On The Workbench

ABOVE: British Tanks for my FoW Early War British. A9, A10 and A13 Cruisiers and three Mathilda MkII Infantry tanks.
Hi All
Time for another Blog update.
So what's on the workbench? Well, I've started work on my FLAMES OF WAR (FoW) Early War (WW2) British. I purchased a swag of Tanks and Artillery from OLD GLORY's Command Decision range. At 40% off with my OG ARMY CARD discount it works out to about $5.00 AUD per tank including postage. Less than half the price than BATTLEFRONT's tanks at about $12.00 AUD each. And the OG tanks are ALL metal, not a Resin / metal mix. Bargain!!!

I also visited EUREKA MINIATURES recently and purchased some more Revolutionary French Infantry. Whilst there I picked up what might be the best miniature Ney ever!
Below is a photo of Ney with a PERRY MINIATURES OLD GUARD Pioneer. As you can see Ney is looking well ready for a scrap. The miniature appears to be modelled on the "Retreat From Moscow" when Ney commanded the rear guard.

I'll paint Ney using the ARMY PAINTER method and will keep yu updated on his progress. I also have the PERRY Ney, depicted charging on horseback as at Waterloo but the PERRY Ney comes in a set of three mounted miniatures.

I also received a big order from the awesome PERRY MINIATURES. Mainly DUTCH BELGIANS, NASSAU and BRITISH but also some French OLD and YOUNG Guard
Below is Marcehal de camp Cambronne. Again I'll use the ARMY PAINTER method to paint him and again I'll keep you updated on his progress.

My wife Raechel has offered to paint some miniatures for my mate Stan. Two miniatures from the 'INCURSION' game. I give you the Von X sisters! Freaky Nazi chicks in kinky Gestapo gear commanding Zombies; what's not to like?!

Raech has also offered to paint these two lovely ladies below that I obtained from EUREKA. Every army needs two pillow fighting girls in Hussar costume,... I shall call them Jess and MJ.

That's all for now.

Trailape Out.

Tatty Highlanders

 Hi All
I'm promised on the TMP I'd upload photos of the Highlanders that GUNNER DUNBAR painted for me a while back and I've finally got around to getting them uploaded.
They two units are the 42nd and 79th Highlanders, ('Black Watch' and 'Camarons'). The miniatures are a mixe of VICTRIX and PERRY plastics, with some VICTRIX metals, (the Mounted officers and the charging Pioneer).

For those who claim you can't or shouldn't mix the Perry and Victrix figures, I think this shows they mix rather well. The Figures are based on 50mm x 40mm bases for LASALLE rules, (my perfered rules).

I'll add a few single mounted Characters also, and use them for SHARP PRACTICE.

The Skirmish bases are 45mm wide x 40mm deep with two figures indicating a Skirmish value of 2 (SK2).

 Danl (Gunner Dunbar) wanted to do these two units looking rather 'battered' after some tough campaigning and given they are destined for my Peninsular War British I thought it would be a good idea. Besides, when Danl has an 'idea' you know it's going to be good.

 As you can see these Lads have had a lot of modifications done and they really look 'Tatty'. Only the Officers and musicians look 'Regimental' with the rank and file looking rather 'worse for wear'.

 I just completed the basing and I hope I've done Danl's fine brush work and sculpting justice.

 BELOW: The 'Black Watch' from behind.

 BELOW: A VICTRIX metal mounted Colonel.

 BELOW: A Close up of the 42nd Skirmish base.

 BELOW: A close up of the 79th Skirmish base.

 BELOW: Hamish takes a ball to the chest: "OCH!!! Such is life,.."!

 BELOW: Captain Jimmy MacDoogla and Drummer Jock McPlop stagger under the Frenchie's skirmish fire: "Hoots Mon, but it's gettin hot"! 

 BELOW: The VICTRIX metal Pioneer seen charging!

BELOW: "The line will advance"!

The next Highlanders I'll get done, (hopefully by Danl again) will be for the 100 Days, so they will be more 'Regimental' in appearance. Gordons and hmmm,... not sure.

Please feel free to leave a comment.

Trailape Out!

Prussians and French in the 100 Days. A Lasalle AAR

ABOVE: The cavalry battle on the right flank about to erupt.

Hi all

I played my first game of Lasalle after returning home from Afghanistan yesterday. My mate Stan came round with his 100 Days Campaign Prussians, so I thought I'd use 100 Days French. Last time we played I had used a Young Guard organisation and had been successful and the time before that Liberation War French infantry (with a sea of conscripts) had again got the better of 'Jerry'.

So far the score was 2-0 to the French over Stan's Prussians, so I was confident the Emperor would recieve another report of another heroic victory! BRAVO!!!

So as core units go I had 6 Vetern Infantry and a battery of artillery

Versus:

Stan's 3 Landwehr, 3 Reserve Infantry, 2 regular Musketeers Battalions, two detachments of Jager 'skirmishers, a Foot battery and a Landwehr Lancer Regiment.

As it turned out, Stan didn't field a reserve battalion or a Landwehr battalion.

Would he come to regret their absence??? Only time would tell.
Stan's Prussians would be the attacker in this game after rolling a 6 to my 1, (a bad omen?).

The table was based on the Lasalle Map generator number 4, "The Chateau and the Town".

As defender I placed a ploughed field and an orchard. Stan then placed a marsh. I was hoping the field and orchard would go some way in channeling the Prussians into a killing ground in front of the objective. I assumed Stan just liked to have a Marsh near by to water his horses in,...

I picked as my support option the Light Cavalry Brigade. Two Hussar and two Chasseur a Cheval units and a Horse Artillery battery would provide enough mounted to cancel out most of Stan's advantage in mounted. Stan also selected a Light Cavalry support option.

I massed my Light cavalry Brigade on the right, and placed half my infantry on the left flank. My last 3 battalions were in march column so as to move quickly towards the objective, namely the Chateau.

BELOW: The Prussian Infantry commence their advance and are greeted by Napoleon's daughters, BOOM!

BELOW: French Hussars and Chasseurs of the Light Cavalry Brigade moments befor they crash into the Prussian cavalry.

The Battle commenced with both Cavalry Brigades advancing on each other. I was confident my lads would have the better of the contest, but it wasn't to be. Initially it went well, with both Landwehr cavalry units destroyed within 2 rounds of combat, but after that it went badly or the French, with the Prussian Dragoons knocking over both the 5th Hussars and then my reserve Chasseurs a Cheval. The 6th Hussars eventually were destroyed by the Prussian Hussars 'though the Prussian Hussars did sustained 3 distruption.

ABOVE: As the Cavalry prepare to engage each other on the right flank, the Prussian Infantry advance on the French center and the Objective, the Chateau.
BELOW: The 5th Hussars clash with Prussian Dragoons (near camera) after destroying a Landwehr Lancer Regiment. In the centre the 6th Hussars continue to melee with the Prussian Hussars. In the distance the Chasseur a Cheval hack into Prussian landwehr lancers for a second round of combat.

BELOW: Veteran French Infantry prepare to meet the advancing Prussians

As the French Cavalry routed on the right flank, the Prussin infantry advanced in the center. The Prussians on the left of the attack took a pounding from the Battery and infantry, with on reserve battalion being destroyed. But the lead Landwehr pushed on and turned out to be 'Valiant'.

The situation was now desperate. With my right flank smashed I need the Prussian infantry to destroy themselves on my infantry line and within the 'killing ground' in front of the objective.
BELOW: French Artillery pound the advancing Prussian infantry
BELOW: The last of the French cavalry go down fighting the Prussian Hussars and Dragoons.

When the lead Prussian Reserve Battalion was routed, it gave me a glimmer of hope. If I could swing in my infantry onto the advancing Prussian's flank all might yet be saved.

BELOW: A battalion of French Light Infantry advance off the hill after routing a Prussian Reserve battalion. The 'Valiant' landwehr crash into the French Line battalion posted on the left of the Chateau.

Unfortunatly for me, the valiant Landwehr smashed through my line battalion, and continued into my battalion posted in reserve and routed them also. This was all too much for my boys, and the cries of "Save yourself" were soon heard amongst the clatter of dropped muskets and stamp of running boots.

BELOW: The Prussian heros of the day. Valient Landwehr. The crashed through two French battalions and ruptured my center!

Another great game of Lasalle.

Most of the miniatures are AB miniatures. Stans Prussians were pained for the most part be FERNANDO ENTERPRISE with the Commanders and Skirmish bases painted by me.

Model Citizen Miniatures painted my Cavalry and about half my infantry. I painted the Artillery and the French infantry in the center, (wearing greatcoats and dying in droves).

Feel free to leave a comment.

Cheers

OK, so who are these guys?

OK, so can anyone identify these miniatures. They are PERRY Miniatures, and they look like French Elites, but notice they have no rolls on their packs and it appears they have greatcoats rolled and across their chests. I suspect they are Nassau, but I'm at a loss,...

Can anyone help?

Cheers

Please Excuse My Absence

Above: Me at a Artillery deployment
Hi All
I guess some of you might be wondering where I've been.

Well, I hope these photos go some way in explaining.

BELOW: The old 'KING's PALACE,Kabul. Looks a little like Berlin in April '45. Seriously though, Kabul is coming along nicely.

It's amazing to see how this place is coming along. To see kids going to school, and just the population getting on with life is really something.

BELOW: Anyone interested in some old Ex-Soviet artillery or armour?

It's proving to be really rewarding serving here. The people I work with are truely insperational; both Coalition and Afghan. All the same, I'm really looking forward to getting home to my family and friends, (and maybe even getting some gaming in).

Well, I hope that explains why there has been little in the way of activity on the blog.

Cheers for now.

YOUNG GUARD ROUT PRUSSIANS; 1813!

ABOVE: The Prussian defensive line.
Hi All
I've been away for quite some time, but here is some photos of a Lasalle game I played before I departed over seas. It was played over at my mate's place. Stan ran his 1813 Prussians against my French Young Guard Division. Yes, I did use some OLD GUARD minis as 'stand ins', ("oh the horror"). I just gave the 'Old grumblers' the same stats as if they were Young Guard. It was a great little battle, with the Young Guard eventually triumpant! Originally my plan was to smash my way through on Stan's right flank, but after that stalled I switched to trying to get through the center, which turned out to be successful. Stan did try to sweep around my right with his Landwehr Cavalry, but the resulting carange was lots of Prussian dead horses,..
BELOW: My YG Battalions roll forward towards the Prussian Line. Stan deployed a battalion facing the woods on his right, as opposed to deploying them IN the woods. The resulting delay in getting his lads through the wood did give me an opportunity to get close without to much hurt.

BELOW:Prussian Guns Blaze away at the advancing French. It was here on my left I used OLD GUARD Grenadiers and Chasseurs as Young Guards! Eeeeeeekkk!!!

BELOW: The Prussian center crumbles! "On to Berlin"!
Here we see the Lancers of the Guard (Dutch 'Red' Lancers) bursting through. French Old Guard are capturing a battery, and Young Guard are standing their ground where a Prussian Battalion once stood. In the distance (my right flank) you can see YG Battalions advancing into the gaps where Prussians were,..

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos,..

Cheers for Now!

French Battery In Action!

ABOVE: "No.1,... LOAD"!
Hi All
I've finally finished my French Battery in 28mm.
I've base the figures individually, so I can use them for 'SHARP PRACTICE' and 'SONG OF DRUMS & SHAKO' games, as well as LASALLE.
For games like 'Lasalle' I will simply place the Guns on bases with a 40mm frontage, or two or three guns on a base with a 160mm frontage to represent the '4 gun' battery used in Lasalle.

The miniatures are from EUREKA MINIATURES; 'French Revolutionary Wars' range, but They will do for Early Empire also I suspect.
Below: You can just make out a young General Napoleon laying the gun on the left,..

I painted them using the Army Painter method, and am quite happy with the results.

One of the nice features with the EUREKA MINIATURES Artillery is the swag of equipment you get with each gun. All manner of rammers, and sponges, buckets, and musket stacks, ammo boxes, (both open and closed).

As a gunner myself, I really like these models.

You can see more of EUREKA MINIATURE artillery at my IMAGI-NATION Blog, HERE! and

HERE

Feel fre to leave a comment!

Trailape Out!