Cavalry - Everyone Does it ....

I'm trying to post these entries in order of 'doing' so that I have a record of how it all went together.

While everyone knows that the use of cavalry in the AWI was very limited even at 20:1 (my nominal scale) I couldn't help doing these guys next.

Painting up a whole squadron of 16th Light Dragoons is a bit excessive, but some years ago, I acquired a unit of British Light Dragoons ready painted as part of my building a SYW army. There were far more than I needed, and the spares have languished in my spares box ever since. This however, is the perfect chance to use them.

Eight is enough for now, but I still have a few left.

First Infantry Unit Done !

For a complete newcomer to the AWI period, the choice of

battles and theatres is quite daunting, but not as much as the

bewildering array of units and uniforms.







I found some illustrations on the net, a lot of which look very

much like Osprey pages scanned in by naughty people, but

in the end I decided to get the books recommended by the

good folk on the TMP.





Some of these are a few years old, but I don't think they can

be bettered for general use.








While I was waiting for the books to arrive I started on some Brits. A unit of regulars (with a few variations in kit and hats) plus a gun detachmnent. They mostly have tricorns, but otherwise are as vanilla as I can get. Strictly speaking they are probably only suitable for very early war, but they going to see a lot of action.

Got The Books !

Back from the Tonbridge show, complete with my purchases.

Apart from references in V&B and on the net, I don't have any books about the AWI, so I went slightly mad and bought British Grenadier Deluxe, plus Scenario books 1 & 2. Now I have these I can pick a scenario and press on with painting specific units.

I'm using Lancashire Games 15mm figures. A but chunky for some, but I like the way they look and they will match my other SYW figures.

Damn Technology

This weekend a new laptop became an essential task.

Therefore, no work on the project this weekend.

Grrrrr.....

Where Did It Start ?

When does a project start ? Well, in this case I can pin it down quite closely.

I decided to start this new period and theatre on Sunday 1st February 2015. I Don't really know what did it, but I've enjoyed the few AWI games I have played over the years, and it has the attractions of small and large engagements, colourful troops and a rare example of a war the British actually lost.

To celebrate the first figure purchase, I am re-starting the blog to try to track my progress.

Lancashire games have a decent range of figures, so I just ordered my first batch.

More posts as I progress.

Progress Report

It's been a GOOD day.

Thanks to a fine sunny day, the main body of the project is complete. The photos show Colonel Chomondley-Warner inspecting the main structure before fitting out begins. To give you an idea of scale, the board is 30 x 18 inches, and the walls are 45 mm high. The Col. is mounted on a 2p piece, and stands about 32mm to the top of his deerstalker. I can't say there have been no problems however. I have cuts on both hands and a glue burn, but I have avoided A&E so far.

The serious issue is that I really should have undercoated the base board BEFORE I glued the wall sections into place. That is a mistake I won't make next time. The fixtures and fittings come next, starting with the dumb waiter and then a coat of paint on the exposed MDF. Now the weekend is over, work will be a little slower, but there should be an update towards the end of the week.

Something Is Coming .....

Somebody must be feeding me strange substances, because I am embarking on what is for me a fairly serious build for IMHN involving MDF, foam board and a hot glue gun. How serious ? Well, I've never - in 45 years of gaming - built anything remotely close to the size of this. I'm also going to try to post updates as I go along. 

Below is pictured the absolute basics. The MDF base is marked out, and the main foamboard sections and corner pieces are cut. 

Tommorow I apply the first of the paint.

Bad Jack Has A Bad Day

Last Tuesday Mr Cook and myself played the 'Bad Jack' scenario in the first run out for my Red Cult. Quite why the Red Cult wanted Jack dead is a mystery, but cults are like that ....

The Cult is light on firepower, but the Loonies are quite fast (never turn your back on a Loony). The plan was for the Igors and one of the Acolytes to hold the left flank, while Herr Doktor and the other Acolyte supported the main thrust of the Loonies led by Matron.

Initially the high speed approach went well, and the Loonies surrounded Jack, their mistake was only stunning him - after which he went berserk and stayed that way for most of the game ....
Seeing the Loonies doing so well, Matron moved across the table to help the Igors deal with the Grand Master. First his horse, and then the man himself. However, about then Herr Doktor stopped a Templar bullet, so things were still even.
Meanwhile Jack was happy laying into the Loonies, and eventually accounted for two of them.
It was noticeable at this point that a couple of the Templars were showing a remarkable lack of bravery, as they sniped from the table edge. Jack charged about but kept winning the initiative, so most other characters just dodged him ! The Igors, the remaining Acolyte and the Matron formed a firing line, but when this failed they closed in on Jack and stunned him. At this point, the heroic Templars - still shooting from the table edge - killed him !

Although the Templars can claim a victory, they killed most of the civilians, and the Red Cult were able to carry off Jacks body. Once Herr Doktor has recovered he will undoubtedly make some use of it. 

A grand evening !

A new Company for IHMN.

The Red Cult.

In the sleepy London suburb of Hanwell there is a large walled establishment called the Middlesex County Asylum. Built in the 1830’s as a model establishment, it is one of the largest Municipal Asylums in the world. It houses up to 600 inmates with varying degrees of mental or social illness.
 
Professor Dr Wolfgang Adolf arrived in 1889 with glowing references from Imperial Asylum in Vienna, and was quickly appointed Head Psychologist. While his unorthodox methods have lead to a small number of problems, generally they are effective and the number of inmates being released back into the community where they lead normal lives has increased sharply.
 

In secret however, Professor Adolf is a High Priest of a subversive and dangerous organization called ‘The Red Brotherhood’. Originating in the furthest corners of the Austrian Empire, this group aims to establish cells in all the major cities in Europe. Once a certain number of cells have been established, all will simultaneously conduct a ritual to bring daemonic beings into the world who the cult members will then serve as trusted agents in a diabolical plan.

 The Professor was accompanied by several assistants. Strangely-featured, misshapen men help with his work. The cult has also recruited several acolytes from staff at the asylum. Among these is the ward Matron who has developed some demonic powers of her own. Some of the more unstable patients already regard him as a messenger of God and follow his instructions with a fanatical devotion.




The company as currently modelled has Herr Doktor, Matron, four Acolytes, three assistants and four of the inmates who have been taken in by the cult.

A New Project ?

While re-basing the Kolanhomm army and others stuff I have started reading about the American War of Independence and the alternate scales that can be played using V&B.

Scope for another new period maybe ?

New Year, New Promises

2015 is going to see a change in my habits.

The lead pile has declined so there will less painting and more time to blog instead.

 

I will definitely go back to my Seven Years War figures and finish re-basing them for V&B.

 

I feel a new project on the horizon as well …

 

Re-Starting Seven Years War

Although I've been gaming with metal figures for over 35 years, the SYW never really interested me until recently.

Back in 2008 the idea of Imagi-Nations inspired me so I painted two contingents - Prussian and Swedes - along with several battalions and regiments of my own Grand Duchy of Kolanhomm. To this was added several battalions of Austrians, British and Saxons.

The after one battle however the project stalled for five years because the rules I was using didn't give the sort of game I wanted. Looking to clear some space I sold the Swedes and put the rest away until inspiration grabbed me again.

Then I found the Volley & Bayonet rules so I went back to my figures at the beginning of this year. The 2/3 scale is tempting but I've decided to go full scale, so I'm rebasing like mad and hopefully I'll have enough for a first game in April