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.

Warlord Games - EPIC ACW - Little Fix

In my last post I mentioned the left flank figure on the command strip whose rifled musket projects over the end of the stand when they have been clipped to 55mm and can interfere with the placement of a neighbouring stand.

You can see it here:

Or more clearly here:

I separated the endmost two figures, swapped them around and glued them in place. like this:

I let you know what they look like when painted.

Warlord Games - EPIC ACW - Work in Progress

It is not as if I haven't been busy but I feel as if I haven't got much done. Life has been full of home decorating issues, new gas boiler, X-Ray visits, ECGs, Vaccination visits and a Birthday to boot.

I have got somethings done and here they are.

Kallistra 12mm Confederate Cavalry, mounted.  I bought 2 packs and borrowed a few figures from a command pack giving me two cavalry units, 20 strong each and foot command figures left over for £15. Go compare that with the Warlord price. Maybe slightly heavy on the yellow facings and lace but they are what they are. I have clipped the Warlord 60mm wide bases down to 55mm.

Flags, gravel, flock, static grass and tufts will follow in due course.

Kallistra 12mm Confederate Cavalry, dismounted and with horse holders. £10 buys a pack of dismounted cavalry and a pack of 'empty' horses with lots of unused figures. I might add more horse holder bases once we start playing.

Five bases of Warlord infantry painted as Union mounted on cutdown 55mm wide Warlord bases.

Note the rightmost front rank figure pose projects into the neighbouring base. I may have to do something about that.

The mounted Warlord General, you get one with each infantry sprue.

Two Warlord resin command figures. I replaced the standard pole with a piece of wire.

Three Kallistra Mounted Generals (half a £5 pack). My mate has the other three (Confederate).

A size comparison, three Kallistra to the left, three Warlord to the right.

Kallistra (12mm) dismounted cavalry to the left, Warlord (13.5mm) infantry to the right.

Just another 30 sprues to get painted.

What do you think guys?

Warlord Games - EPIC ACW - Unit Sizes

 I have some information on suggested unit sizes for those of us who are (or will be) painting furiously.

Infantry Regular     5 stands    default setting

Infantry Large        7 stands

Infantry Small        3 stands

Infantry Tiny          1 stand

Cavalry Regular     4 stands    default setting

Cavalry Small        2 stands

Artillery 4 gun        2 stands

Artillery 6 gun        3 stands

This will reduce my perceived requirement to purchase additional command strips or construct them with alternative figures.