Renaissance foot

I finished off three bases of the 28mm renaissance foot I started this week. I will set these fellows aside as I focus on a 15mm commission but more are awaiting attention!

These are GW Empire troops. I think I finally started to get the painting sorted out on renaissance. A bit too bright overall, but that is easily remedied with some black, cream and brown thrown into the next batch.

The command base could likely use a standard attached to the upright pike on the right. Otherwise, I think this base is ready to lead my troops into several horrible defeats.

These advancing pike/spear are okay. I wish the spear were longed but they rank up nicely with the short spear. I have some Perry late medievals that will get pressed into use with longer pike.

These fellows seem ready to form a second rank of pike. Future builds will have more variety of heads and whatnot--I was using up some of the pre-built figures that came with the job lot I got on TMP. I think there is some nice diversity of colours and decorations here.

Up next: Some 15mm Aitolians are primed and will get some paint this morning. Then some more 15mm Greeks. Then back to some 28mm renaissance. There is a mounted general base as ready to take paint. And I will build some pike and shooter units from the figures I have.

Man of War playtest

Bruce brought over a game of Man of War (not GW's Man-o-War, but rather a 1983 game by Simulations Canada) along with his new GHQ ships.

We played a pair of meeting engagements. In the first game the wind turned against me just as the two lines met, meaning I was in irons while Bruce sailed around me, and laying down a serious beating.

I could not roll to save my life and, with ships striking colours and others with decks awash, I conceded.

Game two started better. I had the wind, was in a good formation and was crossing Bruce's T with my main line.
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I caused one of his ships to surrender and then started shooting blanks again. Bruce out shot me about 5 to 1 before my ships started packing it in an again I conceded.

Overall, this was a great set of rules that Bruce tweaked by adding a Mustangs-like movement sequence. Everything worked and it showed off the miniatures well with no need for a roster. I think with tweaked fire factors, it would work well for Great Lakes battles in 1812.

Up next: Some 28mm renaissance foot are drying. And I am building some 15mm ancients for a commission.

28mm renaissance reiters

I'm continuing to finish off some of the renaissance stuff for DBA-RRR that I started before turning to a 15mm panting commission that has arrived. Today I have six 28mm reiters done.

These are GW figures (Empire) that I got on TMP. The figures are nice enough but they are mounted on enormous horses--bigger than the armoured warhorses the gendarmes are riding.

I'm not totally thrilled with how these guys turned out but they helped me get my eye into the period and the foot that I will post on Saturday are very sweet for the experience I gained.

Between what I have painted and a box of Perry late 15th century foot I have, I think I can actually complete an early renaissance German army. Might need to fabricate some hordish foot.

Up next: A game with Bruce this afternoon. Then the remaining 28mm foot I've been working on. Then a 15mm Greek DBA army and some 15mm Greek hoplites.

28mm renaissance gendarmes and artillery

I've moved a few more renaissance pieces towards completion this week. First up is some artillery.

This is a GW Empire volley gun. Fairly ridiculous from an engineering perspective but pretty enough to look at. Assembly was a major hassle because I lacked instructions and the gun itself makes no real sense.

Overall, not a bad first stab. I am hopeful future foot will have fancier costumes. I'm still getting my eye into this era and looking about for good examples. I've been using the Fields of Glory Renaissance companion books for inspiration.

I painted up four more gendarmes. These are again GW empire figures and will serve as German troops. Sorry the pictures are so bad--my camera won't let me adjust the depth of field manually.

I believe I got these from Dave (who did most of the assembly) and all I've done is paint them. These are a nice tradition from medieval-style heraldry towards the crazier colour schemes of the renaissance.

Up next: I have six reiters done (on huge GW horses) and drying. I am also working on a bunch of renaissance foot. And a large 15mm ancients commission just arrived that I will give some attention to this afternoon. I'm also hopeful to get a game in with Bruce tomorrow afternoon.

Lundy's Lane

We had seven guys out at the club last night with two games running. I hosted Kevin and Scott in two games of For Honor and Glory, miniaturizing the Worthington Games' title with some 1/72 plastics.

We played the Lundy's Lane scenario, with Scott playing General Scott (the Americans) and Kevin playing General Gordon (the British). Both sides have reinforcements to feed into the fight and about half way through the game, night falls with all shooting being limited to one hex.

Game one saw the Americans roll high and moved quickly to dislodge the British from the hill in the centre of the board. The British were never able to retake it, which was a historical outcome. Scott's roll were amazing and made up for his terrible luck two weeks ago at Crysler's Farm.

Dave hosted Craig, Chen and Terry in a game of Blitzkreig Commander. This was an early war eastern front game with the Germans needing to get a convoy across the table while the Russian's sought to interdict the German trucks. There was a lot of burning armour and I think Craig snuck out a win for the Germans.

Scott and Kevin reset Lundy's Lane for a second go and we saw a much cagier game the second time around. The British had better rolls and the Americans were never able to muster the strength to dislodge them from the hill.

As the British moved reinforcements on under the cover of darkness, the American dragoons raised hell behind the lines, picking off weakened British units. Eventually we saw a British victory of attrition, although they also firmly controlled the hill throughout the game.

Up next: Some 28mm renaissance mounted and artillery is drying. And I have some more 28mm renaissance foot primed.

28mm Renaissance Germans

A long-delayed project is a 28mm plastic renaissance army for play with DBA-RRR and HoTT. I've finally gotten a move on and am enjoying the more complex and colourful outfits. An upcoming horseman has pink, yellow and baby-blue--not as horrible as it sounds!

These bases are German gendarmes. I believe they are GW Empire troops I got in a trade from Dave. Although lance-based horse were not big in this period (as far as I can tell), these are quite nice models thus I will find a place for them. They can be an allied contingent for the more Italian-looking foot troops I have.

Up next: I have another three bases of gendarme underway. I am also working on some mounted handgunners which are also GW figures that I think I got on TMP. And I have assembled and am painting a rather stupid-looking GW Empire volley gun as an artillery piece. Plus I need to get my War of 1812 game together for the club on Tuesday.

15mm zombies

Back from vacation and I finished off a small commission of 15mm zombies. No idea of the manufacturer.

There were 70 zombies in about 11 poses. Based on the number of firemen, cops and hookers, the infection must have started during an annual emergency services conference at a bordello.

I did what I could do with paint to reduce the sameness issue with multiple single-poses. This large lady has two floral mumus in addition to the figures shown below. The basing was a specific request: plain grey over top the integral base set upon a tiny washer. I assume this is to match a "concrete-jungle" theme.

There were also four survivors, including dude with a knife (which reminds me of a saying...), two office workers and chick dressed appropriately.

Up next: I have been working on some 28mm renaissance figures. I put this army off because the painting was intimidating but I'm making good progress. I have four Germanic knight-types done and being based. More knights and some mounted pistoleers are next. I also have some 1/72 AWI Americans primed with the flesh done but I am stalled on these.