30mm Comparison photos

I have posted a few pictures of my growing 30mm Classic Collection. From left to right the figures are:

Spencer Smith classic pose
Minot
Jackdaw - French Artillery
Tradition - Prussian Genadier aka the Erbprinz (code FP6)
Tradition - Prussian Officer (code FP4)
Tradition - Officer with espontoon ( code FP7)

What interesting is the difference in height between the various figures but particulary the difference within the Tradition range. Not that I am worried as Peter Young used figures from many of these ranges.

My next gaming activity will either be the Chiraz Campaign or refighting Sittangbad. Both will be using my 28mm collection.

Erbprinz has been mobilised

Painting of the Minot Jager has been some what slower than planned as I have spent some time basing up some of my old 28mm SYW collection ready for the Chiraz campaign. I have decided to play the campaign as standalone games. I not sure about playing the river crossing as I don’t have models of barges and pontoons so will limit the campaign to the other 4 scenarios.

The other piece of news is that the Electoral forces have been given a boost by the imminent raising of a new regiment – the Erbrpinz. I have 61 figures on order from Sweden and hopefully they will arrive in time for my birthday on the 17th March. I intend to paint these as close as possible to how the unit appears in Charge. I blame Phil Olley for this as it was seeing his pictures on his classicwargaming blog that got me hooked into recreating my youth.

As spring approaches I hope to get some more Prince August 40mm figures casted up. I have the moulds and plenty of lead so just need some fine weather and a few hours spare hours.

Some old Minot Prussians

 

I first bought these 24 of these Barry Minot figures way back in the 70s when, from memory, I visited Willie figures in Sloane Square. They are I think 1806 Prussians and originally had bayonets. I had removed these to make them into Prussian Jager.

The first picture shows how far the painting of 16 of them had got since the 70s - a bit of Green and black. I did however finish 8 of them and the 2nd picture shows these figures based up for Piquet. These guys have seen plenty of action and with 4 extra figures painted will make up my first company of jager.

The remaining12 have been sprayed black ready for painting this week. They will be a frei corps company and will have black coats edged red and green trousers - probably named the Frei Schwarzen Jager. This unit will initially be an electoral unit but given these dubiuos values will probally see action fighting for both the electoral and imperialist as the campaign progresses.

Electoral Cavalry - Schuch Dragoons

A squadron of the Schuch Dragoons patrolling the borders looking for any sign of Imperial activity.  The Schuch Dragoons are mostly recruited in the Kirsbach region and are often called the 'Bakers' Dragoons as many of the recruits come from the local bakery school. 

These are the 2nd batch of Spencer Smith figures I have painted. I have tried to copy the uniforms of the legendary Marchmont Dragoons from Charge. I have tried the black lining method to emphasize the different colours - a method I have not used in over 30 years. I also get the painting style simple and used plenty of paint to build of the colour. These guys have been finished with a gloss varnish and finished with 2 coats of matt varnish. I hope the extra protection offered with 3 coats of varnish will help offset the damage caused when un-based figures are tumbled about on the table and in storage.

First Imperial troops are mobilized

I recently made a small purchase of some metal Spencer Smith figures from the Austrian Succession range. The figures are just like the plastic ones I had in the 70s. Well I have managed to paint up my first unit of Infantry. As my Imperialist army is based on the Austrian it is no surprise that these are wearing nice clean white uniforms. This company is the first of the Kinski Infantry regiment and is named after the Empresses Joanna young daughter - the princess Emma Kins

I have matt varnished these figures and will be using them unbased. Although I may need to reconsider this once the collection grows.

I will have to place a further order to get the next 2 companies but until then I am painting a squadron of Electoral Dragoons who look like the Montmort Dragoons from Charge. These will see service in the Elector Max Josephs army.

Next units to be painted will be an Electoral Light Infantry/Frei Korps and some artillery.

My next old school game will be the first teaser from the Chiraz book using my 28mm SYW collection. I suspect the Kinskys will have a role to play as the Chiraz garrision of the arsenal.

The Annexation of Chiraz

I purchased this excellent book by messrs Olley and Grant at the York show on Sunday. This is an excellent addition to any Old School library. There are 5 scenarios that can be fought separately or as part of a linked campaign. The book is well illustrated with maps and gorgeous colour pictures to wet any wargamers juices.

This book has inspired me even more to get some Old School gaming started sooner than later. The quick way is to use my current SYW collection based on units of 16 and combine them into either 32 or 48 man combined regiments. I am now seriously thinking of re organizing my collection and creating 36 man units for infantry and 18 man cavalry/light infantry units. I think that this organization would work for both Charge or the War Game although I will have to mark officer casualties for the War Game on Roster sheets.

I thought I would provide and update on my Old School project plans.

I intend to base the armies on the War of the Austrian Succession and the period will loosely be set sometime between 1745 and 1750.

On one side will be the Electoral Council. The electors, or Kurfürsten, will each be expected to contribute detachment for service in the electoral army. The army will consist of units based on historical armies from such as counties such as Bavaria , France , Spain , Saxony , Prussia and Russia as well as smaller minor states and Freistadtes.

The Imperial army will represent the Austrian, British and Savoyard armies

I will be basing my units on actual units and uniforms of the WAS. I will however be providing some units with new inhabers and renaming formations. If I like a particular uniform for instance I may change the unit type. For instance a Croat unit in brown and light blue may become a line regiment or a Saxon electoral artillery unit will be dressed in red coats with yellow trousers of the Leib guard.

The other point of interested is the different figures ranges/sizes I am going to use.

40mm Prince August flats.
28mm Mainly Foundry, Front Rank, Old Glory and Dixons
30mm Old school ranges– Spencer Smith (small shipment due this week) and Jackdaw (artillery bought at York show) plus some Minot Prussian (early Napoleonic?) which I started 35 years. I only finished 8 in that time so it’s about time the other 16 got done.

I may try using the 30mm Old Schoolers with my 28mm collection- but then again maybe not.

The rules I intend to use will depend on the mood I am in – Charge (elementary and advanced), The War Game and perhaps Don Featherstone’s Horse and Musket rules.

More anon

Anyway here a few shots of some of my and James 28mm SYW during a game at Triples a few years ago.