Russian reinforcements!

This week I have completed a battalion of Jaegers to add to my growing Russian army. Granted 'massed' in a relative term, but here is the combined infantry I've painted this year. 3 Battalions (2 Line,1 Jaeger), 2 units of skirmishers to screen them, and a couple of Command figures

Each battalion is 32 figs for a total of 110 figures all together. 

Advance! Skirmishers to the flanks!

Mix of Great War Miniatures and Warlord. Group bases are 80x40mm

And extended out in Line formation...

Thanks for looking!

Royal Navy Airship scratch build

Found this fabulous scratchbuild by Mr Edward Garcia on Facebook, from a post some 10 years ago. I wanted to post here for reference (such things tend to disappear and be sadly lost):

Again this is NOT my work, but that of highly talented Edward Garvcia, who writes:

"Scaled at about 1/64 this model of a Mars based British aerial gunboat is based on those mentioned in the old roll playing game Space: 1889. I extrapolated considerably on the small tree view drawings available online at the time (over ten years ago) and created a scale models that fit the story line but also reflected actual elements of Victorian naval architecture. The model measures about 32 inches (81cm) long and is crewed by about 15 hand painted 28mm crewmen. For the most part the model is made from scratch with the main exceptions being small parts such as ship’s guns, fittings and crew figures."

Again, this is not my work, and the original post here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18RhWK1FmB/

This is first of a few "internet rescue" posts. Having gone through a bunch of my VSF links I was sad to see so many sites have dissappeared and their contents gone. I will ensure that such posts are very clearly and appropriately credited, and only done to ensure that great material isn't lost.

The Tsar on Mars!

Presenting my first two Russian line infantry battalions - primarily for my Crimean War project but also deployable to Mars!  

Two Battalions with Regimental officers advancing in Attack columns 

I used different shades across the greatcoats to show varying wear and quality in pre dye-fast colours, and gave the units some identity with one unit sporting a mix of helmets and forage caps (mutzes) which became more common as the war progressed, and another with more strict NCOs ensuring all the troops wear their issued helmets! 

1st Battalion (white shoulder tabs) - all in helmets

I enjoyed a good dose of the inevitable "basing dilemma", badly overthinking it before deciding to go with groups of poorly drilled troops with intermingled casualties, representing both bad training and a stoic intent to get to grips with the invaders regardless of cost! 

2nd Battalion (red shoulder tabs) with mixed helmets and forage caps

Figures are mostly plastic Warlord figs with some metal models by Great War Miniatures mixed in. The former are relatively monopose, but the seperate heads let you impart some great character with modest turns. The latter are wonderful sculpts and mixing them in gives a more dynamic look. Colours by Battle-Flag.com

Normally I hate doing faces but these were very satisfying to do

The army grows!

Aginclank: a VSF refight of the Battle of Agincourt

As part of my recent blog clear-up, I was truly sad to find that 90% of VSF links that I have collected over the past 2 decades are dead. Shouldn't be surprised: there were old yahoo groups, geocities sites, webrings (remember them?) and all up many a great VSF Blog has gone as enthusiasm faded. Sad but natural.

Some of them were really great, and most inspirational. Some I found in the Wayback machine and one here I really wanted to capture for posterity from the blog "Articulated Rot and Steam Launched drivel"

Again, this is NOT my work and is posted here because such great creativity deserves to endure. I present this as originally posted - enjoy!

Aginclank

Henry V's famous battle reimagined in a Victorian Science Fiction setting.

May 28, 2011:For Kublacon this year I ran a VSF refight of the Battle of Agincourt. Below are pictures from the game with some descriptive commentary.

The English Line.

The City of London Post Office Volunteer Rifles in the woods open the English left flank.

Henry, The King, in his tank Racquets, knights by his side.

Uncle Exeter in Harfleur leading the Royal Marines.

York and Gloucester in their tanks with more English foot knights.

The King's Royal Rifles in the woods on the English right flank.

The line of French knights with Martel in the tank Oriflamme.

French Knights seen from the woods.

The French Foreign Legion, part of the French rearguard.
On the right is the French Old Guard forming the infantry center.

Oriflamme proves to be an early casualty while the French knights get stuck in the mud.

 

The English move up to the edge of the muddy field.

French knights led by the Duc de Alencon threaten the Rifle brigade in the woods.

York and Gloucester

Richard Beauchamp, The Earl of Warwick. This is a figure I converted but was painted in masterful fashion by my closest friend Mr. Thomas Foss.

Exeter and the Marines.

Montjoy, the French Herald moves up to offer terms to Henry while a French tank burns most ironically in the background.

Warwick and his squire move up the center.

The Royal Marines and the Post Office Rifles give volleys to the French Knights.

The Duke of Alencon, with the aid of French sailors from the rearguard assault the rifles and force them back into the woods.

More of the rearguard moves up.

English foot knights advancing.

Montjoy, the French Herald.

Exeter.

Having extricated themselves from a particularly deep patch of muck, the French knights turn and charge the Post Office Rifles.

The Rifles hold fast and the combat draws on.

The French Foreign Legion advance in support of the chivalry's attack.

One company of the Rifles withdraw slowly back into the woods while another come out and threaten the Dauphin's flank.

The third company of the Post Office Rifles and their Velocipede, the mighty McPhilleagh.

The English foot knights, ed by Warwick, engage the French line in a series of back and forth skirmishes in the center of the line.

Warwick makes for the French Center.

The Duc de Alencon lies defeated and the French rearguard considers the formidable task of rooting the Royal Rifles out of the woods.

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I'll try and resuurect some of the other great posts 

from  "Articulated Rot and Steam Launched drivel" in the future