The Sacred and the Profane .

I've had these photos on my phone for about a week so I thought I'd better get them on the blog before I loose them . First the Russian Crimean war religious group , ideal for boosting the morale of the troops . The figures are Strelets 1/72nd from the General Staff and Hospital box .

Next is Captain Louis Nolan , here seen with Lord Cardigan - " there my Lord is your enemy !" , he is a conversion from a 17th Lancer Officer painted in the uniform of the 15th Light Dragoons . Both figures are 20mm Strelets who do some brilliant personality figures in their boxed sets .

A return to the Crimea .

I was tidying the wargaming room today and I picked up the cardboard box that my unused Crimean war figures are kept and the bottom fell out of the box and all the sprue cascaded over the floor . So after a bit of bad language I repaired the box and started repacking them , this got me thinking - was it about time I did another unit or two ? . 

I looked on this blog and found it was 18 months ago since I did anything with these figures , so I thought I'd do another battalion of Russian infantry , to go with these I have cleaned up a Russian religious group of 2 religious banner bearers , an icon bearer and a priest . These are from the Strelets Russian General Staff and Hospital box and perhaps will be incorporated into the rules - Russians re-roll poor morale tests if within 12" ? .

The last figure I painted for this project all those months ago was Lord Cardigan so I thought it was time that I did a Captain Nolan to pass orders to him. It is converted British Lancer officer , I trimmed the czapka into a pill box forage cap and cut away his sword so that it looks like he is gesturing " there my Lord is your enemy !". 

Played by David Hemmings in the 1968 film .

The Earl Of Cardigan

Here we have the commander of the Light Brigade in the Crimea , Major General James Brudenall , the Earl of Cardigan . Its a Strelets personality figure from their 'Into the Valley of Death' box set. 

On the left - the real Earl , in the centre the Strelets figure , right Trevor Howard as the Earl in the 1968 film . Strelets can do some odd figures but their personality one are very good in capturing their subject in miniature . 

We will draw a sad veil over the films idea of a liaison between Mrs Duberly and Cardigan …..

Perhaps the two figures have to remain 6" away from each other on the tabletop  ?

The 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own)

Got another regiment done for my Light Brigade, this time  a hussar regiment - the 11th Hussars - 'Prince Albert's Own' , nicknamed the 'Cherrypickers' or the 'Cherubums' due to their crimson trousers. The figures are of course Strelets , only one photo of them as the battery packed up in my camera . Next up their (in) famous commander Lord Cardigan.

The 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment Of Foot.

Back to the painting table with a vengeance this week and have completed the next regiment of foot for my Crimean British force this being the 30th , another battalion of Pennefathers Brigade . Note Mrs Duberly sheltering behind their ranks.

Lots of dramatic poses amongst the Strelets figures ! .

Having a multitude of spare figures I have decided to give each unit a separate base of  skirmishers mounted on some round MDF bases I had handy - here's the one for the 55th Foot.

A rather more lively one for the 42nd Foot. I've started painting up some Hussars for the Light Brigade which I hope to photo in the next few days .

Mrs Duberly On Parade .

My wife has been on holiday the last week so we have been doing 'real life' things and I haven't got too much done , but I have got Mrs Duberly finished. I made a guess at her colour scheme which is a dark colour - so I went for blue . I gave the figure a gloss coat of varnish and then a matt one and did the base up . I'm pleased how she has turned out and it does bear a resemblance to the real lady I think . In a moment of serendipity I came across the above book in my local bookshop - "Mrs Duberly's War - Journal and letters from the Crimea" so it will be interesting to read about the lady behind the plastic figure. 

Interfering with Mrs Duberly .

Not as racy as it sounds , several weeks ago I asked if anybody had a Airfix Maid Marion figure (http://tonystoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2018/09/does-anybody-have.html) to convert into the Crimean personality Mrs Fanny Duberly . Very kindly fellow blogger Springinsfeld sent me one - so fixing a new scalpel blade to my knife I set off CAREFULLY cutting back the medieval harness on the horse and the cloak she is wearing to try and reform as a Victorian lady .

It was easier than I first thought , I added a straw (?) hat to her head using 'green stuff' , the hardest part was getting the horse to fit the base (much bad language and cursing of Airfix) and I resorted to a pin through the base and into the horses stomach to hold it in place . 

The original Mrs Duberly with her husband in the Crimea . 

Whilst I was on a Crimean bent I decided to do another six Hussar figures for my Light Brigade .

I also cleaned up another regiment of British infantry and based up the Earl of Cardigan to take command of the Light Brigade . I've got a new can of black undercoat and so will get these sprayed ready for painting and will post an update this week .

Does Anybody Have ..............

A spare Maid Marion ?  , I am wanting to portray Mrs Fanny Duberly of Crimean War fame for my plastic Crimean War project . I've been looking for a suitable figure in 20mm for some while and finally came across this figure riding side saddle which I think with a bit of tinkering could be made to work. 

Here is a photo of this distinguished lady . I have in the distant past had this set of figures and sadly long gone . Does anybody have one spare ? , I will of course pay a suitable fee and postage , I can be contacted on - mossdocking@hotmail.com 

Action On The Voivodino Road (Part Two)

An overview of the start of the battle , the Russian Cavalry Brigade in the foreground and the Infantry on the right.

The Russian Horse Artillery opens fire ! .

The British Light Cavalry move up to cover the right flank.

The Russians cavalry advance - rather slowly ! .

The Highland Brigade open fire on the Russian Infantry columns , this combined with the long range artillery fire from the British Artillery cause the leading Battalion to falter and then flee ! .

The Cossacks attack the Rifles and scatter them ! 

The British reinforcements arrive (on a lucky dice throw!) , the 55th Foot and the R.H.A. .

The R.H.A. reinforce the right flank of the Highlanders and open fire on  the Russian Cossacks - driving them back with heavy casualties . The Highlanders fire shake the morale of the remaining Russian battalion , I have been testing out a Brigade Morale System (thought up by my wargaming colleagues 'A' and 'S' ) were Brigades have to test when there stamina drops to half - this resulted in the Brigade retiring from the table ! .

The 55th open fire on the remaining Russian Infantry , the Russian Cavalry Brigade stalls and refuses to move .

The Russian C in C views the debacle taking place - the remaining  Infantry Brigade roll on the 'blunder' table (rolls a 12 on the Command roll) and retires two moves - off the table , leaving him only with the rather lacklustre cavalry ! - he signals the retreat ! . A British victory , due more to the bad luck of the Russians rather than any tactical brilliance on behalf of the Allies. I enjoyed this rather quirky game and the next up to paint is some Russian reinforcements in the shape of another artillery battery and some more riflemen.

Action On The Voivodino Road (Part One)

Having painted up the extra Crimean War units I thought it was time I got them on the table and into combat. I have decided to base my games in a semi fictional campaign set in Bulgaria as the Allies seek to raise the siege of Silistra and this is the second game - the last game was seven months ago ! (hangs head in shame) . The Allies forced the Russians back in that game and have moved further down the road having been reinforced by the 42nd Regiment and some Turkish light cavalry . The Russians are on the right of this photo and the Allies on the left . An apology for the poor quality of the photos the lighting is abysmal in my gaming room at the moment .

Finding their way blocked the Highland Brigade deploys with some Rifle Brigade on their right flank. 

The British C in C General Sir George Brown positions the artillery battery himself .

The Turkish Bashi Bazouks deploy to the Allied left , Sir George has a poor opinion of them - "we'll have to keep an eye on those chaps !"

The Russian centre four Battalions of infantry, a company of Riflemen and a H.A. battery . The first and second Battalions of the Azov and the Dnieper . At this point I thought - " the Russians need more Riflemen and another Artillery Battery" so they are on the 'to do' painting list .

Off to the Russian left is a Brigade of cavalry , two units of Ingermanland Hussars and a unit of Don Cossacks lurking up to no good . The Turkish infantry is busy guarding the Allied baggage train and is off table . Too be continued ..........

The 55th (Westmoreland) Regiment Of Foot.

Have been busy getting more of my 1/72nd plastic Crimean figures painted . This time it is a British Regiment of Line the 55th (Westmoreland) my local unit (well if you go back over a hundred years) they have dark green facings - which I have lightened somewhat so they show up a bit better.

The figures are by Strelets  and get a bit of a panning on the Plastic Soldier website http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=901 , but I rather like them - they have character ! . Strelets give you 44 figures each one being unique which has the advantage of you only getting one of each duff figure and you can pick out the better ones . They have a nice mixture of the 'Albert' shako and the forage caps .

Here we have them in period sepia mode . After I paint them I give them a coat of yacht varnish then matt varnish , this seems to prevent the paint flaking . I need another couple of Brigadiers then they will hit the table on a scenario I'm working on .

Next Up For Painting .

Inspired by my successful painting of my R.H.A. I decided to paint up a British Line Battalion whilst on a Crimean war roll . I was fortunate enough to be sent a large bag of plastic figures by fellow blogger Conrad Kinch , so sorting through these I found the required figures and most of then cleaned up already by the said Mr Kinch ! - Huzza ! that man ! .

I have just taken them outside to spray a black undercoat - as you can see we have snow and Arctic blasts so this is probably the most unsuitable time to do it - we will see what happens ?!

Crimean Royal Horse Artillery .

I've finally got the plastic 1/72nd R.H.A. finished and based up , I glued the guns down to the bases to prevent damage . I then gave them a good coat of high gloss yacht varnish and when dry a couple of coats of matt varnish .

Rather pleased how these have turned out as I thought I was going to have to resort to metal figures to get the British some firepower for their cavalry . I know need to thing about another cavalry unit and line infantry for the Allied forces .

R.H.A. Head Swaps Complete ! .

Well nursing my sore finger I have completed the swapping of heads to complete my British Crimean War Royal Horse Artillery , here we have a gun and crew about to fire. I used 'green stuff' to provide collars (to hide evidence of surgery) and add water bottles and knapsacks .

This gun is being loaded by it's crew . The alternative heads seem to match well so I'm pleased with these conversions . When the 'green stuff' is set I will spray them with black undercoat and hopefully get them painted later in the week .

The Quest For Royal Horse Artillery .

I have been considering adding a Battery of R.H.A. to my Allied force but have been unable to find a suitable plastic set of figures , I thought I would have to go with metal - then I realised that the Napoleonic R.H.A. uniform was similar but would need a head swap to busbies . I got the above Airfix R.H.A. set off EBay which comes with a couple of guns and a limber .

They have a lot of flash and mould lines but otherwise are nice figures , the guns are a bit chunky but will do . I fitted a brand new scalpel blade especially to clean these up ---

and stabbed myself in the finger end !!!!! , I will draw a veil over the language which was disgraceful !.

Having made the blood sacrifice to the gods of gaming I started decapitating the British figures and these are the head donors - Italeri French Napoleonic Guard Artillery with the required busbies . I am waiting till the finger stops bleeding before the delicate job of head swapping ........