Victrix French Artillery

To add some punch to my French forces, I ordered a couple of boxes of Victrix French artillery.  That gave me a total of six additional guns, but I only needed four.  What to do with the extra two?  One option was to build a half battery of Old Guard artillery as there were pieces that would allow that.  But that would mean having 10 French artillery sections to just six for the allies.  Therefore, I chose option two which was to attempt two sections of Spanish artillery using the heads with tricorns.  Between the two boxes I had several heads that had plumes very similar to what the Spanish wore.  I think they turned out pretty well.  I also used some extra arm selections from some infantry boxes that let me increase the number of options for the French gunners.  Here is how they turned out.

The whole battery

close up

From the side

British Light Dragoons bearing down.

Spanish battery

While I am posting, here are a couple of shots of the commission I am working on for a friend, Elite miniatures early Prussians.  These have been a pleasure to paint thus far.  These were the second of two brigades of line infantry I have done thus far.

These are some of the grenadier figures I have done.

These are musketeers

Latest additions

I just finished painting up the last of my French cavalry additions to bring my units up to either 18 or 24 figures.  This batch was made up from one box of Perry French heavy cavalry and one box of Perry French dragoons.  I really enjoy painting these and I was quite pleased with the final product.  These larger units look terrific.

Carbiniers.  I now have 18.

Cuirassiers.  24 "Big Brothers" now.

Elite Dragoons.

More Dragoons

A second regiment of dragoons.  There are now 2 at 18 figures, plus 10 dismounted troopers for each regiment.

Flames of War Game at School

On Friday our wargaming group got together for a FOW battle.  I had painted up a couple of special tanks for one of the students and he wanted to get them into a game.  This student set up the scenario.  American infantry was given the task of holding a town against an attack by German armor.  The Americans had a platoon of Priests on the table and would have some Shermans joining them as the game went on.  The Germans had only tanks; ;no infantry.

The Americans dug in to defend two bridges and a ford.  They had a couple of bazooka teams that sheltered in buildings close to the bridges.

The Germans moved up their tanks.  One platoon contained a Konigstiger tank.  The panzers took up firing positions and began to shatter the American defenses with close range blasts.  This took a toll on the beleaguered GIs.  But they somehow managed to hold on, despite losing the entire platoon of Priests.

The game was getting close to the end and the Germans had to take the town to win, so they charged over the bridges.  At one crossing, a bazooka was able to dismount the lead tank, so the attack stalled. At the other end of the town, the Germans learned the hard way that it is a very risky thing to attack without infantry support.  Three panzers entered the town and were assaulted by six teams of American infantry.  Despite issuing a sizable amount of defensive fire and losing some stands, the assault went in and one team was able to destroy the lead panzer.  This blocked the road and stalled the attack on this end of the town as well.  As the game was ending, a third American infantry platoon had gone of the offensive, crossed the ford and had made its way to the flank of a platoon of panzers.  Though they would have suffered heavy casualties, they would have posed a threat to the enemy that could not be ignored.  An American victory was declared.

The town before any forces had been deployed

Dug in Americans

The Priests are destroyed.

The brave defenders take shelter in the buildings.

More Commission Work

I am continuing to plug away at the early Prussian army my friend is having me paint for him.  The latest to be completed were seven canons and some officers.

My latest commission

I have just begun painting up what will eventually be over 300 Elites Miniatures early Prussians.  I started out with six regiments of fusiliers and tonight I finished a regiment of hussars and a regiment of Towarczys.  The Elite figures are fairly simple, but have enough detail that makes them a pleasure to paint.  Here are a few pictures.

The wolf's teeth on these turned out pretty well I think.  Quite a minute detail that adds a lot to the figure.

What I have been up to

I have been busy doing a lot of painting lately.  I have had the good fortune of having some fun commission work to do, mostly in 25/28 mm, but some 15 mm as well.  For myself, I have been painting up a lot of 28 mm cavalry to bring my units up to either 18 or 24 in number.  They look quite impressive when arrayed in formation.  Here are a few pictures.

Old Glory 2nd Edition Yanks.  I did three boxed sets of these.  They had enough detail to make the painting enjoyable.

I did three boxes of Rebels as well.  

These are Foundry command figures.  These are corp commanders and aides de camp, all French

These are divisional commanders, again, all French

A close-up of the divisional commanders

Perry British Lt. Dragoons painted as KGL.  This brings that unit up to 24 figures

Warlord Games French Chasseurs.  A second box to bring this unit up to 24.

More Perrys, but painted as an earlier unit.

Next up on the painting table will be a huge commission of Elite Miniatures early Napoleonic Prussians.  That should keep me busy for quite awhile..

Sharpe's Practice Game

The Bridges at Torres Antigua

            This fictional battle was set up for Sharpe’s Practice.  Four French players squared off against four British.  The scenario called for the British force to hold and/or destroy the vital bridges at Torres Antigua.  Captain Sharpe, two companies of highlanders and a cannon were already in the town to contest the advance of two full French battalions, a squadron of cavalry and two cannon.

A company of highlanders at the east bridge

A second company of highlanders in reserve in the town

  British reinforcements were on their way, including a second section of the Royal Foot artillery, a squadron of light dragoons, and, most importantly, a wagon load of gun powder for the demolition of one of the bridges.

Some of the British reinforcements

The French attacking from the north

Looking north.

Looking south

            It took a couple of turns for the French to deploy for the attack from two sides.  The companies of the legere battalion attacked from the north while the 63^rd Ligne attacked from the east.  The cavalry assisted the legere companies.

The French traffic jam

The artillery duel

            In the first real exchange of musketry Sergeant Harper was critically wounded and lost for the duration of the game.  This meant that Captain Sharpe would be stretched thin in trying to lend his three leadership points to his two sections of riflemen.

            The British reinforcements were coming from the south.  In a bold move, the British players decided to send their cavalry across a ford and attack the French from the other side of the river.  This caused a degree of concern for the commander of the 63^rd Ligne.  He attempted to bring two companies under the command of one of his big men so that they could fire as a line.  He also deployed his cannon to take on the threat of the British horse.

            To the north, a traffic jam prevented the French from making much progress.  The British gun fired on the crowded columns, but didn’t have much affect.  Then the French gun came into play, taking a position on a hill opposite their British counterparts.  The French fire was much more effective and killed half of the royal gunners.

            Time was winding down and so both sides feverishly attempted to push troops into the fray.  One troop of French dragoons got stuck on the northern bridge and was forced to withdraw with staggering casualties.  The second troop attempted to charge across the structure to seize the southern edge of the bridge.  Their momentum carried them into the reserve company of ill prepared highlanders.  The odds were squarely against them (36 dice against 12).  When the final toll was assessed, however, the kilted infantry had won the melee by a single casualty.  The stunned horsemen were forced to fall back and regroup.

            In the meantime, to the east, luck was with the French.  Their card was drawn first and they were able to unleash a thunderous volley into the column of light dragoons at close range.  Seven of the ten dashing cavalrymen fell from their saddles.  Their bold attempt had failed, but it was not in vain.

The light dragoons take a beating

            As the French had to take on the light dragoons, the cart with the gun powder plodded along the road and made its way onto the bridge.  As the game came to an end, the table shook from the blast of the explosive barrels.

The French secure the northern bridge, but in the background the wagon with the gun powder can be seen just before the explosion.

            The game was declared a draw.  The French had secured both ends of the northern bridge while the eastern bridge was destroyed.  Both sides’ cavalry had paid the steepest part of the butcher’s bill with little to show for it.

            It took awhile for things to get going in our game, but once they did it got pretty exciting.  It was the first time playing the game for most of the players, but they picked it up quickly and things moved along at a good pace.