French Dragoons, Dismounted in 28mm

Stepping off the painting desk are French dismounted dragoons for the 28mm Napoleonic project.  These figures were primed back in early 2015 during my Napoleonic painting blitz (see Napoleonic Painting Push) but never made it out of the painting queue until now.

Figures are from Bicorne Miniatures and are the first I have painted from this company.  The dragoons are from the slender school of sculpting but fit in nicely with the other manufacturers of 28mm figures.  I like them.  

Painted as the 18th Dragoons, the dismounted dragoons can be used in tandem with their mounted Front Rank counterparts.

Now, I need to come up with a scenario to best employ these fine dragoons.

Back in January, one of the stretch goals in my 2015 project planning exercise was to complete 200 28mm Napoleonics during the year.  Well, with these figures, my 2015 painting tally stands at 162.  It would not be a stretch goal without a tough reach but adding 38 more figures might be within reach by year end.  Another battalion of Vistula Legion and two squadrons of Polish lancers await in the painting queue but other projects are competing for attention.  Completing one unit in each of the remaining months might just get me there.

Have Game, Will Travel!

Well, I am off for a day of interstate gaming in Coeur d'Alene against my worthy opponent, Scott.  "Worthy opponent" is an understatement, for sure.  I am lucky to win one of three from the master.

With Commands & Colors on the slate for today, I am bringing along my 6mm ancients collection for use with CC: Ancients.  Included in the travel box are three boxes of figures, rolled hex map, box of terrain, rules, playsheets, cards, dice, and hit markers.  Everything needed in one convenient carrying case.

6mm Punic Wars Collection ready for battle

Wish me luck...I will need it!

(yes, the game room is in a bit of disarray.)

EDIT 11OCT2015

Gaming recap:

We completed four games. Two games of Cannae using 6mm miniatures and two games of Plataea using the traditional CC:A board and blocks.  Carthage was victorious in both Cannae replays and the Greeks won both Plataea battles.  Each player won two battles.

The victories and banners counts were:

Game 1: Cannae - Jon (Carthage) 7-3

Game 2: Cannae - Scott (Carthage) 7-5

Game 3: Plataea - Jon (Greek) 5-3

Game 4: Plataea - Scott (Greek) 5-4

Both Cannae battles developed historically with the Carthaginian center giving way as Carthaginian cavalry on both wings first overpowered their opposition and then turned inwards to defeat the Roman center.  

Both Plataea contests were much more closely contested.  In the final game of the day, the Persians jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in banners only to lose that advantage in a deadly and well executed Greek counterattack.  In the end game with banners at 3-4 to the Greeks,  the Persians had a chance to take victory if a one block unit of Greek medium infantry and its attached leader could be taken out.  Surrounding the Greeks with light infantry, the Persians struck.  The remaining block of Greek infantry was destroyed but the leader, now alone, survived the casualty check and then successfully fought his way through the Persian lines.  Banners tied 4-4.  In the Greek half of the turn, the Greeks easily took out a weakened Persian infantry unit to claim victory.  This one was a real nail-biter! 

Wallet-Emptying Offer from Eureka Miniatures

Hitting my InBox on Oct 6 was the Eureka Miniatures Newsletter.  As always, lots of interesting and tempting products but what really caught my attention was the offer for free shipping!  Yes, FREE shipping from the Land Down Under for orders exceeding AUD$130!  Now, that gets my attention.

Usually, Eureka figures are purchased through EurekaUSA but a quick check of the AUD/USD exchange rate shows a relatively strong USD at present.  I needed to capitalize on this fortuitous timing.  When was the last time I ordered directly from Nic at Eureka Australia?  Looking at the chart below, I bet you can guess.  That's right.  The last order placed directly to the Home Office was in 2008. 

AUD/USD Exchange Rate

But wait; there's more!

The large order discount of 20% also applies!  

With the favorable exchange rate and the large order discount, 18mm AB figures work out to be about USD$0.55 foot/USD$1.10 horse and 18mm Eureka figures work out to cost about USD$0.46 foot/USD$0.92 horse.  That is the delivered price!  Wallet Emptying Offer from Eureka Miniatures!  No shipping cost this time.

Of course, time to replenish The Lead Pile.  The Lead Gods must be smiling on me.  Free shipping offer seems to expire on OCT 12.  Did I mention a secret password to get the free shipping?

September was a good month...

with respect to painting productivity.

To recap the painting tally for September, painting activities generated 710 Painting Points (PP) of output spread across 112 figures and two guns.  All completed figures were 25mm/28mm in size.  That total is the second largest monthly total to cross my painting desk since I began tracking such in 1995.  Hard to believe I have been tracking this stuff for twenty years!

Now for the unit breakdown:

• 28mm Napoleonics: 8 French hussars
• 28mm Great Italian Wars: 10 mounted gendarmes, 2 mounted command, and 6 mounted crossbowmen
• 28mm Spanish-American War: 30 U.S. Marines
• 25mm The Great Game: 23 Russian line infantry, 2 guns and crew, and 24 Sikhs

The addition of these figures brings the Painting Points total to slightly over 3,000 PP for 2015.  By averaging 300 PP per month, the 2015 painting goal set back in January of 3,800 PP seems to be within reach.  Three months remain and it might be close.  Working in my favor towards this goal is the seasonal tendency to increase production during the fall.

Another sign of Fall's arrival, I actually have a FtF gaming session on the schedule for Saturday.  It has been far too long since the last outing with the guys.  Saturday I will be driving to Coeur d'Alene for a healthy session of Commands & Colors with Scott.  My 6mm ancients will be making the interstate trip so I expect to see them on the gaming table.

More SAW US Marines

Following close in step behind the US Marines posted yesterday, a second battalion of US Marines departs from the painting desk.  As the marines posted yesterday, these figures are manufactured by Old Glory.  With these fifteen figures hitting the storage box, nine battalions of US infantry can be mustered for a game against six Spanish battalions.  At a 3:2 ratio, that might be getting close to the proper mix for decent game.

Time to shift gears to another project but what?   

SAW U.S. Marines

Storming ashore today is a fifteen figure battalion of U.S. Marines for the Spanish-American War project.

The Old Glory figures are animated in a variety of ways and make for a dynamic unit on the field.  In my opinion, Old Glory's SAW range is one of their finest efforts in 25mm.

Lacking thus far in the project are heavy support for the U.S forces to assist in assaulting Spanish strongholds.  It is probably time to add a heavy support weapon or two into the painting queue.  After that, perhaps time is near for a small scrap on Cuba?

First, though, a second battalion of U.S. Marines awaits in the wings.

Sikhs for The Great Game

Remaining on the NWF, a 24 figure battalion-sized equivalent assembles off the painting desk.  Figures are Wargames Foundry irregular Sikhs from the Sikh Wars range (SK125).  The plan with these natives is to press them into service with the their potential Russian master to counter British incursions on the NWF.

Of course, they could also be fielded for either the British or Sikh army.  The possibilities for their employment are many.

Without a bit of control, a few Sikh or native units could expand beyond planned boundaries to encompass a Sikh Wars or Indian Mutiny project.  Tread lightly.