Now then, just imagine this ......

I had a vision the other day after seeing the amazing work in 2mm scale by Paul Clarke on the 2mm Facebook page. Probably - no definitely - the best example of how to use 2mm scale figures to their best effect for creating large armies that really look like armies! I know that quite a few of my followers who are interested in the smaller scales don't use FB so with Paul's permission I'm sharing a few of his photos here. I would love to hear your thoughts on his wonderful work, especially how the table and bases blend so well.

And so of course I immediately saw the potential of DBN armies in the scale done in this way, large bases each representing a brigade with hundreds on tiny men in various formations, marching columns, skirmishers out front,   mounted generals, supply wagons at rear possibly, this has really caught my imagination! Just 12 bases (points) per side would look most impressive I think? I'm thinking that 1812 French v Russians could be a good place to begin, 

As I always like to have something ticking along for myself this could make a perfect little side project maybe.

Photos of Paul's amazing Medieval armies shared with his permission, as Mr Punch would have said "That's the way to do it".

Some ACW's for a change and Napoleonic news!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been going through a sort of seasonal blues, feeling a bit up and down and definitely not helped by the political turmoil in this country at the moment. Having been a keen follower of UK politics for most of my adult life I can barely believe what is going on at the moment and what is to come over the coming week.

This weeks commission painting has been a brigade box of Warlord Epic ACW's, 300 Union infantry in 3 regiments plus the 3 gun battery and mounted officers. Just need to add flags and texture the bases to complete. Enjoyed doing some ACW's again as it's been a while. I have also taken delivery of the full ACW starter box along with 4 packs of metal command strips from Warlord which will allow me to build 44 x 60 figure infantry regiments split 50/50 Union/Reb for Chris in New Zealand, obviously this is a long term project but one I know I will enjoy. I must admit that I had not known that the ACW command strips were available in metal, the same strip just cast in metal and you get 5 of them to a pack.

This coming week I'll be painting for Graham and Tony before getting stuck back into lots of Napoleonic Prussian Epics!

Napoleonics now sold!  Aside from the above I have also hit that point once again where it's time to find something else to mess around with as an aside from my commission painting, and to this end I have now sold my 900 painted epic Napoleonics and they will be heading off to their new owner Mal this week who will actually use the figures, something I know I will never do beyond laying them out for photos or videos. I'm happy with this decision as anyone who has followed the blog for the last 10 plus years will understand, much as I still love painting soldiers my wargaming days are now long gone. No doubt I will find something new, starting with a couple of lovely Langton Napoleonic ships again like the little Frigate I did years ago that gave me so much pleasure. Was it really 2013!

Epics and more epics!

Firstly I would like to thank those who left comments on my earlier post re 1815 Prussians, all useful and we have now decided upon Prussian line regiments consisting of 3 x 40 figure battalions, 2 musketeer and1 fusilier, colours carried by the musketeer battalions only and the fusiliers with black equipment straps. We - customer Tony2 and I - ditched the idea of metal command figures for 2nd battalion as they just did not sit well and so reverted to a cut down musket which really does not look at all bad when viewed as part of a 120 figure regiment!

So, this weeks commission output is 240 Prussian infantry. Will just tidy them up and touch up flag edges etc over the weekend before adding textured basing. Next week I'll be painting a complete Epic ACW brigade box of 3 x 100 figure regiments, a three gun battery and mtd command. I also have another new customer for ACW Epics, 44 regiments of 60 figures being the starter army box and 4 packs of additional command strips. Clearly now I'm fully booked for many months ahead alongside my regulars, but it's where I wanted to get to with my painting service.

It's been a busy week all round with family stuff too, but I still managed to add a couple more bases to my own epic collection, 4th Btn KGL and the Life Guards. I now have a total of  40 x 20 figure infantry bases, 14 bases of cavalry and 6 battery bases of 2 guns each so now just able to sit back and enjoy adding the odd unit here and there. I'm vert keen to do Brunswick next just trying to select the best epic figures for conversion.

 

A quick question re 1815 Prussian infantry.

 

Is anyone able to help me out here please? Given that a Prussian line infantry regiment consisted of 3 battalions - 2 musketeer and 1 fusilier - would all 3 battalions have carried colours and if so what? I'm assuming the 1st battalion would carry the regimental flag but can't pin this down so any help greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Thank you for the replies, all useful. I have also been sent a link to the site below and must say it is an amazing reference source. I know how to proceed now and have noticed that both 1st and 2nd battalion flags are on the printed Warlord flag sheet!

http://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com/unitesPR.php

I'm working through a batch of Prussian line for Tony2 this week, what will be 6 x 40 figure battalions so 2 regiments of 120 figures. The centre (1st battalion) will have the regimental flag as supplied on the warlord flag sheet and given there is just the single command strip per 80 line troops if the other 2 battalions DID carry flags then a small conversion job will be required to add the flag - the metal Chariot command figures are too big anyway, much chunkier than their British and French ranges so we have ditched those (see photo) -
but if so what flag would be carried?

Hope this makes sense and we are only looking for a generalisation given the apparent complexity of the subject!

Cheers,

Lee

It's like Land of The Giants! Out they go but worth a try. The faces will get a thin wash when finished.

And back in the present!

Just finished another weeks commission painting, a batch of 15mm Peter Pig ECW's for Graham and a first test paint of epic Prussian line infantry for Tony2. 

As usual the Pigs are a pleasure to paint and these may well be the last of the Edgehill project figures I think and next up will the Scots, something I am also looking forward to. Some of the mounted generals here are matchlock (I think?) slightly chunkier than the Pigs but a nice addition of various commanders.

All of the Prussian infantry are required to be on half width bases, strips cut down, so 10 figures per base, 40 to a battalion. It's a simple job and they break fairly cleanly. Of course this presents an issue with lack of command figures from the epic strips so I'm hoping the Chariot Prussian metal figures will fit as well as the British and French do, you can only really tell once painted.  

For myself I continue to add metal command to my 20 figure epic infantry battalions, latest this week are the British Guards (3 regiments now with colours) and the Highlanders as you see below. I'm really pleased with how well this is working out and the sight of the entire brigade of 60 figures is very pleasing on the eye. The bases are 60mm x 25mm. 

Weekend now so I'll be painting just another 6 figure heavy cavalry base for myself, the Life Guards, and also prepping up another 5 Prussian infantry battalions for next week.

Have a good weekend.

A blast from the past!

With my epic collection now standing around 800 painted figures my mind has been constantly pondering over how I want to use them, with which rules, and the more I think the more I keep coming back to Commands & Colors Napoleonics. I just can't seem to get away from them! You know how sometimes an old project keeps on tugging you back? well I'd say this was as good as my wargaming ever got and I doubt I could improve much upon it, but it was a LOT of work. I love that game and I love epic figures so it could be a match made in heaven for me. I'd say it was the near perfect combination of a hex grid board game played with model soldiers on textured terrain. I know that it's something that must be done again if I am to get back to enjoying pushing soldiers around a table.

Photos from here back in 2012, 90mm dotted hexes then texture added. 4 x 3 framed board, 6mm soldiers.