Plastics = Conversions!

Reminiscing about past activity...a birthday at this stage of middle life, kinda encourages this behaviour I find... a couple of days ago,  had me looking at my 'old' collection of Napoleonics.  Full of vigour for this new effort to create the forces at the Battle of Waterloo, the Netherland 28th Infantry Regiment, Nassau-Orange, had a somewhat different uniform and I remember having fun creating its unique look.

the Netherland 28th Infantry Regiment, Nassau-Orange

The torso is Perry British with all the chest lace scraped away.  Their arms are Victrix French Chasseurs overcoat types, the shako Russian 1809 types with new plumes taken I think from extra hussar headdresses, and their packs are French.  So with different colour scheme, they look the part.

As I want them "transportable" the lightweight plastic is a great consideration. And great entertainment creating unique units from extras bits from other sources.

Almost shot down...yet again

I went to the monthly club night thinking to help Dennis with his ACW naval game but he already had many players for the game.  All the usual hosts had seem to have decided to play and not put on a game!
Had a long conversation with WillB after which joined the WW1 air game.  Oh Late War was it?  With all those DVIIs, SEs and the like.  Oh well, I'll play Allies using my little Pup (very early war British plane).  Severely out classed! However the scenario, as it was, to strafe the German lines.  As usual, the players often ignored this to start shooting at each other. With the "fur-ball" of clashing planes over there, I went the other direction for safety thinking I could get some victory points all alone.

The clash of experienced pilots and power planes which I dutiful avoided!

So slowly moving across the table with my underpowered plane, I dove low and gave a long burst for maximum effect with my meagre one machine gun only to have the darn thing jam! [ yes, my poor die rolling ]. The anti-aircraft fire then riddles my wings and tail with holes and....disables my weapon....
It was considered I would simply fly home. No German could reach me so end of the first flight.

My Pup flying low at '1' level ready for a strafing run.  The six on the nearby dice was not my roll....obviously....

Starting again a turn later,  I fly low and steady only to again suffer heavy flak.  No long-bursts this time - I did not want to suffer jamming again - but with a poor firing rating, I could do little effect.

Not the best of flights but at least this night I was not shot down! :}

Longe's Farm - a Tercey campaign AAR

Skirmish at Longe’s Farm

It has been some time since we visited the Shire and the fictional conflict between the Tawny and Reds during the era of the English Civil Wars.
While the major battles raged to the south and east, the small internal conflict had taken a lengthy hiatus after the destruction of the “Sister Margaret” cannon. [link to previous post]

Successful in staving off a full siege, the Earl of Rockforth was restricted by a somewhat effective cordon of Tawny troops. The Earl's food was not plentiful and certainly not tasty.  It was thus that Primrose, one of Rockforth’s commanders had it in his mind to have some bacon and so conceived a raid upon Longe’s Farm renown in the Shire for its quality of pork.

Longe's Farm

Longe's Musketeers waiting in ambush along the rock fence (centre) looking from the southwest.

The raid was to be staged at mid-day with a noisy demonstration at the obvious spot of the bridge which led to the farm, while Urry’s cavalry would attack from the south concealed by a slight rise and descend upon the sty. Much like a scene of a TV plot, unbeknownst to Primrose and Urry loudly discussing those actions,  a cleaning maid , not so comely and thus unnoticed, had her ear to the slightly opened door to overhear and thus, subsequently provided these to the Tawnys.

My newly made buildings.  4Ground MDF with new roofs and chimneys. The original is to the rear.  I could create another house from the inside walls of the model adding a roof and beams.  The roofing tile are cereal card individually positioned and the chimney 'stone' are clay balls.  The wood on the walls is painted a darker brown but the wall color has not been changed.

Robarte’s Shotte, tasked with creating the diversion, moved forward only to receive a casualty from the fire of Browne’s dragoons hidden along the fencing near the bridge.  Urry, upon hearing the fusilade, and thinking the only possible defence was thus occupied, calmly charged toward the pig sty. With Urry’s horse now in range, Longe’s musketeers were not ordered to fire.  (failed activation) Did Longe mean to withhold fire until point blank range?  But this would make little difference   [the rules do not account for such details! ;-} ]

clash at the sty

On the other side of the farm and across the stream, Robarte’s Shotte, rather than await events, took the bold move to advance toward the bridge and the Longe Farm….but though better of it after another volley from Browne’s dragoons.

Robarte's Shotte crossing the wood bridge unopposed late in the engagement.

Meanwhile, Primrose, still unaware of Longe’s Musketeers hiding along the nearby rock fence, ordered Urry’s troopers to dismount to collect the pigs.  —what they were to do with such after gathering them was unknown.  One cannot imagine regaining a mount carrying a 100+ pound squirming pig would be possible.  Were they to herd them?  Shoot them?  But having no cart…

Primrose leading the "charge" on the pigs.....

...but the pigs seem rather unconcerned. The sty is scratch built...and doesn't it look it!  But I wanted a rather ramshackle abode.

While this comic affair was engaged, Longe still did not order a charge.  Yes, you might have already deduced, but once again he failed the activation… His musketeers probably confused and annoyed continued to crouch behind the low stone fence. while Urry’s horse continued to collect the pigs (each successful ‘move’ activation allowed them to gather a stand of pigs)

The pigs abandoned by Urry's retreating horse now had their home occupied by the dragoons.

  Meanwhile Browne’s dismounted dragoons on the other side of the farm shot again forcing Robarte’s Shotte away.  Browne then took the rather bold step to ignore Robarte’s Shotte and move through the trees to their rear to help fend off the pillaging horse at the sty. While doing so, Longe finally gathered enough courage to order the attack on Urry’s horse. Casualties were even but the dice reflected the tactical situation as Longe’s unit passed courage without difficulty while Urry’s surprised troopers failed and recoiled back dropping the pigs and becoming “battered”.  However, experienced as they are, quickly regained their composure and remounted.
By now, Browne’s dragoons had reinforced Longe’s musketeers who took a rather long time reloading their weapons….
With indecision abound, Primrose deciding that his bacon breakfast must yet wait, the skirmish was concluded and he broke off the action.

Napoleonic Italian additions

My 28mm Napoleonic collection, while primarily Perry in composition and mostly plastic or as much as possible with some metal elements, also has Warlord, Essex and Victrix units.  The latter forms my Italian contingent along with some Warlord.  Both these tend to have the same sculpting style in my eye and thus I tend to keep them separate from the Perrys. On the table they play fine together.

I was presented with a large bunch of Victrix figures from a gamer which he had already glued together but was not successful in selling in the B&B (I obviously did not see these...) .  As he headed out the door he gave me these, "knowing they will go to a good home"

I divided into like poses which turned out to be perfect arrangement for my small units and did up two batches to add to my Italian contigent.  One unit is the 2nd Italian Light Regiment which fought in Germany in 1813 as did the Milan City Guard.  The Milanese have been one of my 'bucket-list" units in their unique light blue tunics.

Italian 2nd Light Infantry

Italian Milan City Guard which fought in Germany during the 1813 Campaign

Like my other Italian units,  I went against my usual black primer and highlight technique but used a white primer and wash to complete the painting.  I don't like painting swashes of white so tried the wash method.  I am not very good at it but the effect is ok in this case and for consistency, I continued the wash on these new units.

part of my Italian contingent for Germany 1813 with an original element leading the column