Two More ACW

Two More ACW

Louisiana Tigers CSA - more converted Mahdists

Charleston Zouaves CSA - converted from French Foreign Legion

I have managed to find the Airfix guide.  Confederate units are 20 figures per unit whereas Union units only have 15.  Looks like I have made Zouave units only 15 strong no matter which side they are fighting for.

Now I have to search for the cavalry and artillery - it may take some time!

ACW to the Fore

ACW To The Fore

Inspired by the blog "The Airfix American Civil War Project"

http://airfixacwproject.blogspot.co.uk/

I delved into my attic to find the file boxes of ACW figures.  Here's some of what I found:

front - 17th Virginia CSA

rear - 8th south Carolina CSA

front - 19th Virginia CSA

[some Russian Napoleonics mixed in]

rear - 11th Virginia CSA

44th New York Zouaves USA

[French Foreign Legion conversions]

Keystone Zouaves

[I think these are Mahdist foot conversions - plus an odd standard-bearer]

All these figures have been gathering dust for years.  Still if we are dealing in nostalgia some leeway has to be allowed......I hope!

Not What It Seems

Not What It Seems

Last Saturday (17th Nov) I purchased two boxes of plastic soldiers:

HaT 8024 - Numidian Cavalry [12 figs for £4.25 - 35.4p each]
Zvezda 8049 - Russian Infantry of Peter the Great 1695-1725  [43 figs for £3.80 - 8.8p each]

The latter have long coats and wide cuffs but at this scale are still suitable for frontiersmen, settlers, riflemen or other irregulars for the French-Indian Wars and the American War of Independence.

The former were a bit of a surprise.  The box was standard, as were the illustrations on the side.  the contents, however, were far from it..  Instead of light horse there was cavalry.  These are the riders:

The one on the left seems to be of early Italian origin.

On the right we have a Gaul.

Both of these are Hellenistic types.

The one on the left shows Spanish influences.

On the right is another Gaul.

Not sure what either of these are supposed to be.

Juba I (55-46 bc) had a Gallic and Spanish bodyguard so presumably that is what these figures are meant to represent!   

Can anybody throw any light on this?

Club Medievals

Club Medievals

Finished a batch of club medievals / Wars of the Roses.  Andrew acquired a job lot from Ebay and I got lumbered with painting them. All these are Museum Miniatures.

MD10 HYW French Brigans - brigandine, plate, helm

(and yes Pink was an official colour of the time)

MD15 WoR Lancastrian Billmen - HI, chain, plate legs, bill, upright

(given that these chaps are likely to end up as levy I only gave them plate knee protectors)

On the Left - MD05 HYW French Crossbowmen - MI, mail, hauberk, kettle, firing.

On the Right - MD04 HYW Genoese Crossbowmen - LHI, mail, hauberk / brigand, pavase.

 

It seems that mercenary 'Italian' captains outfitted their troops in their own, preferred, livery but the shields showed their area of origin.  In this case it is Asti or Savoy (had I put red on white it might be Genoa, Milan or Padua).  Some 'Italian' states had really complex designs that I would not want to try in 15mm.

Finished At Last

Finished At Last

Well that's one small project finished....

 

5 Daleks - still think the orange one is a bit strange though!

And here's the assembled company

You may notice that one of the Silents is listing badly to the left.  The Silurian on the left is leaning backwards as well - no matter what I do the horrible plastic seems to remember its distorted shape.

Oh well only another 34 Daleks to go.  I am modifying them to various degrees but this takes time.

Almost finished some club medievals as well.  Watch this space.

Catching Up

Catching Up

Bit of a mixed bag today - starting with Dr Who figures:

Minotaur in the centre - Cyberman to the sides.  

Added some lighter silver  in places to give more contrast to the Cybermen.  Also added a purple wash to the head.  If not for the feet it's hard to tell which way a cyberman is facing.  I think they are improved but still not entirely happy! 

Haven't got the Minotaur's antlers quite right either - will have to think again.

Only the 5 Daleks left to finish the batch.


Two recent purchases - HaT 8054 Italian Ally Cavalry
                                    HaT 8055 Spanish Cavalry

Neither of them are new issues but both are destined for long-term projects.

The Italians will be converted into Araucanian figures to fight the Spanish in Chile.  I'm wading through "The Grand Araucanian Wars (1541-1883) in the Kingdom of Chile" by Eduardo Agustin Cruz.  It's not an easy task as the translator hasn't done the author many favours - sometimes it flows but otherwise its Pidgeon English.  Still I'm soldiering on (ouch!).

The Spanish are destined to be added to my Renaissance Arabs fighting in North Africa versus a Portuguese adventurer.


Thinking about the number of projects I have on the go - and not being in the flower of my youth - I will need to carry out a review to see what is really viable and what can go to the bring-and-buy.  Don't want to go into 2013 with a huge pile of unfinished metal and plastic do I?