Revisiting Soft Plastics in 1/72?

Into the category of What am I doing? falls this next post.

Like many of my age cohort, I came into the miniatures wargaming hobby via Airfix 1/72 scale soft plastic figures.  Later, ESCI and Italeri figures were added for a variety of periods.  Those were the early days.  Once I discovered metal figures, I set off in a new direction and, really, rarely looked back.  Long gone are several large boxes of plastic Napoleonics and Zulus.  Until recently, that is.

A return to plastics (hard plastics, that is) began with a recent dabble into Perry Miniatures' War of the Roses figures.  By now, I have built up enough to field two standard armies for the period.  These armies still await their first battle.

OK. That dipped my toe back into the plastic ocean.  

Having fought a number of battles over the last two years hosted by a HUGE advocate for soft plastic toy soldiers (Graham, I am talking to you), I figured it time to head out on a small diversionary expedition of my own.  If nothing else, I can see what the figures look like up close when the view from the webcam is small and fuzzy.

With a semi-regular foray into gaming the War of Spanish Succession remotely, the WSS seemed a reasonable test ground.  At Graham's encouragement, I ordered three boxes of Strelets French dragoons in both mounted (two boxes) and dismounted (one box).  From three boxes, I could field two dragoon regiments of twelve figures each in both mounted and dismounted formation.

Reviews for these figures can be found at Plastic Soldier Review for

French Dragoons on the March 

Dismounted French Dragoons in Skirmish

As the reviews illustrate, the figures are quite nice and posing good.  There is some flash and trim-up required but the figures look good to my eye.  I am especially impressed by the dismounted dragoon set of figures.  Excellent variety of poses and the horse holder with three horses is a superb addition.

After consultation with another blogger (thanks, Tony!) on uniform details for several potential dragoon regiments, I settled upon painting Regiment Villegagnon for the first of two regiments.  The figures paint up easily and I am happy with the results.

Is this the start of a new project? Unlikely, but one should never say never... 

Three Battles; Three Days

Battle of Ucles
Photo courtesy Matt Crump

On the gaming front this week, gaming opportunities abound.  Four games are on the docket this week with games on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.  Busy, busy week!  The first three games were all played remotely.  The game on Saturday will see a F2F activity.  Not sure if I actually will have time and the stamina to attend the Saturday game but there is hope.  Let's recap.

Sunday - Battle of Ucles, 1108

After a long hiatus on the Basic Impetvs On A Grid, Reconquista front, Matt returns with another interesting battle for us.  This time, we explore the Battle of Ucles in 1108.  Matt provided a brief battle account to set the stage.

Christian’s are outnumbered but have all the heavy knights. Historically they rashly charged in, pushed the Córdobans back but then got surrounded and where pretty much wiped out. You have two commanders Alvar who is in charge but Sancho Alfonsez who is the kings son. The Almoravids will get an extra victory point if Alfonso is killed.

Matt would command the Almoravids while I commanded the Christians. I provide a brief battle account.  While my pictorial is sourced from captured screenshots, I expect Matt will provide a more detailed and photo-centric account soon.  My Christian army is in the foreground, closest to the camera.  Off we go!

Christians lead off with an attack in the center.
All others advance.

First defender overwhelmed and retreats.
Alfonsez pursues.

The Almoravids counterattack!

Alfonsez' entourage is wiped out.
Afonsez falls in battle!
Christians continue deep attack into the Moor backfield.

Two more Almoravid units are destroyed

and the baggage/camp captured!
Two units of heavy knights mill about in the enemy camp.

Taking missile fire on the left, Christian cavalry retires. 
Christian knights charge forward.

The Christian knights cause more destruction in the center
while the two units of knights in the enemy camp struggle
 to recorder themselves to return to the fray.

Almoravids attack on the right.
Christians are driven back with loss.

Almoravids attack on the left.

Having destroyed two Christian units,
Almoravid cavalry races to the enemy camp.
The battle is close.
Can the Almoravids sack the camp
 before they lose one more unit?

No!  The Christian knights in the enemy camp
finally compose themselves and attack!
The Christians are victorious!

What appeared as a path to an easy Christian success early in the battle, the Almoravids turned the battle around and made the outcome close.  While the pursuing knights doddled in the enemy camp, the Almoravids nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.  Very Close.  Excellent game and the rules worked well after we cleared cobwebs off of the QRS and our recollections.  Great fun!

Edit: Matt's battle account with close-up photos can be found here.

Monday - Battle of Solferino, Center Sector, 1859

Monday's game was a seven-player, remote contest where I hosted the Rejects in a large, nearly five-hour session.  Since the battle is still in progress with Session #2 scheduled for next Monday, no battle report yet.  Until then, a teaser showing the French Guard attacking the villages southwest of Solferino. 

Tuesday - War of Spanish Succession Clash - Playtesting

After little more than a one-year hiatus from Graham's development work on his WSS project, the rules and Graham's newly painted Bavarians see action on the table.  The game was a hybrid in that two players were onsite and playing F2F while Ian and I were remote commanding from afar.  I am almost certain Graham will follow Tuesday's action with a full battle account.  For now, a screenshot from the game showing my victorious British wing encircling the enemy breastworks and routing enemy cavalry.

Edit:  Like clockwork, Graham's battle report can be found here.

Whew!  Needless to say, little activity at the painting desk this week.

Finally, there are still a couple days to enter the Ten Year Blog Anniversary contest.  Details on entry are at:

Ten Years Before the Screen