Renovation and Refurbishing

I have just completed the Renovation and Refurbishment of one of my old Prussian units. Original purchased many years ago     from the B&B at Triples. This unit was used as two 16 man units and both have seen a lot of action.

As part of my SYW R&R project, inspired by John Rays excellent book 'A Military Gentleman',  I am reorganising my infantry units into 30 figure battalions and finishing the basing in a traditional style as used by the late Peter Gilder.

These are Dixon figures and have been refurbished as the 12th Infantry Regiment - Erbprinz Von Hessen - Darmstadt.

Anyway here are a few before and after pictures.

Notice the rather open order look of the basing using 40mm by 50mm bases with 4 figures.

And the refurbished unit using 45 by 50 bases with 6 figures per base.

I will be ordering some GMT flags to finish the unit.  These boys will be one of the units I will take to the AMG15 game at Partizan next May.

Day out at the Royal Armouries

I have a week off with the kids as our child minder is on holiday.  Monday it was a trip up the Dales and paddling in streams, yesterday was scorching so the days was spent at Ilkley lido.

Today however I took Max and Emma to the Royal Armouries in Leeds. I was not sure if Emma would enjoy it, I knew Max would, however she enjoyed as much as he did. 

Having a go at the Vickers MG shooting game was the highlight.

Battle of Waterloo. This is a smaller version of the original 1830s display by Captain Siborne and which included 75000 model figures. Not sure how many figures are in the smaller version - it's safe to say that it is more than 3000 figures used in the largest game I have ever played in.

The are plenty of exhibits and Emma particulary like this one.

A rather nice little mortar and  the arms and weapons that line the central staircase.

Also rather liked this double headed eagle.  This was part of the display for the tournament and Maximilian the first display. Something my Maximilian liked.

Charity Shop Find

As a lad my mates and I used to play diplomacy often as all nighters.

Today I visited one of the many Charity Shops in Ilkley and was very pleased to find a copy of the early 60s version of the game for £1.99.

The iconic map and pieces look complete and it has the original rule book.  With the anniversary of the start of  the Great War on the 28th July it will be a good idea to invite the rest of the old boys around for a game.

Rohan Montbazon

Hi

Finished varnishing and started basing a unit of Mindens French representing a battalion of the Rohan Montbazon Regiment. I had originally painted 20 of  these up a Imaginations however I have added 10 more figures and made the unit up to a move round 30 man unit. Flags, finials and groundwork are all still to be added,

Following a request on the AMG Lounge  I have added a few side and back images.

And the basing finished,

Latest painting interrupted

Hi

Managed to get some more painting done on my latest Minden French regiment this morning.

However I was interrupted by some cycling going literary past my front door.

And here is the leader as they come through Ilkley. Followed a couple of minutes later by the peleton.

The Journal of Horace St Paul

 

I have just received a copy of the Journal of Horace St Paul covering the War in Bohemia 1756.  Horace served with the Austrian army during the seven years war and his journals provide contemporary detail on the campaigns and battles.

The book is translated and edited by Neil Cogswell.  I have flicked through the pages and it looks very good.

I got my copy from Graham at Cranntara Miniatures.

Lobositz had always been one of my favourite SYW battles and this book is a valuable addition to my library. That's the third book this year I have bought that includes the battle of lobositz as earlier this year I got Charles Grants Wargaming on History vol 9 and Christopher Duffys The Wild Goose and the Eagle on the life of Marshal Von Browne. Perhaps it's time  for another refight.

Reinforcements Arrive

I got a copy of John Rays excellent book - A Military Gentlemen - for my birthday in March. The book is glorious and the members only web forum is very friendly place. The membership included many notable Wargamers and the quality of the content is very high ondeed. If you want more details them see here:-

http://www.amilitarygentlemanofthe18thcentury.co.uk/

Anyway is was via the group that I was able to purchase a lot of Minden Miniatures at a very good price. In addition as they were from the UK it meant that I did not have to pay customs duty and post office handling fees to import them from Jim at Minden/Fife and Drum In the US.

In all I got over 140 French infantry and command and 16 gunners as well as some Austrian cuirassier, gunners and command.