Let the games begin!

Finally, after what seems like months of solid painting, be it 6 or 28mm, I have enough units to actually fight a battle or two. The Cigar Box Battle Mat which I ordered a month ago has also landed as a bonus. This is the mixed scrub land 6 x 4 feet which is devoid of roads, rivers etc. this will allow me to place down my own as required. The mat is the same high standard as my other mat and will be christened with a few practice battles over the coming days.

Looking down the whole length of the CBBM, the table is currently set at three feet wide so a generous twelve inches actually hangs down the front of the table, I do have a couple of hinged flaps at this side of the table to give me a full 8 x 4 foot table.

A low level, close up shot of the mat showing the texture that has been achieved by the manufacturer.

I have four rule sets, all of which will be used over the coming months, some are more suitable for skirmish others for larger battles.

Lion Rampant prefers that the figures be single based, however the other rule sets recommend bases. I have a shed load of these old Zvezda Age of Battles bases, which I have covered in card and then flocked.  They measure 80mm in width, the ruler also shows imperial measurement for those, like myself, who still think in that scale.

Width or depth is about 60 - 65mm.

Of course I can stand any number to together to increase the width or depth of a unit.

A unit of foot knights in Lion Rampant, though they in actual fact would not be on a base for that rule system.

Can easily be converted to a stand of 12 figures for other rule sets. I did also base them in such a way as to allow for casualty removal should the rules call for it. Always good to be versatile with basing.

A unit of light cavalry fit perfectly, three to a base, to represent a unit.

Same unit with the photo taken from a higher angle to show the excellent fit for the bases.

So the reward for all the months of painting is lots of battle ahead. The mat will also be perfect for my 6mm ACW as well. Good times ahead!

Foot knights and some 1/72nd scale.

As promised I have taken some photographs of the completed foot knights for the War of the Roses armies. They sport non of the faction colours and so can be placed with whichever faction is required for a particular battle. There are seven units of six men, plus a couple of spare. This has come about as I have used the four fully armoured command figures from the two boxes of WotR infantry to make more units. I still have two or three more boxes of the infantry as well a one more box of foot knights so should end up with 16 or 17 units of foot knights in total, more than enough for my needs.

I have put in a few banners from the various box sets, they may or may not be relevant to the War of the Roses, but if I like the flag, then it gets used!

Quite a formidable looking force.

I also had a sort through my painted 1/72nd scale figures, as you know from previous blog entries, I have a ton of unpainted figures in this scale, all of which I intend to paint up over the coming year. Some of the figures can be used for different rule sets as they are all single based, when I first returned to the hobby, and didn't realise there were other scales now available, or even considered war gaming, I just put the minis on pennies. I have added some photographs of some Crusader figures, they could be used with Hail Caesar, L'art de la Guerre or even Saga.

A host of mounted knights and men at arms.

Certainly a good starting point for a future army.

I also have a large number of Feudal Japanese in 1/72, these came from the board game by Zvezda and Richard Borg entitled 'Samurai Battles.' It has a board and terrain tiles etc. as well a good quantity of 1/72nd scale figures by Zvezda, so they are of a good quality. They come with bases that are used in the game as movement trays, but they can just as easily be detached and used for other rule sets.

Here are just a few of the units I have painted up. The archers in the foreground have some rather large arrows on their base, the idea being, that each time they fire an arrow is removed. A neat way of showing when they are out of arrows!

I think there is a lot of potential games to be had with these figures and their colleagues still stored in boxes.

Back to the Black Powder Challenge!

After a couple or three week hiatus from the American Civil War in 6 mm project, I am returning with five regiments of Zouaves to paint up, the plan is for three for the Union and the other two for the Confederacy. They are all mounted on lolly sticks and are kept in place with Blu-Tack which is a Plasticine type substance that is used in the UK for putting up posters etc. on walls without damaging the surface.

I have done some research and found the Louisiana Tigers had a blue top, white pin-striped type trousers and a red hat/fez. Obviously, I won't be attempting pin-stripes and the trousers will be plain white. The other Rebel unit will have a red top, white trousers and a red hat.

For the Union, 146th New York Volunteers (Garrard's Tigers) seem to be wearing a pale blue top and trousers with a hat of white/red. I don't normally like to identify a particular regiment and prefer them to be generic to allow their use in any battle of the war, but will make an exception for the two above named units, one for each side.

The other two units will be in a green top, red trousers and hat and finally, a sky blue top and trousers with a white/red hat.

In the period I was away from the 6 mm project I managed to complete a total of nine units for the War of the Roses project. One unit of Bill Men, two units of archers and the first six of twelve units of foot knights. The Bill men and foot knights are not wearing the colours of any of the four main factions and so can be recruited into the retinue as required.

I will take photos of them and post them soon.

More War of the Roses units completed

Taking a break from my 6mm American Civil War armies, I was about painted out after working on them for the Black Powder Challenge for the last six weeks. So a for a change of scene and scale, I thought I would return to my War of the Roses in 28mm figures.

First up was another box of infantry and the two Yorkist factions both received a unit of archers to add to their crossbowmen and firearms troops. Also a second unit of Bill Men have been completed. These fellows are not in any of the four retinue colours and so can be allocated to whichever Lord is in need of reinforcements for any given battle in the campaign. Like wise, the foot knight are also in neutral and can be allocated as needed.

Here are the archers, bill men and one unit of six foot knights.

Bill Men in neutral colours allowing them to be allocated to any retinue.

The very first unit of foot knights, in Lion Rampant these are in units of six men, I have based them in two pairs of two and two single bases.

Archers in twelve strong units.

The boxes of Perry foot knights actually contain 38 figures, so that will allow me to build a total of six units per box. The extra two figures are for a command stand. I have two boxes of these so will be able to make up a total of twelve units, hopefully that should be more than enough for my needs.

I think a few 'get to know the rules' sessions are in the offing now in readiness for beginning the War of the Roses campaign I have been planning. So lots of variety on the go for me. Speaking of which, I haven't forgotten the 6mm ACW, and will be painting up a couple of units of Zouaves for each side once the foot knights are completed. I am still researching which Zouave units to paint up. The Battle of Hangman's Creek is currently being played on the table, using Black Powder rules, photos will be uploaded to the blog on its completion.

War of the Roses troop muster and 6mm ACW tented camp.

I decided to muster the troops completed so far on the table top with a couple of buildings and a scenic backdrop, this was really so I could see exactly what each of the four main factions had in their retinue so far and allow me to plan who should get the next two units. The black and amber retinue of Yorkist, Sir Walter de Cobham will receive a unit of spear men, The dark blue and white of Lancastrian, Lord Sir Benedict Foxe will add a unit of crossbowmen.

All the boys together.

The unit of bill men and their command are not designated to any of the four major leaders and will be part of the retinues of the lesser knights in the campaign.

Looking down the line.

The black and amber retinue of Sir Walter de Cobham with just a unit of light cavalry and a firearms unit.

Sir Godfrey Howard (Yorkist) has a crossbowmen and spear men.

Sir Ralph Lytton (Lancastrian) has mounted knights, archers and spear men.

Lord Sir Benedict Foxe (Lancastrian) has mounted knights, light cavalry and archers.

Another view of the retinues formed up.

These resin buildings are from my English Civil War project, but fit nicely into this period. A timber merchant/cooperage.

A plain wattle and daub house, the dry stone walling is from OO Gauge model railway.

 

Some close-ups.

Finally, I have finished some tents that have been sat on my workbench for almost a month, they are for the 6mm ACW project, which I have been neglecting lately in favour of the War of the Roses. I shall have to rectify that.