Humbrol Green

I use Humbrol Grass Green for my figure bases on my classic Napoleonics.  Over the years I have noticed that the colour varies tin to tin. 

I have been looking for an alternative to use on the mdf bases which matches the Humbrol Green I use on the figures themselves. I gloss varnish figures, including their bases, and leave the mdf  bases matt. The Gloss varnish changes the colour as it reflects light making the figure bases lighter than the Matt finish on the mdf bases

I have tried various tester pots of Matt emulsion and think I have well found a good match.

The photo shows a comparison of a Valspar matt emulsion colour called Sea Turtle (R251A - available at B&Q), on the left and Humbrol 80 on the right.

A pretty good match and with bonus that the Matt emulsion is cheaper and easier to use.  It also gives me the option of painting my 2ft square mdf boards in the same colour.

Next up - Line Lancers

I recently received a few DK French Line Lancers from RG and now have enough figures for a 6 figure squadron. The unit will consist of 4 original Hinton Hunt figures (FN 118) and 2 Der Kreigspieler figures (DK 38).

The figure on the left is an original Hinton Hunt figure and as you can see the DK copy on the right has a shorter lance and is shorter in statue. 

As can be seen the DK figure is not only shorter but thinner than the original Hinton Hunt figure. There is not a lot you can do make the figure fatter but there is something you can do about the height.

My experience of DK figures is that they have thin bases particularly when compared to Hinton Hunt.  My solution is to add some Milliput under the base to add that extra little height.

The DK figure is now a closer match, height wise, with the better fed Hinton Hunt figure. I am hoping that once painted and based the figures will blend together.

Polish Guard Lancers

Well it taken way longer to get these figures completed but they are finally done. 

The trumpeter is a conversion and has a bionic arm donated by a plastic figure. I also use Newline figures for spare parts.

The uniforms are rather pretty and but they were time consuming to paint. I have another 6 figures which will be painted as Red Guard Lancers. I however I need a break ,and need to find something easier to do next.  Perhaps a squadron of Line Lancers or a unit of Prussian Dragoons.

Another point was trying to get the Lances all at the same angle. They would not look like Guard Lancers if they had their Lances all over the place would they.

I use my old trusty Funckens, with french text as my uniform guides.  I have had these since the 70s. I know people say they have inaccuracies but they inspired me as a youngster and continue to do today.

Polish Guard Lancers - in progress

I have had a break from painting classic Napoleonics over the last 3 months.  This week however I have been making progress on a 6 figure squadron of Polish Guard Lancers using FN44 figures. 

They are as per usual taking longer than I expect but his morning I make good progress on them and managed to complete the white on the first figure.  It took over 30 minutes just doing this.

There is still a fair bit of detail to finish him off but I can now see what the finished figure is going to look like.

The 2nd Squadron will be painted as the Red Guard Lancers and will look rather fetching on the wargame table.

Bellona River Sections

Following my last post I have been very kindly been sent some original Bellona river sections.

In all there are 3 straight sections and 2 curve packs.  Once the edges are trimmed the straight sections are 10" by 5".

Amera Mouldings do very similar river sections in their fantasy realms range and are very similar in size.

http://www.amera.co.uk/product.php?range=f

I would like to thank J for his generosity in sending me these long out of production river sections.

Home made Streams

Bellona made a range of terrain pieces and I owned quiet a few as a youngster. I have been looking out for some Bellona stream for a while now to go with an old Bellona bridge I have.

As I have been unable to find any I decided to have a go making my own stream sections using some Kardean  flooring I had left over from a bathroom floor.

Kardean is very easy to cut and is flexible. I made the banks using Caulk and a simple paint job and a bit of Jarvis flock finished them off.

The Old Guard crossing into Belgium in June 1815.

A section of the stream painted in an appropriate gloss blue with a little dry brushing. You can see the texture of the Kardean which I think adds to the effect.

First game of DBN

 Its been a while since I have had a game and this is partly because I only have access to a kitchen table which for some reason my wife wants to use for eating meals.

So in the last few weeks I have been looking at alternatives for quick set up and play games that can be played in a small space. 

I have been looking at Neil Thomas One Hour Wargame rules and DBN.  I have decided to first give DBN a go and this has been influenced by what Lee has been doing on his blog http://napoleonictherapy.blogspot.com/?m=1

So I dug out my old Napoleonic 15/18mm armies and picked enough figures for two 12 point armies.  I spent sometime refurbishing the figures which included new flags, rebasing and a two coats of gloss varnish.

For terrain I kept it simple using one of my old mdf boards with some hills made by cutting up another board. I dug around in the shed to find some trees and a building. The roads were made in the mid 70s out of plasticard.

This morning I had a first game of DBN with my son Max.  I am sure I got a lot of things wrong but the game was fast paced and completed in just about an hour. Max won.

The initial set up. This is an 1809 encounter with the Austrians, commanded by me, attacking. I pushed forward my central Infantry supported by artillery on the hill. I also launched my cavalry in an attack on my right flank however one of my light cavalry brigades is hit by French artillery fire.

My left is anchored by two brigades of militia infantry.

A brigade of French Light Infantry is deployed in the small village of Schwartzdorf. My artillery opens up a desultory fire on the village. 

The Austrian Columns close with village as the French advance to turn my flank.

The cavalry battle on my right is in decisive and my hoped for breakthrough as stopped in its tracks.

I do however manage to get one heavy cavalry brigade to threaten the French centre. 

The French respond and move up a light cavalry brigade and although I get a charge in it is easily beaten back.

With the Austrian attacks failing and with casualties mounting the French launch their wheeling movement on the Austrian attack on Schwarzberhdorf.

In the resultant firefight the French prove to superior to my poor Austrians and the battle is over.

Max enjoyed the game and says he will play again. Well at least it kept him off his Xbox for a while.