So instead of painting I have been playing around with building Mark1 of the rocket launch frame for the 40mm chaps. Scratch built and far from perfect but I'm getting there, one issue is that the ladder (which took a lot of fiddly work to make), is a little too wide for scale. That said I'm pleased with the crew and the rockets. When I had the conversions made from the original digital crew files I omitted to have the rocket carrying belts and holders fitted, but I doubt they would have been used for such large rockets anyway. I have ordered the Warlord Games 'Bombarding Frame' set, which while it might be under scale at 28mm is still quite an impressive piece and MIGHT just work with my 40mm's, we shall see when it arrives. What I can at least say is that my Rocket Troop are unique in this scale and something that has been well over a year in the planning. They will be based on my standard 120mm frontage x 100mm artillery base, pleased to say Tony Barr now his laser cutter fully operational again so they should not be long now.
In other news I have taken delivery of a copy of 'A Gentleman's War or Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets' rules, described as 'A set of traditional rules for battles between traditional toy soldiers' and they certainly make for a very enjoyable read, a refreshing change from sets that take themselves far too seriously. Whilst primarily aimed at the Colonial period I have seen them used for Napoleonic games and wonder if I might do something with my big soldiers looking ahead.
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| Officer "Damn it, I said fire to enemy in front not at our own lads". |
I have not heard of 'A Gentleman's War or Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets', but having recently bought a self produced AWI set of rules and liking the look of them, I would be interested in your thoughts on your new rules.
ReplyDeleteHi Norm. I will certainly write a proper review of the rules. They are written in the style of HG Wells and are mainly intended for use with traditional 54mm soldiers of the period. A quote from the introduction will give you a good idea of the style of the rules.
Delete'A Gentleman's War is intended as a simple game involving toy soldiers of the classic style.It isn't intended to be 'realistic' in any sense. Rather it's the friendly collaboration of two wargamers of mature years, with getting on for a century of playing with small but lethal figurines between them'
They are lovely.. I had no idea the rocket heads were as big as that... if they went where they should do that would be a nasty surprise for those on the receiving end!
ReplyDeleteHi Steve, they varied from small ones about the size of modern firework rockets to huge 32lb beasts! Some were a lot bigger than those shown with my figures! There is a great account of a RHA section being sent forward at Waterloo and electing to leave their 6lb guns behind and take ground launch rockets instead. They fired them all, causing great consternation among some French Chasseurs before retiring back to their guns.
DeleteGood looking rocket set up!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Many thanks Iain. Over a year in the making, I'm happy with them.
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