I've heard a lot about the Italuan Wars book. I may have to get it myself and dust off my collection, that haven't seen the light of day for far too long.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ray! If you buy the book, please report back on your impressions.
Delete