Archaeology In The Lead Pile

Digging down through the various strata of The Lead Pile recently, I came across several packs of horsemen for the 30mm ECW project.  Now, there remains not so many leftovers to paint in this project so I pulled out three packs and pushed the nine figures into the painting queue.  

From my perspective the ECW project is mostly complete.  Only some odds and ends and enough cavalry for one more body of horse.  Looking back at the Painting Log, the last time any units mustered out was December 2022, a little over two years ago.  Still, adding one horse unit and cleaning out a few packs of figures was worth the time and effort, I thought.

The figures are from The Assault Group and were picked up many, many years ago.  Many of these nine horsemen are wearing older style helmets more suitable to 30YW but they will do for service in my ECW battles.  Nice figures.

On the gaming front this week, Peter (Grid based Wargaming) hosted me in a remote, Medieval game using Arrowstorm.  My first time with the rules and I must admit I was soundly thrashed in Game #1 but made some progress in Game #2.  Still, in Game #2 I fell to Peter's clever tactics.  Perhaps I will get him next time?  We are discussing a rematch. 

Peter has also challenged me to bring my WotR collection to the table for its first outing.  Not able to resist a challenge, I am working on rules for the period for presentation soon(ish).  With some luck, I hope to see the collection on the table within a fortnight.

Flag-Flying Parade

Having cleared the table from the long-running Lake Trasimene series of battles, thoughts turned to the next collection to see action on the table.  After some discussion and encouragement, the 28mm Great Italian Wars collection was picked as the next focus of gaming.  Of course, my decision may have been influenced just a little bit by the recent arrival of Rodolfo Verginella's, War Game Scenarios: The Italian Wars Battles 1494-1559.

Since the Punic Wars figures have been packed away and the table cleared, I thought, why not pull all of the figures from boxes and bring the whole collection out for a parade.  Why not, indeed?  A parade will give me a chance to see exactly what I have and what I may be tempted to add to the collection.

After arraying the armies out on the table, the project headcount shows,

• 6 guns
• 77 horse
• 525 foot

Figures are a mix of Wargames Foundry, Old Glory, The Assault Group, Artizan, Perry Miniatures, and Casting Room Miniatures.  Nice assortment, I think.

Without further ado, on to the parade...

Anything of note lacking in the collection?  The collection could use more mounted Men-at-Arms and several units of crossbow skirmishers. That is only a first cut.  There may be more to add.  Eight pike blocks ought to be sufficient, no?  I may place a small Foundry/Casting Room Miniatures order but it will be relatively small.  I want to maintain the, now, two-month progress on keeping The Lead Pile count in deficit goal for 2024.  This goal took a modest blow with the receipt of Newline Designs' shortened February sale.  I need to focus more on painting.

Results of Newlines' February sale. 

First game is slated for next week in a very small battle suitable for two players.  The players are both new to Basic Impetvs and one is new to remote gaming.

Should be fun.

ECW Horse and a Fort

The first week of the New Year begins with a bang!

Not only do I have a few year-end wargaming wrap-ups to pound out, another installation of the Great Wargaming Survey analysis to finish, but I hosted three remote games too.  Add into those activities some time at the painting desk and it has been an busy week.

While finished units are lingering in the photo shoot queue, I managed to get one of these loiterers off the To Do plate.

Mustering out today is a nine-figure regiment of ECW horse regiment from TAG.  Good sculpts and a joy to paint but the swords seem a wee bit spindly and fragile.  We will see how they hold up under the rigors of battlefield conditions.  I may be reaching near the bottom of The Lead Pile for TAG ECW figures picked up in a large lot many years ago.  Hooray for that!

After a nearly two-month delay, a HUGE box plopped onto my doorstep this week.  Inside was a very well packaged walled desert town for 28mm figures.  This piece is massive with a footprint of about two feet square.  Beautiful work.  I am shocked it made it through the post intact.  Roofs are removable and many of the gates open.

My plan is to push this piece into service for North Africa, Middle East, Spain, and perhaps even the Northwest Frontier. What about the American Old Southwest sans dome?  Why not?  I may simply use it as a backdrop too.  Perhaps I need a new project to more frequently employ this grand feature?

On the painting desk is another WotR Battle (Somerset) of 52 figures and several War of Austrian Succession infantry regiments.  Oh, I have battle reports to write too.

Swiss Regiment Salis and More!

Work continues on the SYW project in 18mm.  Actually, work at the painting desk sees a number of different projects getting a run-out.

First up is a 23-figure regiment of Swiss Regiment Salis to add to my growing French Army.  Foot figures are Blue Moon led by a Eureka mounted colonel.  Flags are by David at Not by Appointment. 

Looking over at the queue to the photo booth, Salis is the last in a long line of French troops for this project (for now, anyway).  Next up for the SYW project is a turn to fielding Spanish infantry for the WAS but I am getting ahead of myself.

Two more odds and ends moved across the painting desk of late.  Both entries are for the 30mm ECW collection.

Mustering out is another command stand using The Assault Group figures.  This command stand features Wallenstein from the 30YW range but he will be pressed into service for ECW battles wherever needed.

Next, are three stragglers from the recently completed commanded shot unit.  When I originally painted the commanded shot, 26 figures were painted.  When I put the figures into the painting queue, I was almost certain there were 27 figures.  27 figures went in and only 26 figures came out.  Since the figures are based in threes, I only fielded 8 stands of three.  The other two figures were set aside.  Fortunately, during a quick clean-up, the missing figure was found underneath a box of figures on the floor.  He was quickly primered, painted, and now joins his comrades.

Finally, Matt and I return to our long-running AWI with a continuation of the campaign on Sunday.

Matt never holds back on his table layouts.  Sunday's action at Bound Brook is no exception.  Just look at the marvelous layout I get to fight over tomorrow.

Stunning stuff!

Battle of Bound Brook, 1777
photo courtesy wargamesinthedungeon

Paint 'em or Purge 'em ?

For regular readers with a good memory, the post,

Paint 'em or Purge 'em

may be vaguely familiar as I wrestled with whether to either paint or purge a selection of TAG ECW musketeers.  Feedback was nearly unanimous in lobbying for painting the small pile of lead.

My decision? 

Paint 'em!

Off the painting table today are those TAG ECW figures.

Getting this handful of figures into the painting queue took nearly two months as other figures and units took priority. Finally, the figures saw some attention last week. Out from the workbench they march.

The plan is to use these figures as commanded shot, baggage guard, or possibly even a Forlorn Hope.  I will try to work some of these figures into the next ECW scenario that hits the gaming table.  When will that be?  Who knows?  At present, Reconquista clashes are seeing action on the table.

The response from readership helped to push me over the edge toward painting these figures and clearing away a small handful of orphan figures from a dormant project.  Actually, the ECW project has seen recent renewed interest with a couple of units of cavalry and commanders coming off the painting desk.  Another command stand is in work in an attempt to decrease the TAG ECW surplus.

The next Paint 'em or Purge 'em victim is in the crosshairs.

More ECW et al.

Following up on the ECW command stand presented last week, today more ECW figures depart the painting desk.  Off the table is a nine-figure regiment of horse in buffcoats and floppy hats.  Figures are TAG cavalry from the Thirty Years War range (Swedish?) but I am pressing them into service for the ECW project.  Nice sculpts but a bit fragile.  Upon close examination, one can see that the trumpeter has already lost the bell of his instrument.  This mishap occured during the photoshoot.  Fragile little thing.  I may try to reconnect the bell to the pipe.

Game #2 with the Sumerians and Basic Impetvs occured on Tuesday.  With hosting a four-player remote game, once again, the players kept me hopping and photos were few.  I may be able to create a patchwork summary battle report but perhaps, not.  

While the game was entertaining, the post-game discussion prompted a useful analytical exercise.  The discussion continued on to email where the relative merits of rules and resolution of specific tactical situations were debated.  This conversation sparked a chance to ponder topics on game design, theory, computational validation, and testing.  Perhaps fodder for another posting and further discussion.

Finally, after a few days of very smoky skies from assorted wildfires, the air cleared for my daily, morning ride out on the bike.  Number of miles put into the legs today was 36 traveling north along the Spokane River.  A few photos from today's ride follow.

Until next time...

Ramblings and an ECW Command Set

I begin September with a mixture of topics without a common theme.  Well, besides wargaming, that is.

First, off the painting table is an ECW command vignette for the 30mm ECW project.  The figures, themselves, are from TAG while the models are sculpted to represent Pappenheim.  I know, I know.  Pappenheim did not see service during the ECW.  In fact, he fell in battle during the Thirty Years War but the figures lingered in The Lead Pile and the group was pressed into service as I whittle down the lump of TAG lead.   

Second, The Great Wargaming Survey, 2022 edition closed out on Wednesday.  Hope everyone that wanted to participate did so and within the allotted time.  I expect to see the survey response datafile in the next few weeks.  I look forward to diving into the data to see what new tendencies emerge from the land of wargaming.  At last count, total responses had not set a record but turnout was robust, again.  Oh, I used my WSS coupon code to order a subscription to WSS magazine.  While I occasionally pick up the digital edition when the theme is of interest, I have not subscribed to the magazine in years. 

Third, the gaming front sees two battles this week.  Game #1 was an Ancient Sumerian clash using Graham's To Ur is Human rules.  The game was a hybrid in that there were active players both onsite and remotely.  Ian and I were online.  Graham (umpire), Phil, Richard, and Tim were in Shedquarters pushing lead.  In the heated contest, Richard, Phil, and I came out on top.  Graham will likely have a full accounting of the battle in due time.

Game #2, is slated for later this afternoon. Kevin is coming over for a F2F game.  Sticking with the Ancient Sumeria theme, my Sumerians will see their Baptism of Fire on the gaming table.  Time was spent this week preparing for the game including writing up a Basic Impetvs variant for Bronze Age combat on a hex grid.  We give the rules their Baptism of Fire too.

Finally, The Palouse Wargaming Journal approaches ten years in the blogosphere.  Anniversary date mid-September.  More on that event later.

Paint 'em or Purge 'em

After 18 months of no additions to the ECW collection, I decided it time to revisit the project.  With most of the ECW figures having been painted and mustered out from The Lead Pile long ago, the project is considered finished.  A few bits and pieces linger but no pressing needs remain.  Is this true that the project is finished with little need for expansion?  From experience, this is rarely the situation.

Digging through the boxes of metal, a box of TAG figures emerged.  Ah, I remember these.  Seems only one unit of TAG cavalry has seen the paint brush to date.  Why not add another regiment of horse?  Indeed, why not?

As work progressed on the next nine horsemen, I dug around some more in the pile.  Out of the figure stash came about two-dozen musketeers.  Now, these are really dressed for the earlier Thirty Years War but they could see service in my ECW project in a variety of roles.  But does the project really need more musketeers with no complement of pikemen?  

These musketeers could be pressed into service as commanded shotte, militia, or baggage guards.  Since there are no dedicated commanded shotte or town militia mustered out in the collection, a need could conceivably exist.  Oh, and the figures are beautiful too!

Having never fielded either commanded shotte, town militia, or firelocks/baggage guard in a game, perhaps simply purging these figures is the prudent way forward.  Of course, maybe the right scenario has yet to make it to the table?

As my decision hangs in the balance, what would you do?  I will count up the responses and see where the issue stands.  Perhaps someone will lay a convincing claim to these figures before I push them into the painting queue? 

Paint 'em or Purge 'em? 

I may have answered my own question...

ECW Harquebusiers in 30mm

The 30mm ECW project is witnessing a bit of a resurgence in 2019.  Having no units coming out from the painting queue since 2011 (!), the horse regiment mustering out today is the third unit seen in 2019.  Why the renewed interest?  Maybe expectations for playing For King and Parliament (FK&P) have something to do with it?  Even if FK&P has yet to see the gaming table, several battles have been fought in 2019.  In fact, Southam is still deployed on the table.  For Southam, thoughts continue towards giving Parliament a better chance at victory.  Southam was played thrice this summer and in all three battles the Royalists were victorious.  Southam still has some play in it and expect to see another round of battles as unit ratings are adjusted.  

Anyway, I digress.  Off the painting desk today is a nine figure horse regiment of harquebusier.  Their attire may look somewhat dated but still suitable for ECW gaming.  The figures are from The Assault Group (TAG) and represent the first TAG ECW figures to see work at my workbench.  I have painted several handfuls of their Renaissance Italians for the 28mm Great Italian Wars project but none before today for the ECW.  Figures are well sculpted and the cavalry will fit in well with the bulk of my Redoubt cavalry.  TAG figures are on the pricey side of the cost spectrum but these fine fellows were part of a box of ECW figures gifted to me from a friend leaving the hobby.  Now, that is a bargain!  Plenty of cavalry left in the box of lead and a few infantry too.

With a late year push, two more ECW units are working their way through the painting queue.  At present one regiment of horse and a regiment of foote are nearing completion.  Checking The Lead Pile, one more 27 figure unit of foote could be raised if only command figures were present.  Perhaps a very small order to Redoubt to pick up the missing recruits is in order?  Redoubt is still in business, right?         

Venetian Crossbowmen

Just slipping onto the "painted" side of the Painting Log before end of quarter is a nine figure stand of crosswbowmen.

With a red and white motif, this unit reminds me of Venice.  As such, they will likely see service as mercenaries in one of my Renaissance armies.  Perhaps a Venetian army capable of fighting on its own should be considered for the project?  I will investigate that possibility.

Figures are from The Assault Group (TAG) and are finely detailed sculpts.  Wonderful figures and fit in well with Foundry's Renaissance line.  How large has this project become?  Much larger than I originally envisioned. 

Having reached both end of quarter and the half-year mark, I pulled out the tally sheet and gave it a quick inspection.  The number of figures passing across the painting desk are down over the first half of 2017 but that is acceptable.  Opportunities at the gaming table have increased dramatically.  Still, more than 400 figures crossed over from The Lead Pile and into storage boxes. 

How do those 400+ figures break out for project and size?  That is for another post when I recount the first half painting analytics.

Italian Archers for Great Italian War

Two Impetvs skirmish stands of Italian archers muster off the painting desk.  These bowmen are a forerunner to a larger tranche of Italian Wars' figures preparing to debouch from the workbench.

These eight figures are from The Assault Group (TAG) and will provide some light infantry support for a potential Venetian contingent.  Rather than fielding an entire Venetian army, more likely, they will be utilized in whichever army could use some bow-armed skirmishers.

Decked-out in a red/white motif, these figures lend a touch of Venetian flair to my eye.  The TAG figures are excellently sculpted but more slight and slender than many other manufacturers' figures.  Having painted a TAG pike block (see TAG pike block), a few arquebusier (see TAG arquebusier), and now a few archers, I find the TAG Renaissance range quite pleasing.  I ought to consider investigating TAG cavalry.

Parade Ground: Great Italian Wars Project

Having several requests to troop the 28mm Great Italian Wars project out for a Pass-in-Review, following is a photo op of the state of this interesting project.  Work on a fairly large pile of unpainted lead remains to be tackled but must be prioritized.  Mustering the troops onto the parade ground is a practical tool in making an assessment on progress made and guiding the direction for future work.

Project Group Photo

The photo above and the two photos below illustrate the current state of the project in group photos.  With Impetvs as the basis for basing, the units mustered, thus far, include:

• 4 stands mounted gendarmes
• 2 stands Stradiots
• 1 stand mounted archers
• 4 Pike squares 
• 2 stands 'T' arquebus
• 2 stands 'S' arquebus
• 3 stands Artillery

Figures are drawn from Wargames Foundry, Perry Miniatures, Old Glory, and The Assault Group. 

Project Group Photo

Project Group Photo

Given the overview of the project, what does the project need in order to create a more well-rounded army that could be fielded as more than one Impetvs force?  When will these fine lads see action in their first action?

Now, for two handfuls of photos of the troops.