WWI Game - Late War

Today we played our first group game since our week away in early-October.

The game was a late war WWI game with a German reinforced rearguard defending a small village against a Franco-American force that was the advanced guard of a major advance, charged with securing the village. I fought on the allied side, commanding an American regiment.

We deployed the Foreign Legion, supported by a battery and an FT17 tank in front of the village, charged with holding a large portion of the Germans in the village, while the Americans attacked on the left, against the German right, while the rest of the French attacked from our right, against the German left.

In the simplest terms the French easily drove in the German left and then turned against the village.The  Americans had a much tougher fight and although they lost two thirds of their force, they eventually drove off the Germans to their front. With their flanks driven in, the end for Germans in the village was only a matter of time.

It was a simple, fun game that kept us busy for four hours on a warm Sunday.

Here are a bunch of images, in no particular sequence.

French in Egypt Artillery

Next off the painting desk is the second artillery set of the collection. Like the first set. Thes gunners are wearing the casques rather than hats. The third gun set I do will be in hats.

This time I have chosen to do the horsedrawn limber instead of the camel drawn - the standing limber is a great little set and fun to paint.

The Regiment of Dromedaries - Dismounted

With the mounted version of this regiment painted, based and posted on Tuesday, I have now painted based and posted the dismounted version. 

The riderless camels and their handlers are on there way and should be here in the first week of December.

In progress is another gun and limber set.

Next up is some infantry I think, or maybe some generals.

The Regiment of Dromedaries

Over the weekend I started and completed the first mounted unit of the French in Egypt project, the Regiment of Dromedaries. 

Formed in April 1799 from picked grenadiers of the various Demi Brigades, absorbing other small camel mounted elements of the 85th and 88th Demi-Brigades de Bataille, and of the 21st Demi Brigade Légere, this in one of the most colourful of all of the French Army in Egypt - the first images of painted figures on the Perry website certainly caught my eye and started me on this project...I am such a sucker for eye candy. One of the drivers for the formation of the regiment was the scarcity of cavalry remounts and camels were an easily available substitute. At its peak the Regiment reached a a strength of 700 men, but by the time of the capitulation the strength had shrunk to 140 officers and men. 

These are great little figures from the Perrys to work with, although the white capes were a challenge. The unit appears to have operated chiefly as mounted infantry and I have chosen to do both the mounted and dismounted versions. The dismounted figures are under way and will be completed later this week. The camel holders sometime next month, when the next order arrives.

War of 1812 and Project Management - Progress (3)

This week sees the the 22nd and 25th US Infantry Regiments march off the painting table.

These two regiments complete Scott's Brigade for my War of 1812 project. Below is the complete brigade, with Towson's battery.

They also complete the first phase of that project. I say first phase because although the original project plan was just this force, one brigade four infantry regiments, a gun and a command stand, I will expand this in time to encompass the rest of Jacob Brown's Division. This will see another two regiments of regulars, one of militia, some indians, three more guns and maybe a squadron of cavalry. But that will be late, maybe not until the middle of next year.

So the progress against the plan... The first two items, the Prussian Napoleonic expansion and Scott's American brigade are completed and about a week ahead of schedule.

The French In Egypt is now launched. In fact two items are complete. The first is the twin camel limber that I painted a couple of weeks ago is now finished and based.

Second is the first of three field guns planned for this collection.

The Lead (and Plastic) Pile Restored

Back home after three days in France, I am chronically jet-lagged after flying Toulouse-London-Los Angeles-Auckland in a single hit - 25 flying hours and another 10 hanging around in airports. But I'm pleased to be home where two parcels await me. 

The first is part two of my order for the French in Egypt project. This order was shipped In two parcels, the first of which arrived two weeks ago. This one contains some artillery, infantry, generals, a limber, the dragoon command and the dismounted dromedary troops.

Much fun will be had poking through the contents of this.

The second is a back order for some gamer’s grass in desert shades for use with the French in Egypt project.

My time in Toulouse was busy with work, but I found time on Tuesday to visit the local games shop - Sabratache in Rue Pargaminiéres. This is a small but very packed store with many painted and unpainted large scale (54mm and up) figurines, paints, books and various 28mm figures. I picked up a box of Perry French line Infantry and a box of cuirassiers...oh dear another project started. Although in truth this project was always on the cards I had not intended such an early start.

Egyptian Ruins - Completed

I had a few hours to spare today so managed to finish off the last pieces for the Egyptian ruins.

These last bits were simple pieces like making the plinth for the columns, the rubble on the floor and the slabs across the top of the pillars. Then a final assembly and a touch up of the painted surfaces.

From my observations of the Egyptian ruins back when we there in 2009 there really ought to be a lot more rubble and blown sand. But this is a wargames building and I want to be able to fit some figures inside it. I am content with the final result.