More FPW Prussians
Following up on the handfuls of German commanders (see FPW Prussian Commanders), more Germans emerge from the painting desk. In fact, painting efforts at present seem to be almost solely centered on fielding German units for the project expansion. Since a large French army has already mustered out long ago for the Franco-Austrian War project, does adding Germans and expanding to include the 1866 and 1870 conflicts represent a supplement or a new project? How would you classify it? Out from the photo box today marches the 31st IR. These 48 figures in three 16-figure battalions are all from Lancashire Games. As mentioned before, I think the advancing Prussians are excellent. More Prussians are in the painting queue along with more Bavarians as well. Allan, from Lancashire Games, sent out a sample pack containing enough figures to field one battalion each of Baden and Wurttemberg infantry. These figures are equally nice and presently receiving a slap of paint. My early August order, long held up in Irish Customs appears to be finally(!) on the move. Royal Mail reported this week that the package has hit the USA and is currently languishing in the port of Los Angeles. Getting closer but not here yet! On the previous post on blog anniversary and battle reporting, reader response was outstanding. Thanks to all that took the time to contribute. One reader sent his response via email (shy fellow that he is) and brought up the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle and the Observer Effect. Interesting topic to ponder and explore another time. Thoughts on the paradox of modern wargaming are rumbling around in my head as well. For now, back to the painting desk.
Another beautiful looking unit Jonathan ! 👌
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteGreat looking regiment Jonathan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil!
DeleteJonathan,
ReplyDeleteBe careful with Prussians; let one in and before you know it it's "Ich hat ein Kamerad" and they have taken over....☺
Look what happened to the Austrians in Silesia.....☺
Neil
Neil, it may be too late.
DeleteSplendid and a period right up my strasse (again) currently.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil! Much more to come.
DeleteThey look very impressive Jon, nice pose, as you say. A new project or an expansion? I wouldn't know...I feel you may be overthinking it just a tad?! Mind you, if you are considering the paradoxes of modern wargaming, you are obviously doing a lot of thinking. Hopefully you put some of your thoughts into a future post...the previous one was very interesting, as evidenced by the outstanding response.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith! I do a lot of thinking and overthinking about a number of topics.
DeleteVery nice additions there Jon and nice of Alan to include some sample packs too:). Personally I see the 1859, 1866 & 1870/71 campaigns as pretty much the same in terms of uniforms, which is one of the big attractions of this 'period'. The tactics and weaponry change slightly, but not that would affect us gamers, unless you really are into the periods mentioned and know the subtle differences;)!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve! Yeah, having Allan send out done samples is generous although he would like photos when painted for his website. Based on your assessment, I guess moving into the FPW from FAW is simply a project expansion.
DeleteA determined looking formation marching forward. Has your painting style changed since you painted the opposing French a long time ago?
ReplyDeleteHas my painting style changed. Hardly!
DeleteYour Prussians look great as always Jonathan. I had similar thoughts when I added Hessians to my British, and decided because there were only eight or nine units it was not big enough to constitute a new project or army.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence! Is adding Hessians to an AWI different from adding Prussians to a different war? Maybe not even though these German army will be much larger than 8-9 units.
DeleteFine looking Pruskies Jonathan. They are striding forwards purposefully.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was an under-grad at uni. the Physics club had a beaut t-shirt which read: "Heisenberg was probably right". I still regret not buying one...
Best wishes, James
Thanks, James! Heisenberg probably WAS right! That would have been a good shirt.
DeleteGreat looking unit Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the French Austrian War, I will have to look it up.
I thought that after all the comments you received on your last post and all the replies you had to make, you may have felt like turning comments off for a while 🤣
Thank you! The Franco-Austrian War was also the Second War of Italian Independence or more simply, 1859. Having all of the thoughtful comments in the last post were terrific. Why turn them off?
DeleteI thought it would have been a lot of work replying to them all. Very nice to get them all of course.
DeleteReplying may be some work but worth it!
DeleteVery smart Prussians, although I'd expect nothing less. I tend to treat the APW, FPW and various wars of Italian Independence as separate projects, even if many of the units are interchangeable. You need a LOT of Prussians (and Bavarians) for the FPW, just as you need Piedmontese etc for Italy. The nature of the fighting in each theatre was also quite different.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martin! One vote for separate projects! Excellent! Now, how do you break these down into separate projects when some of the combatants see double duty in more than one?
DeleteLovely looking Prussians, Jonathan.
ReplyDeleteThere may be commonalities in the nations, armies and uniforms involved, I would take the view that technological advances changed the tactics and nature of battle by the FPW. A new period? Probably not, that's defined by time but definitely a new conflict. Only an opinion.
Thank you, Richard! Since you have a large FPW project already, from a painting effort, would you consider adding FAW an expansion to your FPW project or as a new project?
DeleteI would have to say that it would be a new project, Jonathan. I would have to find or write new rules. The FPW ones I use would not translate well, I think.
DeleteI suspect your FPW rules would work with only minor adjustments.
DeleteLovely looking additions to your collection, the pose makes for a really good looking unit, I like the look of the Lancashire Games figures, they paint up really well.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Donnie! The advancing pose is a good one and much preferred over the skirmishing poses. The sculpting on the march pose looks a bit off to me.
DeleteGreat looking FPW Prussian infantry, Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Deletenice job! they look like they're walking with determination. 😁
ReplyDeleteThanks! When under my command, I expect them to fight with determination too!
DeleteGreat to see the Prussian masses mobilising Jonathan. You can easily use the Prussians for 1866 and for 1864 as any uniform differences are minor and probably wouldn't be seen in 15mm. The Bavarians for 1866, however, are quite different - different headgear and kit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you approve! Many more to come as I ramp up this end of the project. What figures do you suggest for 1866 Bavarians in 15mm?
DeleteNot sure what is out there in 15mm, but they universally wore the cap in 1866 and the greatcoat was rolled on the top of the pack, rather than worn over the shoulder.
DeleteWell! Your description sounds like Lancashire Games' Wurttembergers might fit the bill. The Wuttembergers wear the feldmutze and the greatcoat is rolled around the backpack.
DeleteLovely looking Prussians, rules that cover Solferino and Sedan? Probably, depends how detailed you want to go in technology advancement I guess? But I'd still use the same figures regardless as the second empire uniforms are broadly similar, although I'll bow to Marks superior knowledge of late 19th century Bavarians! So an expansion, I'd say, my Spanish, Polish, Bavarian and Prussian armies are merely expansion of an existing project and not worth examining further as I pull a veil over them!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain, good input!
DeleteThey look great, and I agree about the 'advancing' pose, very dynamic. I'd treat it as an extension rather than a new project - there's plenty of scope for 'what-if' conflicts in the 1859-1871 period, and the Prussians must be a major player. ( I seem to remember Don Feathersone describing recruiting Austrians, French, Bavarians and Prussians, I think in his 'Wargame Campaigns' book? ). I think I read that one of the likely reasons for Louis Napoleon coming to a quick truce after Solferino was that the Prussians were rumoured to be preparing to mobilise to prop up the failing Austrians. So there's a 'what-if' campaign, Prussia vs. France 1859...
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, David! I much prefer the advancing pose over the other Lancashire poses. Ankles can be a bit bendy if you are not careful.
DeleteWhat-ifs are certainly possible but there are so many historical battles to bring to the table that there is no need for alt-hist just yet. Hmm. I wonder if I have Featherstone's Wargames Campaigns. Off to look in the library.
I have noticed that you usually do historical battles, so maybe the 'what-if' is not for you - still, the Prussians fit nicely into a set of armies with French, Austrian, Bavarian etc from which you have loads of battles to fight.
DeleteI checked, it was indeed 'War Game Campaigns' I was thinking of, the chapter called 'A Narrative Battle - France v Austria and Bavaria in Italy 1859'. Again very much a 'what-if', but a rather charming chapter describing the inspiration for the project, and then how he did the painting whlle 'staying up all night in front of the television set watching the athletics' at what may have been the 1956 Melbourne Olympics!
Perhaps I tend toward historical battles because I do not have the imagination to create my own? Perhaps, I refight them to understand history and the decisions made a little bit better? Perhaps I should ty more "What-ifs?" Still have not made it to my library to see if I have that Featherstone book.
Delete