Puttkamer Hussars

I have completed my latest unit of Zinnfiguren - they are the 4th Puttkamer Hussars.

Cavalry will be mounted five figures on a 80 by 50mm base and will represent a 5 squadron regiment.

I have also reconsidered my Infantry organisation and basing and will now have 9 figures on a 80 by 40mm base.

This a mock up the new basing. I have slightly staggered the line as I feel this adds movement to the basing. 

First Zinnfiguren base completed

I painted these 6 figures over 11 years ago when I got my first Zinnfiguren. Yesterday I rebased them on my new basing as part of my restarted project.

This unit is the Erbprinz from Charge. I have on 60 by 30mm and stuck two mdf bases together so the bases are easier to pick up and move.

Each base of Infantry will represent a battalion and I will paint two battalions for each regiment giving me the option of deploying 2 bases as a unit if I wish.

I will probably do a few Imagination units as well as core Austrian and Prussian units. This allows greater flexibility as they can fight for either side depending on the scenario.

Next up will be some Prussian Grenadiers which I painted 7 years ago. Once these are done I will start painting some new figures.

Berlin and Zinnfiguren

I have just got back from a short city break to Berlin. While there I was able to visit the Berliner Zinnfiguren shop for a spot of shopping.

Over 10 years ago I had bought a few Fechner Zinnfiguren online and painted a few of them before putting them away. Well I now had the opportunity to buy a few more so I could create two small armies.

Berliner Zinnfiguren sell both new and secondhand figures so I picked a few of both. Here's the haul.

3 boxes of new Schulz figures. The boxes contain 23 Prussian Infantry, 27 Austrian Infantry and 9 Prussian battalion gunners.

I bought 2 secondhand boxes of old Kieler cavalry figures that cost 15 Euros a box. I am not sure how old these are but the packaging could be pre war.

The first box of 15 Prussian hussars included 5 that have painted as the 4th Puttkamer Hussars the remainder are unpainted figures. I will do a paint restoration although I am not sure if these are original factory painted ones.

  

The second box contains 10 part painted Austrian Dragoons and goes to show that lead, or should that be Zinnfiguren, piles exist in Germany.

Thus is going to be kitchen table collection and my current thoughts are towards a battalion represented by 6 figures on a 60 by 30mm base and cavalry on a 60 by 50mm base with 5 figures. I have enough figures now to do 14 infantry bases and 8 cavalry and a couple of guns. 

Rules wise DBSYW, Volley and Bayonet and Charge come to mind. For Charge each Infantry base will represent 12 figures and a cavalry base 6 figures.

SYW using DBN

It's been a whole since I posted so I thought I would post a SYW game I recently played a using the SYW version of DBN using my 28mm collection. 

DBN (De Bellis Napoleonicis) is a Napoleonic set of rules but has supplements for a range of periods including SYW and ACW. I helped design and a test the SYW supplement which is available as a free download from DBN Wargaming

I played a 26 point game, loosely based on the battle of Kolin, with Alex Testo the author of DBN. The game was closely fought with my Austrians claiming victory in a game that lasted 2 hours. 

Massed ranks of Frederick's finest. Although in the game the Austrians proved to be more than match for them.

Each base, or element, is a unit and I have rebased my infantry on 80 by 40mm bases with 10 figures.  This will also allow me to use 3 bases as a 30 figure unit for Grants The Wargame.

Cavalry bases are 80 by 60mm and have either 3 or 4 figures depending on type.  I have organised these so I can use 2 bases for the Wargame.

A unit of Prussian Jager defending  a wood. The Jager are actually Barry Minot 1806 Prussians which I bought around 1975 and are still going strong. 

An artillery battery is based on a 80mm square base. The big bases make is a lot easier both playing a game and storing/transporting the figures.

Prussians Garde

Well it's been over a year since I have done any painting on my classic Napoleonics. So this morning I dug out some figures and got them ready to go.

I have had some original HH Prussians Grenadiers for a while but not enough for a full 24 figure unit. However I have been  fortunate to be given a bag of 30 DK versions. The DK figures are not as crisp as originals and are slightly smaller.

The original figures have been painted to a reasonable standard so and I have decided to do a paint restoration rather than a full strip and paint. 

I will use 8 of the DK figures and will paint these to match the repaints. I will make one of these into a standard bearer. I am not sure if I will do a hand painted standard or use a printed one.

For the drummer I will use a Lamming figure I got with the painted Hintons. He will get a paint restoration.

Battle of Barosa 1811 - shiny DBN

This afternoon Tim W popped over for a game of DBN. We played the battle of Barosa using the scenario from the DBNwargaming website and my shiny 20mm Napoleonics.

The British attack and advance towards the distant hills. The terrain slows the British movement and the French decide to deny the British space and advance their centre and left to meet them.  The ravine, shown by the brown card and stones, hampers the British advance.

Solid British infantry push forward through the Pine woods. I dont have any Pines so had to use my old Merit Adler trees instead.

The British initially hold back their right which consist of 2 battalions of elite infantry supported by some less effective Spanish troops. The British also send some rifleman down the ravine to support their advance.

The Riflemen shield the advance as the battle in the centre and French left rages. 

French cavalry supported by infantry hold the high ground. The high ground is worth 2 Victory Points to the French. Each destroyed unit is worth 1 VP and the first to 7 VPs wins.

The British left holds fast and is able to push back the French left removing the French threat on that flank.

The French attack in the centre looks imposing however British musketry proves effective. Both sides take casualties and a battalion of French combined Grenadiers charge and overrun the unsupported British gun line. 

The British now launch their attack on the hill . Both sides have lost 5 units and the British have their best troops in the final push.

British musketry proves telling and as the volleys hit home the French lose 2 more VPs and victory goes to the British.

Another fun and closely fought game of DBN.

DBN - Battle of Elchingen - 1805

GH came over today and we played a couple of games DBN. It was his first go at the rules so after a quick explanation we started.

I used the Command and Colours scenario, with a few tweaks, for the map and force composition. 

The French, under Marshal Ney, are poised to launch their attack.  The objective is to capture both of the small towns (non linear fortifications in DBN terms) or to inflict 5 loses on the Austrians.

The Austrians are set up to defend the small towns and the range of hills. Their force does not include any Light Infantry elements but does include 2 units of Cuirassier.

The French attack on their right with heavy Columns advancing whilst their left  is held back.  The French have 3 light units and get a plus one on their Cap dice where as the Austrians are a -1. This gives the French greater flexibility to out manoeuvre the more ponderous Austrians. The French can also use attack columns with a +3 bonus which makes them tough against Austrian lines.

The French attack against Elchingen is successful however a counter attack by a Austrian elite element recaptures the town.

The French attack against the church is however thrown back and Austrian Light horse moves forward to threaten the French Infantry.

French Light cavalry heroically charge an Austrian horse artillery unit but lose the close assault and recoil before receiving rasping canister fire which destroys them.

With the French attacks failing the Austrian counter attack on their left are are able to win 5 vs 4 elements lost.

After a lunch and a pint on a local pub we changed sides are refought the game. In this game the Austrians and French tried 5 loses each and the game went into sudden death which saw the Austrians able to win 6 - 5.