I have embarked on a new project, although some might consider it an extension of my AWI projects from last year.
This project is to collect a small French force to support the American forces we have in vast numbers and also to fight the British in the Caribbean. The idea was to raise a force of three battalions, one squadron of cavalry and battalion gun, plus some command figures. You may have noted that I used the word “was” near the start of the last sentence, and that is because even though I haven’t even put a brush near the first infantry unit yet, I have decided to expand the force to six battalions. This is largely because I have thought of an interesting game that would require a minimum of six battalions.
This first batch contains the command, a gun and the cavalry.
The command set comes Witt seven foot figures and one mounted figures and I have broken set into three groups:
- Generals Rochambeau, Chastellux and the Duc de Lauzun
- The Marquis de St Simon, an engineer officer and a topographical engineer
- A commissaries ordinnateur passing a message to a mounted ADC.
Next is the battalion gun, with a crew in fatigues firing a Swedish 3lb gun. This has to be the simplest uniform I have painted in years.
The last item in this batch is the hussar squadron from Lauzon’s Legion.
As I was completing these I was reminded of a post from a few years ago when I admitted my hussar addiction and it made me wonder just how many units of hussars do I have? Well quite a few actaully. There are these (6 figures), for the Napoleonic era four French regiments (45), one British (6), one each Russian and Prussian (24), Crimean War two British (12) and two Russian (18), Austrian-Prussian War two Austrian (36), Prussian (12) and WWI German (6).
Finally with Omicron creeping it’s way into our communities and the horror of further restrictions (no lockdown or provincial borders closed this time…hopefully) and expected disruptions to supply chains it was important to stock up on a few important items.
Your new project looks great! It's rather funny also as I was thinking king about something similar. Just finished ordering figures for Lauzon's legion!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark. I thought the French would bring a little variety into our AWI games.
DeleteThat sounds like a great little project to keep you going, saw the news on the new lockdown regulations, Good luck Mark lucky to be in the UK with a different approach slowly peoples confidence is starting to return.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Stu
Thanks Stu. We are not locked down this time, merely restricted - no big events, caps on patrons in bars and restaurants, etc. But this variant will have an impact on the supply chain for sure. I am back working from home - which I dislike.
DeleteHi Stu - I made a comment earlier from work but then Blogger intervened! I still think over the whole course of Covid, I would rather be here than almost anywhere else! I cant remember the exact figures now but we have had something like 50 deaths her in NZ compared with 160,000 in UK and 880,000 in the US! We also had about nine months of total freedom in 2020/21 when many other countries had months of lock downs. We have about 95% of our population double vaccinated plus many are started on the first booster, so I think we are likely to do better with Omicron than many other countries - but its going to be tough because we have had so little to worry about up to this point, compared with most places!
DeleteNice additions Mark - another new project suffers instant scope creep - who would have thought it! The French are pretty pivotal - in my unbiased British opinion, without the French, America would still be in the Commonwealth! :) You are wise to get in essential supplies - we are all preparing for a lot of disruption to our network - it was bad enough in the last two weeks before Christmas, when volumes were so high, we physically could not handle all the freight and had to introduce restrictions on what customers could send and when we would collect from them - once we get a few hundred Omicron cases, things are really going to be challenging!
ReplyDeleteThe original plan was for six battalions, but then budget cuts came into play! Now that finances have stabilised a return to the original plan is in order. Yes I believe that supply chain issues are going to hit us hard.
DeleteA nicely controlled off-shoot project. I love those command stands, the positioning and body language of the sculpts gives a nice narrative to each base.
ReplyDeleteI agree Norm…there are many conversations that can be imagined…the chap handing the message “as fast as you can!” for example?
DeleteHooray for the French! Especially such a well thought out project.
ReplyDeleteGrinned at the supplies photos. Organization through action. Enjoy the stockage comfortably.
He# it is a nice little project. I figured if I have to hang around home more I will need coffee to stimulate, wine to relax and fois gras to indulge!
DeleteVery nice Mark…
ReplyDeleteI do rather like the French army from the American War of Independence…Lauzon’s Legion look particularly colourful…
Nice to see that you are prioritising the right kind of supplies…
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly. It is very tempting to build a big force, but as a group we have so many American units that a combined Franco-American force would vastly out number any British Allied force.
DeleteI agree that in these testing times keeping stocks of one’s vittles up to scratch is vital!
A lovely bunch of command figures there and the Hussars are a joy to behold. We still seem to be having supply chain issues here and often there are empty spaces on the supermarket shelves were orders have obviously not arrived. The postal service is hit and miss too, with deliveries every other day here at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. Our supply chains have been under stress for some time - the disadvantage of being at the end of the earth and having to import so much in the way of manufactured goods. Of course the absolute worst thing is that toy soldier orders are taking up to ten weeks to come from the UK - normal times the time is two to three weeks.
DeleteGreat work there Mark. It all looks great, and the hussars and staff officers especially so. It will be interesting to see whether the government there finally lets the virus off the leash, now the vaccination rate is so high. We have had it go through the household here, and thankfully everyone has now recovered.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence. I really enjoyed the Hussars. I think the govt is ready to let it go. Our case numbers are still low and the number of Omicron stands at just 52, but I think the numbers will start to climb towards the end of next week.
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