March 2008 Painting

It seems like I didn't do much painting in March, but when I add it all together, I did 2 mounted officers, 16 cossacks, and 6 mounted knights, for a total of 24 mounted figures or 48 points.

Above are Yakov Alexandrovich Pavlov, the Duke of Courland, and his son, Colonel Pavlov. These are both Front Rank figures from their Russian SYW line.

Above are 16 cossacks of the Timofievich Pulk (regiment) of the army of the Duchy of Courland. I bought these from a gaming friend named Tim Broome (hence the name). I'm not sure what manufacturer these are, but at least two of them were two piece rider castings. They will provide a light cavalry screening and raiding force for the Duchy in its wars against the Markgraviate of Carpania.

Finally to get ready for a medieval game on March 29, I painted six mounted knights. Three of them are shown above (along with the High King from last month). The other three were figures to fill-in existing units. In the above picture, the High King (John de Bullion, who always wears black) and his banner bearer are on the left and William Worthington, Duke of Bentwood, and his banner bearer are on the right.

The Courland officers and the knights are mounted on Litko bases while the cossacks are on home-cut masonite (hard-board) bases.

Next month should see some more imagi-nation cavalry (especially a unit of Spenser-Smith figures), so stay tuned.

An Infantry Figure Option

As part of a recent order of Front Rank figures, I included three Russian artillery fusiliers. After painting them, I realized that they could easily be used as musketeers in a unit depicted as standing in reserve or as guards in front of an army headquarters. This picture shows the three of them along with the Russian artillery officer, all from Front Rank.

The High King

Another gaming interest of mine, among many, is the Medieval age. And in the Imagi-Nation theme, my medieval land is the Duchy of Bentwood, ruled by Duke William Worthington. The duke considers himself an independent state even though he has sworn fealty to the High King. The High King doesn't look with favor on vassals who step beyond his control. So, girded for war, the High King will soon be leading his loyal vassals into the duchy to remind Worthington of his place in the kingdom.

THE HIGH KING

February Painting - With Pictures

Finally I was able to take some pictures. Here we have the Margrave of Carpania's Baron Trask of Eisenmuhlen (left) and an aide de camp to Generalleutnant Baron von Stuppe (right). Both are RSM figures. Baron Trask is the Margraviate's armaments expert and a master gunner in his own right. Because he is related by marriage to the Britannian royal family, he is also a Major General in that army and wears the Britannian uniform most of the time.


Carpania also added the Teutonica Musketeer Regiment to their army in February. These are Sash and Saber castings. I was short officer castings so they will have to be painted and mounted later.

Meanwhile, the Duchy of Courland has been recruiting as well, adding the Severinski Grenadier Battalion. The figures are Foundry and the battalion was purchased from Mark "Extra Crispy" Severin, hence its name.

Courland was also busy with its artillery arm. Here is a 12-lb field gun (MiniFig) with its gun crew of Front Rank gunners and artillery fusiliers.

And here is a licorne howitzer (Newline) with its crew of bombardiers and artillery fusiliers from Front Rank.

And for March, I'll be finishing the Courland 12-lbr (still have to put the matte glaze on it) and two mounted officers (the Duke himself and his son, who will command all the grenadiers) as well as some Courland cavalry.

February Painting Totals

No pictures yet, but I completed the following figures in February:

26 Carpanian (AKA Prussian) musketeers of the Battalion Teutonica (Old Glory)
2 Carpanian mounted officers - one will be Baron Trask of Eisenmuhlen and the other is an aide-de-camp to GL von Stuppe (both RSM).
24 Courland (AKA Russian) grenadiers of the Battalion Severinski (Foundry)
4 gunners, 4 bombardiers, and 3 artillery fusiliers (Foundry) for Courland
1 Licorne howitzer (Newline) for Courland

For a total of 61 foot, 2 mounted, and 1 gun.

These were fewer than I had hoped to paint, but after all February is a shorter month.

The French Attack!

In a Franco-Prussian War battle last year between remnants of the mighty French army and the Prussian invaders, my composite French regiment saw action. Based for Larry Brom's Chassepot and Needlegun rules, this regiment has battlions of Tirailleurs Algerien, Zouaves, and Naval Infantry. The Tirailleurs and Zouaves are from Askari Miniatures and the Naval Infantry are Old Glory Boxer Rebellion French sailors. I converted one of the sailors and one of the Zouaves into flag bearers. The mounted officer is a Colonial French commander from Askari Miniatures.

Unfortunately they didn't fare very well in the battle, a report of which can be accessed here: www.angelfire.com/games3/jacksongamer/fpwar04.htm

SYW Figure Comparison

A recent post on the Miniatures Page asking about figures to use as Spanish troops in the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War has led me to post these figure comparisons to highlight a figure range that doesn't appear well known. Vince Clyant ran the London War Room in Petal, Miss. He sculpted a range of Spanish troops that are very usable for these two wars. I hope that the pictures below will broaden their exposure. I guess that I should add here that I have no financial interest in Vince's business, just trying to help get the figures a wider audience. [NOTE: The London Warroom is, as of Spring 2009, out of business. But the Spanish figure line was bought by the Dayton Painting Consortium, maker of RSM-95 figures.  They have the line on their web site.]

From left to right, these figures are: Eureka Saxon, Front Rank Prussian, TLWR Spaniard, RSM British, Sash & Saber Prussian, and Crusade Prussian. As you can see, their heights and overall designs are compatible on the war game table. I don't think that I would necessarily use them in the same unit, but that is not necessary as every one of these ranges has all the appropriate command figures required. All but the Front Rank are just black washed bare metal. The Front Rank figure has been primed with gray Gesso and then washed with black paint.


A closer look at the Eureka, Front Rank, and London War Room figures.

A closer look at the RSM, Sash & Saber, and Crusade figures.

So if you are looking for Spanish figures for WAS or SYW armies or as opponents for pirates in the New World in the 18th Century, if believe that you can't go far wrong right now with the London War Room Spaniards. Vince has line infantry, grenadiers, command figures, and mounted and dismounted dragoons that are usable in in the European and various Colonial troops that are more specific for the Americas.