AWI's ready for battle!

It's been an incredibly busy week here with lots of family down to stay, enjoying meals and drinks together. Had twelve of us in the house for two nights, with all of the sorting of bedding, cooking and tidying that goes with it! I found it somewhat chaotic at times and not easy to deal with but as usual my wife just took it all in her stride, glass of wine in hand, cooking endless excellent meals, keeping everybody happy and organised. I must admit I'm enjoying the return to calm again this morning.

I  did manage to take some pictures of the 6mm AWI figures as they currently stand. I have had a week away from painting and so have spent some time reading through and thinking about rules. I must admit its hard to get hex grids out of my mind after so long using them, and with a dozen or so ready made scenarios for the AWI in the Commands & Colours (Napoleonics) website I'm itching to play some of them now. So initially I have decided to mark up one side of the boards in 70mm hexes and to use the 'half battalion' bases of 60mm x 30mm for these games. I have had this in mind from the start in order to make the units as flexible as possible, that is I can use them for C&C hex games OR more conventional style rules.

Brandywine will be the first scenario up once the boards are done, hopefully this week. Lots of troops required that I can now cover (for example 12 battalions of Continental line plus militia and light infantry on the American side). These  scenarios use standard c&cN rules, with the continental forces using mostly factors from the Spanish army expansion play sheet. I believe some of the AWI scenarios featured in a Vassal competition on c&cn.net recently so results would have been posted. I include a couple of my own tweaks, being relevant to commanders and militia of which more in due course.

So the plan for the blog in the New Year is to present each of the AWI scenarios as a battle report with pics. We do know that Richard Borg is already playtesting the 'Tricorn' version of Commands & Colors, so down the line that will open up more possibilities.

The pictures below show the Continental Army deployed as 60mm x 30mm units for C&C games. Something like 16 battalions of line ( including two not shown here), 4 of rifles and 2 of light infantry plus 4 guns and crews.

Zulu's may well be my follow up project, although it only offers the 2 C&C based scenarios I think the painting will be great fun and very fast. For inspiration as to what can be achieved in 6mm scale with British & Zulus take a look at these amazing shots of figures painted by Kev Rouse.

Finally I'd like to wish everbody a happy festive season and a peaceful New Year.

More 6mm AWI progress.

My last planned blog post of 2014 will feature all of my AWI armies painted so far set out on the table, but for the time being here are a few shots of some of the most recent stuff.

I completed a second battalion of militia - again I decided to leave the bayonets on rather than risk spoiling the castings. The white markings on the bases represent 'militia'.

I rebased the command figures on larger (40mm circular bases) and added some infantry figures behind them for impact.

I have been working on terrain items too, as you can see modular pieces that can go together in various ways to create small village/town bases. Designed to take a full unit (120mm wide) and to clearly indicate when a BUA is occupied. I have also made more tree bases and started river sections.

Latest unit on the painting table is a unit of Hessian Grenadiers (Von Rall), which will be 44 figures strong once completed.

Back soon with the final Christmas post featuring a grand parade of all the AWI units painted to date.

Foot Guards & militia pics.

Here are the now completed Foot Guards- consisting of men drawn from all of the Guards companies- and brigaded together as an elite fighting unit. Represented by 64 figures including the mounted officer on rearing horse! Lace removed from uniforms as correct and hats 'cut round' as ordered.

Also the first unit of militia completed. I'm going to stop for a while now and test out some rules, but I may have to invest in Black Powder as I keep reading good things about them.

I'll continue to add to the AWI's at my leisure now as I have enough to play with, but I have already decided on the next project ....... Zulus! Well I should say 'Colonial' but I'll start with Zulus and British infantry to oppose them. I'm thinking that 500 odd 6mm Zulus could look quite spectacular?

Inspiration!

First 6mm Hessians and looking ahead.

I guess I should begin this post by announcing the end of my 'War Artist' painting service. After over two years of mostly enjoyable painting for my very supportive friends I feel it's time to call it a day in order to focus on a couple of projects for myself. I must take this opportunity to say 'thank you' and we part on good terms. I have a couple of bits to finish off this side of Christmas hopefully. Things have slowed down gradually over the past few months and I'm now kept pretty busy at home and on non wargame related things.

The 6mm AWI armies continue to grow, now almost at 800 painted figures. Here you see the most recent units, Hessian Jagers and musketeers and the completed 'Green Mountain Boy's' riflemen. I have some hessian Grenadiers up shortly (oh those lovely metal fronted grenadier caps!), but first I must complete two planned battalions of militia. It's been a blast painting these figures I have to say.

I have also been slowly putting together a few terrain pieces using the ERM templates as bases and I'm really pleased how they are turning out. More to do, especially tree bases, in due course. All buildings are by Timecast, as are those wonderful trees.

Whatever I do now will be in 6mm scale again.

Thaks to all those who continue to follow my blog, which has taken some odd twists and turns along the journey!

6mm AWI figures by Baccus.

Hessians - jagers and Von Donop Musketeers.

Ethan Allen's 'Green Mountain Boy's'.

Terrain bases - a village/town base, heavy woods and farmsteads so far.

And a sneak preview - militia underway. I was going to trim off those bayonets but decided against it as I did not want to ruin the castings!

Finally, to get you in the spirit of the American Revolution, 'The Ballad of The Green Mountain Boy's'.

AWI progress.

I'm amazed how quickly this little project has come together over recent weeks, to be able to sit down and paint a full base of 24 figures in around an hour is a major attraction of 6mm scale painting. I think I have turned out a base each day with no problem at all so far. I'm not going to make a big issue of this project, as we all know where most of my stuff ends up going, but I have decided these will definately NOT find themselves on eBay as I intend to keep going. In hand I have several battalions of Hessians - musketeers, grenadiers and jager etc - plus several more battalions of Continental troops - formed militia, more hunting shirts, cavalry. Around the 1.000 figure mark should see this completed.

As you can see I have started on buildings with more to follow. I'm waiting on the arrival of more scenic materials to produce woods, fields, rivers etc. I intend to enjoy myself creating non hex terrain for my planned games. Tony at East Riding Miniatures supplied some great mdf 'terrain templates' that I will be using to build my woods and fields.

I'm also working on more 20mm Spanish Napoleonic infantry, progress has been slow but they are coming along well. This unit will be Regt. Irlanda, with deep sky blue coats and yellow facings! Pics will follow shortly.

Pics not great, but the mass effect of 6mm scale is well illustrated I think.

Crown forces.

Continentals.

More 6mm AWI units.

The first couple of continental line battalions are painted, one in hunting shirts and the other in blue coats faced red. Both are of 44 figures which I think gives a good representation of a battalion in line. The third unit is a 24 figure rifle battalion in loose order loading and firing, and no doubt trying to pick off the British officers!

These units are quick to paint for me, I can do 44 figures in a couple of short sessions plus time spent on the basing. All are of course Baccus 6mm and I have to say these are some of the best Baccus figures I have painted in terms of quality of the castings, the detail is amazing. Looking along the ranks of the line units you can see how well proportioned these tiny soldiers are, no overscale blobs here.

I added a few buildings from Timecast for good measure.

PVA glue still a bit wet on a few bases here, they will darken down once dry.