French Royal Dragons

Quick posting of the latest Louis XIV unit to be completed - The Royal Dragoons circa 1680.

Mounted Unit

The French took up the idea of Dragoons early on and created a number of Dragoon units each with their own unique uniform colours, The Royal Dragoons being in Blue coats with Red facings.

I used a batch of Front Rank figures that I obtained from eBay to build two squadrons of this Dragoon unit.

Horse Holder

Additionally I did a dismounted version of the unit on half bases, allowing the unit to deploy as a skirmish line or as a small infantry unit.

Finally I added a Horse holder stand to indicate where the unit's mounts can be found, should they want to rejoin their horses after deployment.

Dismounted Unit

Off the Workbench - Mike W, 15/06/18

What's Off the Workbench today, Friday  15/06/2018?

Well as a distinct improvement on recent posts I am pleased to report a flurry of activity on the painting and modelling front over the past two weeks! 😊

To start off this summary its best to note the completion of the US cavalry figures that were started and nearly finished in the last post

28mm 1st Corp US Cavalry

28mm 1st Corp US Cavalry

 In total 12 x 28mm 1st Corps Mexican American War cavalry men, I have painted these up to be wearing the earlier 1830s uniform variant sky blue fatigue dress shell jackets and trousers, enabling me the option to use these in my Texas Revolution games as American interventionists.

A number of these figures have dark blue coats on , so this makes the unit nicely un-uniform in my view. Not bad for a job lot off eBay - need to paint the accompanying infantry men at some point....

Next up is the completed refurbishment of a 28mm Front Rank general from the late 1680s. As previously noted I can't take credit for the bulk of the work on this figure but I have tarted it up and pressed it into service.

Refurbished General

Next off the Workbench were 24 x 25/28mm Norman Archers, another job lot form eBay bit the have painted up really well and join the growing band of Norman figures for my planned 1066 Hastings mini campaign. Actually a set of linked games taking us through the significant engagements of that year, the Normans being the only remaining force to get completed.

Unknown manufacture but nonetheless nice Norman Archers

And there's more...

A blow of trumpets, a fanfare if you will to announce my latest wacky project. Really a spin off from all the Franco-Dutch ad similar period figures fr western Europe, a foray into the campaigns around the Siege of Vienna in 1683.

My first Polish Winged Hussar

I got hold of a set of Warlord 28mm Polish winged Hussars plus a couple of sprues of Arab light & heavy horse from the Gripping Beast plastics range to try out building some Polish Cossacks to accompany the Hussars.

So only one Hussar, right, has been completed so far, to be honest I'll a little concerned about my inability to paint the leopard fur on hs cloak, hence I did not continue with other figures unit I practiced more.

Gripping Beast conversions - Polish Cossacks

Meanwhile the test figures of the Polish Cossaks in their distinctive blue coats with yellow braid came out rather well. I added 3 additional figures to the two original text figures and now only need to do an officer to complete that first unit.

Additionally I raided an old box of Gripping Beast 28mm Arab infantry to see if I could use the figures to make some stands of Azab Infantry, I think overall the results were successful.

Gripping Beast conversions - Azab musketeers

The Azab Musketeers were simple conversions from the standard Gripping beast miniatures, I'll photograph and write up the process in another post sometime, Muskets arms are taken form the Warlord plastic Marlbourian range.


What's On the Workbench today,

No photos as I don't have time for these at present. 

Basically the remaining 7 x Polish Winged Hussars form the Warlord set need to be completed in coming days. Additionally I'm doing a couple bases of bow armed Azab infantry for the Ottoman Forces at Vienna as well. 

Other items include the Polish Cossack officer to be built and painted and, oh yes,I found some unfinished 28mm generals in my collection boxes - packed away prematurely that I'll get done and two French Musketeers to complete the dismounted company that has been waiting patiently for over a year!

Off the Workbench - Mike W, 16/05/18

What's Off the Workbench today,Wednesday  16/05/2018?

Again a lean couple of weeks in the painting front - this time down to my son's actual wedding and the ensuing holiday we took to get over the event!

Big news is that I completed the Activo Militia battalion for the coming Texas Revolution game in June, this battalion is now represented by 5 x 8 man companies plus officers and NCOs. All companies have been painted as Fusilier companies, assumption being Cazadore and Grenadier companies have been detached for special duties...

5 Coys of the latest completed Activo Battalion 

What's On the Workbench today?

Only two items on the workbench at present. First we have 5 x 1st Corps 28mm mounted Mexican Officers who will be used as Battalion and Brigade commanders in the forthcoming game. The two figures in cocked hats will be the Brigade Commanders,the remaining three in Shakos will be Battalion Commanders.

Mexican Mounted Officers being painted

The second item is a 28mm Front Rank mounted general for the Anglo-Dutch Wars projects. picked this up cheap from eBay and is already partly painted, I'll complete it and make it comparable with my other figures in the range.

Front Rank mounted General from eBay!

Assuming I get these mounted figures done quickly, I have two mounted Texian Officers to paint and a couple additional companies for the 1st Corps Matramos Battalion, previously showcased. After that back the Anglo-Dutch Wars project and the possibility of expanding that out to include Holy Roman Empire & Poles v Ottomans!

Wandering Around Blenheim Palace

Took the opportunity to take a look around Blenheim Palace recently, the 'reward' that John Churchill received form a grateful nation, as a result of leading the allies to victory in the War of Spanish Succession.

The palace its-self is well worth a look around and there is good information on Marlborough's life and times, concentrating mainly on his WSS exploits and his service for Queen Ann, his later fall form grace and his reinstatement on the arrival of King George. His earlier, more dubious exploits have been left somewhat under wraps...

... save the night he was found in bed with Charles II's mistress!

Small case of WSS artefacts
found at Blenheim Battlefield

More WSS artefacts
found at Blenheim Battlefield

Actually there is not a huge amount of military history interest to see at the palace - except for the following...

The main items of interest are a series  of tapestries commissioned by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough to commemorate his victories at Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenaarde and Malplaquet, designed by Lambert de Hondt and woven by Judocus de Vos in Brussels.

The photos do not do justice to the detail in the pieces, at present one of the ten tapestries was away at the cleaners (in Belgium), see if you can spot its replacement!

Detail of Winston Churchill's toy soldiers

Display Case with Winston Churchill's toy soldiers

Depicting the battle of Blenheim, the tapestry shows Marshall Tallard, escorted by two British officers, in the act of surrender to Marlborough (in the red coat on a white horse). Grenadier Guardsman can be seen furling a captured French standard on the left of the image

Wynendael Tapestry, Battle was on 28th September 1708. In the background, General Webb's forces are ambushing the French and Bavarians through a gap in the woods.

This tapestry depicts the battle of Elixham when Marlborough
breached the French fortified lines between Namun and Antwerp

Depicting the battle of Malplaquet, this tapestry shows Marlborough dispatching a rider with orders.
In the background we see Lord Orkney advancing on horseback to the main attack,
and the village of Halplaquet in the distance, with period miniature
reproduction captured flags

The left hand tapestry shows Marshall Boufflers surrendering the city of Lille to Marlborough. The right hand tapestry depicts Marlborough's approach to the hilltop fortress at Schellenberg, part of his campaign to save the Habsburg capital of Vienna from a threatened advance by King Louis XIV

The first of the Bouchain tapestries shows the French encampment which is completely
surrounded and Marlborough ready to receive the surrender of Bouchain

Siege of Bouchain, 13 September 1711

Marlborough's crossing of enemy lines in August led to the siege of Bouchain,
Marlborough's last success. In this, the first of three tapestries depicting the event, we see the
Allies under Marlborough advancing on the city of Bouchain

The second of the Bouchain tapestries shows the first stages of the surrounding of Bouchain.
It also depicts the river Scheldt and the village of Sensee (This one is the replica)

Duke of Marlborough at the Battle of Oudenarde

Off the Workbench - Mike W, 01/05/18

What's Off the Workbench today,Tuesday  01/05/2018?

Well its been a slow couple of weeks on the painting front - a lot of my spare time has been taken up with preparations for my son's wedding, so free time has been at a premium.

Front Rank Austrian Cuirassiers

That said I completed the 6 x 28mm Front Rank Austrian Cuirassiers and they have come up very nicely, they are just waiting a final matt varnish spray and a flag to be added, this will get done after the weekend.

Other work includes the completion of the 3 x Boot Hill 28mm Mexican Lancers, that you may remember I had managed to loose the riders for a few weeks ago. Well after a tidy-up I found them and completed them.

Boot Hill 28mm Mexican Lancers

Two were painted in the Regular Red with Green trimmings uniform and the third was painted in Green with Red trimmings - as used by the Activo Battalions - a company of which I will be painting in the coming weeks! Again these need a coat of matt varnish to complete

Boot Hill Texians

Next on the list were 8 x Boot Hill Texian Officers and Infantry men, painted in a number of uniforms to make up numbers for various companies that I have already completed - including an Alabama Red Rover, a couple of Tennessee Volunteers. All finished nicely and waiting for the rain to stop to give them a matt spray varnish.

Biggest addition to the completed list this last fortnight was the first of a batch of First Corp Mexicans that I acquired last week, 24 figures painted to represent two and a half companies of an Activo Militia Battalion, yet to be decided which one, but depicted in summer uniforms of white with red trim.

Un-named Activo Infantry Battalion

Each company is of 8 men plus there are two officers, an ensign and a musician (fifer). All figures completed in a week, based and ready for matt spray, depicted below in their storage box... 


What's On the Workbench today, well as noted my time is limited at present, I'll not start painting again for 3-4 days and then it looks like it will be the remaining figures I received from First Corps - so likely another two and a half companies of the Activo Militia Battalion or possibly an additional two companies for the Matramos Permiante Battalion.

Off the Workbench - Mike W, 18/04/18

What's Off the Workbench today,Wednesday  18/4/2018?

So without much real thought, I have decided that these posts will now be approximately every fortnight, this accounts for the longer summer evenings and the need to get other jobs I have been putting off all winter done before we get too far int the summer months...

Since last post I received a delivery of 28mm First Corps Mexican soldatos, artillery (Mexican & Texian) and associated crews, these have all been duly painted and made ready for gaming - with the deadline for the first Texas Revolution game set at early June - time is running out to get enough of these little guys ready.

Matamaros Battalion Companies plus officers & NCOs

Matamaros Bn unifrorm
with red plastron

Firstly I completed 2 units of 8 Soldatos, painted up as the Matamaros Perminate Battalion, these guys had sky blue trousers, blue jackets with red collars and cuffs and a red plastron on the front of their jackets, all trimmed with white. These First Corps figures have a mixture of shakos and field caps on the figures. I'm not convinced the field caps are 100% accurate as they more closely resemble Spanish Isabellista caps than the French bonnets they were meant to be modelled on.

Boot Hill Texian Gunners with 6lb Gun

Overall the units have turned out well and I'm pleased with them. Their detail is no where near as crisp and easy to paint as the Boot Hill figures but they are considerably cheaper!

The delivery also included 2 x 6lb guns for the Texians, plus an 'American' crew - the other will be crewed by Boot Hill artillerymen - they don't yet supply artillery pieces in their range,

First Corps Mexican Gunners with 6lb Gun

The guns put themselves together pretty easily, fiddly as ever but again the norm of any scale really. The Mexican and 'American' crews painted  up nicely. I like the 'American' crew in their entirety more than the Mexicans - better poses and easier to paint. However the best figure of the bunch is the Mexican artillery officer who has a foot up on a stone and resting his telescope.

Boot Hill Mexican Gunners with 6lb Gun

First Corps 'American'  Gunners with 6lb Gun

Best bonus was that I was spurred on to finally complete the 6 First Corps Mexican Soldatos that I gave up on a couple months back. These now represent an under strength Grenadier company for their Matamaros Perminate Battalion stable mates.

Final completed item was a 28mm MDF Wagon, this was so simple to put together and build - I can't praise it enough, I have a second in the packet waiting to go - I just need to get some cart horses to pull them!

What's On the Workbench today?

At present there are 6 x Front Rank 28mm Austrian Cuirassiers, that I got from Colonel Bills a few weeks go, there's a couple more days painting work on these before I 'Dip' them and get them completed.

Then I'll be looking to get back to the Texian Revolution again to meet my self imposed June deadline...

... I've still got to finalise the Melee rules and design a scenario!

Off the Work bench - Mike W, 13/03/18

What's on the Workbench, Tuesday 13th March?

Grenadiers awaiting paint job!

Vaqueros and Adventurers

Well there's the Tres Villas Grenadier company! 8 x 28mm Boot Hill figures plus dismounted versions of the 6 x Boot Hill Vaqueros and 4 x Texian Adventurers. 

The Vaqueros will bolster the two Tajano companies I currently have and the Adventurers will add more colour to the Texian Volunteer companies.

Juan Seguin in Mexican Army Uniform

Amongst the Vaqueros is Jean Seguin, Captain of the Tejano company and survivor of the Alamo... he is a somewhat controversial figure in that he supported Texas Independence and fought against Santa Anna but later he ran foul of Texan politics and ended up in the Mexican Army fighting against the USA in the Mexican-American War. He ended his life back in Texas, where he died in 1890.

Zapadores

The mounted versions of these figures will be tackled in coming weeks along with some additional Mexican regular Cavalry.

Also 4 x Boot Hill Zapadores to enlarge the existing small company of same!






Whats' Off the Workbench...

Yvon Barnikov's Swedes

As expected I completed the regiment of 12 x 28mm North Star 1672 Cavalry, painted as von Barnikov's Swedes in Dutch service.

I'm reasonably pleased with this unit but the colour combinations of the uniform were not as pleasing as I'd hoped. I added orange sashes to the figures and this brightened the figures up a little - so pleased with that decision.

Yukatan Activo Militia Grenadiers

The other figures off  the workbench this week were a company of 8 x 28mm Boot Hill Mexican Grenadiers plus supporting Officer, Sergeant and Standard Bearer for the Yukatan Militia plus a drummer I painted up to go with the Tres Villas Perminate Battalion I'm working on - see above...

Finished Zapadores Company,with Officer

Additionally I completed the 4 additional Zapadores, I customised these a little - swapping around their tools and adding slung muskets over their shoulders - all painted,based and matt varnished!

Yukatan Activo Militia Grenadiers, again!
With Drummer for the Tres Villas Grenadiers!

Off the Work bench - Mike W, 06/03/18

Whats' On the Workbench, Tuesday 6th March?

Well I opted to paint a regiment of 12 x 28mm North Star 1672 Cavalry, modelling them as Swedes in Dutch Service and maintain the ability to swap out flags to allow redeployment for specific scenarios.  I have a hankering to be able to use them as Germans in Dutch Service or just plain Germans!

Horses being prepared

Men being prepared

I'm not 100% certain this regiment was actually in Dutch service during the Anglo-Dutch Wars but I liked a picture of the regiment as seen on the League of Augsburg website <here> - the unit in question painted back in 1993!

The unit in question is the von Barnikov Regiment, with navy blue coat and trousers with sky blue cuffs and linings with yellow trims.

Pictured are the horses and men as they were being prepared for undercoats - cleaning off flash and filing mold lines is key to a good finish to every figure....

The flag is what also caught my attention and I have reconstructed it below to be printed and used when figures complete

Anyway as you can guess the figures are not yet completed, maybe another day's worth of touching-up and then dipping and basing. Hopefully finished unit next week.

The yet to be completed von Barnikov Regiment

So what has come Off the Workbench, this week?

Just a random 28mm vignette from Wargames Foundry of five Generals huddled around a table and pouring over maps of a battle they are all involved in. The figures were obtained from eBay at a good price and although a little small (nearer 25mm than 28mm) and also designed for early Marlburian Wars settings - I'll be using these as a Command stand in some scenarios.

Dipped awaiting finishing touches

So I forgot to take a picture of the raw figures before I started painting so instead here are a couple - one just after dipping and the other after matt varnish and basing applied.

Final Vignette

FYI - maps were drawn with felt tip pens before being varnished, keeping to a few simple colours gives the impression of more detail than there actually is!