Now for something completely different

I have stated before that I tend to jump about a bit and seem to have a bit of a low attention span. Well  I have been greatly inspired by the blogs etc of people with imaginary nations, and lets be right Charles Grant, Robert louis Stevenson and H. G. Wells,all created such nations.

 So I have been painting up my ducal guard lancers and ducal guard grenadiers. Why is it that wargamers tend to start with guard units? I had a few spare RSM Russian units [if there is such a thing] and decided to model the army around the basic colour of deep yellow. I have always been interested in the historical figure Augustus the Strong of Saxony and Poland [ what a name!] and decided that the duke of my nation/state would be one of the many illegitmate children that he fathered. The army will be a combination of east meets west, hence the eastern guard lancers.

I was inspired, after I had seen this RSM figure in the excellent  LEAD GARDEN blog, and had to have such a unit. So well done for the inspiration and help. I will have to include a jannisary type guard  [ again] unit to bring a bit more exocticism to the army.
  Again these are not the best painted unit Ive done, but I wanted a more toy soldier simplistic look.  I am also doing a ducal string quartet, curtesy of Eureka miniatures.

Finally RSM Hanoverians.

Well I have finally completed my first unit of RSM Hanoverians, ie Regiemnt Von Scleither.

 I tend to paint the flags oversize as I like to show off more colour on the wargames table. The figures themselves are slightly slimmer than the other nationalities, and had a bit more flash on them, still I do like the elegance of them, I think they typify the image of the lace war era.
 I will next paint a combined Hanoverian  grenadier unit, as there will be a right hodge podge of colour.
 These are probably not my best paint job, but I did enjoy painting them.

Hanoverians,

Well, its been quite a productive week for me, in that Ive managed to complete one full regiment of my Hanoverian line,and the half regiment of Guard Horse Grenadiers,and I have also started my unit of Garde Foot grenadiers for my imaginary principality. This is a bit of a first in some ways,although when I was first starting wargaming,I did paint a lot of French napoleonic Airfix as a make believe country.I remember that they had red crossbelts? Why the deviation? Well I have now read so many blogs, plus Charles Grant over again,that I had to deviate a little. I had some spare! Russian RSM figures [can you have such a thing] that I decided to give it a go.

I must admit it has been quite liberating.

Things might get a bit tight time wise for my painting,as we finally break ground on Monday,to start building my home. I have tried to put the design of my wargames room to the back of my mind,well just until we have at least a shell. But I must admit it is a tad exciting, I just hope the builders have plenty of spare foamboard off cuts for my new terrain

Still Plugging Away.

I have always suffered from a low attention span, which can be a bit disconcerting at times. and no doubt if I was a youngster again, I would have been whipped off to some child physcologist and identified as needing help.

 Anyway, in between attempting to complete my latest battalion of Hanoverians, I had to divert precious time to this Eureka set, Frederick and Voltaire.

 Eureka,just seem to go from strength to strength, designwise. I only wish that they just weren't so damned expensive, as I would have treated myself to some more additions to my metal mountain,which at this moment is bigger than the EU's butter mountain.

 The subject itself is not really my cup of tea,as I find Frederick a nasty piece of work, but the devil looks after his own, Still I can always hope that Eureka design a nice set for Maria Theresa.  

 On another diverse note, Colin staged a refight of the same scenario from the AWI that had caused us rule problems last time. This time we refought it using Blackpowder rules. It was a huge improvement and flowed well as a game. The thing I do like about Blackpowder is the uncertainity about whether youre brigades are actually going to do want you want them to do. Represnting the Americans this time, needless to say I had a few problems. Still very enjoyable and good fun. 

More Hanoverians

To continue on from the last post, I aslo bought a bag of Eagle Miniatures and painted some up as light troops, now these figures are big 30mm guys, especially the Grenadiers I bought,again at 20p a casting, [I think I was just lucky]

 Anyway,again not my best paint job,but not bad, I had to put a standard bearer with them, [ Foundry] which I know they shouldnt have, but I wanted to give them a more interesting appearence.
 Following on from Andy Copestakes thread re the figure fascists, I also painted up a couple of personality figures.

The first were Foundry ones, and the servant seriously needs some kind of surgery, as the head and jaw on him are strange to say the least. Normally I have nothing but admiration for all toy soldier designers, they are talented people, and the original Gurnsey Foundry were top notch castings, but...... I will let the reader judge for themselves.    Actually the photograph doesnt do the casting justice.

 I then painted up Frederick playing a flute by Eureka Miniatures.I love the castings [hate the price]
 I suppose its all a matter of opinion, and if we were all the same,it would be a dull wargaming world.
 I have to apologise for the excessive use of grass, I love the stuff,and cant believe how lucky wargamers are with accessories that are now available.
 Anyway, I am half way through a RSM regiment of Hanoverians and most wargamers will turn their noses up at their primitve and simplistic style. Personally I love them....You pays your money and takes your choice. Keep on playing with toy soldiers.

Finally Hanoverians.

As part of my new years resulotutions list,I promised myself that I would get back to painting, and I have been fairly true to my word, ignoring call outs,overtime and meetings with my builder and architect.
 I have completed my first full regiment of Hanoverians. Last year I bought a load of Dixon SYW figures off Ebay, for the princely sum of 20p per casting, so I decided to paint some of these first.

Now Dixon castings have been given a bad press, but I was impressed by these figures, they are not the best I have painted,but I do think they have a charm.They are 28mm figures, and look small compared to my RSM figures. They are meant to represent one of the Legion Britanique units,who were pretty ropey troops. But what the heck,theyre toy soldiers.