John Ray is an Englishman that has taken the art of wargaming to the out limits of awe and wonder. I had seen photos of the miniatures that he had sculpted and painted, both inspired and demoralized by them. Then, last spring, I read that he was going to publish a book containing pictures of his unbelievable collection.
Fast forward a year later, and through a really terrific turn of events including several emails with the author himself, I am now the proud owner of a copy of this limited edition. It is a treasure! And along with the purchase, I am now eligible to join a private forum he has developed that will follow various campaigns involving his lovely miniatures. John Ray is truly a military gentleman if ever there was one.
Below is a link to the web site that will provide a link for purchasing the book. It is amazing. And if you should choose to buy one for yourself, please tell him that Everett referred you to him. Thanks!
http://www.amilitarygentlemanofthe18thcentury.co.uk/
Friday, March 7, 2014
Battles for Empire Game: Roark's Drift
A few students joined me after school today to reenact the brave stand at Roark's Drift. I had purchased the 15mm boxed set from Old Glory quite awhile back and have never actually played a game with it, so today was the day. We tried to use Battles for Empire, and while it allowed us to play the game with a couple of adjustments, this is more of a skirmish game than that set of rules supports. Be that as it may, two British players squared off against three Zulu commanders and we were off.
The Zulus began in a big clump at one end of the table. There were 27 units of four stands each broken down into seven different commands. The defenders had 20 stands of three men each to start with, but it became apparent that there were far too many men so I subtracted six of the stands, much to the dismay of the colonial commanders. It made for a much better game, however.
The Zulu strategy was to attack head on with the "chest" of their formation and then surround the remainder of the compound with their "horns." This worked rather well. The Brits massed their few figures against the first attack and then were hard pressed to maneuver them to other parts of the perimeter as the battle progressed. They moves more slowly than the Zulu to begin with, and then suffered an additional penalty when they tried to traverse the interior lines they constructed with biscuit boxes and mealie bags.
Although the Zulu masses suffered massive casualties, their superior numbers proved decisive at a couple of point and the defenses were breached. Once that happened, the battle was pretty much over.
Here are a few pictures:
The Zulus began in a big clump at one end of the table. There were 27 units of four stands each broken down into seven different commands. The defenders had 20 stands of three men each to start with, but it became apparent that there were far too many men so I subtracted six of the stands, much to the dismay of the colonial commanders. It made for a much better game, however.
The Zulu strategy was to attack head on with the "chest" of their formation and then surround the remainder of the compound with their "horns." This worked rather well. The Brits massed their few figures against the first attack and then were hard pressed to maneuver them to other parts of the perimeter as the battle progressed. They moves more slowly than the Zulu to begin with, and then suffered an additional penalty when they tried to traverse the interior lines they constructed with biscuit boxes and mealie bags.
Although the Zulu masses suffered massive casualties, their superior numbers proved decisive at a couple of point and the defenses were breached. Once that happened, the battle was pretty much over.
Here are a few pictures:
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| The defenders |
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| The Zulus approach from the distance |
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| The strategy becomes apparent |
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| The battle is joined |
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Commission Work
It has been my good fortune to be able to pick up a couple of commissions in 2014. The first was some AWI cavalry and light infantry. These were 18mm Blue Moon miniatures. The client did the basing, which in my opinion is excellent. Here are some pictures he was kind enough to send to me.
The other project was quite ambitious and still not finished. To date I have painted up over 300 infantry figures, the vast majority being made by Front Rank. These are beautiful miniatures and a joy to paint. The detail is excellent. Here are just a couple of shots to give an idea of how they have turned out.
I have been able to finish 90 figures in a week's time. The client is doing the basing in his unique style. He says it takes longer for him to base them than it does for me to paint them!
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| I am not quite sure why they are upside down. Sorry about that. |
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| A closer shot that reveals the details |
Monday, February 24, 2014
More Additions
I have been busy with doing a commission of 28mm Bavarians. I have finished 180 and have 90 more to go. But as an interlude, I a painted up a few units to round out a few of my collections. The latest recruits include two regiments of cossacks, two of Austrian cuirassiers, and then two battalions of Poles, two Polish foot batteries and a unit each of Polish uhlans and chasseurs a cheval. Here are a few pictures of the men on the table. I am looking forward to seeing them in action soon.
My Polish forces are now at a healthy division strength with supporting cavalry. They are now on par with my Bavarian contingent. The Austrians will now have a small reserve to support the corp already in place.
Along with the two regiments of cossacks, I painted up a light and heavy battery of Russian artillery, each of six gun models. That corps now has five foot batteries and a horse battery. Now back to painting 28mm Bavarians.
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| This is the Polish contingent |
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| These are the Austrian heavies |
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| Two small regiments of Don Cossacks |
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| Another angle on the Austrians |
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| The Poles from the flank |
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| A closer shot of the infantry, the 3rd Regiment, and a battery |
Along with the two regiments of cossacks, I painted up a light and heavy battery of Russian artillery, each of six gun models. That corps now has five foot batteries and a horse battery. Now back to painting 28mm Bavarians.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Recent additions
I have painted up some reinforcements for the French side consisting of four regiments of Poles and three from the Confederation of the Rhine. I am going to pick up some Polish artillery plus another couple of battalions to round out that contingent. They will come in handy when Napoleon has to take on the combined forced of the allies in future games. Here are some pictures:
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| This is a Polish regiment of two battalions, each of 24 figures. They are Old Glory 15mm. |
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| Another Polish regiment plus the brigade commander |
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| This is the divisional commander |
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| An overview of most of the reinforcements |
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| I have one battalion of the vaunted Vistula Legion |
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| These are the men from Lippe, part of the Confederation of the Rhine 5th Regiment. |
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| And these are from Mecklemberg. Very colorful indeed. |
Friday, January 17, 2014
Russia Invaded!
Today the Manhattan Beach Military History in Miniature gathered for a Napoleonic battle set in
western Russia, 1812. An advance force of Bavarians along with a brigade of French and
Swiss was on a mission to secure a vital village and bridge for the advance into Russia. A Russian division of three brigades plus a division of cavalry deployed to prevent this from happening. Our time was short, so we jumped right in.
The Russians boldly attacked with their cavalry and achieved spectacular results. A cuirassier brigade not only routed two regiments of Bavarian horse, but on the pursue test, one regiment rolled a 10 which allowed them to remain formed and continue the attack the next turn. The other regiment rolled a 4 which meant they had to pursue the routed Bavarian cavalry right into the flank of two disordered French battalions. It was not a good start for Napoleon!
Fortunately for the allies, the Emperor sent in his Old Guard Polish lancers to turn the tide. This they did in splendid form.
In the center and on the allied left, two Bavarian brigades slogged forward and into combat with the waiting Russians. The opposing artillery blazed away at one another at cannister range and nearly destroyed one another. On this day, the Bavarian gunners proved to be the better, rolling two double sixes and inflicting severe casualties.
As the battle drew to an end, a Bavarian regiment of two battalions stormed a small village held by a battalion of Russian jagers. Two times the combatants battled to a draw (tie scores on the modified dice rolls.) Despite heavy losses, the jager brigade held the hamlet as time was called.
On the other flank, the Polish lancers did their job in turning things around, routing a regiment of Russian hussars and destroying a battery of horse artillery. But there was no infantry on hand to follow up this success.
This was a clear-cut draw if ever there was one.
western Russia, 1812. An advance force of Bavarians along with a brigade of French and
Swiss was on a mission to secure a vital village and bridge for the advance into Russia. A Russian division of three brigades plus a division of cavalry deployed to prevent this from happening. Our time was short, so we jumped right in.
The Russians boldly attacked with their cavalry and achieved spectacular results. A cuirassier brigade not only routed two regiments of Bavarian horse, but on the pursue test, one regiment rolled a 10 which allowed them to remain formed and continue the attack the next turn. The other regiment rolled a 4 which meant they had to pursue the routed Bavarian cavalry right into the flank of two disordered French battalions. It was not a good start for Napoleon!
Fortunately for the allies, the Emperor sent in his Old Guard Polish lancers to turn the tide. This they did in splendid form.
In the center and on the allied left, two Bavarian brigades slogged forward and into combat with the waiting Russians. The opposing artillery blazed away at one another at cannister range and nearly destroyed one another. On this day, the Bavarian gunners proved to be the better, rolling two double sixes and inflicting severe casualties.
As the battle drew to an end, a Bavarian regiment of two battalions stormed a small village held by a battalion of Russian jagers. Two times the combatants battled to a draw (tie scores on the modified dice rolls.) Despite heavy losses, the jager brigade held the hamlet as time was called.
On the other flank, the Polish lancers did their job in turning things around, routing a regiment of Russian hussars and destroying a battery of horse artillery. But there was no infantry on hand to follow up this success.
This was a clear-cut draw if ever there was one.
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| Before the battle began. Russian cavalry on the left flank |
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| The Bavarian attack on the hamlet. Note the Russian battalion being blasted with cannister in the foreground. |
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| The aftermath of the Polish lancers' counter-attack |
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| Artillery duel in the center. |
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| Russian cuirassiers deployed aggressively |
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| The beginning of the first cavalry battle |
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| The Russian breakthrough |
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| The village and the bridge prior to the battle. |
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
25,000 Visits!
Happy New Year everyone. The New Year saw my blog receive its 25,000th visit. Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to check out my posts. I am blessed to have such a fun hobby. It never gets old, and has only become better as I have had the opportunity to share it with a new generation of gamers.
My goal for this year is to increase my output of commission work. I am very grateful for the clients I have had that have entrusted their figures to my paintbrush. I hope that I will be able to add more over he course of this year.
I am spending this holiday with my daughters and grandson in Ashland, Oregon. It's a bit cooler here than in Torrance, California, but I have to say that I like it. It's been a great trip.
Happy New Year!
My goal for this year is to increase my output of commission work. I am very grateful for the clients I have had that have entrusted their figures to my paintbrush. I hope that I will be able to add more over he course of this year.
I am spending this holiday with my daughters and grandson in Ashland, Oregon. It's a bit cooler here than in Torrance, California, but I have to say that I like it. It's been a great trip.
Happy New Year!
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