Battle Honors' Austrians in Casquet

Without any work on the 1799 project since March, a unit for this project finally makes its way into and out from the painting queue.  While the project saw a flurry of units emerging from the work desk in the first three months of 2019, no additional reinforcements until now.  Why the long hiatus?  I suppose the San Martino scenario motivated more focus in that direction.  Having put San Martino in the books for now, focus returned to other projects. 

The unit off the painting desk today is a Battle Honors' FRW Austrian  infantry battalion in casquet led by an AB mounted officer.  The Battle Honors' Austrians are neither as nicely sculpted nor as large as the AB counterpart but I had enough of these fellows to field one more battalion so why not.  Why not, indeed!  These thirteen figures muster out as IR#3.  Two battalions of French Consular Guard are in work for the 1799 project too.  Sitting in the Ready-to-Go box, primered, are 36 early French from 19th Century's newest FRW releases.

A variety of other projects are seeing action at the painting desk including Kushite archers, another Celtic warband, SYW Russian infantry, ECW horse, and who knows what else.  For now, the painting desk is busy. 

France 6th Demi-Brigade

The latest tranche of figures to march off the painting desk is the French 6th Demi-Brigade.  Total figures mustered out for the 6th DB is 39.  The three mounted officers are AB while the 36 infantry are from Battle Honors.  While both AB and Battle Honors were sculpted by Tony Barton, the AB figures are much more crisp.  

While only slightly more slender than AB, the Battle Honors French are showing their age.  Details are not as crisp as found in AB and the molds are aging.  Flash and mold lines are present on most of the models in marching pose while the advancing grenadiers are still looking good.  

Several, assorted bags of the Battle Honors French Revolutionary Wars range were purchased from 19th Century Miniatures in one of their annual Christmas sales to sample this range of figures.  Some of the packs have aged better than others with the Austrian infantry holding up better than the French infantry.  

Still, the 6th DB is a welcome addition to the 1799 project.  When next the 1799 project sees a batch of new recruits, it will be Russian combined grenadiers making their march off the painting desk.

Comparison of AB vs Battle Honors Napoleonics

AB Austrians

Recent work at the painting desk continues to be dominated by a steady stream of units filing into the ranks of the 1799 project.  This tendency continues with the completion of two battalions of thirteen figures each rallying to the Austrian colors.

First up is a battalion of AB Miniatures' Austrians for IR#20 in helmet.  Fine figures of which many have crossed the painting desk. 

Battle Honors' Austrians

Second off the painting desk is another Austrian infantry battalion.  This time, the unit musters out as a battalion from IR#4.  Figures in this battalion are from Battle Honors and feature Austrian infantry from the FRW range in casquet.  Fine figures as well but more slight than the AB Austrians in helmet.  Interestingly, the sculptor for both ranges is Tony Barton. 

How much more slight?  

Looking at a side-by-side comparison, the AB figures appear to be about half a head taller than the Battle Honors' figures.  Notice how much more robust the AB figures in thickness than the Battle Honors.  The Battle Honors figures seem a bit anemic compared to their well-fed brethren.

From my experience with both manufacturers, AB tend to be more robust and larger than Battle Honors in general.  Within the Battle Honors Napoleonic range, I see much more variability in size from figure to figure.  Some SKUs are larger; others smaller.

Even though size differences are noticeable in close comparisons such as this, on the gaming table, these differences tend to disappear especially when looking down upon the gaming table from three feet above.  I may not mix the two within the same unit but I certainly field both on the gaming table. 

Two more units to add to the Completed roster.

Austrian IR#10 in Helmet

Work at the painting desk continues to focus on 18mm units with a recent pattern of alternating between 1799 and SYW projects.  This stop in the cycle presents a three battalion regiment of Austrian IR#10.  These 39 figures comprise Battle Honours foot with mounted AB Miniatures' colonel.

While I often grumble (how else would a true grognard respond?) about tackling this number of figures at the painting desk in one tranche, I overcome that emotion and often line 'em up and paint an entire regiment anyway.  What seems a chore during the painting process turns to satisfaction once three battalions march off the desk in tandem.  

Work and frequent travel have reduced motivation to trudge down into the game room for an evening painting session lately.  Still, figures continue to march across the workbench.  Despite this bit of malaise and with mid-year fast approaching, my 2018 painting goal is well in hand.  By the end of June, 630 of my 900 figure goal will be garrisoned in the "finished" pile.    

Proving the lesson of painting moderation is a tough one to control, three battalions of French ligne will follow the two battalions of Prussian  fusiliers next off the painting desk.  C'est le guerre!

Austrian Light Infantry in 1798

Work continues on the 1799 project with the mustering of one battalion of the 2nd Carl Rohan Light Infantry Battalion.  The light pike grey uniform with white webbing is a welcome change from fielding battalion after battalion of the White Menace.  The white over grey provides a good contrast too. Three battalions of the white-coated, Austrian line infantry are working their way across the painting desk.  So, the 2nd Carl Rohan offers but a small respite.

For a change of pace, the 15mm foot figures are from Battle Honors rather than the more usually seen AB Miniatures' figures.  While the Battle Honors figures were sculpted by Tony Barton, they are somewhat slighter in stature than his later AB Austrians.  Very fine figures nonetheless. As always, the mounted colonel is an AB.  The Austrian line infantry, mentioned as in work, are Battle Honors figures as well.  Purchased from 19th Century Miniatures at a hefty discount, I doubled down and ordered two more bags of these figures at 30% discount.  I real bargain!

Also working across the painting desk are more 18mm SYW Prussian heavy cavalry and 18mm SYW Prussian fusiliers.

Staining the White Menace Part II

As discussed in an April 2015 post when I began setting up the Raab game (see Staining the White Menace), deploying the Austrians for the replay prompted me to consider and then undertake treating the white-jacketed Austrians with Minwax stain.  At that time, only the white-coated infantry not used in the battle were give the dip.  The results were pleasing.  

With the conclusion of the Raab battle, I decided to tackle staining the remainder of the Austrian Napoleonic 15mm army.  Now, this activity does not include the 18mm Austrians that are being built for the 1799 campaign.  Those 1799 Austrians not already stained may receive the treatment some time in the future.

Having completed the staining task for the entire Austrian army, I figured a parade review was due.  This is likely the first time the entire Austrian collection has been out on the table for a parade.  Quite a mob, is it not?  As units are mustered over many years, one can easily lose track of exactly how many troops have been called up for mobilization.    

Austrian Army

That is a large number of figures to retroactively stain but the effort, to my eyes, is well worth it.  Of course, my thoughts now turn toward tackling the other 15mm Napoleonic contingents.  Perhaps, I will next focus on the white-coated French allies?  That list would include the Wesphalians and Italians.  You know, I have never fielded any white-coated French infantry.  Hmm.

Garibaldini in 15mm

One small addition to the 1859 Risorgimento project makes it way off from the painting desk.  This twelve figure battalion will be fielded as the 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment or Cacciatori delle Alpi or Garibaldini.  Each of the alpine regiments fielded two battalions and were part of Garibaldi's famous Red Shirts.  With the mustering of the 2 Rgt/1 Bn, three such battalions can now make their appearance on the table.

At the Battle of Varese on  26MAY1859, three regiments or six battalions of the Garibaldini faced off against the Austrians under Urban.  The next day, another clash between these two forces occurred at the Battle of Fermo.

As the other battalions before it, these figures are Battle Honors' ACW figures pressed into service as Cacciatori delle Alpi.

The Lead Pile underwent a slight reorganization last night specifically focused on the 1859 project.  This activity not only included reorganizing the boxes of lead but also comparing the bits in boxes against the campaign OB.  While the campaign did not witness a preponderance of cavalry, I did discover that the project could use more cavalry.  Especially lacking are Austrian Uhlans.  Of course, I have not begun to consider the French, yet!

Now, I am not particularly fond of Old Glory's cavalry for this period and many of the Austrian horsemen appear in the later 1866 uniforms so more Old Glory horse is unlikely.  The Mirliton cavalry are quite nice and large while the Freikorps are smaller but still satisfactory.  Based on a suggestion from another gamer, I may look into both Rank & File and Essex.

Another vendor of which I have seen no figures, is Lancashire Games.  Lancashire offers a range for the 1859 campaign and I placed a small order to sample their wares.  My order was shipped the day after ordering so the small package should be in my hands in about one week.  Very quick turn-around and very friendly and helpful communications from the owner.  Always exciting to receive figures from a new manufacturer, is it not?  To me, certainly!

Digging through The Lead Pile prompted me to pull more figures for this project and queue them up.  Besides a handful of artillery limbers, only a few foot battalions were added thus far in 2014.  With this rummage through the lead, I feel motivated to return to the project.  Opportunity knocks.  Two battalions of Austrian infantry and three more Austrian limbers and teams are awaiting their turn at priming.  With weather turning cold, I ought to begin thinking about laying in the primed lead for the winter.  Cavalry should be in the queue too.

Cacciatori del Alpi

Jake stopped by the house on Tuesday for a couple hour hobby discussion and to pick up his portion of end-of-year BTD order.  Of course, topics included scheduling upcoming games and current and future projects.  It was Christmas when we last got together for a game and we had catching up to do even though many of our hobby activities are documented in our blogs (see Jake's excellent blog).

Discussion quickly turned to Jake's Renaissance Italian Wars project in 28mm.  He has been busily churning out units for his project and I have been sorely tempted on many an occasion to contribute.  Well, after the pep talk on Tuesday, I prepared a list of Wargames Foundry Landsknecht.  On Friday I pushed the send button and I should have enough figures to field one Landsknecht square and two units of heavy Gendarme cavalry from the Impetvs lists.  Getting them into the painting queue might pose another problem.

Speaking of the painting queue, I finished the second battalion of Cacciatori del Alpi for the Sardinians in my 15mm Risorgimento project.  These Cacciatori were part of Garabaldi's Redshirts.  As their sister battalion before, the figures are Battle Honors Zouaves.  The sculpts are not the best and the figures are a little fragile but they will do.   

Next off the painting desk will likely be one Impetvs stand of medium Moorish cavalry with spear.

15mm Second War of Italian Independence Project

Progress continues on the 1859 project.  Between work on Samurai and 1859 projects in November and December, not much else has reached the painting table.

Four units have been added to the project in December.  The units include:

• Four squadrons of the Austrian 1st Civalart Uhlan Regiment

  

• One battalion of the 8th Bersaglieri Battalion

• One battalion of the 5th Bersaglieri Battalion

• One battalion of the 1st Cacciatore del Alpi Regiment

The uhlans and Bersaglieri are Mirliton figures and the Cacciatore are Battle Honors Zouaves.  With no figures available for the Garibaldini, an alternative was needed.  I figured an ACW chasseur would come close to matching the Cacciatore but I found no such figure.  Given that hole in most ACW ranges, I opted to use a Zouave from Battle Honors with a paint conversion.  Some sources suggest that the Cacciatore wore a dark blue cap and tunic in 1859 and my notes show the standard blue-gray greatcoat was also worn in the field.  What fun would that be to field more figures that appear as line?  Of course, I opted to paint Garibaldi redshirts in their more famous red shirts!  While the San Martino OB shows no Cacciatore present, it was a pleasant diversion from painting the blue-gray of the Italian greatcoat and the Austrian white.  I have enough figures in the Battle Honors pack to field two more battalions.  The uhlans are lacking their lance pennons as are all of my painted Mirliton cavalry.  I need to make an effort to create pennons for all lance-armed cavalry.  Perhaps, over the winter break from work?

One more order went out to Mirliton to restock artillery and crew for both Austria and Sardinia.  I'll be adding 8 Sardinian and 6 Austrian guns.  Also included in the order are 12 Austrian dragoons and one pack each of command personalities.  Order will likely arrive in about three weeks from Italy.