Work in progress

Two posts in a week suggests I need to get out more - but when?

My days currently consist of around 10 hours plus at my desk working and then evenings of a few hours of painting but with complete social isolation in force I have few distractions in the evenings. I have given up watching the news - 10 minutes a day is enough to get what you need before it feels like Groundhog day.  My wife has taken to observing people's studies and lounges - The Health Secretary's study (I assume) looked like the downstairs loo - that is where most of us put old School photos.

Thank you for Classic FM and audio books or the silence would be overwhelming.

My only other comment before reverting to what I was posting about is once this is all over and we have thousands of ventilators in warehouses and enough PPE for every person in the UK, where we will find the thousands of Psychiatric nurses we will need to adjust to normality again?

Work continues on my Napoleonic saga with the Irish Legion just finished and in basing - I put the flags on after varnishing.  These are for the Peninsula - so around 1809 and thus brass buttons and not the silver of 1812 - important detail.

Currently working on a Polish Foot Battery (1812) - guns pretty much done and crews underway.  Preparing the next battery - Wyndhams Rocket Troop at Waterloo.  Using Warlord (my British are all Front Rank and painted by Don) which are a bit smaller but a nice set - had to use the pictures posted on the website to build it - quite straight forward apart from the supporting triangle struts which needed some encouragement to attach to the launcher (actually a ladder).  Need to work out how to paint the guy who is half way up the ladder as he has no base to fix to the holding tin.

All keep safe and well.

Used ipad to take these pictures, appears to be better than the iphone.

No shows!

It is a long time since I last posted anything, work, life, whatever.  At this time of the year I would normally be frantically painting the last of the required figures to get ready for Salute and Partizan.  But as both shows have disappeared out of the calendar this year, although we may make Partizan II, my painting has continued at its leisurely pace and I have been able to stick to my routine of trying to push all things along rather than a focus on one area.

My plan, along with the usual gang (Clive, Don, Jeff and Norman) was to present Utitza (1812) at both shows but we are in for Partizan II, if it goes ahead.  otherwise next year (fingers crossed).

However, I have not been idle, nor has poor Don who was painting all of Norman's Russians for Utitza and had managed to finish them, something I had not done with the Poles.

Below are some pictures of recent painting and a general catch up of where I am.  Apologies for picture quality in some cases, i was using an I-phone which are not bad but I do have a habit of getting my finger over the lens.  I will try and get some better shots once able to get outside with decent lighting.

1st Battalion, 2nd Chasseurs a Pied passing a border post - building recently completed by Grand Manner, Perry figures by me.

And a close up of the Head of the column.

Another recent unit was the Zastrow Cuirassiers, ready for storming the Grand Redoubt at Borodino.  The figures are Eureka, some nice detail, especially the badges on the saddle cloths and the helmets.

Then some Young Guard and the Tiralleurs du Po.  All Perry figures.

French 1809 Legere and Swiss.

My focus is very much on the French and their Allies which means someone else is painting the enemies of Napoleon.  That person is Don.  Who has so far completed both Austrian and Prussian armies for me (as well as Russians for Norman) and is now busy wading through British for the Peninsula and now Waterloo.  Don's painting rate far outstrips mine.  He did teach me about 35 years ago but I took his technique a bit far - he says 4 coats for flesh is OTT!

Here are some of the British, finished and put away, waiting for labels and also flags ready for the next lot (including Hanoverians).  With us all locked up, Don is busy painting at home and luckily I delivered another batch of painting just before the lock down was announced.

I will try and keep the posts up to a more regular rate.  Currently finishing a battalion of Irish Legion (1809) before moving onto more Polish (1812) and then will tackle a Rocket Troop (1815).

I wonder how many will be at the first wargame show after the lock down?  What will be the first show - Colours?  It will be packed.

All keep safe and well.

Salute 2019

Salute 2019 has come and gone.  An early Salute this year on the first Saturday in April.  As previously mentioned, we put on another C&C Napoleonics Le Grand Battle game, this time Vimeiro (21 August 1808) with the French (including Swiss) attacking Arthur Wellesley's British Army with Portuguese support.

Set up started on Friday lunchtime with Don and me getting into the cavernous hall at Excel around 1.30pm and initial set up completed and out by 1.45pm and back in doors by 2.30.  Reassured that everything we had left would be safe, one Warlord offering to sleep under the table through the night.  Some figures were still a bit fresh, having been completed Thursday morning.

All credit to the Warlords, a well organised show where they cannot do enough to help and are always welcoming.  The location, although lacking in atmosphere, once the lights were turned up is fine, it is spacious so that you have room around the table and plenty of space for people to chat and members of the paying public to take a break, as some did later in the day.

Set up completed Saturday am

Clive (centre) chatting to interested parties

Throughout the day we had many interested people observing the game, asking questions and generally being enthused about C&C, the terrain, figures and overall game.

We did manage to finish a game, much to our surprise although it was interrupted on many occasions by welcomed queries.  The battle itself was very much against history with a comfortable French victory.  The initial dispositions, superior British infantry numbers and the harsh terrain, especially in the centre made a French victory look a remote prospect.

The French centre looking from the British lines - rough terrain!

British right flank - Hill's wing

The initial foray in the centre saw a French battalion wiped out by the rifle fire from the 5th/60th Royal Americans.  Not a great start and the French were struggling to make headway anywhere.

Eventually, an aggressive cavalry charge on the French left of Dragoons and the 9th Hussars broke the British gun line enabling the French artillery to finally exploit the position and support a combined cavalry and infantry attack.  The 9th Hussars got carried away and ended up behind the British line where they were all killed or captured.

French artillery - photo courtesy of Alan & Elaine Daniels

In response to the crumbling right wing, whilst Clive was busy chatting/shopping or eating, his fellow British commander, Norman launched an assault using British infantry against the French gun line, now ensconced on the ridge line.  The result was the loss of a lot of British and the French holding firm.  After this, with Portuguese infantry being moved from the left to the centre to shore up the British line, Jeff, on the French right finally launched his assault capturing various villages and woods and pushing Crauford's division back.  The game actually finished around 3pm but we left packing up for an hour and had a good chance to rest and talk to visitors.

Some other pictures from the day:

Flank marker behind 20th Light Dragoons - Border post designed by Warbases - an excellent and bright addition to the table

French garrison marker  - photo courtesy of Alan & Elaine Daniels

Northumberland (5th) Regiment - photo courtesy of Alan & Elaine Daniels

Victorious French commander - Junot (Gringo figure) in 1812 uniform but looks good! - Photo courtesy of Alan & Elaine Daniels

3rd battalion, 4th Swiss regiment - still fresh from varnishing - photo courtesy of Alan & Elaine Daniels

Vimeiro village - never fell to the French but came close

The final pain is the packing up.  I left the hall around 4.15 and was back in at 5.30ish to pack the car and get away.

Queue for getting back in on Saturday pm - I did get to listen to the Grand National!

Partizan next month with the same game.

Bussaco

This weekend saw a re-fight of Bussaco (1810) in the Epic format of C&CN.  We managed to fit two games in, starting around 1.30pm and finally finishing when the ladies returned from a shopping trip at Gun Wharf Quay at around 6ish.

The first game was a real tussle.  The second less balanced.  Both were French victories and both involved pulling the Allies from the centre to the flanks before attacking with overwhelming infantry in the centre to capture the heights.

Don and Norman took the Allied side in both games, Don on the left in the first (Craufurd's Light Division) and on the right (Portuguese) in the second.

Part of Craufurd's division

The first game was a really tough affair.  The French on the right, against Craufurd made no headway throughout the battle and by the end the British came off the ridge line to press the French. 

On the French left, progress was better and the Allies had to feed units into their right to stem the French assault. 

Allied right flank

An early cavalry charge (by Norman) saw the two British Heavy Dragoons charge over the ridge into a French gun line in the centre with mixed success, one battery was destroyed but both Dragoons were badly damaged, limping back to their base line to participate no more.  Don (Wellington) was not impressed and the lack of cavalry would hinder the British in the centre later on when the French infantry began its assault on the ridge line.

I have to admit, with both flanks making no progress and the centre being difficult to move, I as, Massena was somewhat despairing.  It was also frustrating that all my well laid plans were stymied by good tactician cards including 'Infantry combat first' and 'Battlefield smoke'.  Surprisingly, from being some 8 - 4 down the French turned the game round in the space of 3 moves.  Lady luck finally shone on me!

Part of the French centre moving forward

The final score was 13 - 9 to the French.

Game two turned out to be much more one-sided.  A strong start on the French right against the new Craufurd (Norman) including an early 'Bayonet charge' saw elements of the Light division hit hard and falling back to the ridge.  This resulted in British reserves from the centre being moved to the left.  On the French left, steady progress was made but this time the threat of French cavalry (Dragoons) resulted in the British moving their Heavy Dragoons to the right to counter this.  Thus a similar scenario to game one with the Allied centre stripped of key troops before the final French assault.  A very useful 'Le Grand Manouevre' enabled the French to mass three batteries close to the centre of the Bussaco ridge, followed by a 'Bombard' targeting the Coldstream Guards who in Don's words were 'atomsied' being reduced from 5 stands to one - as a former Grenadier guardsman, although disappointed, Don did not show the high level of remorse one would have expected at his best unit getting pasted.

French  Hussars

Game two finished 13 - 6 to the French and was over in about 1.5 hours whilst game one took nearly 3 hours.

A great afternoon with my new British and Portuguese figures debut appearance.  Next up is Vimeiro at Salute and Partizan.

Garrison markers

These are some garrison markers showing French Legere.  the pillar and railings are from a German terrain company (picked up at Crisis).

More garrison markers for British, Prussians etc. to follow at a later date.

Westphalians

I recently finished a Westphalian brigade, using Steve Barber figures. The figures are painted for the 1812 campaign in Russia with the aim to deploy them at some point in the future for Utitza.

 Four Westphalian regiments

They took a lot longer to paint than I thought they would due to being in campaign dress, some without shoes and many with patches on uniforms and various pots and pans.

For 1812, their commander was Prince Junot who I also recently completed.  Figure is Gringo's excellent representation.

At the same time as completing Junot, I also completed Ney and his followers for 1815.  These are Perry figures.

I am currently scrambling (as usual) to get the final units (Swiss) done for Salute in early April (Vimeiro 1808), which is earlier than usual, hence the extra emergency.  I am also trying to finish flank markers (for the C&C game system) and some extra terrain that is needed.

I hope to have it all done in time.  As well as Salute we will also be exhibiting at Partizan in May.

Crisis 2018

Just got back from Crisis 2018.  Overall, a great weekend.

Four of us departed Kent early Friday morning to catch the 6.50am train from Folkestone to Calais.  Some interesting questions from UK Border police officers re purpose of visit and how much cash we had on us? 

Train left on time and arriving in France we had a smooth run from Calais to Antwerp.  We used an alternative route to avoid the heavy traffic on the E17 approaching Antwerp, experience of last 5 years.  Having got to Antwerp at around 11.30am it then took us over an hour to get to our hotel which was near the main station.  Antwerp roads and traffic make London look good.  No left turns, no right turns, dust carts collecting rubbish at noon!!!  No wonder the police use bicycles.  Finally checked in at the hotel - we were told the roadworks (tram system) would be finished November 2019 - hopefully before Crisis next year.

The rest of Friday was spent in the Antwerp Pub opposite the hotel.  Several games of C&C Napoleonics Waterloo, lunch, snack, dinner and many beers.

After the traffic of Friday, all agreed an early start for getting to the show on Saturday morning.  Left the hotel at 8.45am and aimed for the Scheldt.  We actually got to the car park for Crisis at around 9.15.  This allowed sufficient time to fight the Antwerp parking meter system.  For a fee of €3.80 you can park all day.  Absolute bargain.  The drawback is trying to get the machine to issue a ticket!  After multiple attempts of trying to input my car's registration number and a large queue forming behind me and one of my colleagues, a friendly German said as we were British with a UK registration plate we would not be penalised.  So we simply joined our colleagues in the Crisis show queue to await the 10am opening time.

Tip for Crisis organisers; collect €5 from all cars on entry, give €4 to the local government and €1 for the club.  Much quicker.  We noted, once in the show (€20 including 8 Jetons - tokens for food and drink) how quiet it was initially with streams of people still coming in at 11.30, I suspect after having battled with the parking meters.

Crisis is a great trade show with a really good spread of European traders, especially terrain but also good model material suppliers.  A few no shows from the traders (e.g. Flag Dude) but this may have been due to a train failure in the tunnel later Friday morning.

Picked up all my pre-orders plus some (Napoleons Berlin coach for one!).  Looked at most games, some excellent (especially the Arnhem game) but some did look like an excuse for a club night game.  Couple of my colleagues thought it was quiet until they saw the scrum for the Bring & Buy. 

We had a previously made engagement to be at the Ligny Museum at 3pm, which was especially opened for us (shuts for the winter 31 October) after making contact some months back and requesting a visit.

We left Antwerp at around 12.30 and headed south around Brussels.  Checked into our Saturday night hotel in Waterloo (Martins - excellent) before heading down to Ligny.

Museum at Ligny was brilliant.  Small but really comprehensive coverage of the battle and also Quatre Bras and huge collection of artefacts on display.  The most informative exhibit was the map of the Allied and French dispositions on the 16 June 1815 (by squadron, battery and battalion) which provided a clear sense of how stretched out columns were (D'Erlons) and the distances involved - shame they did not have a printed copy for sale.  Personally, I thought it more informative than the new Waterloo museum and only €5 per person to get in.

Many thanks to the staff at the museum.

Rest of Saturday afternoon was finding original buildings of the Ligny battlefield including Ferme du Haut and Ferme d'en Bas, both now relatively disused and run down but both very solid!

Ferme du Haut

Ferme d'en Bas

As the day became cooler and darker we made our way back to Waterloo, via Quatre Bras to collect some bricks from the now bulldozed Quatre Bras farm.  Will mount this at some point.  The wife rolled her eyes when returning home with 200+ year old bricks!!!

Back in Waterloo, dinner at a great Brasserie and then off to the Irish pub (The Snug) for the rest of the evening.  It actually closed at 3am but we retired at 2ish.

After breakfast Sunday morning, down to Waterloo battlefield to walk from the new centre to Hougomont via the path marking the Allied right wing front line.  Some new markers on the path which I hope do not stay!!

This is promoting a new automated shuttle to run from Waterloo museum to Hougomont.  There was one of these about every 12 yards.

They make the Lion Mound look in keeping!

Once at Hougomont, we decided to walk round to the south side (wall defended by the Guards) and then head east towards La Belle Alliance.  A bright and chilly morning but a great walk with us finally heading north on the Brussels Road to confirm our views re the location of the Grand Battery at various points in the battle.

Walking the Waterloo battlefield is something I strongly recommend to grasp the hills and undulations.  At points between the Allied and French lines you could not see Hougomont or La Haye Saint.  And the crops at this time of the year are already harvested.  Napoleon's assumed observation point certainly gives probably the best view of the battlefield, especially the Ohain road ridge line where Picton's division was posted as well as east towards the Bois de Paris and Chapelle St Lambert where the Prussians massed before attacking towards Plancenoit.  From that point though you cannot see Hougomont at all.  Possibly why it is was such a mess down there?

Left Waterloo around noon after a good 2-3 hour walk and back to Calais and then England.  Tired but enthused.

Reading show in two weeks!