The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment.

The Highlanders took longer to paint than the Russians , but were a bit more entertaining .

I had to convert a Standard Bearer as I've run out of them . The figures are of course Strelets .

Luckily you see very little tartan on the figures because of the sporrans and various bits of equipment and I just suggested the dicing on the socks and bonnets . Busy with the Turkish irregular cavalry at the moment .

2nd Battalion Azovsky Regiment.

Been very productive the last week or so getting most of the Crimean figures I'd got cleaned up painted . Here is the Russian Infantry Regiment Azov , the problem with Russian Infantry is that they all look the same . 

They have painted up very quickly , I gave them a good coat of high gloss yacht varnish to seal the paint so it won't flake then a coat of matt varnish - which isn't truly matt (are they ever ?) but gives a pleasing satin finish .

Whilst I'm on a roll I've decided to do some Turkish Bashi- Bazouks to give the Turkish contingent a bit of cavalry , they are again Strelets and cleaned up fairly well , they are fixed to their horses using dress pins . Next up 42nd Highlanders .

Border Clash ( Parte The Seconde ) .

The Saxon Garde form a column of companies as they prepare to cross the stream and capture the windmill .

The Uhlans deploy to capture the bridge .

'Jung Fritz' orders the Brunswickers to seize the windmill .

The first company of the Garde crosses the stream and opens fire on the Prussian Hussars .

Scheither's Carabiniers charge across the bridge into the Uhlans .

They drive the Uhlans back ! .

An overview of the battlefield , towards the top of the table the Brunswickers move up as the Saxons move another company across the stream to reinforce the company on the hill . The Saxon Hussars move to reinforce the Uhlans .

The lines exchange volleys - with the Saxons coming off worst .

The Hussars reinforce the melee .

Against the odds the Carabiniers drive back the combined Saxon cavalry ! .

The result is a draw and as it is the third round of the melee both sides have to retire .

The Brunswickers advance.,  get the drop on the Saxons and shoot first - causing heavy casualties , the Saxons fail the their morale test and flee ! ,. The Allies have captured the windmill ! .

The cavalry fall back to reform , but the Prussian Hussars arrive and take the bridge which was the second objective . The Saxon General decides it is time to retire as most of his army is disordered or fleeing . A convincing victory for the Allies . Using the larger ground/movement scale worked very well and sped the game along greatly , which I find is a great advantage when you are playing solo .

Border Clash ( Parte The First ).

I've been re-reading 'BAR' (Batailles de l' Ancien Regime) and decided to give them another go but this time using the larger of the two ground scales to speed the game along . The forces have to capture the two objectives - the bridge and the windmill . 

'Windy' Miller and his son don't realise they are an objective !.

The Saxon Light Cavalry is commanded by Gen. Baron G. Wrangel, a Swede in the service of the French and his force comprises of the Saxon Hussars Von Schill and the Graf Renard Ulhans .

The Allies Cavalry is commanded by General Wartenburg who is accompanied by his faithful hound 'Moritz' . Scheither's Carabiniers lead the column followed by the Prussia  Ruesch Hussars

The Saxon force's Commander in Chief is General Moutors a capable young man (in his own estimation) (and an Irregular 40mm figure).

The Allies are commanded by General 'Jung Fritz' Swartzenburg , his striking resemblance to Frederick the Great is the cause of gossip that he is an illegitimate son by a youthful dalliance at the Saxon court with a Hungarian Countess !? .

The Saxon Lieb Garde Grenadiers cut across country to the stream and try and  capture the windmill .

The Brunswick Regiment Von Zastrow also leaves the road to move towards the objectives .

The Saxon Hussars cross the bridge and deploy but are charged by the Carabiniers and driven back .

The Saxon Hussars rout but Scheither's Carabiniers are disciplined enough not to pursue ! .

General Moutors attempts to rally the Hussars ! . Too be continued.............

Applying Paint .

After some delays when 'real life' got in the way I've started to get some more Russian infantry done , doing them first because they're the easiest - thank heavens for brown greatcoats !. The figures are Stretlets and have some rather odd poses in the box which hopefully won't be to noticeable when they're all done and based . 

Getting The Next Batch Ready.

Having got my painting table somewhat cleaned off it is time to prepare the next figures for painting . Decided it was time to revisit my plastic Crimea project , I am going to do another Highland regiment and a Russian battalion . The Highlanders were a gift from the gallant 'Conrad Cinch' and had been already snipped off their sprue and had hardly any flash at all , the Russians however were still on their sprue and boy do Stretlets make it hard to get them off - two broken knife blades later (and much cursing) I finally got them ready for spraying a black undercoat , which will be done this afternoon before summer vanishes for the rest of the week .

A Potpourri From The Painting Table.

Here are a selection of models I've painted in the last couple of weeks , a bit of a mixture as I'm trying to clear up some of the things that have been on my 'to do' list . First a selection of markers for  my 'Test of Honour' Samurai skirmish game , they are Perry Miniatures .

The Six Samurai - the other one must be on holiday , again Perry Miniatures for 'Test of Honour' .

Hodge interrupts the photo shoot , trying to ingratiate himself after being cursed for killing and eating a baby bird .

American Civil War early war Militia, Perry Miniatures once again - think I have been  contributing to the Perry retirement fund of late .

Mars plastic TYW light artillery , these have been waiting to get painted for ages . This set of figures got a right slating on the 'Plastic Soldier Review' , but I don't think they have come out to bad , sadly the double barrelled gun may be fictitious but I don't care ! .