Quarantine Challenge: 28mm Ottoman Cavalry

Well this is my first post for quite some time as I have been struggling to get free time to paint.

It's a small three figure posting, but will be followed in the next day or so with another post - as I'm also nearly done with some Late 17th Century French Infantry...

So these little guys are representing Ottoman Heavy Cavalry in the late 17th Century, the figures were taken from a batch I got form eBay and were originally aimed to be Polish Winged Hussars.

However my collection is already pretty heavy in Winged Hussars and I have opted for the Warlord variety! These guys look generic enough to be any eastern heavy cavalry in my opinion!

So they are mounted on Hat Industrie - 28mm, Moorish plastic horses, these are good value at 12 per box. (I throw away the riders as I do not lie the figures, but you can often get these horses at less than 80p each - it all counts if working on a budget.

I added muskets, saddle holsters and bows and as ever I always use steel or brass spears for lances & pikes.

Added bow and Gripping Beast's Shield to this guy

The unseasonably hot weather in the UK has not done any

favours to the application of Army Painter's dip, will be adding some

thinners to get it to flow better on next batch

Second fella, simply added a bow to this one

And a saddle holster, for his horse pistol

Final guy, he had a wheel lock Carbine added and a saddle holster

Angry end of an Ottoman Heavy Cavalryman!

Self Hibernation Campaign - The Washington Cup

By Robert Hope

Betting odds for the "Washington Cup" (occupation of the Federal Capital).

We learnt from General Green that when he was a young man fighting in Mexico gambling really helped him get back on his feet. That's because he lost his horse at poker. As General Green said: "This taught me a good lesson. As a war hero and gambling addict - I was likely to go to a place in heaven "pair a dice !".

Knowing that many of our southern readers are betting men, for those in camp, here are this weeks betting odds for the Washington Cup. 

"You should be able to wager 3 to 1 on General Lee's superior military science; 5 to 2 against General Grant's inability to see the wood for the trees; 2 to 1 on the confederate cavalry conducting another lighting raid during the battle; 3 to 2 on some of Abe’s new lot running away on seeing the elephant”.

Editor Note: Odds quoted accurate at time of printing.

General Green

Self Hibernation Campaign - The Prime Minister Investigates

By W. Earnest Lee 

Lord Palmerston sets-up Investigation into 'The Herald' Affair

1st & 2nd West Indies Regiments have been
put on alert and will man commercial vessels
travelling between the islands. 

Following revelations published in The Times yesterday, syndicated from the 'The Banner of the South', official organ of the Confederate States of America, Prime Minister William, Lord Palmerston has ordered a high level investigation into the main points of the affair.

The main thrust of the allegations being that a United States warship, The 'USS Quaker City', attacked and sunk a British vessel, named as 'The Herald', within British Territorial waters in the Caribbean. The British vessel was identified as the steamship 'The Herald' and its sinking resulted in the deaths of all the crew, except for two survivors.

Confederate States officials informed 'Fraser, Trenholm and Company' who operate from Liverpool and New York, USA and urged them to call on Her Majesty's Government to act against 'a blatant deed of evil and transgression contrary to international conventions'.

Canadian Militia
put on Alert

Since the first publication of this news, the President of the United States of America has cabled the British Government to deny any such action has occurred and blames the newspaper story on disinformation from the notorious Confederate MIS department.

On announcing the investigation, Lord Palmerston added that he hoped to have an initial report  within a matter of days, basic facts can be checked and validated. Basis the initial report other investigations may be initiated.

Palmerston finished by saying "These are difficult times, our former colonial friends are now at each other's throats. Desperate men, in desperate situations take desperate measures. The duty of the British Government is to safeguard our national interests and we will take whatever action is necessary to ensure the safety of our people, territories and sovereignty"

Word has been sent to our territories in the Caribbean as well as in Canada to be on alert.

Self Hibernation Campaign - Union Embarrassed

By Robert Hope

Union embarrassed once more

Yet again our brave boys of Green and Rippers division have conducted a significant number of “lightening” strikes on unsuspecting yankee troops. Whilst the north may call them guerrillas and thiefs, General Green welcomed back the return of the 1^st and 2^nd Virginia Cavalry as hero's.

“There was no dilly dallying about the outcome of the raid. Once again we have embarrassed these Yankee’s. We had three very successful hits on their facilities. Our boys have done what was considered impossible. What’s more, they returned with some 120 supply wagons, roughly the same amount that was captured after Chickamauga” said General Green. 

He went on to say that “My men once again informed me that General Holt-Oglethorpe’s still had a nasty look. However, Chickamauga meant that he’s also sporting a good left hook.  Mindful of my own hand injury that I sustained at Gettysburg, they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!”   

General Green

Self Hibernation Campaign - Times Article

By Robert Hope, syndicated from the Banner of the South

Union hate has made it boldest play yet. - Steamer ship the Herald attacked without warning. Vessel goes down in 16 minutes 

London February 26^th 23:30 hours.  Fraser Trenholm, company official announce that their steamer ship “The Herald” has been sunk. A victim of an unprovoked attack by USS Quaker City inside British territorial waters in the Caribbean on the 30^th January 1864.

All freight lost. Just 2 crew survive.  The Herald goes down in 16 minutes. Surviving crew are unwavering in their statements that they were attacked by USS Quaker City.

Merchant Seaman Mallory and Beckett state: “On the morning of the 30^th January at 11.35 am we were on a bearing of N.N.E making upwards to 11 knots.  Our vessel the Herald sailed under our national flag of the Red Ensign. Nevertheless we were challenged by the sidewheel steamship: USS Quaker City. Before we were able to respond, they fired their large gun and then a number of smaller guns at us. We were hit on the stern and quickly began to take on board water. Within 16 minutes the Herald had sunk”. 

USS Quaker City

In response to questions asked by this paper, the Union administration denies involvement of USS Quaker City. However, this paper can reveal that the captain and crew abroad the confederate blockade runner CSS Florida have confirmed that USS Quaker City was in the vicinity having out run the Union warship on the 28^th January.

English investors in Fraser, Trenholm and Company who operate from Liverpool, England and New York call on Her Majesty's Government to act against a blatant deed of evil and transgression contrary to international conventions.

When asked for comment, representatives of Her Majesty's Government are reported to say "We take a seriously dim view of this lawless action which has created a serious diplomatic dispute between us and the Union of the North. Our response will be calm and measured as part of our whole response to the emerging situation in America. Recognising the Confederate States of America (CSA) as a nation has not been ruled out.” 

High Seas Piracy

By Robert Hope

Union hate has made it boldest play yet. - Steamer ship the Herald attacked without warning. Vessel goes down in 16 minutes 

London February 26^th 23:30 hours.  Fraser Trenholm, company official announce that their steamer ship “The Herald” has been sunk. A victim of an unprovoked attack by USS Quaker City inside British territorial waters in the Caribbean on the 30^th January 1864.

All freight lost. Just 2 crew survive.  The Herald goes down in 16 minutes. Surviving crew are unwavering in their statements that they were attacked by USS Quaker City.

Merchant Seaman Mallory and Beckett state: “On the morning of the 30^th January at 11.35 am we were on a bearing of N.N.E making upwards to 11 knots.  Our vessel the Herald sailed under our national flag of the Red Ensign. Nevertheless we were challenged by the sidewheel steamship: USS Quaker City. Before we were able to respond, they fired their large gun and then a number of smaller guns at us. We were hit on the stern and quickly began to take on board water. Within 16 minutes the Herald had sunk”. 

USS Quaker City

In response to questions asked by this paper, the Union administration denies involvement of USS Quaker City. However, this paper can reveal that the captain and crew abroad the confederate blockage runner CSS Florida have confirmed that USS Quaker City was in the vicinity having out run the Union warship on the 28^th January.

English investors in Fraser, Trenholm and Company who operate from Liverpool, England and New York call on Her Majesty's Government to act against a blatant deed of evil and transgression contrary to international conventions.

When asked for comment, representatives of Her Majesty's Government are reported to say "We take a seriously dim view of this lawless action which has created a serious diplomatic dispute between us and the Union of the North. Our response will be calm and measured as part of our whole response to the emerging situation in America. Recognising the Confederate States of America (CSA) as a nation has not been ruled out.” 

Lunchtime Time Lapse Experiment

So I am often asked how can I paint s quickly and in such volumes, just practice is my usual reply but that often gets met with disbelieving shrugs  that suggest I'm making it up and  do spend more time than I say on figure painting.

So by way of an experiment and prompted by John getting into painting some 28mm Hoka Hey Elizabethans, I thought I'd time myself in painting a single figure.

Now, as a caveat,  was trying to do this quickly, I picked a simple figure to paint - a lowly billman and I knew the colour scheme would be simple and there are few details to add - all of which take time.

Another factor in my favour it is really hit at present and so any acrylic paint I use, dries very quickly, it was sometimes drying on my brushes!

The final change to normal was the use of Army Painter 'Dark Tone' Wash instead of Dip, the was dries in minutes the Dip takes 24 hours +.

That said this lunchtime I launched my 28mm challenge, here are the results....

12:36pm. So during my lunch-break today,  I had a bright idea!
I super-glued a figure to a penny and undercoated it in white paint

12:38pm. painted hands and face in flesh colour.

12:40pm. painted shirt in unbleached cotton colour

12:43pm. With the flesh areas now dry I was able to paint the Billhook pole.

12:45pm. Added brown trousers

12:50pm. Added Vallejo 'Oily Steel' to bill blade, breast plate and helmet.
Now this metalic paint was super fast in drying and clogged my brush...

12:57pm. Added Leather work for Shoes, Breast Plate straps
and Sword Scabbard, then left to dry for an hour.

13:50pm. Added an Army Painter 'Dark Tone' Ink Wash, left o dry for 30 mins.

14:30pm. So I managed to messed-up taking a photo at about 14:20,
where I applied the matt varnish to the figure.
My Bad!
But here the figure has just been based with sand and electrostatic grass.

 OK , so not the greatest figure of all times but when dried I added on a couple of buckles using a metalic marker pen, job done.

Elapsed time was just under 2 hours, with a burst of actual painting at start of 21 minutes fr a single figure - this also included time for me to faff about with camera to take the photos. Then an hour and a half drying time and a few minutes to apply wash, varnish and add a base.

Self Hibernation Campaign - Player Rankings

At present the Campaign Rankings are:

LIEUTENANT GENERALS:

John                     45 CPs

MAJOR GENERALS:

Mike                     46 CPs

Paul                     44 CPs

Mark                     39 CPs

Dave                     38 CPs

BRIGADIER GENERALS:

Rupert                   31 CPs

Phil                     16 CPs *

TEAM RANKINGS

Team CSA                 3.0 
Team USA                 3.0 

Congratulations to John who got a promotion to Lt. General, also to Dave for promotion to Maj. General.

Mike, currently placed 2nd would be in pole position if he were to successfully push for his own promotion.

Steve & Phil have had to drop out of the campaign - Their characters are now NPGs.

Congrats to Mike & Paul who continue to win additional CPs with their shameless levels of self-publicity!

New Today is the Team Rankings - which actually show each team is neck and neck, with an average performance rating of 3.0 - great stuff guys

Again as a 'tickler' here are the relative ratings of the Non Player Generals in your organisations. Note all Brigade commanders who previously had rank of Colonel have earned their Stars!

BRIGADIER GENERALS:

N. Banks                    31 CPs *

J.D. Ripper                   29 CPs

V. Rose                       25 CPs

P. Jones                    25 CPs

W. Pickton                  24 CPs

J.W. Pepper                 23 CPs

W. Smith                      20 CPs

F. Barlow                     20 CPs  

R. O'Shea                   20 CPs

P. Burboen                  20 CPs

H. Innes                    20 CPs

R. Clayton                  18 CPs

W. Walcarpet                18 CPs 

L. von Gisla                18 CPs

G. Beauregard               17 CPs

B. Wiser                    16 CPs

A. Buschbeck                16 CPs 

H.H. De Combat              15 CPs

Sef Hibernation Campaign - New Broom

By Hardy Kenwright

False Dawns

The prime command of the Union’s main army has been taken up by several Generals over the last three years. After McDowell came McClellen, followed by Burnside, Hooker and Meade. With each new appointment came hope of a decisive breakthrough in North Virginia, with the prospect of a final victory. Each time a real possibility seemed to present itself the prospect turned out to be false dawn and the opportunity slipped away.

A New Broom

President Abraham Lincoln believes that he has found the answer to the stalemate in Virginia. Despite having only been made a Major General on 16^th October last year, General Grant has been recalled to Washington and on 2^nd March promoted to Lieutenant General with command of ‘all’ Union Armies. Grant’s new rank has only previously been held by George Washington. Having achieved great success at Vicksburg and Chattanooga last year, The President sees this no compromising commander as the key to galvanising the war effort in the critical Eastern theatre.

Good Raport

It seems that the ‘Commander in Chief and his Commander in Chief have already developed a good working relationship during their weekly meetings, with Mr. Lincoln allowing Lt. Gen. Grant free rein to devise his own strategy. We look forward with interest to a Spring campaign.