Connoisseur (now Bicorne) ACW range.

 "I am a big fan of Connoisseur Napoleonics (now Bicorne) and would like to get some of the ACW range. Pictures required."

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Ukrainian Heroes

 

Warlord - EPIC Waterloo

 I have acquired one of Warlords sprues of Napoleonic French Heavy Cavalry. They are not due into production until next year but some will be available via the December issue of Wargames Illustrated.

I very quickly splashed some paint over a few to see how they look off the sprue. Apologies for their slapdash appearance.

Here they are based on a Warlord supplied 60 x 20 mm base. This is the same size as their infantry and also their ACW mounted and infantry.

I haven't seen any of the Warlord written material to go with this release but I expect that a unit will comprise of several such bases.

I can foresee a problem when ranking these bases together. Some horses heads project over the front of the base edge.

Likewise some tails and rumps project over the rear of the base edge.

My solution would be to adjust the base dimensions. This is a 60 x 30 mm base - problem solved.

Or is it? It could mean that you don't use the Warlord bases which you've already bought or you do use them and add a bigger base underneath.

Some collectors may well use a different basing setup and even a different set of rules.

Apart from that the figures are nicely defined and given that there will be 11 or 12 different sprues in the range there will be no shortage of variety. I expect there will be further additions to the range in the future.

I can't see me collecting these figures for the Waterloo period but I'm sure others will find them irresistible.

Prestonpans 1745

 Picture/map for a friend. You should be able to get the Google co-ordinates from this.

SLUDGE - First Encounter

 I came across this ruleset on the interweb today (actually yesterday or maybe it was the day before).

Sludge Wargame — Metal King Studio (relicblade.com)

I found it intriguing so had to read it up. It seems to be a medieval/ black powder intermix with an interesting basing scheme as well as eye-catching scenery.

It gives me something to put all those unused sprues towards, and boy do I have a few of them. I could probably put together two or three (maybe even four) themed armies together from my plastic/metal mountain which obviously helps the budget.

I grabbed a figure from the bits box to experiment with the painting style.

I found this regal looking chap and his horse.

Glued them together with contact adhesive and a spot of superglue gel.

An even coat of matt black, acrylic of course.

I used a limited palette of brown and blue and washed the whole lot in AP Soft Tone.

A brushed on coat of matt varnish didn't come out too well so I'll probably spray him in the next sunshine period. I need to find a killer decal for the shield.

Now I have to put all of this on the back burner as I have two existing projects to get on with. Watch out for SLUDGE in 2022.

Wargames Factory - Recent Units

 I painted up a couple of units using the Wargames Factory Infantry offering. I bought a few of these in days gone bye and inherited a few more when my best mate passed away so they lay gathering dust for a while.

This is the original box which contained 12 identical sprues, 6 of which will make up an 18 figure unit for rules like BLB (Beneath the Lily Banners).

Each sprue can make two rank and file figures with a variety of head gear and/or a sword. There is also a third figure which can be given a variety of torsos, heads etc and can be fitted as an officer, a standard bearer, a sergeant or a drummer. There are even arms with muskets to produce a firing figure.

This is my interpretation of the Spanish Grenadiers of the Guard from the Wars of the Spanish Succession. Colours by Flags of War.

These are Portuguese Infantry from the same period with hand painted colours (speculative).

The figures are fairly basic but take paint well and can be configured to represent many different troops from the WSS. Warlord Games still sell boxes of these sprues.

I plan to sell these figures at Carronade in September (pandemic permitting) but a good offer will snap them up. I have a few more.

Now back to the masses of EPIC ACW figures I have to base, painted by a chum.

EPIC ACW - Kallistra and Spencer Smith

 Here's an EPIC ACW Cavalry unit, mounted, using Kallistra 12mm figures, four bases of 5 figures making 20 figures for a full sized Cavalry Regiment. Each base is nominally 60mm by 20mm but mine are cut down to 55mm by 20mm which minimises gaps between bases particularly on Infantry Regiments.

This is a dismounted Cavalry unit also using Kallistra 12mm figures. Three bases of 6 dismounted figures making an 18 figures firing line with one base of a horse holder and 3 horses. This is, apparantly, how Warlord Games want your dismounted cavalry units to look. I think it is a bit 'skimpy' on the horse holder base.

Here is the same unit with three bases of horse holders and 'empty' horses. A bit more to my liking although pricy if you use Warlord Games figures but OK as you will already have spares from your unused Kallistra packs.

This is the whole lot together.

This is a mounted Cavalry unit from my 30mm Spencer Smith ACW collection. Four bases of 4 mounted figures making 16 figures for a full sized Cavalry Regiment. All the figures are on individual magnetic bases carried on magnetic sabots of my own design/manufacture.

This is the same Cavalry unit in dismounted formation. Two bases of 6 dismounted figures making a 12 strong firing line with four bases of 4 'empty' horses and 4 horse holders, 16 figures and 16 horses in total.

Here's the whole lot together.

What do you guys think about representing dismounted cavalry units? Do you bother with 'empty' horses and if so how many?

Note:

Yes, I know that current thinking suggests that horse holders remained mounted and I may well adjust my figures once I have suitable figures.